Social Media and Racism

http://www.stopracism.ca/content/racism-and-media

Continuing off of the theme of my blogs, the media plays a critical role in the lives of almost everyone in the world, whether you have social media or not. The reasoning behind this is: when someone says something online, it usually affects an audience bigger then just the other person who is receiving the statement. A very suitable example of this is racism.

In the article “Racism and the Media,” written by Yasmin Jiwani, it is stated that, “any difference was constructed as a negative sign and imbued with connotations of threat, invasion, pollution and the like.” The meaning of this quote is that people who are different or not normal, are referred to as just simply “others.” “They” were criminals; “they” were dirty; “they” caused trouble and disease; “they” had to be segregated from “civilized” society. However, we let the color of peoples skin get in the way of many things. Skin color should never be judged or ultimately stop anyone from becoming what they truly want to be in life.

Most people wonder, how is Racism Evident in our Country? Racism has been going on in our society ever since we can remember. It is evident in our society today through social media. Racial slurs are thrown around on social media everyday whether we notice it or not.

I remember the day that the Ferguson Decision broke out, and though this didn't start on social media, however it still ended up on the web. When the decision was made there were so many people tweeting and instagraming how the right decision was made and how it was the "white" cop did the right thing to the "black guy." One can only imagine how the race of the “black guy” feels.... They were probably ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations that seem to be continuing over the years. They must also have been FRUSTRATED because pop culture, music, and movies glorify these types of police citizen altercations and promote an invincible attitude that continues to get young men killed in real life, away from safety movie sets and music studios. They must have been FEARFUL because in the back of their minds they know that although they are law abiding citizen, they can still be looked upon as a "threat" even to those who don’t really know them. They must also feel  EMBARRASSED because the looting, violent protest, and law breaking only confirm, and in the minds of  many, validate, the stereotypes and thus the inferior treatment. Lastly it is right to say there must have been SADNESS in their hearts because another young life was lost from his family, thus the racial divide has widened, a community is in hurt and hatred, and we may never know the truth about what happened that day. 

"Racism and the Media." Stop Racism and Hate Collective. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.