Running Head:

UNRAVELING THE ROOTS, MEDIA REINFORCEMENT, AND IMPACT ON BLACK COM

Unraveling the Roots, Media Reinforcement, and Impact on Black Communities in the

Last Decade

Jazen Brown

LIM College

Dec 10, 2023

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The historical construction of race in the United States serves as the foundation

for the development of Black stereotypes. Despite the concept of race being developed

over two hundred years ago, the narrative persists due to the efforts of mass media. This

narrative significantly shapes the broader public's perception of Black people. Despite

statistical evidence refuting these stereotypes, this skewed perception not only impacts

crucial sectors such as education, employment, and health but also exerts a profound

influence on the economic trajectory of the United States. This paper examines why these

narratives persist in today’s media and how these perceptions impact the lives of Black

people between 2012 to 2022. The examination delves into the origins of race and Black

stereotypes, the mechanisms through which media reinforces these stereotypes, the

underlying statistical realities, and the consequential impact of these narratives on both

the Black community and the nation's economic trajectory.

Racism, deeply ingrained in the very fabric of American society, finds its roots in

the historical construction of race. The concept of race, as elucidated in “Historical

Foundations of Race” by David R. Roediger, originated during the European

Enlightenment, a period that witnessed the development of pseudo-scientific

classifications to categorize and differentiate human beings based on physical attributes.

This scientific veneer provided a seemingly rational justification for the egregious

institution of slavery (Roediger, 2021). The distorted ideologies of this era not only led to

the dehumanization of Black people but also laid the groundwork for the evolution from

the mere categorization of race to the systematic implementation of racism. This

transformation marked a pivotal shift where race ceased to be a neutral descriptor and

became a weaponized tool to perpetuate inequality. The historical trajectory from the

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conceptualization of race during the Enlightenment to its weaponization in justifying

slavery was imperative for planting the seed for the systemic racism that continues to

plague Black communities today (Duignan, 2023).

The perpetuation of black stereotypes, deeply rooted in historical racism, has

contributed significantly to the enduring challenges faced by Black communities. These

stereotypes, as outlined by Laura Green, have shaped prejudiced narratives about Black

individuals, reinforcing harmful perceptions that extend across various facets of society.

For Black men, the Sambo stereotype persists as one of the most enduring and insidious

images, portraying them as docile and subservient individuals who are content in their

subjugation (Boskin, 1986). Originating during slavery, this caricature justified the

dehumanization of Black males by depicting them as "happy slaves" who were naturally

lazy and reliant on their masters for direction (Boskin, 1989). The Jim Crow stereotype,

emerging from blackface performances in the 19th century, further fueled the

perpetuation of demeaning images, portraying Black men as shuffling, dancing buffoons

(Engle, 1978). This stereotype not only influenced the perception of African Americans

in the North and West but also became a pervasive image in movies and performances

(Boskin, 1986). The Savage stereotype, intensified by D.W. Griffith's film "Birth of a

Nation" in 1915, depicted Black individuals as threatening brutes, justifying racial

violence and oppression (Boskin, 1986). For Black women, stereotypes such as the

Mammy, Aunt Jemimah, Sapphire, and Jezebelle have further reinforced harmful

narratives, impacting perceptions and interactions within society (Jewell, 1993; Goings,

1994). The Mammy stereotype, originating in the South as a justification for slavery,

portrayed Black women as large, docile figures dedicated to serving their White masters

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(Jewell, 1993). The Aunt Jemimah stereotype, evolving from Mammy, associated African

American women with domestic work, particularly cooking, solidifying these images in

the public consciousness (Jewell, 1993). The Sapphire stereotype, popularized through

the show "Amos 'n' Andy," portrayed Black women as bossy and headstrong,

perpetuating the notion of an emasculating matriarch (Jewell, 1993). The Jezebelle

stereotype, representing the hyper-sexualized Black woman, absolved White males of

responsibility in cases of sexual abuse and rape (Goings, 1994). These stereotypes, rooted

in historical racism, continue to shape societal attitudes toward Black women, impacting

their representation, opportunities, and experiences.

