Assignment task:
Media representation, what are your thoughts?
Media representation of the Black community is a difficult topic for me to form a clear opinion on, largely because I have stepped away from regular news consumption altogether. What began as a temporary pause in 2020 has turned into a more permanent break.
During the first trump presidency and then Covid, I consumed news daily and found myself emotionally triggered by nearly every story. Eventually, I realized I was burnt out and needed to step back.
Growing up, teachers emphasized the importance of staying informed and being aware of current events in order to be a responsible citizen. What I've learned since is that I can still stay informed without constant exposure. When I hear discussions about healthcare or tax changes, I can seek out that information intentionally and on my own terms.
I became overwhelmed by the constant stream of emotion-provoking headlines, so instead of abandoning social media entirely, I began intentionally curating my feeds. I started following sources that aligned with what I wanted to see more of: Good Black News and other sources of positive, affirming information.
Ultimately, my opinion is that much of mainstream media has not been kind or fair in its portrayal of people of color. It often feels as though stories involving Black individuals are overwhelmingly negative. I believe that repeated exposure to negative narratives, especially when consistently tied to race, can significantly skew readers' perceptions and reinforce harmful stereotypes. Need Assignment Help?