In today’s world, people depend on the media for different information. The media is the primary source of information for many people. With the rising of digital media and smartphones, many people rely on these devices for first-hand information. An individual may know information about a place or a person when they have never reached the place or seen the person. It is because of the media that people get to know a lot of information on different things. The media can also be used to assist people in learning and spreading different messages. The media can also spread false or misinterpret information. Misinterpretation and misrepresentation are very common in different media stations. Since many individuals depend on the media for news, many people can get the wrong idea about something depending on how the media has represented the data. There are many cases where the media has misrepresented information, as seen in the next paragraph. This work aims to analyze how the media misrepresents African American ethnic groups.
The American Post speaks about how the media interprets people of color different from white people. For instance, when one is reading a magazine, they may come across an article that speaks about an African-American person. Most of them are depicted as poor people, people who cannot go far, and need help so that they can sustain themselves. The media often refers to the black people as the minority and people who much need assistance form society. Although the situation may not be that bad, the media often makes it look like it is terrible to be an African-American person judging from the way they suffer. In most of the media headlines and topics that refer to race, crime, of poverty, people of African descent are usually on the top priority. Most of these individuals are typically associated with not only poverty but also crimes, little education, among other bad things. Since people put their trust in the media and depend on it for different types of information, they are likely to believe all the information that the media reports. Although most of the data primarily related to race, ethnicity, religion, and gender are usually exaggerated, many people tend to believe since many of the sources are generally legit. For instance, if the media may report that African-American people are the ones who are likely to engage in crimes or their life is usually the worst, many people will tend to believe. Even though the situation may not be that bad for many black people around the world, the media makes it look very ad, giving a different view on the race.
It is not only in the news that people of the black race are misrepresented but also in movies. Most of them are given roles that show they are weak, criminals, or even terrorists. For instance, in many soap operas, black women are given the part of a house help or a poor person suffering to earn a living. When an individual watches such movies, they are bound to believe that most black people are poor or criminals. It is, therefore, necessary for most media houses to clarify their information since not every one of African origin is poor or a criminal. Some of the black people live good lives, just like the non-blacks. The media should, therefore, stop the notion that people of Africa origin are poor because it misleads the public. Mass communication should educate and speak based on facts and not assumptions. The way the media portrays the non-whites makes it look like they suffer a lot, and they are always calling for help. It is in the work of the media to educate and not to fill the minds of their audiences with information that may make other people feel discriminated. Although some African-American people live hard lives and may need help, it does not mean that all of them live these kinds of experiences. Several people are non-whites and live a good life. Other white people live in a bad state and are not featured in the media.
The media should, therefore, be ready to give people true information so that to assist in spreading the truth. It may be wrong if individuals live on lies, as seen on how the current society portrays the black people. Many of the people who have put their trust in media may get wrong information, which may, in turn, change their perception of an individual, group, or even an organization. It this person views a particular group as bad; they may end up hating them or judging them wrongly. It is, therefore, the work of the media to make sure that they offer information that may not mislead people. Many of the people nowadays have entrusted themselves in the press, giving it a priority to share different information.