These stereotypes are still prevalent today due to news outlets and mass media

reinforcing these stereotypes to perpetuate distorted narratives about Black people.

“Thugs, Crooks, and Rebellious Negroes” explains how the news sets public agenda.

“Through ‘routine structuring of social and political reality,’ mass media has the ability to

transfer the salience of items in their news agenda to the public agenda… By highlight,

emphasis, privilege or omission, the media direct our attention to specific aspects of those

issues and subjects. Thus, media also tell us what matters about what matters.” According

to “A Dangerous Distortion of Our Families,” a study conducted in 2018 by Travis L.

Dixon examines how national and local news coverage on families varies between race

from 2015 to 2016. The study found that news outlets routinely and inaccurately portray

Black families as a source of social instability, but White families as a source of stability.

Black families are overwhelmingly portrayed as living in poverty than White families.

News outlets also exaggerate the proportion of Black families that receive welfare and

require government assistance due to laziness. The study finds that news outlets

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inaccurately portray Black fathers as prone to leaving their child, and Black mothers

prone to make poor decisions about their family and relationships. The study found that

news outlets associate Black families with criminality, dependency, and disfunction while

undermining White families’ criminality and disfunction. TV networks, national

newspapers, and online news sites perpetuate misinformation and false narratives more

than others (Dixon, 2018). The reinforcement of these stereotypes is also found in film

and national television shows. Nadra Kareem Nittle identified five common stereotypes

in film and TV: The Magical Negro, the Black Best Friend, the Thug, the Angry Black

Woman, and the Domestic. "Magical Negro" characters, as exemplified by Michael

Clarke Duncan in "The Green Mile," reinforces the notion that black individuals exist

solely to support and guide White characters, lacking their own inner lives and desires.

They stand as allegorical symbols rather than a human with unique traits. The "Black

Best Friend" portrays Black characters as instruments to aid White protagonists in

navigating challenges. The character is often a Black woman with sass, attitude, and a

keen insight on life problems and relationships. This trope minimizes individuality and

reinforces racial hierarchies. Possibly being one of the most common movie tropes, the

“Thug” is the drug dealer, the pimp, or the con-artist. Black men disproportionally play

this role. These movies provide little to no context as to why the character ends up like

this and overlooks the systemic factors leading to disparities in the criminal justice

system. This lack of context creates the assumption that Black people are prone to

criminal acts and contributes to racial profiling and disproportionate criminalization. The

"Angry Black Woman", commonly shown in reality TV shows, sitcoms, or drama shows,

is the Black woman with sass and attitude. This trope portrays Black women as one-

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dimensional, aggressive figures. The popularity of this trope in the media has had real-

world consequences on Black women’s love lives and careers. Finally, “The Domestic,"

rooted in historical servitude, casts Black people as nurturing figures catering to the needs

of White protagonists. This trope is an evolution of “The Mammy” stereotype. (Nittle,

2021). Mass media has been a main force behind upholding a negative attitude towards

Black people. The perpetuation of these tropes sets in motion a detrimental cycle: when a

movie or TV show depicts these stereotypes, it garners public acclaim as it resonates with

viewers who find comfort in the reinforcement of their pre-existing narratives.

Subsequently, the project achieves commercial success, motivating producers and

directors to produce additional content relying on these tropes. This, in turn, intensifies

the reinforcement of stereotypes and perpetuates the ongoing cycle.

The perpetuation of false narratives and derogatory stereotypes about Black

individuals contribute to the creation of biased perceptions that influence the American

public’s attitudes despite contradictory evidence. Contrary to the widely accepted belief

that Black people commit a large majority of America’s crime, crime rate statistics reveal

a more nuanced reality. When examining overall violent crime offenders, Black offenders

are nearly equivalent to White offenders, with 378,448 Black offenders and 389,295

White offenders, (FBI, 2022). When examining larceny offences, White offenders

commit 2.5 times more theft than Black people, with 168,899 Black offenders and

316,559 White offenders (FBI, 2022). The perception that crime is inherently associated

with Black individuals is discredited when considering the comparable numbers of White

offenders.

