The media is a reflection of what people think, expect, and assume to be true. So when images of certain races, groups, and religions are portrayed, many people accept what they see and manifest it into their interactions with other people.
There is the constant image of the white woman and the black male walking the same path, and the white woman clutches her purse. There is the image of the white officer brutalizing an African American man. The image of the black male robbing the local convenient store. The image of the black male in the orange jumpsuit behind bars. The image of the black male standing on the corner all day smoking and drinking. The image of the black male with a basketball in hand and NBA dreams. This isn't to say that these images do not exist in real life, but they are magnified to the point where people think that every African American male does these things. These images aren't necessarily helpful for African American men who are trying to advance their race.
The style of dress is the first thing correlated to an African American male. In movies, videos, and photographs, the black man is usually identifiable in baggy, cheap clothing. You’ll see images of an intoxicated, slang using, gang banging male who is either on a path to jail or the cemetery. Black males don’t all dress, speak and act this way, but the media and society constantly reproduce these images, this is usually how stereotypes form.
Intelligence is something that any man can possess, especially an African American man. Intelligence is often overlooked by the stereotypes thrust onto the shoulders of the black man. Many African American males have the potential and more to achieve what they dream of. They just keep getting thrown backwards because of stereotypes that have plagued the minds of society. Blaming the media and society will never be an excuse, or a sole factor but it is definitely a factor.
Many people say that black males lack goals and ambition. I’d argue it’s more so, a lack of windows of opportunity. There are males who have dreams and ideas for owning businesses, graduating college, having careers and starting families; the window of opportunity for the African American male is smaller than it is for males of other races and members of the opposite sex. It’s almost as if society and pop culture limits the black man to being a rapper or athlete.
There is a lack of expectation when it comes to African American males. Statistics and studies foreshadow the failure of males. It’s almost as if some men don’t reach their full potential because the media rotates the image of the black male at the bottom of the barrel. It’s as if some black men don’t strive because their minds and eyes aren’t being penetrated by positive images of successful black men. Keep in mind that much of media today affects the subconscious mind. We think we’re watching for entertainment -- in reality our minds are being filled with images of what society says is real and what society wants you to know.
Yes the media hurls these often negative images of the black male out there but that doesn’t mean it is all true. Although some of these images do ring true, they do not apply to all men of color. There are plenty of men who are CEO’s, business men, entrepreneurs, college graduates and family men; they’re just overshadowed by negative images. These negative images are present and constant but they serve as both discouragement and motivation for the African American male.
There is the constant image of the white woman and the black male walking the same path, and the white woman clutches her purse. There is the image of the white officer brutalizing an African American man. The image of the black male robbing the local convenient store. The image of the black male in the orange jumpsuit behind bars. The image of the black male standing on the corner all day smoking and drinking. The image of the black male with a basketball in hand and NBA dreams. This isn't to say that these images do not exist in real life, but they are magnified to the point where people think that every African American male does these things. These images aren't necessarily helpful for African American men who are trying to advance their race.
The style of dress is the first thing correlated to an African American male. In movies, videos, and photographs, the black man is usually identifiable in baggy, cheap clothing. You’ll see images of an intoxicated, slang using, gang banging male who is either on a path to jail or the cemetery. Black males don’t all dress, speak and act this way, but the media and society constantly reproduce these images, this is usually how stereotypes form.
Intelligence is something that any man can possess, especially an African American man. Intelligence is often overlooked by the stereotypes thrust onto the shoulders of the black man. Many African American males have the potential and more to achieve what they dream of. They just keep getting thrown backwards because of stereotypes that have plagued the minds of society. Blaming the media and society will never be an excuse, or a sole factor but it is definitely a factor.
Many people say that black males lack goals and ambition. I’d argue it’s more so, a lack of windows of opportunity. There are males who have dreams and ideas for owning businesses, graduating college, having careers and starting families; the window of opportunity for the African American male is smaller than it is for males of other races and members of the opposite sex. It’s almost as if society and pop culture limits the black man to being a rapper or athlete.
There is a lack of expectation when it comes to African American males. Statistics and studies foreshadow the failure of males. It’s almost as if some men don’t reach their full potential because the media rotates the image of the black male at the bottom of the barrel. It’s as if some black men don’t strive because their minds and eyes aren’t being penetrated by positive images of successful black men. Keep in mind that much of media today affects the subconscious mind. We think we’re watching for entertainment -- in reality our minds are being filled with images of what society says is real and what society wants you to know.
Yes the media hurls these often negative images of the black male out there but that doesn’t mean it is all true. Although some of these images do ring true, they do not apply to all men of color. There are plenty of men who are CEO’s, business men, entrepreneurs, college graduates and family men; they’re just overshadowed by negative images. These negative images are present and constant but they serve as both discouragement and motivation for the African American male.