CSA Reflection

Maddie D

Reflecting on this question led me to a google search about representation of Black Americans in the media. I happened upon a study performed by Dr. Travis L. Dixon reported under the title “A Dangerous Distortion of our Families.” The study examines how families are represented in the news and media throughout the United States based on race. The study really stood out to me because it made me realize some of the subconscious biases I was not aware of yet that have probably been caused by the representation I see of people of color in the news. 

Overall, the study found that news outlets and other media disproportionally portray families living is poverty as Black families, suggest a disproportionate amount of Black families receive welfare compared to White families, falsely show Black fathers as often uninvolved in their children’s lives, and overrepresent the connection between Black families and criminal behavior ( read the study here: https://colorofchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/COC-FS-Families-Representation-Report_Full_121217.pdf )                                                                                                                        All of these findings go to show what Black skin often represents in our media as a racist society: helplessness, irresponsibility, and criminality. It is a terrible depiction that is constant in the media we consume. As a white person, I don’t think many white people are aware that the news they are consuming misconstrues reality in such a concerning way, even if they think that their preferred news source matches with their values. In the chart below you can see how often Black families are portrayed as poor on various TV networks. This is concerning for a number of reasons, but something that comes to my mind is the fear of poor people that is instilled in middle and upper class individuals. I think that middle and upper class families are taught to be afraid of being poor, which can turn into being afraid of individuals and communities who are poor. I think that this fear is combined with the many other unjust stereotypes to create fear of Black people in the news, and goes to show just how prominent racism is in our day to day lives.  








Comments

  1. Catherine BolzendahlFebruary 5, 2023 at 3:23 PM

    Here is the post in an easier to read format:

    Reflecting on this question led me to a google search about representation of Black Americans in the media. I happened upon a study performed by Dr. Travis L. Dixon reported under the title “A Dangerous Distortion of our Families.” The study examines how families are represented in the news and media throughout the United States based on race. The study really stood out to me because it made me realize some of the subconscious biases I was not aware of yet that have probably been caused by the representation I see of people of color in the news.


    Overall, the study found that news outlets and other media disproportionally portray families living is poverty as Black families, suggest a disproportionate amount of Black families receive welfare compared to White families, falsely show Black fathers as often uninvolved in their children’s lives, and overrepresent the connection between Black families and criminal behavior ( read the study here: https://colorofchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/COC-FS-Families-Representation-Report_Full_121217.pdf ) All of these findings go to show what Black skin often represents in our media as a racist society: helplessness, irresponsibility, and criminality. It is a terrible depiction that is constant in the media we consume. As a white person, I don’t think many white people are aware that the news they are consuming misconstrues reality in such a concerning way, even if they think that their preferred news source matches with their values. In the chart below you can see how often Black families are portrayed as poor on various TV networks. This is concerning for a number of reasons, but something that comes to my mind is the fear of poor people that is instilled in middle and upper class individuals. I think that middle and upper class families are taught to be afraid of being poor, which can turn into being afraid of individuals and communities who are poor. I think that this fear is combined with the many other unjust stereotypes to create fear of Black people in the news, and goes to show just how prominent racism is in our day to day lives.

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  2. Catherine BolzendahlFebruary 5, 2023 at 3:24 PM

    Thinking about how media can shape perceptions of race and inequality and perpetuate racism is really important. One of the things we know is that people are living segregated by race but also increasingly by class. When we are not sharing the same places and spaces the media may have even more power to shape perceptions - for good and for bad.

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