Day 19 Theme: Representation Matters

The role of media in the maintenance of White supremacy cannot be overstated. The news we consume, the movies and television shows we watch, the books we read, and the ads we see all condition us to view ourselves and people of other races in certain ways that fuel the power imbalance behind persistent social inequities. We invite you to engage with the following resources and think about how underrepresentation and misrepresentation contribute to the “single story.” How do these single stories foster racism at the different levels we’ve discussed in the Challenge? What can you do to create, seek out, and lift up more complex, truthful and positive depictions of marginalized people (all linked below?

The Roots of Negative Stereotypes (3-minute video)

Guardian article: When the media misrepresents black men, the consequences are felt in the real world

Middle Eastern and Muslim Stereotypes (7-minute TedTalk video)

Constance Wu on why representation matters (2-minute video)

Local Swinomish and Tulalip photographer Matika Wilbur’s Project 562

Spend some time thinking about how home and family life shape the ideas children develop about race and broader social norms. One of the most common ways that perceptions about racial identity of the self and others are transmitted is through books. Check out the articles below from the School Library Journal and EmbraceRace.org regarding the lack of diversity in children’s books and how to read with your children using a race-conscious lens.

Reflect & Respond:

As racial equity advocates, what responsibility do we have with regard to the media we consume and create? What are some effective ways you’ve seen or used to have conversations with children about the images and ideas they receive through the media?