Because it is Black History Month, the Spectrum felt we had a responsibility to highlight important pieces of Black culture and modern-day experiences of Black Americans. But with a primarily white editorial staff, we had to think deeply about who has the authority to tell these stories. Do white journalists have a duty to use our privilege and platforms to disseminate information about Black history? Or should we step aside to uplift Black voices as they tell their own stories?
It’s true that nobody has a monopoly over discussing racism and Black culture – anybody can write or speak about Black history. But in a country as diverse as ours, the experiences of Black people are so unique that there is something to be said for learning about Black history from Black people themselves.
Unfortunately, this is not happening to the extent it should be. Though Statista reported that the percentage of lead actors in US films who identified as people of color reached an all-time high of 39.7% in 2021, “less than 6 percent of the writers, directors, and producers of US-produced films are Black. In some genres (the superhero genre, for example), representation is even lower” (McKinsey).
We see similar patterns in written media. According to Forbes, “In 2019, only 21.9% of the salaried work force in journalism identified as people of color, with only 6.56% identifying as Black.”
This has major consequences. Many films on race and racism that are directed by white people fail to provide an authentic representation of the experiences of Black people. The Help (2011), for example, which was directed by a white man and based on a novel by a white woman, uncomfortably spotlighted white characters in a story about the struggles of Black domestic workers.
The Help faced criticism for “playing into the white savior narrative, a trope where white characters come to the rescue of minorities in a feel-good tale that dilutes people of color in their own stories by minimizing and simplifying racial issues,” said USA Today.
Underrepresentation of Black people in journalism also affects the coverage of important current events, particularly cases of police brutality.
“Is it a peaceful protest or a riot? Did the protest become violent, or did police unleash violence on protestors?” asked an article by the Media Diversity Institute. “Journalists have a sacred responsibility in how they choose their language to convey information, and potentially inspire others to change the status quo.”
Whether intentionally or not, white reporters are often guilty of whitewashing police brutality incidents – sympathizing with the police and vilifying victims and protestors. Because Americans rely on the news media to learn about current events, this whitewashing distorts the way we perceive racism.
So, to our original question: we can’t dictate who can and cannot write about race, but we do have power over the media we choose to consume. If you are looking to educate yourself about racial injustice this Black History Month (and we strongly recommend that you do), take the time to find Black authors, journalists, and filmmakers to learn from. If you’re a reader, this list from NPR is a fantastic place to start. Otherwise, Code Switch is a phenomenal podcast hosted by Black journalists that “tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor.” Netflix’s Black Behind the Camera category features a plethora of movies and TV shows by Black directors.
Not only will learning from Black storytellers provide a more accurate representation of life as a Black person in America, but it will likely be a more meaningful and moving experience.