Covert Racism, Sexism, Covert Racism, Sexism, and Oppressionand Oppression

MediaMedia

Teleliteracy PretestTeleliteracy Pretest

• Provide the next line from the following TV Provide the next line from the following TV themes.themes.

• 1) “Come listen to a story/’bout a man 1) “Come listen to a story/’bout a man named Jed…..”named Jed…..”

• 2) “Green Acres is the place to be…”2) “Green Acres is the place to be…”• 3) “It’s a beautiful day in the 3) “It’s a beautiful day in the

neighborhood/ a beautiful day for a neighborhood/ a beautiful day for a neighbor…”neighbor…”

• 4) “Hey, hey we’re the Monkees/And 4) “Hey, hey we’re the Monkees/And people say we monkey around….”people say we monkey around….”

DefinitionsDefinitions

• OvertOvert - Definitions: 1. unconcealed: - Definitions: 1. unconcealed: done openly and without any attempt done openly and without any attempt at concealment ... 2. open and at concealment ... 2. open and intentional intentional

• CovertCovert - Definitions: secret: not - Definitions: secret: not intended to be known, seen, or found intended to be known, seen, or found out ... noun (plural coverts) out ... noun (plural coverts)

Info taken from EncartaInfo taken from Encarta

Television and Covert Television and Covert Discrim.Discrim.• A survey by the NAACP's Beverly A survey by the NAACP's Beverly

Hills/Hollywood chapter found that of Hills/Hollywood chapter found that of 839 writers currently working on 839 writers currently working on primetime shows, just 55 are black, primetime shows, just 55 are black, 11 Latino, three Asian-American and 11 Latino, three Asian-American and none Native American, meaning none Native American, meaning minorities make up just 7 percent of minorities make up just 7 percent of primetime network writers. primetime network writers.

Info taken from www.fair.orgInfo taken from www.fair.org

Television and Discrim. Television and Discrim. Cont.Cont.• According to the Screen Actors Guild, the number of According to the Screen Actors Guild, the number of

primetime parts for blacks and Latinos declined in primetime parts for blacks and Latinos declined in 1998, with blacks filling around 12 percent, and 1998, with blacks filling around 12 percent, and Latinos just 3 percent. Asian-Americans Latinos just 3 percent. Asian-Americans represented a little more than 1 percent of parts on represented a little more than 1 percent of parts on primetime shows. primetime shows.

A 1998 Directors Guild of America report showed A 1998 Directors Guild of America report showed that minority (and women) directors (in TV and film) that minority (and women) directors (in TV and film) worked fewer days in 1997 than the year before, worked fewer days in 1997 than the year before, despite an increase in work for directors overall despite an increase in work for directors overall (L.A. (L.A. Daily NewsDaily News, 7/17/98)., 7/17/98).

• Discrimination, for example, also takes the Discrimination, for example, also takes the form of segregation. form of segregation.

• The vast majority (83 percent) of the 55 The vast majority (83 percent) of the 55 African-American primetime writers African-American primetime writers worked on shows with primarily black worked on shows with primarily black casts. casts.

• "White writers, however, routinely make "White writers, however, routinely make the crossover to write on shows with the crossover to write on shows with predominantly minority casts," as the predominantly minority casts," as the Los Los Angeles TimesAngeles Times observed (10/27/99). observed (10/27/99).

• CBSCBS has 144 writers; the two that are has 144 writers; the two that are black both worked on Cosby. black both worked on Cosby.

• And of course there are countless anecdotal And of course there are countless anecdotal examples that suggest pervasive problems. examples that suggest pervasive problems. Like Jay Dyer, the successful African-Like Jay Dyer, the successful African-American writer whose agent was told flatly: American writer whose agent was told flatly: "This isn't a black show. We don't need a "This isn't a black show. We don't need a black writer." black writer." ((Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly, 7/30/99), 7/30/99)

• Or the casting director who wasn't satisfied Or the casting director who wasn't satisfied that auditioning actor Garrett Wang was that auditioning actor Garrett Wang was doing a "Japanese accent" until "I took the doing a "Japanese accent" until "I took the most exaggerated Cantonese-Chinese most exaggerated Cantonese-Chinese accent, you know... 'Oh I give you two free accent, you know... 'Oh I give you two free egg roll if you bring laundry into my store.'… egg roll if you bring laundry into my store.'… And she said, 'That's it. That's the one.'" And she said, 'That's it. That's the one.'" ((All All Things ConsideredThings Considered, 10/27/99), 10/27/99)

• Black, Latino, Asian-American and Native Black, Latino, Asian-American and Native American actors cite the frustration of American actors cite the frustration of being considered only for "specifically being considered only for "specifically ethnic" roles, the countless opportunities ethnic" roles, the countless opportunities they miss because of someone's parochial they miss because of someone's parochial idea of what a "neighbor" or a "bank teller" idea of what a "neighbor" or a "bank teller" should look like should look like (see, e.g., (see, e.g., Hollywood ReporterHollywood Reporter, 9/14/1999)., 9/14/1999).

