It's so haaaard to say goodbyyyye.....

First off, I would like to say that I came into this class seeing it as an excellent opportunity to learn a wide assortment concerning race, gender and the media, and it didn’t disappointment. I had taken the race and elasticities class offered through the sociology department in a previous semester, and I loved it, so I knew I’d get a kick out of this one, too. Just like I stated in my very first blog, I knew the class discussions would be my thing, and they didn’t disappoint. I also knew there would be some people out there that would say something off the wall, and get funny looks, and that didn’t disappoint, either. All-in-all, it was a great experience.

I think that as students, we all have learned something, and some truly utilized this class in the right way. They put all their effort into the discussions and blogs, and it really showed. It is frankly refreshing to see people open themselves up to other strangers in such a unique way.

As anybody who has read my blogs probably already knows, my true love when talking about race, gender and the media is race. I’m not saying that gender inequality isn’t a major concern in today’s world, but race has just always molded the way I think about life outside of the media world, let alone in it. As a potential media professional, I think a class like this was necessary. Unlike some others, I don’t think a class like this can teach a person to not be racist. Teach them to not be sexist. That is unrealistic. What is realistic, though, is to provide us students information that helps us see there are flaws in what we want to call our field of work. These are flaws that have been around for long amounts of time, and until they are addressed, they will still be prevalent.

One thing that does make me think is this, though: We students now have an abundance of information on how race and gender are misrepresented, underrepresented or unrepresented in the media, but who (if any) is going to step up to the plate to do something about it? That’s a bold question, but a question that needs to be asked. If we don’t take the initiative and remain passive, it not only does a disservice to the constituents to whom we are inaccurately reporting/representing, but to ourselves, too. The word naive runs rampant throughout my blogs, but it is certainly a word that fits. I know it’s not in Merriam-Webster’s thesaurus, but “naive” and “lazy” are synonyms in my book.

I actually loved the usage of blogs in this class, although I think everyone else’s confusion on them during the beginning of the semester caused me to get confused. I loved being able to read more than fifty other people’s opinion on the exact same topics whenever I wanted. Whether we agreed or disagreed, I can honestly say that I learned something from every person’s blog that I read. Hopefully the same can be said for the people who read mine. It is also a nice touch that we were required to include some sort of link. Words can be a powerful tool, but adding visuals to a blog help drive your point home, and make it more interesting.

In conclusion, the discussion the other day of making a class like this mandatory really got the wheels in the ol’ noggin of mine turning. I don’t think EVERYONE has to have a crash-course on this material because some of us are LIVING it. Some of us have grown up watching TV or reading the paper and see a lack of people that look like us, or we see an inaccurate portrayal of us. It’s a problem that we must work on to become the best professional we can be.

Hip-Hop....started out in the heart.

I can say with all honesty that this was the blog I looked forward to writing the most since I found out that it would be a topic. Hip-Hop plays a huge part in my life, and I love that one of our assignments was dedicated to hip-hop. I know it might shock people to hear this, but it’s one of the most important aspects of my life.

Hip-hop is so much more than music. That is what most people don’t get. When they hear hip-hop, that’s what they think of; music. Hip-Hop is what you live. Rap is what you do. It’s easy to get the two confused. Often times, they are used interchangeably, but they aren’t synonyms. Historically, hip-hop is a subculture that is comprised of four basic elements:

1) M.C.’ing (Rapping)
2) DJ’ing
3) Breaking (Breakdancing)
4) Graffiti

This is a lifestyle more than anything, and those artists who consider themselves in the hip-hop genre are the reflection of their culture.

For this assignment, I listened to Power 103.5, Fresh Jamz 105.3 and Wild 104.9. I say I listened to them, but I hardly did. I don’t like 98 percent of mainstream rap nowadays. It’s horrendous, and I hate that to the casual listener, this is what hip-hop IS. It’s unfair, because true rap is storytelling. It’s about struggle, happiness, injustice and plight. It’s not big-booty hoes, makin’ it rain and Big Face Benny’s.

