Racial Stereotypes in Television Essay

Created by openly gay creators Bradley Bredeweg and Peter Paige who wanted to write a drama that reflected the "modern American family", alongside Jennifer Lopez's who served as executive producer , who was inspired by her late gay Aunt who had faced discrimination due to her sexual orientation and was unable to have a family of her own.

A What is the name of the black man who was vicious towards to Blacks? He thought Griffin was a priest.

Television is regarded as a significant source of information that plays an influential role in formulating an individuals social reality. As a tool that conveys the simulations of every day life it “may become a part of our social experience and serve as a basis for social judgements such as racial attitudes and ethnic stereotypes” (Fujoka, 52). Stereotypes are explained as widely held beliefs about a particular person or group. Research shows that “television images of minority groups might affect minority members’ self-concept and racial awareness” (Fujoka, 54). The portrayal of minorities on television were deemed by minority groups as a conception of socially existing beliefs toward their racial group. As such, television may have perhaps

The Cosby Show, was developed by actor Bill Cosby as a means to address the issues of negative black stereotyping in American media. Cosby set out to change how the media characterizes “typical black family in America. To undo what the misconceptions and misrepresentation of African Americans in earlier television shows. To change our society's perceived notions of African Americans

When television shows were first aired, the majority of the main characters were white, if you saw someone of color they were most likely playing the role of a servant. According to pbs.org, in 1983 there was a shift in television when NBC aired an all-Black cast sitcom, The Cosby Show. The Cosby Show was the first show that did not promote negative racial slurs within the media. Sitcoms are affecting American culture negatively by promoting detrimental stereotypes.

Film and television, for example, have been notorious in disseminating images of racial minorities which establish for audiences what people from these groups look like, how they behave, and “who they are.” The power of the

During the process of producing a television series, the demand for the producers to introduce their characters with only their highlighted traits make it impossible for viewers to gain a deep understanding of the community that the characters represent. One of the stereotypic traits that is usually seen on movies and television shows is societal difference that each race is placed into. Michael Omi in his article In Living Color: Race and American Culture stated that “in contemporary television and film, there is a tendency to present and equate racial minority groups and individuals with specific social problems” (546). There are many films and television shows found today that ground racial minorities into a specific social problems that are related to the color of their skin. It can be inferred from the current popular culture that this stereotype still persists.

Over the years, racial depiction and television have not changed as substantially as one would hope. Although there are several sitcoms on the air currently utilizing race as a large portion of the plot, this is done is a less than desirable way, most often exaggerating stereotypes of a specific race/ culture. Discussion of race and these stereotypes placed on race continue to be a topic of discussion within the media. While researching racial depictions in pop culture, I reviewed an interesting article, The Most Racially Stereotyped Characters on TV Right Now. This article written by Victoria McNally in 2012 identifies several shows currently being aired and the character to which she identifies as being racially profiled. McNally reports that in 2012, there continues to be a large number of television programs that continue to bring forth ongoing racial stereotypes, which therefore accentuates the bias’ of society.

“Media stereotypes are inevitable, especially in the advertising, entertainment and news industries, which need as wide an audience as possible to quickly understand information. Stereotypes act like codes that give audiences a quick, common understanding of a person or group of people—usually relating to their class, ethnicity or race, gender, sexual orientation, social role or occupation.”

Any slight mention of the Asian characters family was done in conversation without an on-screen appearance by the wife or children.

The old lady explained what women really wanted and she taught his husband what she was going to do if she turned herself in a young woman she would be unloyal and sleep with other

learns that a friend's brother was killed by a white man. When he hears about

Jason Oday his story start in 1988 when he was with his father Tammy in the market when he first saw her she was baying some fruit he was melting wile looking at her long blond hair when Tammy says "Jason get over here and help me up"

When thinking of British television programs, it is impossible for one not to think of the international hit, Doctor Who. Originally debuting in 1963 under the British Broadcasting Corporation, Doctor Who included an upperclass white male playing the lead character along side another white male and two white females. Doctor Who aired during the 1960’s when Great Britain was still recovering from the destruction of World War II and was also facing the reality that they were not the world power they once were. Also, large influx of immigrations were entering Great Britain during this period. Class, gender, and racial prejudices were extremely prevalent within society and Doctor Who was no exception. Yet eventually attitudes change and the producers of the show understood that to remain relevant within popular culture, they would also need to change. Even though, Doctor Who has made strives over the past five decades to create a more inclusive television program, they still lack in accurate representation of society.

According to Wilkerson, “From the beginning, television, the image mill for the mainstream has not known what to do with black characters. It has struggled, as has the country, to find a place for them that white Americans could find comforting and digestible from the safe distance of their living rooms. Reality had nothing to do with it.” The media has portrayed black characters as nothing more than, buffoons, hustlers, pimps, and prostitutes.