The Color Of Fear Analysis

As I sat in philosophy class, I listened to the discussion about “The Color of Fear” (documentary). Many people sat quiet in efforts to keep arguments and insults at bay. However, one female stated something that made my thoughts initiate. She loudly and proudly stated, “I’m a white female, as white as they come, and I do not have white privilege”. She finished her statement with a further explanation, “I had a rough life growing up and I never got everything I wanted; therefore, I’m sure I was not privileged by my race”. Even though I wholeheartedly wanted to disagree with her statement, I sat quietly in my seat and pondered about the meaning behind her words. Surely, she didn’t believe that’s what people are talking about when they describe …show more content…
For starters, there is a lack of black representation on television shows and movies. Television shows rarely consist of a leading black character or family. Also, the shows that do have black casts often paint blacks in a stereotypical light. The characters are usually, “ghetto”, loud, negative, or a “thug”. That does not include every show with black casts, just majority. With little to no television shows about blacks receiving a college education, owning a nice house in a nice neighborhood, or simply having a fully functional family, the dreams and goals of African Americans can cease to expand. On another note, media outlets can (mostly do) twist stories and also display “blacks” in a negative light. For example, a video surfaced of a group of boys. According to the news headline, the group of boys were looting and ransacking a McDonalds. They were taking advantage of the riots. However, in reality they entered the McDonalds to retrieve milk for tear-gas victims. Oppression through media-outlets unintentionally shapes our ideas and the way that we perceive “blacks”. This may not seem like an unjust or malicious treatment of the black population; however, perception goes a long way. It makes it extremely hard to pull the “blacks” up onto a higher playing field if you subconsciously feel as though they should be there. If you truly believe that “blacks” are hardened criminals, who live in the …show more content…
Through employment oppression, it’s clear. “Whites” can gain the jobs of their choice and leave the horrible, low-paying jobs for the minorities. They don’t have multiple barriers to hop through, they only have to be “qualified”. Through imprisonment, most of the jails are owned by “whites”, which they then hire “whites” as jailers. Furthermore, the sheriffs and police bringing inmates in are predominantly “white”, the judges, prosecutors, and investors are also primarily white. In addition to their common race, they also have another common factor. That factor is they all get paid to arrest and jail inmates, primarily minority, for how the law see fits. Media-outlet oppression offers benefits that are a little more subtle. “Whites” are offered smart and strong role models. They are offered the glimpse of what they have the potential of becoming with “hard-work”. They also are reminded daily that they are important figures that hold important weight in the structure of society and they are loved. Media-outlets give “whites” the benefit of knowing that with “whiteness” comes power, strength, and