Analysis of Negative Portrayals of Black Men in Media Essay

This essay examines the negative portrayal of Black men in popular media, focusing on how films and television shows perpetuate harmful stereotypes. The essay argues that media often depicts Black men as criminals, contributing to biased societal perceptions. It analyzes the film "Training Day," highlighting the character of Alonzo Harris as a symbol of injustice, and contrasts him with a morally righteous white partner. The essay also explores the television show "The Wire," demonstrating how African-American characters embody derogatory attributes, reinforcing negative associations. Through these examples, the essay emphasizes the significant role media plays in shaping public opinion and reinforcing negative stereotypes about Black men, ultimately arguing for a critical examination of these portrayals and their impact on society. The author uses scholarly references to support the arguments.

Running head: BLACK MEN IN MEDIA
Black Men in Media
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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BLACK MEN IN MEDIA
The black men are portrayed in a negative manner in the popular media like the
television and the movies. There prevails bias in the media that attributes the negative
characteristics on the black men. Media plays an important role in the society in transmitting
ideas and it helps in the formation of the notions within the framework of the society
(Brooms, Derrick and Armon, pp 168). The black people are shown in a disparaging way in
the society that helps in the formation of perception of the society. It helps in the formation of
the general view of the public and is an important aspect of the modern day society. This
essay argues about how the black men are portrayed as the criminals in the movies that shows
the biased mentality that prevails in the wider society.
The movie Training Day provides a threatening depiction of the black men in the
society. The role of Alonzo Harris acts as a stark reminder of the injustice that are perpetrated
on the black men in the society. Criminal mindedness of the character of Alonzo Harris has
been contrasted with that of the white partner who has been shown to be a morally righteous
man. The white man has been shown as the good cop that talks about the partial mentality of
the people in the society. Alonzo Harris has been shown as the corrupt cop who carries out
various kinds of evil acts. Alonzo makes use of a fake search warrant for stealing an amount
of $ 40,000 from the home of Sandman. He has been shown to be highly corrupted who are
motivated by the element of greed instead of by the sense of the justice. They create havoc on
the communities owing to the malicious intentions that are in their mind. The ideas that are
rampant in the society helps in the formation of mindset of the people. The inaccurate
representation of the black men in the society shows that the concept of the evil is associated
with the black men in the society (Kleider-Offutt, pp 30). The black men are shown of to be
evil and they commit various kinds of heinous acts in the society. The black cops are shown
to take part in the distribution of the illegal drugs that shows the gaps that prevails in the
justice along with the legal system. The back men misuse the power of their position and

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BLACK MEN IN MEDIA
involve themselves in evil designs that harms the normal balance in the society. The evil cops
involve themselves in transgressions that does not attribute positive qualities on the black
men in the films.
The television show called The Wire shows the evidence of racial stereotype that are
demonstrated in almost every scene of the television show. The African-American characters
in the show are shown to embody the derogatory attributes that harps on the association of the
negative characteristics and the black men within the society. The main character of Avon
Barksdale has been portrayed as the high-ranking drug kingpin of that of Baltimore. He
involves himself in drug trafficking that helps him in making a living. Barksdale has been
shown to control the entire drug trade within that of West Baltimore. Barksdale has been
shown to be a leader however the good intentions of the character are overshadowed by that
of the bad actions. The character of Avon helps in displaying the commonly held stereotypes
regarding the black men within the American society. The black men are shown to involve
themselves in criminal acts and they act as a threat to community. Poverty along with the
deviance are the negative aspects in relation to African-American community that are
intensified on the television. Barksdale does not have any kind of sense of the morality.
Barksdale has committed many murders and this relegates negative attributes to the black
men in the society. The first episode shows Barksdale ordering the killing of the witness for
doing the testifying against the nephew in the court. Barksdale along with the other characters
are shown of to be inherently violent who are feared in the society. The kind of the myth that
are created over the media of the television causes the general public of fearing the African-
American males in the real life. The manner of depiction of the black men in the television
paves the path for the propagation of the negative stereotypes about the black men in the
society.

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Media plays a crucial role for the transmission of the ideas that helps the people in
forming the notions in the society. The black men have been portrayed in a negative light in
the movie called Training Day. Alonzo Harris helps in reminding the people about the
injustice that prevails against the black men in the society. The criminal intent in the
character called Alonzo Harris has been shown to be different from white partner who has
been portrayed as a morally righteous man. Television show called The Wire bears testimony
of the racial stereotypes which has been shown in all the scenes of the television show. The
characters who are African-American embodies derogatory attributes that talks about the
relation in between black men and that of negative characteristics.

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References
Brooms, Derrick R., and Armon R. Perry. "“It’s Simply Because We’re Black Men” Black
Men’s Experiences and Responses to the Killing of Black Men." The Journal of Men’s
Studies 24.2 (2016): 166-184.
Kleider-Offutt, Heather M., Alesha D. Bond, and Shanna EA Hegerty. "Black stereotypical
features: When a face type can get you in trouble." Current Directions in Psychological
Science 26.1 (2017): 28-33.