The freedom and openness of media plays a central role in politics and it is often portrayed as a fourth branch of government in democratic systems, such as the United States (Choi, James, 2006). Ideally, the role of the media in a democratic state is to provide a voice for the marginalized in society. Therefore, a failure to ensure press freedom is a democratic failure. This essay will explore the way in which the negative portrayal of African Americans in the media has led to oppressive behaviour targeted towards them by the government, and how this is directly correlated to the status of the United States as a democratic country. Press freedom, within a state, leads to an enlightened understanding of political policies and effective participation
…show more content…
Media socialization is the process of exposing the public to mass communication messages that teach them socially acceptable behaviours (Adams-Bass, Bentley-Edward, Stevenson, 2014). As discussed before, the media not only has the ability to shape the way in which the white majority perceives and understands the realities of racial minorities, but it can also influence African American youth’s understanding of stereotyped images in the media. Studies show that African American youths experience adolescence in the context of culturally stereotypical black media representation (Adams-Bass, Bentley-Edward, Stevenson, 2014). In this process, the government is not only using the media and propaganda to eliminate the political presence of African Americans, but they are also shaping the behavioural characteristics of these minority. The habits of African Americans suggests that youths will accept negative or positive character portrayals and media images as acceptable and expected models of behaviour (Adams-Bass, Bentley-Edward, Stevenson, 2014). The American society and government attempts to limit African American media presence to characters with negative behavioural traits. In doing so they teach young African American youths how to behave inside the boundaries of racial stereotypes. How African American youths understand stereotyped images in the media closely correlates with the way in which they choose to conduct themselves in the society (Adams-Bass, Bentley-Edward, Stevenson, 2014). From a young age, the media and popular culture prison African American’s in stereotyped models of behaviour. Living under strong negative media influences leads to an inability to make informative decision on political matters. This, of course,
Media socialization is the process of exposing the public to mass communication messages that teach them socially acceptable behaviours (Adams-Bass, Bentley-Edward, Stevenson, 2014). As discussed before, the media not only has the ability to shape the way in which the white majority perceives and understands the realities of racial minorities, but it can also influence African American youth’s understanding of stereotyped images in the media. Studies show that African American youths experience adolescence in the context of culturally stereotypical black media representation (Adams-Bass, Bentley-Edward, Stevenson, 2014). In this process, the government is not only using the media and propaganda to eliminate the political presence of African Americans, but they are also shaping the behavioural characteristics of these minority. The habits of African Americans suggests that youths will accept negative or positive character portrayals and media images as acceptable and expected models of behaviour (Adams-Bass, Bentley-Edward, Stevenson, 2014). The American society and government attempts to limit African American media presence to characters with negative behavioural traits. In doing so they teach young African American youths how to behave inside the boundaries of racial stereotypes. How African American youths understand stereotyped images in the media closely correlates with the way in which they choose to conduct themselves in the society (Adams-Bass, Bentley-Edward, Stevenson, 2014). From a young age, the media and popular culture prison African American’s in stereotyped models of behaviour. Living under strong negative media influences leads to an inability to make informative decision on political matters. This, of course,