African American Culture in the Media and Entertainment Industry Social Issue Research Project Eths 2410 Spring 2015

My Social Issue Its important to see how the world sees the African American culture and I figure the best way to do that is to see how we are portrayed with the resources that people use. – Dark Girls and Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap documentaries was used for gathering information – Along with the recent events in the news for past decade.

Scholarly Research Documentaries and Websites – Dark Girls - taught me about how the world sees the girls of darker skin and what the media has done and what it can do to change perceptive. – Blackface – taught me about the general stereotypes and how the world still uses the stereotypes to make a mockery but misrepresent a culture.

Intervention How the Media and Entertainment industry can change the way people see themselves and others Major news and magazines would be involved along with consumers of social media sites and agencies Media would have to stop using a AA stereotype in order to make money also by changing the way beauty is defined. Make a more positive imagery of AA. Shouldn’t cost anymore than what is already being spent.

Resistance to the Intervention There has already been resistance within this issue from media saying we are only giving people what they want. Only to keep using the stereotypes to make profit. Keep demanding for change in the way AA are portrayed. Also don’t buy into the stereotypical images, advertisements, products, trends etc.

Support for the Intervention Support from African Americans would for the fact that they are aware of what is going on in the media and want to see better representation of themselves. Interview amongst black male was well and had a lot to say. Asked about how the media has a upper hand in the way AA see themselves and how the world see them also. – Had similar views of the problem and came up with the same solutions as to how to change the perception.

Impact of the Intervention An actual change would be great to see but also the racism that is associated with it to decrease and eventually no longer exist. Main reasons for racism towards African Americans is how they are portrayed to the mass. If we can change the perception, we can really be represented properly.

References "Blackface!" Blackface! - The History of Racist Blackface Stereotypes. Web. 1 May Dark Girls. Perf. Viola Davis, Kirk Bovill, Joni Bovill. Duke Media, Urban Winter Entertainment, Film. "Deeper Than Rap: The Black Influence on All of American Music - Soul Train." Soul Train RSS. 27 June Web. 1 May Something From Nothing: The Art Of Rap. Perf. Ice-T, Dr. Dre, Chuck D. Distibuted by Vivendi Entertainment, Film.