• On the flip side, minority writers say they On the flip side, minority writers say they can only get started in the business by can only get started in the business by avoiding issues relating to ethnicity: "If you avoiding issues relating to ethnicity: "If you do a spec script for a white show with do a spec script for a white show with white characters, at least you'll get a foot white characters, at least you'll get a foot in," writer Daryl Nickens told the in," writer Daryl Nickens told the Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune (8/8/93).(8/8/93).

‘‘Caucasian savior' complex Caucasian savior' complex

• The Hollywood-inspired belief that The Hollywood-inspired belief that only white people can save brown only white people can save brown ones. ones.

• Examples: The Last Samuri, Dances Examples: The Last Samuri, Dances with Wolves, etc.with Wolves, etc.

Info taken from mixedreviews.netInfo taken from mixedreviews.net

Sports teams…………..Sports teams…………..

Why is this offensive?Why is this offensive?• The American Indian community for 50 years has The American Indian community for 50 years has

worked to banish images and names like worked to banish images and names like Cleveland's chief wahoo, Washington redskins, Cleveland's chief wahoo, Washington redskins, Kansas City chiefs, Atlanta braves. Kansas City chiefs, Atlanta braves.

• They work to remind people of consciousness of They work to remind people of consciousness of the use of the symbols resemblance to other the use of the symbols resemblance to other historic, racist images of the past. historic, racist images of the past.

• Chief wahoo offends Indian people the same way Chief wahoo offends Indian people the same way that little black sambo offended African that little black sambo offended African Americans and the frito bandito offended the Americans and the frito bandito offended the Latino community and should have offended all of Latino community and should have offended all of us. It assaults the principle of justice. us. It assaults the principle of justice.

Info taken from: http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm/Info taken from: http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm/

NASW Condemns the use of NASW Condemns the use of Native American MascotsNative American Mascots

• In September of 2007 the NASW Board of In September of 2007 the NASW Board of Directors voted to approve a statement that Directors voted to approve a statement that condemns the use of Native American icons condemns the use of Native American icons and calls for the discontinuation of the use and calls for the discontinuation of the use of Native American nicknames, logos, and of Native American nicknames, logos, and mascots in sport settings.mascots in sport settings.

• Chair Betty Garcia wrote, “at issue are the Chair Betty Garcia wrote, “at issue are the denigrating ways that American Indian denigrating ways that American Indian images are utilized that promote negative images are utilized that promote negative stereotyping of indigenous First Nation stereotyping of indigenous First Nation people.”people.”

The Indians or Warriors is this The Indians or Warriors is this an insult or a tribute?an insult or a tribute?

• ““I don’t call it a mascot. That’s demeaning. I I don’t call it a mascot. That’s demeaning. I would rather call it a symbol of all the would rather call it a symbol of all the athletes in our history who have strived and athletes in our history who have strived and been successful” said Don Rodawig, a been successful” said Don Rodawig, a retired physician who has lived in Spirit Lake retired physician who has lived in Spirit Lake since 1931. since 1931.

• ““If I were saying something that was If I were saying something that was offensive to any other group and I were offensive to any other group and I were asked to stop, I would stop.” said John asked to stop, I would stop.” said John Blackhawk of the Winnebago Tribe of Blackhawk of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.Nebraska.

Continued…Continued…

• According to the Iowa Dept of According to the Iowa Dept of Education there is no rule against Education there is no rule against having an American Indian nickname having an American Indian nickname or mascot, but the department or mascot, but the department counsels schools to be respectful in counsels schools to be respectful in their portrayals.their portrayals.

• There are at least 8 schools with There are at least 8 schools with Indian nicknames in Iowa; Braves, Indian nicknames in Iowa; Braves, Indians, Savages, Warriors.Indians, Savages, Warriors.

• Info taken from the Des Moines Register, March 7, 2006Info taken from the Des Moines Register, March 7, 2006

What if our team mascot was a What if our team mascot was a Bishop?Bishop?

