Media Influence on Racism Essay

In the recent past, media is extensively used for various purposes and to see through specific objectives. It is undeniable to state that media has over the years been termed as the most effective tool of passing information, enlightening the world over new findings in various fields like industrialization, technology, agriculture, business, politics, and education among others. Media can and is used to pass on information through messages, photos and videos as each suit a specific task and is termed to be effective. In the modern world, many countries have been in the forefront of raising awareness and fighting against racism. Even with the different measures that have been applied to eradicate any forms of racism, media has still traces and ways that still show how it contributes and influences racism. Media is one of the easily accessible platforms, and because of that, it can be used by different individuals directly and indirectly to influence racism.

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Traces of racism have been identified in various sections of mainstream media. This truth is derived from television news, advertising, and entertainment. In the ancient days, information used to be passed through informal ways like letters, word of mouth and signs. This criterion was used in families, schools, community and also in the different tribes. Such methods did not have traces of racism since it was limited to the same. During the times when media was slowly becoming effective, and people could fathom its usefulness, the whites were thoroughly dominant over it primarily in the United States. The most significant percentage of those who used to work in media houses and platforms were whites (Kulaszewicz 7). That meant that the processing of information, what to indicate and what not to, was decided by the very same people working in the various industries.

One form that vividly shows, the participation of media in promoting racism is the reporting of news especially those relating to crime. A significant number of media houses report crime mentioning the specific race that the criminals belonged to. For example, in Chicago, news anchors stated that "black" criminals engaged in gunshots but were later arrested and handcuffed by white policemen(Kulaszewicz 10). Giving such information is clear evidence that media is in the same lane of bringing up issues of racism. Why mention race? If the media is sensitive to racism, such news would not include phrases like "white" or "black." The same trend has spread throughout the world where crimes committed by blacks are extensively sensitized where broad and extended coverage is given(Kulaszewicz 10). In the present day, the public is sensitive and has diverse perceptions of proving racism.

There is also another concerning subject about how Muslims or Islamic natives are perceived and represented in the media. For example, in the United Kingdom, British Muslims are seen as aliens. Islam is one of the many religious groups that exist all over the world. British Muslims are regarded as one minority race because of their color and their Urdu language. Being white and speaking English is not questioned in the UK as it what the majority are and speak. Also, it is good to note that anyone who is not 'white' in the UK is determined as an outcast this been one form of racism(Saeed 5). This case has been there even in the United States where black people were always perceived as an inferior race and the whites regarded as the superior ones. In Britain, blacks are seen as the minority group. There is a significant number of black people living in the country. Different immigrants get into the state and most of them are black. The immigration is however legal. The media has created a notion that most of those who get into the country through immigration are the blacks(Saeed 8). The press then extends the information by stating that all the illegal conducts are done by black immigrants.

When it comes to entertainment, the same acts and traits of racism are present. There are different structures used when making films and choosing the appropriate characters for various roles. The whites are always portrayed as "elites." In a simple definition, elite characters can take responsibilities and appear presentable in specific roles like being in political power, possession of wealth and be in high social classes(Saeed 7). In most cases, the white people are extensively presented in media as those who have advantageous characteristics over other races. It is possible to find black people being assigned minor roles are those that are illegal.

Black people are in most cases given the roles of drug trafficking or terrorism. If not so, other roles of being whites` assistants are assigned to them. Also, the elite white actors are presented to be the ones dealing with the wrong cases being done by the blacks. Poverty is also another concept directly linked with black people in the media. In most films, black people are seen living as the less fortunate, trolling in poverty and living low standard lives. On the other hand, the white people are seen as prominent and wealthy people lavishing their money on luxuries(Saeed 3). Indirectly, racism is portrayed by choosing such characters, especially that films and all media subjects related to acting are widely accessed globally.

In Canada, issues of racism are present in numerous fields. One of them is in schools. In a specific study that was conducted when students were doing an exam, teachers freely granted the request for a time extension by white students(Saeed 13). On the other hand, black students dared not to ask for extension claiming that the teachers would perceive their "case" of extending the time as unusual. In short, racism is a like a "disease' that has never found the right medicine. In one or another way, any negative cases that are related to the minority races will appear with big headlines in media platforms, and the matter is always sensitized. Some phrases have been linked to specific ethnic groups. Terms like illegal, disturbance, freedom fighters, terrorists and rebels are attached to the behaviors of particular races. For example, in South America, when the word "drag barons" is used to describe the Latin men who are involved in drug trafficking in the media(Van Dijk 39).

Conclusion

In a nutshell, racism is a broad and sensitive matter that needs critical consideration for it to end. The traces of racism shown in the different media platforms are then extensively interpreted by the audience, and from that, the same is applied in numerous ways. Some notions are created through these forms of racism, and they are later perceived to be true by the majority of the public. The media should be a podium where racism is highly condemned and campaigned against and not a vessel of influencing it. Media houses should be precise in evaluating the kind of content to air or show to the public as well as how it should be aired.

Works Cited

Kulaszewicz, Kassia E. "Racism and the Media: A Textual Analysis." (2015).

Saeed, A. (2007). Media, racism, and Islamophobia: The representation of Islam and Muslims in the media. Sociology Compass, 1(2), 443-462.

Van Dijk, Teun A. "New (s) racism: A discourse analytical approach." Ethnic minorities and the media 37 (2000): 33-49.