The media projects "an ensemble of images of black youth as not childlike." They're projection of young black males as someone capable of "commiting serious crimes" and the "demonization" of them as a group. These extreme acts are publicized as the "norm" and not as the acts of the small minority of black males. I feel that these publicized acts are used as an excuse by the popular majority to not improve upon the urban education system. People look upon these few acts of radical behavior/crime and think "why should they even attempt to educate "these people." Although in reality, I feel that the radical behavior of the few is in reaction to the societal issue that popular society "White America" rejects the minority economically and socially. When you make it impossible to be heard and feel helpless, than some feel the need to make themselves heard through radical behavior. The literature also refers to the characterization of the black male youth as an animal and lower than human. I think this can be seen throughout histoyy with the larger concept that it is easy to humilate, oppress, and forget a group people if they are seen as less than human. The concept of "dehumanization."
3 comments:
I see this demonization of black youth in the school that I work in and these kids can be as young as five years old. There is this way of dealing with these boys that fosters this idea that they're going to grow up to be incarcerated men. These boys don't learn anything about art or music, instead much of their time is spent on discpline. I realize there are budget constraints, but I don't think my elementary school would have ever gotten away with completely elimanating our arts. There is no way for these men to express themselves, so when it does come out as anger, they are immediately sent to the office. I once heard someone say that if there wasn't at least one black male in the office to greet her, she could assume there were no black boys in the school. Because just like the over incarceration of black men we also see them recieving the majority of punishments in our schools.
I agree with you on the idea that the media portrays a small percentage of a group of people negatively and lets that stand as the general representation of the group as a whole. I think specifically of the campus alerts we get from the university. Usually, we are told of reports of a young, black male mugging someone and robbing them. Now, while the vast majority of the muggings may be committed by young, black males that doesn't mean that every young, black male is a thief or mugger. In fact, the vast majority are decent, caring, kind individuals that don't want to harm anyone. But, since we are told that only young, black males are committing these crimes around here, then they must all fit the stereotype. What I think the real shame is, is that people aren't likely or willing to reject the generalizations and tendency of people to allow the stereotypes to become truth. As future educators, we all must be that much more sensitive to the fact that these stereotypes are out there and not allow them to influence our views of the world.
I like that you bring up the concept of dehumanization. I think it is completely true. Not to mention, if you dehumanize something it makes it easier to cast asside and forget. It also makes it easier to treat them in animal-like ways. I think it enables the majority in distancing themsleves from the problem they created. If you situate something as natural, animalistic behavior--something inherent in them--it takes the blame away from any outside factors. No one is to blame but them. And then that allows for the attitude that you pointed out where we can just then situate them as beyond education, or beyond help, making them the other.
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