Representation and reality in the portrayal of blacks on network television & news. Journalism Quarterly 71 (3), 509-502.
Projects .
This article primarily focuses on the portrayal of ethnic minorities, immigrants and refugees in the mass media, especially in the written press. Some references are included about the representation of minorities in television, radio, film, and advertising. Also, only some works are mentioned about minority media and minority journalists.
There was a time when almost all the actors appearing in US motion pictures and television shows were white. As recently as the 1950's and early 1960's, when the civil rights movement challenged legal barriers based on race, blacks and other .
Minorities were mainly used for comic relief in television programs. Programs such as Amos and Andy, which was a highly watched show by whites, but hardly watched from blacks.
Methods.
Prior to 1969 broadcast news covered African Americans as if they did not live normal lives. The race riots of the 1960's prompted President Lyndon Johnson to appoint a committee known as the Kerner Commission. The commission reported that the media played a direct role in the riots because they failed to present viewers with an accurate portrayal of the difficulties and frustrations African Americans face daily. The Stereotypical portrayals of blacks on television news and programming tend to lead people to believe that blacks are loud, harassed, violent, overweight, over-sexed, and savage.
Result.
When it comes to African Americans on television the images shown are mostly of domestic violence, robbery, convictions, police chases, riots, and looting, mostly negative things about African Americans. There are six main stereotypes about African Americans first there is "The Tom" also known as the "Good Negro." The were chased, harassed, hounded, whipped, enslaved, and insulted by someone such as the police or the "Man," the remain imaginative, obedient, generous, and kind.
