Minorities in Mass Media

Mahogany S. Hutchins
NC A&T State University
M.B. Soloman
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Along with media, minorities have truly evolved in the industry. From

Mary Ann Shadd Cary to Shonda Rhimes, it is evident that minorities are

still striving for equality in a predominately white American society. Not

only are minorities striving for equality, but also for their voices to be heard

by standing on various communication platforms. Mass media is one of the

most powerful influences on society, but it lacks positive representation of

ethnic minorities and overly emphasizes stereotypes.

Mass media is defined as any type of communication that reaches a

large audience. The different communication styles such as oral, written,

and virtual all play a critical role in the creation of culture. The media

impacts society in various, essential ways. According to ​Racism, Sexism,

and the Media,​ the media functions as surveillance, entertainment,

economic service, transmission, and correlation (Wilson, et al. 34).

According to Professor Kerwin Speight, six companies control ninety

percent of everything that is watched, read, or listened to (Week 3

Powerpoint). “​Almost a quarter of the world’s population is now on

Facebook. In the USA nearly 80% of all internet users are on this platform.
 Social networks feed off interactions among people, they become

more powerful as they grow” (Maryanne Gaitho, 2017).

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Although media is influential, it lacks the consciousness to represent

all ethnic groups accordingly. Unfortunately, in order for minorities to gain

access to the entertainment industry, they must surrender their beliefs to

the dominant ideology (Week 3 Powerpoint). A more in-depth

understanding of this practice comes from ​Split Image: African Americans

In The Mass Media​: “The adoption of black male children into middle-class

white American homes on television allowed creators opportunities to send

conscious and subconscious and subconscious messages to viewers about

molding males, possibly making them more acceptable to whites” (Dates

and Barlow, 1990). Examples of this can be found in TV shows such as

Different Strokes,​ ​Webster,​ and G

​ imme A Break​. Another example of the

media’s lack of consciousness toward minorities can be seen through

peaceful protests. Actions from some of America’s greatest figures, such as

Colin Kaepernick, H&M, Black Lives Matter, etc., are examples of how

media plays a critical part when it comes to speaking out on equal rights.

For centuries, minorities have fought with their blood, sweat, and tears to

gain the same treatment that is given to the majority. Although the struggle
for equality has been monotonous, their are some individuals who have

dedicated to keep their feet in the fire of inequality. An example of these

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type of individuals is Emma L. Bowen, she started a foundation that is

aimed towards minority. According to ​The Emma Bowen Foundation

Application​, “The Emma Bowen Foundation is a nonprofit organization

that is building a more diverse media and tech industry by recruiting

promising students of color like you and placing them in multi-year paid

internships at some of the nation’s leading companies” (Emma Bowen

Foundation).

Sexism and stereotyping are also linked into the chain of ethical

issues that society faces. As stated in ​Gendered Media: The Influence of

Media on Views of Gender​, “In general, media continues to present both

women and men in stereotyped ways that limit our perceptions of human

portrayed as powerful, sexually aggressive, and dominant, while women are

portrayed as sex objects, dependent, and incompetent. Along with the

stereotypical images of sexism, racial stereotyping is essential to the

misrepresentation of American life. In the US, whites are typically

associated with privilege and superiority. While on the other hand, ​Race

and Ethnicity Archives​ believes minorities are associated with inferiority

and irrational. Races other than white, have been portrayed as low-class

individuals in mainstream America (Critical Media Project, 2017).

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Their is still work to do when it comes to allowing more people of

color into the news and writing rooms of the six companies that were

previously mentioned. Although this problem persists, minorities are still

making tremendous progress towards breaking down the inequality barrier.

“In 1964, Sidney Poitier was the first African-American to win an Academy

Award for best actor. The win was a landmark moment not only because of

the honor bestowed on him by his peers, but because Poitier was known to

refuse the stereotypical roles typically offered to African Americans actors”

(Critical Media Project, 2017). Since the 1960s, non-white people in the

media have made their presence known by gaining a large amount of

recognition and accumulating accolades for their work. People like Viola

Davis, Will Smith, Beyonce, Denzel Washington, Lupita Nyong'o, Oprah

Winfrey, Kerry Washington, Kendrick Lamar etc., are prime examples of

black excellence. Not only are they breaking barriers, but they continue to

advocate for minorities to receive the same respect and opportunities as

white people.
 In conclusion, ​mass media is one of the most powerful influences on

society, but it lacks positive representation of ethnic minorities and overly

emphasizes stereotypes. ​Media has grown to the point where it has taken

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dominated over society and shaped culture. Although ethnic minorities

struggle with inequality, stereotypes, and sexism, the society is still thriving

as time evolves and barriers fall.