The Generation Gap in the Media

            The older generation verses the younger generation is one of the impacts of the negative images of African-Americans in the media. In 1900-1915, the media, in terms of African-Americans, was not focused on being famous but getting their point across (Sylvester). Thanks to the help of our ancestors, we as African-Americans have the chance to be in the spotlight, but instead of using this benefit to build our people up, we are using it to tear our image down. This comes from African-Americans doing anything just to become famous. In the early 1900's, our ancestors became well known by doing things that could help our race as well as others. If they were honored or made it to the newspaper, it was not expected. In other words, as earlier stated, they did not live to become famous. Today's generation has its priorities backwards. Instead of taking after what people have done in the past and getting famous "by accident," we "live" to become famous and be in the media. This is most of the negative images, such as absence of males in the family; women as sex objects; males being shown as criminals; and rappers and their lyrical content, come from. Major broadcasting companies, such as Time Warner, Walt Disney, Viacom, and Sony, control 90% of the information and entertainment that the world sees (YAAMS.org). Most, if not all, of these companies are owned and operated by races other than African-Americans. These people know that this generation of African-American will do just about anything in order to be in the media. In other words, they will take for granted what their ancestors helped them to earn, fame by respect, and instead do anything to receive fame. So these broadcasting companies make roles that discriminate the African-American race and make it seem as if it is the truth by getting African-Americans to act the part out. This is why if a non-African American person were to say that all African-Americans are poor, even if they had never seen an African American person before, they would believe this statement because of the media.