In her book Black Sexual Politics, Patricia Hill Collins states, “The growing interconnectedness of prison, street, and youth culture, with the importance given to hierarchies of masculinity, became repackaged and sold within the commoditized relations of global mass media. These ideas now permeate not only African American culture but also have become markers of a new form of authentic Blackness” (Collins, pg. 211). In my personal opinion, I agree with Patricia Hill Collins’ view on how African Americans are represented in global mass media. Not a day goes by that you do not see some sort of negative representation presented by mass media of the African American culture. To have a better understanding of how mass media represents “authentic”
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We will also look at how some African Americans are using this representation to their advantage. The first representation that comes to mind when thinking of how African American society is represented in mass media, and how it can sway our perception is the idea that African Americans are only in the poor and working-class. Patricia Hill Collins states, “Some representations of blackness (in mass media) become commonsense “truth.” For example, the experiences of poor and working-class Black men may be established as being more authentically black than those of middle- and upper-middle class African American men” (Collins pg. 151-152). This makes sense because it is the most prominent …show more content…
Patricia Hill Collins validates this by stating, “Black women are routinely typecast as prostitutes in contemporary mass media. From network television to feature films, when prostitutes are depicted, typically one or more are African American” (Collins, pg. 198). A more specific example of African American women being sexualized can be found in the hip-hop industries music videos, where, in any video you see, you can see a half-dressed African American women dancing. Or within the lyrics of hip-hop music, you can hear artist rap about African American women, and women in general in a sexual manner. This depiction of African American women causes them to be seen as “the other” in society, and to be viewed as more sexualized than other women, due to their increased sexualized depiction in mass
We will also look at how some African Americans are using this representation to their advantage. The first representation that comes to mind when thinking of how African American society is represented in mass media, and how it can sway our perception is the idea that African Americans are only in the poor and working-class. Patricia Hill Collins states, “Some representations of blackness (in mass media) become commonsense “truth.” For example, the experiences of poor and working-class Black men may be established as being more authentically black than those of middle- and upper-middle class African American men” (Collins pg. 151-152). This makes sense because it is the most prominent …show more content…
Patricia Hill Collins validates this by stating, “Black women are routinely typecast as prostitutes in contemporary mass media. From network television to feature films, when prostitutes are depicted, typically one or more are African American” (Collins, pg. 198). A more specific example of African American women being sexualized can be found in the hip-hop industries music videos, where, in any video you see, you can see a half-dressed African American women dancing. Or within the lyrics of hip-hop music, you can hear artist rap about African American women, and women in general in a sexual manner. This depiction of African American women causes them to be seen as “the other” in society, and to be viewed as more sexualized than other women, due to their increased sexualized depiction in mass