Monday, March 2, 2009
That's all folks
Full of Liberty, but no Hope!
"Perception is reality," my mother said as we spoke about an article published in the Miami Herald entitled "
I first read Robert Samuels' perception of
something good to say. I understand a journalist's job is to report the news or story and not to make either one, but despair and negativity are abundantly obvious in any poor community and to write about it benefits none and fails to inform or surprise anyone. I found the overall tone of the article very negative and devoid of any hope for the subjects of the story and lacking any humanity on the part of the author.
"a business thoroughfare where few businesses exist. Here there are no trees and the street's asphalt melts into the concrete of the sidewalk, worn-down like the residents who walk upon them. The road offers a glimpse of the
And under the subsection entitled "The positives" Samuels wrote about the good side of liberty city which I found rather unusual because there was no mention of people, but instead it lists construction projects and business openings.
There has been good news. Elaine Black, who heads the local revitalization trust, noted that 100 apartment units and 40 single-family homes have been built or revamped in the area. At any given time, as many as 25
I am by no means an expert on life, but during my brief stint on this planet I have yet to
encounter any person or object devoid of some redeeming quality. Convicted killers have a moral code that
makes rapists and child molesters ethically corrupt and worthy of death. Manure, waste excreted from our bodies and the bodies of animals is used to grow bigger and better crops faster. But in a city full of people, the only positives are construction projects done by people who do not even live in
The city has birthed more rappers and professional athletes than any other in its area, there are hardworking tax-paying citizens trying to effect change, violence and despair do live between 54th and 79th street but so do hope and success and to show only one side of a community is to perpetuate the stereotype of the city and its people.
Life is tough on the streets of liberty city, but you don't need to live there to know that, despite the many obstacles, many people have endured the hardships and emerged triumphant. Write about the tough times but show that success is possible. We as reporters must not forsake our subjects but write for the sake of them and our readers. We after all are still human, although blessed with a calling for journalism, but little else separates us from those whom we write about, this week's reporter could easily be next week's report.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
S.W.G. Serving While Gay
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Chocolate or Vanilla?
During class she told us of an incident that happened to her in kindergarten. In honor of Fathers
Of course she went to the front of the class and took a vanilla sheet and all things representative of her white father and this little black girl was prepared to make a blond-hair, blue-eye, vanilla-face representation of her father.Instead of leaving her alone, the teacher tried to force the little girl to take the supplies that she assumed an African American girl should have. This supposed professional went so far as to call this child a liar, belittling her until she eventually cried.
I mention this story because in our multi-ethnic class I have learned it is not always the other man that hates on you, sometimes it's the brother man. Journalist are people and carry the same baggage as anyone else, life experience can not only color our perception of other tribes but also the way we view our own.
Obama=Monkey...?
- Did the president write the stimulus bill?
- When I see the president do I think of a monkey?
- When I see a monkey do I think of the president?
- Is the monkey a representative or symbol for black people?
- If I never heard any other commentary would i still react the same?
- Is there another plausible explanation for the characters used in the comic?
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thought Process
One said occasion happened as I flipped through the various news channels yesterday, I noticed each network was covering the exact same story at the exact same time. Normally this would not bother me or attract my attention, but as I listened to other students in Wolfe Center I quickly noticed that a majority were talking about that particular story.
And even more puzzling many students without hearing any other facts echoed the same exact sentiments of the broadcasting reporter. I find this particular troublesome because even when attending church, as the pastor would quote and interpret scripture I would take notes and later double check them for accuracy before I accepted them as truth.
This whole-hearted acceptance of many future journalists displayed the true power of our medium, the ability to condition viewers to believe whatever is reported during the news program of their choice.
Which led me to question whether the news tells viewers what to think or what to think about. Simply by choosing what to air, news outlets dictate all topics of conversation. And though it may be cliche, stories not chosen for broadcast or print are out of sight and therefore out of mind. But even more troubling than the power to control a viewers focus, news has the uncanny ability to persuade and dissuade viewers from taking a particular stance or action on an issue.
I wondered how the media's powers of influence can be applied to our multi-ethnic class and realized the ability of news to broadcast one consistent message to viewers undermines our ability to discriminate fact from opinion. Unknowingly, we categorically accept everything said on the news as truth. And in relation to race and ethnicity we begin to believe the constant repetition of ethnic stereotypes that over time become second nature to us. These subtle stereotypes become common and when something a story is contrary to our accepted perspective we immediately label it as rare.
Black people are illiterate, unintelligent, welfare-wanting, pants-sagging, crime-committing, chicken and watermelon eating burdens on society. So when an individual like President Obama is introduced, people perceive him as a rarity, a circus freak on display for upstanding citizens to gaze at an remark, "wow he's so articulate," as if he was the first, last and only black man blessed with the ability to speak coherently.
And even more troubling, these views are not forced upon us, we crave them, we gravitate to the information that is consistent and reinforces our beliefs. And as we consume the rhetoric and stereotypes spoon fed to us by commentators, editors, and reporters, we sit back and ask questions like "is America ready for a black president," or "what if he's Muslim and not see the problem with answers or the fact the question was asked.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Gay for a Day
The club was filled with shirtless men of all shapes, shades and sizes, chasing each another while carrying bright colored drinks in pretty glasses. I stood awe struck, because I had never seen so many men together without women or sports being involved.
The majority of the men in the club were white or Hispanic, but African Americans, though the minority refused to be outdone. Two black males about 6'3" and about 300 pounds respectively, pranced about the club with the same enthusiasm as the white males half their size. I looked at these men that resembled me and felt uncomfortable, as though by them being gay validated the possibility of me being gay. Which could or would never happen, not that anything is wrong with being gay, but the lifestyle is just not for me.
I sat and waited for Tony to show up, after waiting an hour I left. I go on my first gay date and the guy stands me up, no call, no text, nothing. I guess gay and straight guys are a lot more alike than I thought.