Black American Black Man

 Currently, media in modern society shape our perceptions and beliefs. However, when

it comes to the representation of Black Americans, especially black men, the consequences

are severe and can lead to many ramifications. Media representations determine the

perceptions of society, either promoting acceptance or furthering misconceptions.

Historically, Black men in America have been presented by the media using various methods

and techniques of portrayal, most of which have been negative. Below is the objectification

of black men in the movies right from the black-and-white cinema period. This trend is also

evident today, where media such as television, news programs, and movies almost always

depict the black man as an aggressor. These representations help to cultivate environments of

having a perception of fear and anxiety in whites through strengthening biases and

stereotypes.

According to Kumah-Abiwu (2020), media gatekeepers have a central function in

deciding which messages get amplified and how these messages will be packaged. Those

who control the access to such resources are white and of a different race than the people they

are excluding and, therefore, have implicit bias. Hence, stories that tend to portray the darker

side of black societies are most likely to be aired and published. This negative portrayal

causes Black male subjects to be seen through the lens of criminality and potential threats

instead of concentrating on their positive contributions.

For example, when news programs constantly portray Black men as responsible for

criminal activities, the masses are fed with this information and begin to judge all Black men

as potential criminals. Race plays a special role in the presentation of crimes, for when a

criminal is a Black man, then his criminal actions are highlighted and reported more actively

than those of the white man. Such a difference in the coverage of stories further extends the

stereotype of Black males as creators of violence and danger, which is a synthesis of the

climate of fear among the white audience.

A crucial influence in fostering these perceptions is popular culture. In TV shows and

movies, conventional methods are adopted in narrating the stories, and Black men are always

assigned roles that are degrading and depict them in negative images. For instance, the thug

character is something that is often provided in full measure in Hollywood productions.

These characters are commonly portrayed as criminals and are aggressive and kill people

without any remorse or concern for the consequences of their actions or the law. While these

are characters that are literary and are not real, they do make a huge difference when it comes

to how society judges black men.

According to Rizzo (2024), these unfair representations argue that the Black Arts

Movement played a crucial in countering such negative portrayals. Specifically, the Black

Arts Movement aimed to give blacks a proper portrayal in media to fight against the

stereotypes that mainstream media portrays. However, even with these initiatives, the popular

culture paradigms remain rather largely unaltered. Consequently, the negative representations

implicit in these discourses are not only internalized by Black men from the perspective of

the white other but also from their point of view. Racialization is cyclical, whereby non-

whites are portrayed as dangerous or inferior, and hence, it affects self-image and personality.

This climate of fear and anxiety leads to threats to real-world situations, as seen in the

following instance. Stereotyping, which is fuelled by the media, has various and real-life

manifestations, for example, in the criminal justice where a Black race is depicted in a

specific manner. Black males experience increasing police interaction encounters and arrest

rates and are being imposed with more severe penalties than their white male counterparts.

This does contribute so much to the feeling of fear and anxiety extended to the blacks by the

media, hence creating such horrifying incidents as the shooting of black men of color who

have not embraced the use of guns by the police.

Furthermore, such generalization impacts economic and social opportunities for Black

men because they cannot pursue some opportunities due to the stereotype. This injustice is a

clear disservice to Black men as they instantly become unworthy of the employers’ attention

due to their unspoken agreement with the media. This results in high levels of unemployment

and staggering economic inequality. It also hinders social relations with other people as white

people feel more threatened by Black men, additionally creating social isolation. Therefore,

media gatekeepers must realize their part in reinforcing such images and redouble efforts to

provide better depictions. This means focusing on the positive images of Black men, the

successes of Black men, and the portrayal of the positives that Black men bring to society.

They must ensure that those who are in the position to change the perception are diverse.

Moreover, it is high time the creators of popular culture ceased using inherently

reductive stereotypes and increased the use of characters with multiple attributes. Black men

must be depicted in different roles that demonstrate true experiences and identities to their

contemporary lives, not just the stereotyped. As media depictions of Blacks continue to play a

major role in shaping perceptions about Black men, and when people see positive portrayals

of Black men in the media, some of the predictors of fear and anxiety could be overcome.

Negative perceptions have, therefore, been created by those who control the media

and its contents through selective reporting and representation, stereotypes without presenting

balanced views that portray blacks in a positive light. To alter the prevailing narrative, one

needs to fight for a better representation and depiction of Black men to embrace and

appreciate their positive attributes and recognize their humanity. This helps dismantle fear

and anxiety, hence establishing a society of justice and an equitable society.

                                                           References 

Kumah-Abiwu, F. (2020). Media gatekeeping and portrayal of Black men in America. The

Journal of Men’s Studies, 28(1), 64-81.

Rizzo, M. (2024). Black Arts Cities.