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HOW BLACKS ARE PORTRAYED IN THE MEDIA
By Darlene Lewis
Last edited: Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Posted: Wednesday, March 14, 2007
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Television, once a vital source of information, has been filled with yellow journalism, mysogyny, and commercialism. With all of the strides that people of color have made, they are still portrayed negatively and stereotypically in the media.
Portrayals of African Americans on Television::
I feel that the portrayal of African Americans on network or cable TV has been limited to a degree to a form of stereotypical roles. I do not think that the portrayal of African descendents are valid due to the fact there are several types of African Americans in this country and neither of the networks or cable stations for that matter do a great job in relaying that fact. The men are either portrayed as owning a business while their women work, or they seem to all work for network television or a vending machine company as if that was all African American men do. The networks never show men in their actual roles, like single fathers without the great jobs, they never show women in a their natural state. The women are either over polished, made up to look like European women.
The networks seldom show the many descendents of Africa in a positive light because the people behind the scenes are not always people from that Diaspora. As an African American female with Spanish Nigerian and Black Foot Native American ancestry, I do not see my likeness portrayed. I am an educated business minded woman and I do not see that portrayed on television as much as need be. We need more shows promoting the intellectual and motivated woman, mother, sister and girlfriend. We are more than just sex kittens, gold diggers, welfare recipients or mothers of troubled youth.
I do not wish to see anymore shows that portray the business women of color as being childless, manless and hopeless. I have twins, I have my own TV show, I also design websites and I produce music. I manage a recording artist and a small fashion design line by the same artist respectively. I also write grants for non profits and I have raised money for a hospital's residency program.
This type of multitasked individual does not exist according to network TV, but I am living proof that we do exist. Writers must come to the table to bring these types of situations to the forefront so that advertising dollars can be distributed equally and accurately.
When Dorothy Dandridge, Nat King Cole, Dianne Carroll and Bill Cosby got their feet in the doors network television felt that was enough "blackism". Well it is not. These individuals have contributed a great deal, but they did not speak for the masses. Oprah Winfrey, who has made millions if not billions of dollars for network TV has not recruited anyone to pick up the ball where she left off. She is not married, she has not recognized offspring that will inherit her wealth. She does not accept materials from writers of color unless she can claim the script. It is a shame that she spends countless hours a day promoting products that do not benefit people of color. She is only one woman with a lot of power and she does not reach out to the urban areas unless it is sweeps period. I am not impressed with her although I am glad to see her accomplish what she has.
I want to see a conglomeration of people of color getting together to build a new network. We almost had it with Mr. Johnson who once owned BET but sold that to Viacom to purchase an airport. I want to see better writers, diversity in the network and on television, less sitcoms, more realistic type programming, not reality show that ridicule and humiliate. Television was once an education vehicle, now it has gone to the dogs, where news about an exposed body part gets more ratings than the untimely death of a soldier.
Darlene Lewis
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Site: Future Network Productions
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"HOW BLACKS ARE PORTRAYED IN THE MEDIA"
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| Reviewed by Eugene Williams |
11/16/2009 |
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| finding a happy medium is extremely difficult 40 percent of Tv is comedy based the 50% violence or mellow dramatic the rest reality with no real reality in it just crap. drawing a breeching the divid to show a more realistic view of African American life style or how African Americans protray themseleves in my opinion is no different than how any good decent persons lives there life and cares for there family. I believe that is were the need in the media should be showing all people reguardless of there color that we are all the same when we realise that then the need to protray people out of charactor will go away but we like separating ourselves in the media and in our life styles, and most of all in our opinion of how the world sees us.. sad but thats just seems to be the way it is.. |
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| Reviewed by Tracie Christian |
5/11/2009 |
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Bravo, Bravo My Sister on a very well written piece. I agree with many of the points this article focuses on however, I would like to take it a step farther if I may. As stated African-Americans are hugely misrepresented in network as well as cable television true. On the flip side, ten years ago the outlook for representation on television for minorities period was even worse! At the risk of sounding cliche`, I'll just say..we have come a long way.
It should now be because of how far we've come...that we, meaning African Americans and monorities across the board should be striving to go even further! If no one is writing about progressive, multi-faceted, well-rounded characters that look like you, then write them yourself or create a venue for those who would like to and put them on. If no one is banding together to create a network for which programming is geared toward people of color...then let's start the campaign and get it going. If no one is investing in quality African American programming, then maybe it is high time that we start investing in ourselves! I AM A WRITER...AND I CARE ABOUT THE DEPICTION OF MY PEOPOLE! Therefore, there must be more that I and we can do to change what we don't see. Afterall, we can't spend all of our time simply crying, whining and talking about the problem. If we did...then we'd surely become part of the problem rather than the avenue towards a solution to said problem. Just food for thought! |
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| Reviewed by Stephanie Webb |
4/25/2009 |
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Hi Darlene, this is very interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Steph |
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| Reviewed by Keith Rowley |
12/3/2008 |
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Thank you for a well written and quite fascinating article, Darlene. You make valid points. Many of us though would truly like race to become a non-issue. Living in a country (South Africa) where there is an obsession with race has really colored my view (pun intended).
I work with a very diverse group of Africans - white, black and all shades between - and as a manager I couldn't give a damn about their skin color - only their talent and the application thereof.
The media in general provides unrealistic depictions not only of black people, but of all people.TV is, after all, primarily an entertainment medium. Surely only a dumb-a*s would take such caricatures at face value?
Your point on Oprah I understand, but cannot agree with.Oprah has given so generously to so many needy people (here in SA too), that I think she's beyond reproach in her generosity. For her to focus only or mainly on assisting black people would perpetuate an emphasis on race that is ultimately counter productive I think.
Thanks again for a fascinating write.
Keith |
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| Reviewed by Alley Cat Slick |
11/5/2007 |
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| This was a well written piece, and sadly enough your observations are accurate. We (referring to African descendants)really need to hit the media where it hurts; in their wallets and boycott these films or flicks that depict us in a negative light. |
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| Reviewed by Mary Coe |
6/13/2007 |
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| Very well written. Great article. My daughter, also, is a grant writer among other things. Her line of work is communication. Thanks for sharing this important info. |
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| Reviewed by Karen Vanderlaan |
3/14/2007 |
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| important write-good for you |
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