“BLACKNESS” IN THE MEDIA
The Black Student Union Presents:
Warning: This event will include spoilers
LET’s GET FACTUAL!
Here’s what some sources are saying about black media
“The most negative impact is upon Black individuals themselves. Derogatory portrayal can demoralize and reduce self-esteem. They become victims of perception.” -The Guardian
“Communication research suggest that the mass media are an important source of information about African Americans and media portrayals contribute to public perceptions of African Americans. This study has argued that Black images on television may cause viewers to conceive, alter, or even reinforce their beliefs and opinions about Blacks.” (241)
“[Young Black Women] reject the negativity, even more so than the older group, and are uncomfortable with people from other cultures seeing it.” - Washington Post
“I think it is vital and critical to have a specific outlet for this population. The mainstream media is still very separate and there are not a lot of opportunities for [Black people] to speak and be heard.” - Columbia Journalism Review
WHat is Black Media?
“Publications and, more recently, radio and television stations owned and operated by African- Americans have provided an important counterweight to mass market media, simultaneously celebrating and shaping black culture- from politics and government to fashion and music.” – New York Times
Insecure Trailer
Power Trailer
Blackish trailer
1.
Careers
Discussion about being black in the workplace and how this is portrayed in Black media
“Carbado and Gulati note that minority professionals tread cautiously to avoid upsetting the majority group’s sensibilities. Put simply, they can be visibly Black, but don’t want to be perceived as stereotypically Black.”
- The Atlantic
What struggles do Minorities face in the workplace? Do they differ depending on gender?
Issa works for a non-profit organization “We Got Y’all”
Should we be the spokesperson for all Black people while in white spaces?
Dre is the first black senior vice president of the company but of the urban division
Being given a pro-Black position, is that degrading or should you feel empowered?
Black Women In the workplace
Molly is a lawyer and the only senior Black woman at her firm who feels pressure to maintain a certain image at work
Olivia Pope from Scandal is a powerful Black women working in the US government
Mary Jane Paul from Being Mary Jane is a successful cable news anchor
Should we “switch it up” in the workplace to avoid being seen as unprofessional?
What makes Ghost a successful businessman? Is he a realistic representation of a hard working black man in America?
2.
Love, Sex, Relationships
Discussion about Black love, sex, relationships and all the themes surrounding in Black media
Do men have a responsibility to make sure their woman is fulfilled by them in their relationship?
LET’S TALK!
Is it more socially acceptable for a woman to cheat on a man than it is for a man to cheat on a woman?
LET’S TALK!
LET’S GET REAL
How is the experience of being cheated on different for a man versus a woman?
Black women are stereotyped as Undesirable in black media
Do black women have too high of standards? Should they lower them in order to obtain a relationship?
Molly and Mary Jane Paul
Two successful Black women with high standards for love but are depicted as tragically single due their inability to keep a man.
Black men, why do you think black women are stereotyped as “undesirable”?
Can Black men Experiment?
Is there a double standard for men and women to be experimental with the same sex? Why isn’t it as acceptable for men?
LET’S TALK!
Insecure and Power are two shows that have graphic sex scenes. Why do we think sex is a heavy symbol in Black media? Are Black people overly sexualized?
Let’s talk about sex
Lawrence's threesome
What do we think about these white girls who target Black men for threesomes? Was this shedding light on Black men being overly sexualized?
Power Sex Scenes
How is sex portrayed in Power? Is it an accurate representation of Black intimacy or are they over sexualizing?
Daniel on Issa’s Face
What did this incident mean for both of them? What position do you take?
3.
Black Representation
The discussion of Black portrayal in Black media
Overwhelming evidence exists of exaggerated associations of African-American men to drug-related crime, unemployment and poverty. “The idle Black male on the street corner is not the ‘true face’ of poverty in America, but is the dominant one in the world as depicted by the media” -The Guardian
Street Life
Is Power an accurate depiction of life on the streets or is it glorified for entertainment?
Is it possible to have a life on the streets and then progress into a real life?
What does it mean to be Blackish ?
If you’re not heavily involved in black culture does that mean you are not “black enough”? How do we define blackness?
LET’S TALK!
Blackish gets real
Should Black children be informed about the truth of being Black in America? Does it take away their innocence or is it a needed conversation?
Does Black media have a responsibility to use their platforms as a voice to address the issues Black people face in America? Was this a risk on the TV shows part?
Is love and Hip-Hop a negative depiction of blackness or is it just appealing to another black demographic?
Black media for all demographics
Should we be inclusive of all Black demographics and have media for people to identify with even if it is negative?
What is the difference in how Black reality tv is viewed in America VS white reality tv?
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND PARTICIPATING IN TONIGHT’S EVENT! :)