In both the 60's and today, racial disparities and marginalization of black people is prevalent. Issues such as unemployment, police brutality, underrepresentation in political class, and inequality. However, in 2020, although most of the issues still stand, people are sensitive about how and what they say. For instance, Berkley could openly use the word "negro" even though he was not black without repercussions. Nonetheless, there have been changes, such as implementation of the right to vote.
African Americans are viewed as a lesser race to the white man, dangerous, non-deserving, pessimistic, and unintelligent with a universal judgment of where they fit in. As Baldwin describes them, "black pagan to a God's country." Indeed, discrimination takes the same route in creating prejudices of superiority vs inferiority.
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Yes, the images reflect today's society with the use of peculiar language and imagery. Such include the misconception of African Americans as unintelligent in schools, racial profiling by police, unemployment, occupation of low paying jobs, and underrepresentation.
The 2019 film " The Best of Enemies” addresses the perceived biases held by white people and social-economic disparities. For instance, the housing conditions, attending poor-quality schools, racial profiling, and the belief that black people do not deserve to take their children in the same schools as white.
Stereotypes hinder the civil rights movement by portraying misconceived facts about African Americans, and justification furthers discrimination. As Kulaszewicz (2015) outlines, black people's representation in media targets bias, beliefs, and value system, leading to reinforcement of racism.
They influence perceptions and associations of microaggressions impacting how the mind associates words, negatively connotating the black person. For instance, when African Americans are represented as violent, uneducated, the same mentality impacts prejudices.
No, I believe they shape African Americans to prove that they are worth more through movements that challenge systemic racism.
Films, videos, and the entertainment industry should focus on diversity, positive and equal representation, and portrayal of all races. Toms (2017) argue that all people have to be presented as "normal" with attributes and flaws, like every other race.
Yes, to some extent, agreeing to play the roles feeds the notion of "acceptable" societal standards. It is a bad thing since the majority can argue that if the African American agreed to play a specific role, then they see themselves in such light.
References
Kulaszewicz K.E. (2015). Racism and the Media: A Textual Analysis
Toms, J. (2017). How Hollywood Can Help Reduce Prejudice. https://psmag.com/news/how-hollywood-can-help-reduce-prejudice
