Race and the Mass Media - Essay Example

Race and the Mass Media Introduction It is not difficult to identify how mass media can weaken and marginalize a particular ethnic group which is outlined in the article titled ‘Revealed: How UK media fuelled race prejudice’. Rather it is more of a challenge to understand the concepts of race, marginalization, racial prejudice, and institutional racism. These concepts along with the Antonio Gramscis concept of hegemony and Stuart Hall literature provide us with an in-depth understanding of why racial discrimination is happening in the United Kingdom and in all western countries including Australia. Once we understand the concepts of race and hegemony, we will become able to truly identify what responsibilities media holds in improving race relations. In this paper, we will discuss the impact of mass media on improving or weakening the relationships between the people belonging to different races. 2. Concept of Race, Marginalization, Racial Prejudice, and Institutional Racism The concept of race is related to the individual differences based on skin color. The concept of race is a social construction according to the sociologists’ view. Sociologists believe that this social construction of race has been because of various social, political, and historical processes. “As a biological concept, race has been largely abandoned, but as a social category, race maintains a power influence on the way we think about one another” (Healey 2010, p. 40). Race of a person provides judgment about his or her nature and characteristics. Racial discrimination is one of the most critical issues related to the concept of race. In every Western and European country including the United Kingdom, the signs of racial discrimination and race based conflicts seem to be on rise. “Racism has become more acceptable among national leaders in media and government than it was a generation ago” (Entman & Rojecki 2001, p. xix). The concept of marginalization roots from the issue of racial discrimination. Racial discrimination is one of the major causes of race marginalization. Race marginalization refers to the social process in which people belonging to any specific race are relegated to some powerless position in the society. Race marginalization is one of the most critical issues of the today’s world because this social process seems to be affecting the rights of minorities living in a country. Another critical issue which is affecting the rights of minorities living in any specific part of world is racial prejudice. Racial prejudice occurs when one specific race is given more powers and attention as compared to other races or ethnics minorities. The concept of racial prejudice stems from the issue of unequal distribution of powers among the people living in a country. Power is one of such elements of a society which give rise to severe problems for the society if handled improperly. When one race is given all powers, racial prejudice occurs which takes away the peace of the society along with the rights of minorities. Institutional racism is another concept related to the overall concept of race. Institutional racism occurs when institutional powers are given to the people belonging to one specific race. Social caste system based on the differences between people leads to institutional racism. “Institutional racism results from the social caste system that sustained, and was sustained by, slavery and racial segregation” (Head n.d.). 3. Concept of Hegemony The basic concept of hegemony is that it is not just the force or power which drives a man rather ideas also play a considerable role in this regard. Trubshaw (2004) states, “Hegemony can be established either by coercion or more subtly by what are usually termed consensual processes” Antonio Gramscis concept of hegemony was that one social class dominates other classes. He believed that the dominant class not only controls the society politically and economically but also makes other classes perceive the world as the dominant class perceives it. “Gramsci was concerned to eradicate economic determinism from Marxism and to develop its explanatory power with respect to superstructural institutions” (Stillo n.d.). Gramsci believed that within the actions of some specific groups lie the origins of hegemony. Chandler (2000) states, “Gramscis stance involved a rejection of economism since it saw a struggle for ideological hegemony as a primary factor in radical change”. Stuart Hall is another cultural theorist who covered the issues of race and hegemony. “Stuart Halls achievement lies in the rational intensity he brought to the 1970s race-media debate” (Chronicle World 2001). Hall believes that culture and history affect the identity of a person. Trubshaw (2004) states, “Hall broadened hegemony to encompass the whole domain of social and cultural life”. He believes that mass media and social and cultural life of a person play an important role in shaping the identity of the person. He raises his voice against the discriminating policies of the UK media and wants the media to stop discriminating against Blacks and other ethnic minorities. He believes that the media can play an influential role in shaping the concepts of people but the current UK media hardly seems to be taking any considerable step in this regard. 