“An understanding is perhaps better than an alliance which may
stereotypes arrangements which cannot be regarded as permanent in view of the
changing circumstances from day to day”-Edward Grey. We have all heard
stereotypes thought out our life and some citizens perceive the stereotypes. The
world can be better if these stereotypes are not embedded with us. Media over
the years has evolved these stereotypes into something worse and portrayed them
all the time now. Can we move pass from stereotypes? Some American people
perceive stereotypes of different ethnic groups in society. These stereotypes
have consequences.
Media stereotypes of angry black women showed more pervasive in recent
years. Some scholars and media
critics have argued that these media depictions have become distinctly more
negative over the past two decades, and that stereotypes of black women have
begun to eclipse the more familiar stereotype of the aggressive black male
(Chambers 2006; Peters 2006; est. Kretsedemas 2010). Black women in the media
have often been stereotyped for excessive angry all the time and loud all the
time. This stereotype controls the black women image over the years. In today’s society some people believe
this stereotype and this causes an uproar for African American women in the
media. “Ugly Betty” was a top rated show in the ABC network’s Thursday night
lineup which catered to a diverse but predominantly white viewing audience
(Metacritic 2009; Quantcast 2009; est. Kretsedmas, 2010). Furthermore, most of
the recurring, black female characters on the show conformed to same version of
the angry black women stereotypes. People perceived stereotypes every time one
looked at media, and became influence because of how their race is viewed in
society. “In news, one could argue, stereotypes have no legitimate role” (Paul,
1996). Some people cannot depicted why the stereotype are view in that nature
but some just act to the stereotype and promote that stereotype. Over
time media control what people seen on TV and how the show depicted
itself.
There remain long history of media stereotypes of black women but most of
these portrayals have focused on women who were peripheral to the professional
work world. Whereas the mammy was portrayed as a loyal, desexualized care giver
(with a penchant for “sassy” comedic exchanges), the jezebel was and
overtly-sexualized, assertive women (Kretsedemas, 2010). History has shown us
that there are so many stereotypes that cause many ethnic groups to be looked
different because of that negative stigma that is left with them. The sapphire
stereotype, on the other hand, was both assertive and comical, depicting a
woman who beat her male, romantic partners and was usually obsessed with
status- climbing (Kretsedemas, 2010). The
Sapphire Caricature portrays Black women as rude, loud, malicious, stubborn,
and overbearing.
“Negative stereotypes of African Americans have been deeply ingrained in Anglo
American culture ever since Africans were first brought to this country in
chains” (Paul,1996). … The stereotype served an essential purpose; they
justified Anglo enslavement of Africans… (Paul, 1996). . Like the female, male
counter parts, sapphire was rendered “comical” through her attempts to imitate
the culture of the white middle class. The sapphire stereotype push aside the
respected African American women and replace it with “sassy” and angry women,
because of this African American women had a major setback.The continue of African American
stereotypes can be determine on the views of which African Americans as seen as
no education, loud, gang members, violent, and no moral code.
Media separate the between what can be seen and what cannot be seen in
society. To really portray African
Americans negatively overtime continue to show how people in society are not
realizing the stigma how African Americans are viewed and how this take away
some of the mental mindset of African
Americans.
The futile attempts of these characters to improve their social position
reinforces the racial commonsense of the era; that blacks are incapable of
equality with whites but also that they sought to measure themselves by w white
standard. Like her male counter parts, sapphire was rendered “comical” through
her attempts to imitate the culture of the white middle class. She was usually
portrayed as the dominant partner in the relation, similar to the way that
plantation-era stereotypes depicted the relationship between mammy and samba
(Bogle 1973 est, Kretsedemas 2010). The history of stereotypes began long before
slaves were freed and human rights were developed. The issue with stereotypes is
racial conflicts and the main reasons are the whole idea of race and racism in
general. Once a stereotype is out
there in the open then it is hard to control it because mediahas a
strong connection and everyone see it, it’s a hard task to control stereotypes
in the media. Black male-female relationship were imagined to be comical
inversions of white male-female relationships, which demonstrated the inability
of blacks to conform to white norms but also affirmed the superiority of these
norms (Kretsedemos, 2010). In history media stereotypes depicted races from
different ethnic groups. Whites often look at this as a joke and also often make
fun of what they see on the media.
Stereotypes shown us media can depicted anything they want without any
penalties being embedded with them. The increasing emphasis on crime and
violence in local newscasts a sense of the prototypical black person that fits
with anti-black stereotypes (Grossman, 2001). Even though other races are being
depicted African Americans are mostly the ones that are laugh at for the
embarrassing behavior the group being show the media. Shows, commercial, etc,
all of them shown why African Americans are being treated the way they do now.
Nothing in “reality compete such over whelming negative presentations of
African Americans on the nation’s newscasts (Grossman, 2001). The importance of
media stereotypes shown us we should not act upon what we see on televisions
because it’s wrong to believe stereotypes.
TV shows have been around for years but over time there are shows that
have shown stereotypes. The Cosby show attempted a different balancing act of
providing a positive portrayal of a black family that did not affirm the
supremacy of white cultural norms or gravitate toward minstrel like
interpretations of black authenticity (Kretsedemas, 2010). In the media some TV
shows are portraying what happen in the real world but do not be aware of the
consequence. For example “Everybody Hates Chris” shows stereotypes and often
racist remarks. This show proven how African American families are expressing
themselves and prove all the stereotypes that are stick with African Americans.
Every time a person sees something in the media or on TV one must think to
themselves, why people are looking at this and take this as a joke. The media
should maintain what is being showed in TV because of the fact it’s very racist
and produce a message that it is ok to show this but in reality it is not. A major issue that media need to solve in order to eliminate bias and stereotypes. As several critics have observed,
these shows have reinforced negative stereotype that specifically target black
women (Chambers 2006; Peters 2006; Wilts 2004; est. Krstsedmas 2010). People will start to believe in
stereotype and become influence in society. The many stereotypes that pertain to
African Americans have proven that . Stereotypes have impact society and people
all together.
African American and music remain s major success to the community and in
society. There are many African Americans that want to become a big success
either the Rap business or in the R&B business. Many Africans Americans have
that sense of wanting to prove to people that as individual some may feel to really sent a message to society one must depicted African Americans females in showing them doing inappropriate dances and using explicit languages to make society like the individual as a person. Media depicted the music videos
that are view in society almost every day. Viewing these videos really put
stereotypes at an all time high in because of the fact African Americans do not
have to embarrass themselves and expose women to become successful in life.
“These images have continued to shore up Angle Americans’convictions of their
superiority over African American and to justify their distrust of and hostility
toward them” (Paul, L. 1996).Music and the media evolve over
the years have really brought out a very creative side but yet another
stereotype in the mix because of the mindset that African Americans want to
become successful by any means necessarily. African American males never really
saw other goals that one may have for them in the future but instead of proving
that African American stereotypes existed.
In conclusion media control how stereotypes are portrayed. These issues
continue to form in our society and the world. Continuing the stereotype that
cause African Americans to have a one sided mindset is very upsetting to some
people. African Americans are signed a role in society and it cause so many
mishaps thought-out time some may feel that one may have to become ignorant and
embarrass themselves in order to get by.This issue is important because there are citizens who are affected by
this plus it’s racist if you assume a stereotype to that ethnic group. Changing
our mindset is the key to changing people thoughts about stereotypes and in the
media as well. If we change this then we will have a better world without
stereotypes. Believe that we can also control what we watch because if we see this on TV then we do not have to continue to watch this instead just turn the TV off because it shows nothing but
ignorance. Our roles in society are not just becoming another Stereotype but
another success.