Is the racial tension in the United States being overblown by the media?

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   davidlivermoreposted 10 years ago

   Is the racial tension in the United States being overblown by the media?
   
   In the wake of the Ferguson incident and other incidents throughout the US there has been a huge debate over racial inequality.  Is that actually true, or is it being blown up by the media in the effort to garner ratings?  In my city (which has many different races) there doesn't seem to be much of an issue.  Some state it is, but it's such a small minority.  So, is this just a media game, or does the U.S. still have an issue with race relations?

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   cjhunsingerposted 10 years ago

   david
   
   Like most  things one merely has to follow the money or power trail. In the Ferguson case the Federal government seems to be  operating out of racial animus. The Sharptons out of greed and animus and the media out of sensationalism for greed.

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   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   Of course it is! By it's nature to even get on the news something has to be the "exception" and not the norm! "If it bleeds it leads".
   The media, newspapers, and magazine publishers are in business to (earn a profit). Their goal is to attract as many viewers/listeners, subscribers, as possible and generate a high number of online clicks to attract money from advertisers. Shock sells! Good news doesn't sell!
   In no way am I suggesting we don't have any race relation issues but I am saying (the vast majority of people) find a way to get along or tolerate one another on a day to day basis without violence.
   Happy people generally aren't in the news unless it's a "feel good" spot the media wants to tag onto (the end) of a program after giving you 25 minutes of scare tactics or "doom & gloom".

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   danicoleposted 10 years ago

   Yes and I guess no too!!!!  YES because The media (the news, TV shows, movies, magazines, newspapers, etc.) is smart, they do things to get a reaction out of its viewers, not any reaction (s) but it guides (mislead and baits you) into the reaction (s) they want/expect you to see. That reaction (s) creates ratings and money for them. At the end of the day, its all about money, not race, not humanity or individuals but the green "god,"
   No because we are all participates of this and these reactions are "natural" even if they are being baited out of us.
   When we hear about someone being killed, it makes us sad, reflective and angry (especially if its injustice). America still has race issues (just cuss the president is "black" don't mean they went away). It is not going away anytime soon. Race issues and power issues divides this country and makes us react extremely (on both sides). The media loves this and plays this repeatedly because they know they are many, MANY people that are sad, indifferent and angry........ anyway money/$$$$ is a KING!!!!

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      Old-Empresarioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Aside from a very small handful of Baptist preachers I don't see any black people are making money from this.

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      danicoleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I did not say black people are making money..... the media is, read my comment again!!!

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      Old-Empresarioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry

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5. 69

   Old-Empresarioposted 10 years ago

   I think the media is correct in identifying this as a serious issue, but it's not drawing the right conclusions. Racism in the US is no longer institutional, but it is still fundamentally a part of US culture. The US is a racist country. Whites in the US seem to have absolutely no empathy for being black in the US. Think about it. Black people were slaves 150 years ago. They were officially second-class citizens in many states just 50 years ago. After this, without any sort of special training or indoctrination, we somehow expect black Americans is simply fit in and do things the same way white Americans have always done them? The African American culture that we know in the US is one borne from years of institutional oppression. And because many black Americans have their own way of dressing, talking and acting, they are ostracized by the mainstream white culture. Now that they have been pushed away and ostracized so much, they may not want to conform with white Americans anymore. Because we do not face these issues and discuss them correctly and openly with a great deal of thought with regards to history, the problems become worse. No one has managed to get at the root of the problem because that would involve a close examination of the past.
   
   And people who disagree may say, "well, the President is black". I say; well, not really. First, he has one black parent and one white parent. Second, his father was a free man from Kenya. The president is not a descendent of slavery and oppression.

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      cjhunsingerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Old--How would you solve this perceived problem? I once asked a Black friend if he ever wished that slaves were not purchased from other Blacks in Africa and shipped here. His reply was short, to paraphrase, who in the hell wants to live in Africa?

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      danicoleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree! Alot of people think racism don't exist anymore which is not true. Racism is still here.
      @cjhunsinger: africa has its own complex problems. do you want to live in africa with all that is going on? I wouldn't, that place seems scary as hell!

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      cjhunsingerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      danicole
      I think you missed the point. My friend was happy that his ancestors were sold by other Africans into slavery.

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      danicoleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      @cjhunsinger: I didn't miss your point, I understand it very well. I'm explaining why perhaps your friend would be happy to not live or be born in Africa. The continent is messed up, perhaps you missed my point!

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      Old-Empresarioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      CJ, I'm sure your friend was just telling you what you wanted to hear. I'm also sure his ancestors did not like being slaves, so that takes the wind out of his dumb argument. Read a book called Guns, Germs and Steel. It explains Africa's condition

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      cjhunsingerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Old--You were there!

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   wingedcentaurposted 8 years ago

   The United States is a huge country. How can individuals ever make determinations about what the media are or are not "overblowing," as it relates to racial tension in the country? What is the proper level that the media should "blow" it to?
   
   Are the media making the situation an "8," when it should only be a "5"? Again, how can such a determination be made.
   
   Unless, any of us are prepared to charge the media with fabricating incidents in which unarmed black youths are being killed by police officers.

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