Today we live in an open minded society. Gone are times where daily life is governed by racial status and segregation policies. Right? In many cases, this rings true. However, the media has a way of sneaking those nasty little cultural labels in every where we look. Case in point: The most recent McDonald commercials all have lyrically talented African Americans. Want another example; good credit commercials always depict a Caucasian with the sole intent to maintain their good credit score. My question to you, is this not a modern day example of racism, an updated version of stereotyping. The media controls how we think, what we think, and why we consider it factual and finite.
Unfortunately those negative stereotypes are sometimes warranted. If you saw a black man, wearing baggy pants, a cap and iced out jewelry, he would be considered a thug. Chances are he is a thug, gang banger, or drug dealer, an atrocious individual destroying his own neighborhood. If you saw a white man, we automatically think he’s a middle class white collar worker doing right by society. And our oriental friends are always presumed to own some type of hair supply depot or food restaurant. Sound familiar?
These social stereotypes didn’t just appear through happenstance. Some of us perpetuate every single generalization that is depicted through mainstream media, including the negative views. When will we start to view people from an individual point of view? When will we want to stray from the norm, act outside of the box?
Written By Phelicia S.S.
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