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Public perception and attitudes are critical components in understanding the

impact of harmful stereotypes. A Pew Research Center survey from 2019 revealed that 58

percent of Americans believe race relations in the U.S. are poor, with a notable

skepticism among Black individuals about achieving equal rights with Whites. The

survey also highlighted prevailing stereotypes, as 56 percent of all adults perceived that

being black hinders people's ability to get ahead, while 59 percent believed being White

provides an advantage. Black people are particularly gloomy about the country’s racial

progress. More than eight-in-ten Black adults say the legacy of slavery affects the

position of Black people in America today, including 59 percent who say it affects it a

great deal. 78 percent of Black people say the country has not gone far enough when it

comes to giving Black people equal rights with White people, and half say it is unlikely

that the country will eventually achieve racial equality (Horowitz, 2019). These deeply

ingrained perceptions contribute to systemic discrimination that influences various

struggles of Black Americans' lives. "Race in America", reveal a stark reality where most

Americans acknowledge the existence of racial disparities and discrimination. 72 percent

of Americans recognize racial discrimination against Black people as a fundamental

problem, emphasizing the pervasive impact of negative stereotypes (Horowitz, 2019).

Discriminatory actions and ongoing defamation efforts not only harm the Black

community in sectors such as education, employment, and health, but also comes with a

significant economic cost. Despite the Black community having a 95 percent high-school

graduation rate, the percentage of Black individuals completing college remains

disproportionately low, coming to 36 percent of Black graduates and 56 percent White

graduates (National Center for Education Statistics, 2023). Labor force characteristics

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data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal disparities in employment rates, with

Black Americans having lower employment-population ratios and higher unemployment

rates than Whites. Black people were the most likely to be jobless, with an

unemployment rate of 5.8 percent, while Whites’ unemployment rate is 3 percent. (BLS,

2022). “We'll both go for the same job, and I’ll never get the job. I might be in the top

three, which I've experienced, but you’ll never get it. That's the story of Black America.”

says Brown. Black people also made up a high proportion of discouraged workers, with

27 percent of Black discouraged workers. This statistic is distressingly high when

considering their 58.4 percent employment-population ratio (BLS, 2022). The impact of

racial disparities even affects the health and well-being of not only Black Americans, but

all people of color. CDC reports highlight enduring health disparities and the

disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color. Racial and

ethnic minority communities encounter elevated instances of health disparities and

illnesses across various health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity,

asthma, and heart disease, in comparison to their White counterparts. Black Americans,

specifically, have a life expectancy that is four years shorter than that of White

Americans (CDC, 2023). Racial discrimination serves costly to the national economy.

America’s economic loss due to the racial wealth gap is projected to cost the U.S.

economy between $1 trillion and $1.5 trillion by 2028 (Losavio, 2020).

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This research journey has uncovered the roots of Black stereotypes stemming from the

historical construction of race, the historical trajectory of racial categorization and its

transformation into weaponized tools of discrimination, mass media's role in reinforcing false

narratives and shaping public perceptions, and the contradictory evidence behind these beliefs.

The media’s defamation efforts and pushed agenda have a profound impact on the broad

perception of Black people, harming Black people’s education rates, employment rates, and

health and wellbeing. While mass media is not the only factor reinforcing false narratives and

influencing the Black community’s discrimination, recognition of this factor is a leap towards

just treatment for minority groups. The journey of this research unfolds as an endeavor to peel

back the layers of historical constructions, media perpetuation, and statistical contradictions,

offering insights into the pervasive influence of stereotypes on the Black community and the

broader socio-economic landscape of the United States. Reflection on these findings makes it

evident that dismantling stereotypes requires not only the acknowledgement of the historical

roots, but also addressing their tangible consequences in contemporary society.

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