First off, I’d like to say that it was hard for me to find many American artists that I’ve never heard before because I really do listen to that much hip-hop. For this assignment, I chose to listen to international rap to see how their scene matches ours.

1. Goldie Lookin’ Chain (UK) - “Guns don’t kill people”
This video has people in their group riding around on scooters throughout the town. I didn’t like this song at all. You can tell their song is extremely commercial. This wasn’t a good way to start out this assignment!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv-2XYOtgCg

2. Kano (UK) –“Nite Nite”
This is absolutely your modern-day love rap song. Rapper needs girl. Persistent rapper will do anything to get girl. Sunsets. R&B artist sings the hook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ6xqf5l-qo

3. MC Reason (UK)- Cipher
This is a video of her ciphering outside. I wanted to look up some older British Rap, and I’m really surprised that it mirrors something that would’ve come out in the U.S. around the same time. She rhymes just like Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte or Rakim would have.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEjrHyxeOOA

4. Wuhanhua (China)- “信了你的邪 (武汉话”
This was really weird to me since I obviously couldn’t understand it, but I looked at the images. It’s basically just an Asian woman walking around being gangsta. She obviously means business.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djBLYQhKr3M

5. VIP (Ghana)- “Meni Mi Joley”
This video was the most American mainstream-like as far as the crap like girl’s being used as objects, cars, clothes, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMdTj8VSaI8


Hip-hop is used to sell tons of products! Rap is a multi-billion dollar business itself, so it’s easy to see how it spills over to other arenas. For example, rappers endorse tons of alcoholic beverages (Ciroq Vodka= Diddy). Another example would be Pharrell saying he’s a PC in the Microsoft commercial. He was also in Pepsi commercials.

Hip-hop is part of mainstream culture in a number of ways. Just look how people dress. New Era hats didn’t just start selling out because people love their baseball/basketball/football teams. People didn’t buy rims that kept spinning when you stop because they serve an actual purpose.


My parents listened to a very diverse assortment of music. With my mom being white and my dad being black, I can tell you about Barry White or Barry Manilow. Yeah, that’s right. I can get down with “Mandy.” Bobby Womack or Bobby Darin. Take your pick! I love that I was brought up in a household like that because it allowed me to respect every kind of music, and it also taught me to keep an open mind. My dad listened to Soul, R&B and Funk. My mom listened to Rock and Pop.


Like I said earlier, I’m disgusted at the state of hip-hop right now. I say this because I consider myself a “hip-hop head.” Someone who has soaked all of this in their entire life and can’t get enough of it. I literally study the stuff. Since the turn of the century, most rap has gotten horrendous. It has gotten to the point where lyrics don’t mean anything. Just put a funky beat on the radio that people can shake their butts to in the club, and all is cool. That’s not good! The images reflect that, too. Girls, girls, girls. Cars, cars, cars. Money, money, money. This is a subject I’m passionate about, and it infuriates/saddens me. This isn’t the way it used to be, folks!

Race and Gender in Advertising

1. Newsweek April 6, 2009 edition-Magazine
Bank of America-Actually has two black males sitting at a table eating. Father and teenage son. The quote on the ad says,

“Save Smart. You never know when you may need your savings.”

Okay, I guess. Seems harmless, huh? But the more I thought about it, the more it got to me. See, in the ad, the son is holding a basketball looking at his dad. Oh, ya know what would work? Let’s put a basketball in the homeboy’s hands. Because that’s more realistic for him to be doing as he’s sitting at a table eating pizza. WHAT? No, it’s not, Bank of America. And maybe, juuuust maybe I’m reaching a little bit for something that’s not there, but deep down I get this feeling that the message: “You never know when you might need your savings” is referring to the scene as father lecturing son: “See, Raheem, even you, future filthy-rich NBA balller, have to watch your spending.”

Call me crazy

2. Newsweek April 6, 2009 edition-Magazine
Crystalens eye contact surgery.
This ad was on the insider cover of the Newsweek. I thought it was funny because I never see ads for surgeries in any essence, ebony or JET. Hmmm. Interesting to me. I guess you can’t really get mad, though. As an advertiser, you have to know your audience. I guess you really don’t see Spam ads in Forbes magazine, either.