4. Role of Media in Weakening and Marginalizing a Particular Ethnic Group Media can play a considerable role in making or destroying the image of any particular race or a group of people. The role of the UK media does not seem to be very positive in creating a positive image of the people belonging to minorities. In the United Kingdom, media seems to be projecting the viewpoints and issues of only Whites and hardly focus the issues of the minorities or Blacks who have been living in the UK for centuries. In the article, ‘Revealed: How UK media fuelled race prejudice’, the author focuses the role of media in fueling the race prejudice in the United Kingdom. The author reveals that the role of the UK media is not positive and almost all types of media, which include magazines, newspapers, radio, and television news channels, have kept their doors closed for Blacks and minority journalists. The author also reveals that it is not a very surprising fact that the media of the United Kingdom discriminates against minorities. Rather the fact is that it has been discriminating against minorities for a long time. “These failings of the British media are not new” (Chronicle World 2001). The author also includes some quotations of Stuart Hall in the article. Hall seems to be very upset from the overall situation of the UK media and reveals that the image of Blacks was being presented very badly by the media in 1971. At that time, nothing good related to the Blacks was presented by the media and preference was given to the White race by every mode of media whether it was television, magazines, or television. This role of media was very negative for the Black community because they were not being treated equally by the media. Today, media needs to realize its importance in reducing the gaps between people which exist due to difference in races and cultures. However, media is not doing its job perfectly; rather it is promoting racial discrimination in the United Kingdom. Playing short documentaries about issues of Black community once or twice a week or providing chance to some Black people to appear on the screen do not serve the cause of reducing gaps between people from different races. Something really considerable needs to be done but unfortunately we do not see any effective measure being taken by the media in this regard. Hall’s quotations reveal in the article that whatever the media of the United Kingdom is showing do not reflect the issues of Blacks or other ethnic minorities. “The dominant media in various degrees have always perpetuated stereotypes and prejudice about minority groups” (Dijk 1991, p. 11). The theme of Hall was something like Black men and White media. “Hall spoke directly about key targets of black concern: the drama and entertainment programmes that reinforce stereotypes” (Chronicle World 2001). Hall wanted that media should focus on forming positive attitudes towards minorities instead of ignoring their issues and making them feel low as compared to Whites. It is due to the wonderful analysis by Stuart Hall in the debate regarding race and media that today we feel that negative approach towards Blacks and ethnic minorities needs to be changed and the issue of under-representation of Blacks in the UK media should be resolved as soon as possible. 5. Responsibilities Of Mass Media In Improving Race Relations The social and cultural influence of media on any specific race is very influential. It is one of the core responsibilities of mass media to improve race relations. Media can definitely do this because it is the most influencing power of the present era. People believe what media portrays and reveals about any specific issue. Therefore, if media plays its role positively by eradicating the roots of racial discrimination, it can definitely help in establishing brotherly relationships between the people belonging to different races and cultures. The role of media can be very powerful in eradicating negative perceptions of one race regarding other races. Media needs to show positive image of all races in order to make people aware of the positive characteristics and behaviors of other races. The dilemma is that current media of the United Kingdom is representing only one race and all other races are being ignored. Such approach of media gives rise to negative thoughts and feelings for other races. Today, media has become one of the most powerful forces of any country which can shape the perceptions and identities of people dramatically. Media needs to improve the image of minorities through talk shows, dramas, cultural documentaries, and other ways. It is a fact that if media shows something negative related to any specific race, people start disliking the people belonging to that race. Similarly, if media shows something positive, people appreciate that and their perceptions about that race starts changing in a very short time. Therefore, media needs to realize its considerable role which it can play in improving race relations. 6. Conclusion Summing it up, the concepts of power, modernity, and race are related to the individual differences based on skin color. Racial marginalization, racial prejudice, and institutional racism are some of the most critical issues being faced by almost every society of the world. The impact of mass media on improving or weakening the relationships between the people belonging to different races is very influential. Mass media of the United Kingdom needs to eradicate the element of racial discrimination by realizing its responsibility in improving race relations. References Chandler, D 2000, Marxist Media Theory, viewed 04 October, 2011, . Chronicle World 2001, Revealed: How UK media fuelled race prejudice, viewed 04 October, 2011, . Dijk, T 1991, Racism and the Press, Routledge, London. Entman, R & Rojecki, A 2001, The Black Image in the White Mind: Media and Race in America, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago. Head, T n.d., Institutional Racism, viewed 04 October, . Healey, J 2010, Diversity and Society: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender, Pine Forge Press, California. Stillo, M n.d., Antonio Gramsci, viewed 04 October, 2011, . Trubshaw, B 2004, Hegemony, viewed 04 October, 2011, . Read More