Op-Ed 4 (Lexi)

Alexcia Scheinman 

Op-Ed 4: 

https://share.google/G6n3p5EUuXQDUog4T


https://share.google/xaul1rmERU2xRzBxO


  Are you aware that what you are consuming daily is subconsciously leading you to a negative bias and making you close minded? 

  The media has led people to join groups and mindsets that revolve around stereotypes, extremely negative ones at that. Individuals that often are stereotyped upon are black Americans, particularly black men.

  There are heavy weighted stigmatism’s around men, as well as people of color. When there is a man of color, discrimination and stereotypes are wrong enforced.

  This is a cycle that continues on and continues to reinforce inequality and injustice. This cycle is not being broken, because of the daily media, film, television, and music. These so-called outlets fuel fear and create anxiety to individuals who believe said stereotypes and are surrounded by stereotypes.

   What the media portrays, what is said in songs, and what is showed in shows, are all things that are CHOSEN to be released and are represented as “info”. This creates a narrative that people of color are violent and criminal, based on the history of said chosen things.

  The show glee, that was aired on Fox from 2009 to 2015, created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan is a show that is centered around a high school‘s glee club, the main characters all being teenagers, naturally targeting individuals of a younger age. Some of the chosen words in this show partake in a naïve and discriminating manner around people of color.

  People of a young age are easily suede, believe everything they hear to be true, and will try to convince other people information that surrounds them is true. These young individuals may be the ones that are listening to the show that has said stereotypical things such as “I wanted to contact your dad, but I figured he was in jail” when referring to a black man. A lot of the lead roles in Glee that were played by black men were given little to no character development, suggesting that these individuals don’t learn from their mistakes or grow.

  Even if the comments revolve around fictional characters, the over representation of black men and people of color can spark a genuine fear in reality. 

   Next time you are doing your daily media scroll, you can thank it for the disgusting and degrading ideas that are put into people’s heads.

  Minstrel songs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as “The Bully song” by Mary Irwin feature offensive things against black men. Minstrel songs mocked the fact that people of color wanted to have a place in society and made it out to be “comedy”.

  “The bully song” portrays a violent black male who was jealous of his wife. Putting a stereotype into lyrics and categorizing it as “something that people should sing along to.”

  Music throughout different eras has put it into song that black men are violent and lazy. This continues to happen in present day popular music. 

  It is popularized in media to see these harmful and unintelligent comments. Subconsciously the “popular”aspect of it all makes it easier to believe these comments are ok and allows room for people to justify ignorance and believe it.

  On the flip-side, there is a lack of diversity behind the scenes in the media industry, which ultimately leads to having the same effect. Creating ongoing racial disparities.

   As a society, we are desensitized to the constant pressure of trying to please an audience and the lengths people will go to do such. A study by scholar strategy network states, “producers may cater to the existing prejudices of a predominantly white audience. These portrayals, which confirm fears or racist assumptions, are seen as a safe way to attract viewership.” These portrayals are existent because of stereotypes, everything falls back on them. 

 More needs to fall on us as an audience. 

  For civilians who are located in predominantly white/urban areas, the media may be the only source of perception they have of people of color. Causing people of color to fight battles they didn’t pick simply because of someone else’s view of them.

  Instead of clicking share on media that baits people, share the reasons behind why the baiting works.

  Stop being close minded and following naive stereotypes. Create a narrative that allows for human connection not judgement. 



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