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Racial stereotypes in media and society
Influence of media in stereotypes
Racial stereotypes in media and society
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Racial stereotyping in the media should be stopped because it teaches thee current
generation to embrace the views before them.
For countless years, various religious and ethnic groups have been portrayed on television
based on the popular and, many times, erroneous stereotypes. Past generations have grown up
with their religion or ethnic group exposed in a light that may be very negative and insulting to
their culture. Television over the years has molded the minds of its viewers – young and
molding the minds of young viewers and showing them that the way a certain group of people
are being portrayed, is the way they really are. Particular groups of people are though, shown in a
particularly good light, but in that are becoming narrow-minded, and feelings of superiority
could begin to rise.
As if children today are not dealing with enough, the media certainly is not
helping. Television is making the shows out to seem like one race is better than another. For
instance, the stereotype that black people always have guns, are in gangs, or can play
basketball. And also the idea that white people are rich people that are scared of the black
people. When these views are reflected onto young viewers, their thinking towards certain
groups, or themselves could change drastically.
For example, the television show Good Times from the 1970s. Good Times features the
Evans family. This black family of five living in a cramped two bedroom apartment. Mr.
Evans is, more often than not, characterized as an unintelligent man because he as can
hardly read and write and is therefore forced to work at a low paying job dead in jobs.. He is also
portrayed as a man who is jealous of his own wif...
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Some people fought for so long to get away from the racist mindset that people are less others.
Allowing racist attitudes to flourish in modern television is only turning back time. If things
keep up as they are going, a whole new generation of close minded people, and feelings of
superiority to will began to rise to the forefront, and so much of the equality that has been fought
for so long will be lost.
Works Cited
Frazier, Miriam. Stereotypes in the Media Hannah Willis. 12 December 2011.
Maurice, Joseph.Racial Stereotypes in Televison Hannah Willis. 12 December 2011.
"Racial Sterotypes on TV. Masonross" 30 October 2008: 1.
Senghas, Sarah. "Racial Sterotypes and the Media."Associated Content 27 Novermber 2011: 1-2.
That 70's Show. Dir. David Trainer. Perf. Kutchor. 1998.
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