Racial Stereotypes
Cierra Washington
LAN 1080-83733
Racial Stereotypes in American Popular Culture and Media
A "stereotype" can be defined simply as; a process for making metal printing plates, or a plate made by this process (the process of a stereotype). Another definition for the word, more commonly used, means a simplified or standardized conception and/or image of a particular group.
The old definition of "stereotype" relates to the sociological definition of the word, in that it is a taking from a “mold cast in type metal“(symbolically). I would compare this mold to the way that some people think, i.e. stereotypically. Many people have ideas “molded” into their minds about certain groups of people, and this is a "mold" of sorts that is ingrained within the human mind, in “type metal” so to say.
There are many, many stereotypes perpetuated by different media outlets that highly influence the way that the every day person thinks or feels about particular groups of people. In this paper, I will target specifically racial stereotypes, as well as how those inside and outside of the stereotyped group are affected by the stereotypes. This paper is also an explanation of how different forms of media influence the masses and perpetuate stereotypes about certain groups of people that either positively or negatively affect these different groups. My main target will be stereotypes of African-Americans, but I will target other minorities in the United States as well. I will expound on historical, as well as modern stereotypes about African-Americans particularly as well as other racial/ethnic groups.
African-American Racial Stereotypes in the Media (historical)
One specific brand of stereotyping often promoted by the ‘media’ that I would like to target in this paper is the ‘racial stereotype’.
Many different racial groups are often stereotyped and many actors are also “type-casted” in movie roles based on their race. Since the inception of television and movies in American popular
LAN 1080-83733
Racial Stereotypes in American Popular Culture and Media
A "stereotype" can be defined simply as; a process for making metal printing plates, or a plate made by this process (the process of a stereotype). Another definition for the word, more commonly used, means a simplified or standardized conception and/or image of a particular group.
The old definition of "stereotype" relates to the sociological definition of the word, in that it is a taking from a “mold cast in type metal“(symbolically). I would compare this mold to the way that some people think, i.e. stereotypically. Many people have ideas “molded” into their minds about certain groups of people, and this is a "mold" of sorts that is ingrained within the human mind, in “type metal” so to say.
There are many, many stereotypes perpetuated by different media outlets that highly influence the way that the every day person thinks or feels about particular groups of people. In this paper, I will target specifically racial stereotypes, as well as how those inside and outside of the stereotyped group are affected by the stereotypes. This paper is also an explanation of how different forms of media influence the masses and perpetuate stereotypes about certain groups of people that either positively or negatively affect these different groups. My main target will be stereotypes of African-Americans, but I will target other minorities in the United States as well. I will expound on historical, as well as modern stereotypes about African-Americans particularly as well as other racial/ethnic groups.
African-American Racial Stereotypes in the Media (historical)
One specific brand of stereotyping often promoted by the ‘media’ that I would like to target in this paper is the ‘racial stereotype’.
Many different racial groups are often stereotyped and many actors are also “type-casted” in movie roles based on their race. Since the inception of television and movies in American popular
Bibliography: Stereotypes of African Americans The following wikipedia page describes many different historical stereotypes about African Americans: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_African_Americans The Coon Caricature The following website provides extensive information about the origin of the “sambo” and/or “coon” caricature in American popular culture: http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/coon/ Black middle class The following book provides commentary by Dr. Michael Eric Dyson about the state of the black middle class in America. "Is Bill Cosby Right?: Or Has the Black Middle Class Lost Its Mind?", Dr. Michael Eric Dyson