• We could sell grape juice at the concession stand with Ritz We could sell grape juice at the concession stand with Ritz

crackers.crackers.

• We could paint crosses on our foreheads for the football games.We could paint crosses on our foreheads for the football games.

• A non-Catholic man could be dressed in one of those robes and A non-Catholic man could be dressed in one of those robes and ride out on the field at a football game and throw a flaming ride out on the field at a football game and throw a flaming crucifix into the turf to get the game started.crucifix into the turf to get the game started.

• Nuns could be cheerleaders in nice short black skirts.Nuns could be cheerleaders in nice short black skirts.

• Hymns could be modified for the pep fests and the words could be Hymns could be modified for the pep fests and the words could be changed to promote school spirit.changed to promote school spirit.

• We could swing rosaries for crowd comraderie. We could swing rosaries for crowd comraderie.

• We could make the sign of the cross after we score.We could make the sign of the cross after we score.

• We could have a silhouette of a bishop with blood dripping down We could have a silhouette of a bishop with blood dripping down his chin on our jerseys. This will instill fear in our opponents.his chin on our jerseys. This will instill fear in our opponents.

• We could have buttons that say we crucify our opponents.We could have buttons that say we crucify our opponents.The goal posts on the football field could be crucifixes.The goal posts on the football field could be crucifixes.

Information taken from: Information taken from: http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsmhttp://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm

Where is the covert racism in Where is the covert racism in the story the “Grinch That the story the “Grinch That Stole Christmas”?Stole Christmas”?

Movies – Views from Paul KivelMovies – Views from Paul Kivel

• Paul discusses the example of how films use visual images Paul discusses the example of how films use visual images of white being good and dark or black being bad.of white being good and dark or black being bad.

• The Lion King – Throughout the movie The Lion King – Throughout the movie

• Lightness is associated with good , darkness with evil. Lightness is associated with good , darkness with evil.

• Everything from the lightness or lions’ kingdom versus the Everything from the lightness or lions’ kingdom versus the

murky land of the hyenas, reflects the racial andmurky land of the hyenas, reflects the racial and moral moral hierarchy of the film. hierarchy of the film.

• Language of the characters: the lions talk in middle-class Language of the characters: the lions talk in middle-class “white” English and the hyenas in a more street dialect. “white” English and the hyenas in a more street dialect.

• These racial, color-coded values can be found consistently These racial, color-coded values can be found consistently in Disney movies going back to Sleeping Beauty and in Disney movies going back to Sleeping Beauty and Dumbo (remember the crows) and introduce young children Dumbo (remember the crows) and introduce young children to our racial hierarchy in a way that seems natural.to our racial hierarchy in a way that seems natural.

Marketing – Marketing – info taken from Minority Nurse, Fall 2007info taken from Minority Nurse, Fall 2007

• A number of studies have shown that A number of studies have shown that tobacco companies have aggressively tobacco companies have aggressively targeted African-Americans in their targeted African-Americans in their marketing.marketing.

• 90% of tobacco billboards are located in 90% of tobacco billboards are located in African-American communities.African-American communities.

• Ebony, Jet, and Essence received higher Ebony, Jet, and Essence received higher revenues from cigarette advertisements revenues from cigarette advertisements than did other magazines.than did other magazines.

How Does Marketing Affect How Does Marketing Affect People?People?

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been the leading cause of death for all racial the leading cause of death for all racial and ethnic groups in the United States.and ethnic groups in the United States.

• African-Americans have the highest African-Americans have the highest mortality rate from heart-related mortality rate from heart-related diseases than any other racial/ethnic diseases than any other racial/ethnic group.group.

Information taken from Minority Nurse, Fall 2007Information taken from Minority Nurse, Fall 2007

Sexism in the mediaSexism in the media

• How are women portrayed?How are women portrayed?

• How are young girls portrayed versus How are young girls portrayed versus young boys?young boys?

• Barbie vs. BratzBarbie vs. Bratz

• Halloween costumesHalloween costumes

Other forms of mediaOther forms of media

• Movies Movies

• Television shows and commercialsTelevision shows and commercials

• Radio (music, ads, commentary, etc.)Radio (music, ads, commentary, etc.)

• Video games (Saints Row, Grand Theft Video games (Saints Row, Grand Theft Auto)Auto)

• Books, newspaper, magazinesBooks, newspaper, magazines

• Marketing in stores, toys, etc.Marketing in stores, toys, etc.

• What else????What else????