3. NCAA NIT-Baylor vs. Penn State-TV (Sports)
Navy commercial. “The Navy got me enough money, so I could go to college.” First off, it’s no secret that this commercial is targeting. MINORITIES. Why? Because they more often than not don’t go to college. The two people talking in the advertisement are African American and Hispanic. While it first it kind of took me by surprise by only using people of color, I kind of like that the Navy did put at least one on the commercial.

4. NBA- Cavs vs. Wizards- TV (Sports)
Popeye’s- The 2009 mammy-like character called “Annie the chicken queen.” Mammy 2.0. The sassy southern black lady is played out in Hollywood. Stop trying to throw her in everywhere. Let her be. There’s only one Della Reese. This ad kind of makes me mad because to me, I think it tries too hard to portray this black woman as what white people who go to Popeye’s want their cook to look and sound like. In the commercial, she says, “They’re practically givin’ my chicken away! *frown*”

5. MTV “Taking the Stage”-Reality TV
Taco Bell commercial where guy in drag smuggles nachos into the game. Puts nachos in a case around his/her belly to make it look like a pregnant woman’s baby.

6. Blender-Magazine
Bud Light Party Cruise Ad
Two men surrounded by women only. Tons of women. Of course they are hovering over the men. One of the men is a minority. One of the women is a minority. One thing that I think was interesting was that both minorities were very light-skinned. The light-skinned girl had her hair straightened, I believe. Both of these aspects cater to the white beauty theory.

7. Blender-Magazine
Verizon-Black girl full page ad

8. MTV “Real World”-Reality TV
Burger King commercial where girls were all over a guy because he had cute, little burger shots.

9. The Oklahoman April 1, 2009-Newspaper
Dillard Ad selling women’s business suits. Three women are portrayed, none of them being anything but white.

10. Food & Wine-Magazine
An Asian couple drinking some fancy wine in a full-page ad.

Personal Reflection:

I know that on some of these, like number one, it may seem like I’m reaching. Some people tell me, “Adam, you could find something about race in everything.” This isn’t at all a compliment on their part, but I take it as one. They usually just want me to shut up already about all how everything is centered about race.

This really got me thinking. Is it better to see race in everything, sometimes probably looking into things too far or to not look for race in things as all? I’d definitely choose the former. If you don’t even acknowledge how race plays a role in everyday activities, you’re just being naive. Oppositely, if you look for it in everything, people might consider you an “angry black man” or “always pulling the race card.”

Movements in the Media

Who determines the news or sets agendas? This is such a simply constructed question with such a complex answer.

As the PBS program suggested, the FCC traditionally has had a stranglehold on what is allowable to be shown and who is allowed to show it. By the FCC promoting big media firms, it’s controlling the news. Big media firms are effectively keeping minority voices unheard or misheard.


I think we all would have to agree that the lack of minority-run media channels is saddening, and often times distinguishes what stories get run. What’s truly disturbing is that even media that is supposed to be catered toward minorities is often times actually run by NON-minorities. When non-minorities are forced to report on minorities and/or FOR minorities, the message can often come times be skewed.

On the other hand, news stations bear some responsibility on what news IS news, which often times becomes part of their own agenda. For example, Fox News and MSNBC aren’t the most unbiased media channels, and they will continue to run stories that parallel their agenda.

We need media to represent different interests of people in color because without it, we’re not only being naïve, but minorities’ stories and issues would act as the elephant in the room. They’d be something there, but never addressed. By opening the media up to different perspectives and different types of stories than they are traditionally used to, they will create a better understanding. On the surface level, many interests do not seem to be the interests of the rest of society, but it’s the media’s job to point out how these issues affect everyone; a job that the media more often than not, fails to do adequately.


The war was initially reported to be a necessary, heroic maneuver our president launched us into to halt terrorism. This was one instance in American history where the media failed its people. If any organization critiqued the logic or motives behind the war, they were bombarded with allegations of being unpatriotic. The government manipulated the media, but the media was so complacent. Naïve. It’s the media’s role to be the watchdog, and they failed their public.

