" Mass media have played and will continue to play a crucial role in the way white Americans perceive African-Americans. As a result of the overwhelming media focus on crime, drug use, gang violence, and other forms of anti-social behavior among African-Americans, the media have fostered a distorted and pernicious public perception of African-Americans.The history of African-Americans is a centuries old struggle against oppression and discrimination. The media have played a key role in perpetuating the effects of this historical oppression and in contributing to African-Americans' continuing status as second-class citizens. As a result, white America has suffered from a deep uncertainty as to who African-Americans really are. Despite this racial divide, something indisputably American about African-Americans has raised doubts about the white man's value system. Indeed, it has also aroused the troubling suspicion that whatever else the true American is, he is also somehow black."
I am personally embarrassed by how African Americans are so ill-portrayed in the mass media. So many filmmakers conform to social stereotypes as to appeal to a wide audience of ignorantly blind individuals that think being close-minded is an entertaining concept. It is truly appalling to believe that people can be so simple as put an entire group of individual people into to a confined box. I think that a African American filmmaker that I happen to respect falls into this categorical trap sometimes without realizing that he is attracting people. Tyler Perry is sadly enabling the perpetuation of African American demise in mass media. I would love for more mainstream entertainment executives to take it upon themselves to change this view. This very askewed view of African American culture. Instead of taking few true experiences and making them seem to fit the entire African American community.
Works Cited
"Mass Media and Racism." Yale University. Web. 06 Feb. 2012. .
I totally agree with this idea that you have here. Tyler Perry does fit in with image that American likes to show black people as along with many other African Americans. If you go on youtube you can a video of Dave Chapelle about how he turned down this acting gig or w.e because they wanted to emasculate him and put him in a dress like they have done to many other black people. After they he say this there are clips of all the black male actors that have been shown in feminine ways. I found this very interesting
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that mass media does not show the lives of African Americans in a good light. Filmmakers like Tyler Perry are adding further to the stereotyping of African Americans. Although he does it for the laughs the reality is many races go off of what is being portrayed one the television screen. Why cant there be more television shows and movies showing hard working, determined, successful, well mannered African Americans like the many individuals there are in the real world.
ReplyDeleteI do not like the way African Americans are portrayed in the media either. Sadly, stereotypes are funny and funny sells movies. It is not right, but directors like Tyler Perry are in the business of making money. But in their pursuit of wealth, they hve helped stunt the growth of the African American image and made it okay to stereotype.
ReplyDeleteWhile i 100% agree that the media and directors could do a better job casting and creating roles that are more mainstream and less "degrading" in some instances. I do think they are doing what the consumer wants. I dont think that black people would go to see movies like "Mean Girls" or "The Hangover" with an all black cast. Do you? I feel like the movies that are normally considered black movies relate to a black reality. Stereotypical or not its the truth of the sistuations black people are more often to encounter. Even middle class or upper class black families have a different mentality and struggles then white americans in the same positon which allow them to relate to movies by Tyler Perry etc. However sometimes i wonder is the blame should be placed on the actors who continue to go out for these "black" roles instead of challenging the system.
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