How The Media Consistently Presents a Warped Portrayal of Black People

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By Janica Maya

The media plays a critical role as an essential institution in any nation – mainly towards disseminating information and stories for mass consumption. Therefore defining, reinforcing and shaping values, cultural norms and the society, at large.

However, media can manipulate viewers on what is true by producing deceptive messages in films, Television, news and popular social media platforms. As media continues to portray Black people with false images of them, it perpetuates stereotypes and racism against the Black communities. ​

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The portrayal of Black people in the media affects the way others perceive them in reality. A distorted representation creates problematic understandings and attitudes amongst viewers and media consumers. For instance, media negatively associates Black men with criminality, violence, unemployment and poverty. Audiences with little to no knowledge and experience of how media works would perceive this image as the true realities of many Black men. It is dangerous to mistake the media as a reflection of the real world.

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Isis Dallis, writer and President of Bukwild, says in an open letter to the media industry:
“As image-makers and storytellers, we contribute to the images, messages, and perceptions that circulate within our society and culture. They have the power to make people feel fearful of others, or the power to make them feel safe.”People act and treat Black people differently because of the way the media negatively represents them. Through those perceived notions, they experience covert racism such as someone clutching their purse when passing by them or not hiring them because they don’t look a certain way. ​

The representation of Black people in the media has not only had a negative impact on how others perceive them, but also their very perception of themselves. Constantly dealing with negative stereotypes can affect their self-esteem and expectations. Being labelled as unintelligent or under-achieving can cause a lack of confidence in school and in the workforce. The importance of representation in the media is fundamental to providing fair and accurate stories of the Black community. Having Black representation in the media production process, including newsrooms and as policy makers can challenge the dominant narrative of Black misrepresentation and present to the world the unadulterated Black experience.

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Besides entertainment, news is another form of media regulating the negative narrative surrounding Black representation. The racialization of news on the coverage of the anti-Black racism protests has had a negative consequence on the social movements on this issue in the past, as well as on Black communities. News coverage of the protest mostly includes images of riots highlighting danger, destruction, disorder and other criminal acts. Jason Johnson – Politics & Journalism Professor at the Morgan State University says: “Much of the damage attributed to protestors is often the result of police action or inaction in the face of lawful public behaviour.”

News media delivering incomplete stories of these protests means viewers would gain inadequate information, thus sustaining the negative narratives of Black individuals constructed in other media outlets such as film and TV. The news emphasizes the disruption of the protest, as it echoes politicians who label protestors as thugs. It overshadows the social issues protested and instead publicizes and maintains the image of criminality and violence within the Black communities. ​

There has been less news coverage on the protest of Anti-Black Racism since the first large demonstration, and one may start to believe the protests have stopped. However, the fight against the issue is a continuous battle and organizations worldwide are continuing to speak out.

Let us know your opinion on media’s consistent misrepresentation of Black people by clicking here. ​