Often times the only reason I think the media covers social protests is because it offers good videos or pictures. Sometimes I don’t think the actual issues seem important. I heard more about the rallies regarding the Jena Six than the obvious underlying racial conflict still apparent in Jena, Louisiana.


The media played an imperative role in the Civil Rights Movement. It’s one thing to hear rumors about how African Americans were still being treated in the South, but to have those impetuous images plastered on the front pages of every newspaper and on the TV screen was a whole other ballgame. It acted as an emotional catalyst to right our country’s wrongs. The fact that human beings were treating other human beings in such an inhumane way was appalling.

The same thing happened during the Vietnam War. For months and months, Americans had heard just how horrible things were that were going on overseas, but it wasn’t until American media correspondents started sending pictures and videos back to the States when people’s attitude toward the war changed. Sometimes seeing is believing.


I truly believe that the media having its own agenda is a story as old as time. I’m not sure if it will ever be any other way. One thing I do know, though, is that it could get better. Just like minority representation from the media could get better.

Minority representation or under-representation is an aspect in the media world that really gets under my skin. People of color have added so much to this country, but you wouldn’t guess that with the amount of representation they get in newspapers and TV without it being negative in nature.

Race & Gender Stereotypes Blog

2-23-09-WWLS Station- 11:35
Radio
Sports Radio guy says something about “he was just a white kid”
Stereotype that white kids aren’t as athletic as minorities
Racial Stereotype

2-21-09, 4 p.m.
Personal experience at Crossroads Mall (Journey’s)
Comments made to Asian woman from employee asking if she’s from the US.
Racial assumption/stereotype


2-26-09-TNT-Network 8:35 p.m.
Television
Charles Barkley during halftime show: “Chopsticks ain’t big in the ghetto.”
Racial stereotype
8:35 p.m.

2-25-09
Television
Family Guy-Axe Commercial
Inappropriate images of women on men
Gender Stereotype

2-20-09, 2:00 a.m.
Film
Undercover Brother
Accusation scene-Conspiracy Brother and Undercover Brother
Racial AND gender Stereotypes





2-24-09
Film
Role Models
Danny meets Ronnie
Racial Stereotype that black kids grow up in broken home (Ronnie)

2-25-09
Classroom experience Professor Chavez
Class discussion about “Chick Flicks”
Gender assumption/stereotype

2-25-09
Print Ad
ESPN the Magazine, pg. 13
Passive woman
Gender stereotype
2-27-09

Film
Talladega Nights
Carley Bobby leaves Ricky to be with Cal Naughton Jr.
Gender stereotype that women are attracted to money

2-27-09
Television
That 70’s Show-FXHD, 9 p.m.
Kitty as a homemaker
Gender Stereotype



I honestly wasn’t surprised with the outrageous amount of stereotyping that existed in media. Without constant reminders of these stereotypes, it would be too hard for them to stick around. That is how stereotypes die. What is sad is that if you see or hear a message enough, it at some point begins to sink in no matter how wrong it may be. This is why some of these preposterous stereotypes stick.

I’ve heard it many times from everyday people: “Behind every stereotype there is a grain of truth.” When I was younger, this statement really had my mind racing. Finally I started looking at this topic in a different way:

It’s always baffled me as to why individuals are defined by their race rather than by themselves. It’s something that as a minority I’ve come to realize I will never escape. I think often times a white person is evaluated more on their intellect and merits, whereas minorities are often evaluated on how much they measure up with their stereotyped race. For example, I’ve had a white girl talk to me and say, “wow, you’re really not that ghetto.” She said this as if I was on some kind of 1 to 10 ghett-o-meter grading scale (1 being Bryant Gumble and 10 being the entire Wu-Tang Clan).

