American Media; the Portrayal of African Americans

American Media; the Portrayal of African Americans

The media depicts black America in an unsavory tone. I see “black people” as big butted, gold chain wearing, uneducated, rapper swearing gangsters. Socially, the black community sometimes takes pride in these stereotypes; perpetuating the stigma. African Americans are a minority community even though we have an African American as President. The reason for this is the media. My personal thought about African Americans (see, I don’t know what to say, Black America, African American, colored, friends), people of color, is no different from any other person I run into or that I have to deal with on a daily basis. The stereotypes of black America as seen on my television and in films continues to breakdown black America; however there is an effort to represent young black Americans as a successful social class.
The stereotypes of black America as seen on my television and in films around the world continues to breakdown the black community. There are definite stereotypes and racial classifications in the media. The media will always portray the dismal, sad and horrific news because it means ratings.   There are black people in the media who represent themselves and other black people in a harmful light. Maxwell Payne of Associated content writes, “Black America can only escape the media portrayal of themselves by avoiding participating in negative stereotypes of themselves.” Chris Rock has a movie in theatres about black women and their hair. The way he talks in the movie and on camera about the movie is very “black”. He makes comments like, “girl” and “you going to get up on that”. Oprah occasionally talks like a “black” woman, saying things like, “black women know all about that”. This kind of language degrades smart intelligent black people. Black America is reinforcing the stigmas along side everyone else by continuing the cycle. Slang language like this enhances the “under educated” mentality and adds to the...