In both media reporting and interpersonal communication, language is often used in the United States to dismiss, discredit, and devalue Black voices and the experiences of people of color. These resources explore the history, legacy, and current impact of systemic racism within U.S. media and communication.
"Killing Us Softly: How Videos of Police Brutality Traumatize African Americans and Undermine the Search for Justice" (The New Republic, 2019)
Kia Gregory examines the trauma that widely shared videos of police violence causes for Black people in the United States.
"Watching Videos of Police Brutality Can Traumatize You, Especially if You're Black" (Huffington Post, 2016)
Liz Adetiba and Anna Almendraia explore the psychological effects of watching recordings of police brutality.
"Questions to ask yourself before sharing images of police brutality" (Vox, 2020)
Sara Morrison interviews four experts on the impact of sharing images of police brutality and discusses how to spread awareness while minimizing harm.
"Throw Away the Script: How Media Bias is Killing Black America" (The Root, 2015)
Kirsten West Savali details how implicit racial bias in U.S. media leads to erasure and criminalization of Black people and other marginalized communities.
"The Dangerous Racialization of Crime in the U.S. News Media" (Center for American Progress, 2018)
Elizabeth Sun examines how the U.S. news media contributes to a public overestimation of crime and overrepresentation of Black men as perpetrators.
"Media Often Depict Black Youth as Criminals, and Rarely as Heroes" (Huffington Post, 2014)
Joanna Lee Williams discusses the negatives messages sent to Black youth via harmful stereotypes and language.
"The Adultification of Black Girls" (Women's Media Center, 2017)
Roberta Nin Feliz examines how Black girls are seen as older and less innocent than white girls.
"'Race and Violence in our Cities?' A topic for the first presidential debate draws criticism" (The Washington Post, 2020)
Paul Farhi and Elahe Izadi report on critiques that by characterizing recent protests for racial justice under the category "Race and Violence," the presidential debate moderator falsely implies that Black Lives Matter is inherently violent.
"93% of Black Lives Matter Protests Have Been Peaceful, New Report Finds" (Time, 2020)
Sanya Mansoor reports that Black Lives Matter protests are overwhelmingly peaceful and non-violent.
"Stop Tone Policing" (Anti-Racism Daily, 2020)
Nicole Cardoza discusses racial tone policing, the conversational practice of dismissing ideas when they are perceived to be communicated in an emotionally charged way.
"Who Can Use the N-Word? That's the Wrong Question" (NPR, 2013)
Gene Demby explores various contexts and consequences of saying the n-word.
"4 Things to Tell Teens Who Joke About Race" (The Root, 2014)
Jenée Desmond-Harris offers suggestions about how to address jokes about race with students.
"Slurs, Offensive Jokes and How to Respond" (Anti-Defamation League, 2017)
This lesson from the ADL provides resources, strategies, and discussion questions for exploring the history and impact of oppressive language with learners.