One racial experience that really got to me as I was recording this was the employee at Journey’s shoe store in the mall. He was helping out an Asian customer who did have a slight accent, but nothing overbearing at all. Anyway, she asked the salesperson if she could buy the shoes and have them sent to her house. “You are from the United States, right? ….Because we only ship to the United States.” That shocked me. I thought it was quite ironic that the employee was black. You’d think that minorities would often times be more sensitive to other minorities, but this yielded no such case. You don’t get to witness such ignorance on a daily basis. The way in which the question flowed off this guy’s tongue ever-so candidly was a thing of beauty.

The cultivation of images through stereotyping is horrendous obstacle for people to overcome to truly see past color. Is it a realistic goal? Probably not, because as long as we keep telling jokes that start with, “So a Jew, a Chinese guy and a black dude walk into a bar,” or keep accepting as a form of truth what we’re being shown on TV, we will forever consciously or subconsciously begin to reinforce the stereotypes in our own way.

Extra Credit-Race Based Admission

Here's what I found online. I've always found it funny that some people have been steadfast proponents for affirmative action, yet against race-based admission. It boggles my mind.

OSU- No,
Kansas - No
Nebraska-No
Kansas State-No
Mizzou-No
Texas- ethnic background taken into consideration
Baylor- ethnic background taken into consideration
Iowa State- ethnic background taken into consideration
Colorado- gender and ethnicity both voluntary information

White Privilege

After watching the Tim Wise video in class, it pretty much reinforces what I had previously thought and experienced throughout my life. For example, I’ve always been treated differently if I go somewhere by myself then if I were to go to that same place with my mother, who is white. If I go into a nice department store by myself, all eyes will be on me. If I go with her, they leave me alone.

White privilege might be more powerful than any degree offered from an esteemed university. I say this not because it can make you more money than that respected degree from said university, but whiteness can afford you more possibilities. I truly believe that.





I also think Wise’s message is more powerful coming from a white male rather than a black or Latino man. If he was African American, he’d be labeled as having Angry Black Man Syndrome, spewing his radical opinion.

The media definitely uses privilege because it ultimately has the decision on what will run on TV or in the paper. My father always talks about how for years and years The Oklahoman never would put a black man on the cover unless it was a suspect. I’ve heard the exact same story about Jamie Foxx’s extremely small, hometown newspaper. After he won the Academy Award for Ray, his paper refused to put him on the front page even though it was a small community.

List of Privileges I notice:

1) I don’t know if this is a true privilege or not, but today the bus from Lloyd Noble started to take off while a white woman was far in the distance walking toward it. The bus driver waited. I’ve been in the exact same situation about a hundred times, and the bus driver left me.
2) I went out to eat and saw a waitress bring a couple of guys a check. They left the money in the little “foldy thing,” and as they passed her on the way out they said the money is on the table. I can’t say if they were minorities the waitress wouldn’t have said something like “hold on a second while I make your change” a.k.a. make sure there’s actually cash there.
3) “Michael Phelps just made ONE bad decision. Get off his back.”
4) I have a white friend who is mortgaging a house at the age of 22 IN THIS HORRENDOUS ECONOMIC TIME. I’m not even sure if at my age I’d even be shown houses for sale. Again, I’m not sure if this is white privilege, but I know it probably doesn’t hurt…
5) I can walk in Target today and see 100 white Barbie’s and 2 black Barbie’s.
6) White privilege=not getting followed around in stores
7) White privilege=not being a representation for your entire race
8) White privilege=being able to say something AND then not have the person you were talking to say: “Wow, you’re very articulate.”

I do think society believes in the one-drop rule. There have been numerous times when my brother or I had tried to date a white girl when their family would have none of it……and we’re only half black! It obviously still matters, but I also think image counts for a lot, too. Especially when you first meet someone, you are what you look. I know some more biracial people who are very fair skinned. Some really don’t look black at all.

It’s harder for us to bear the responsibility of changing our actions based on this new awareness/information because as adults we have been taught about race since we were little kids. Habits are hard to break. But, this also provides us with one of the greater opportunities. We cannot only change our own behavior, but we can shape the behavior of our own kids. I’m glad that if one day I do have kids, they will grow up with a wide variety of races to encounter family-wise. Half of understanding races and what divides them is interaction. The other half is tolerance.