Over the past decade, a resurgence of racism in the United States has been stimulated relentlessly by the American press (print and broadcast) through its selected depiction of Black Americans in its coverage of news events.
Racism in America is like an ulcer that bleeds periodically. Under favorable conditions, the ulcer is dormant and scab will form and shut off the bleeding. One may be lulled Into thinking the ulcer may be healing; yet, under hostile conditions, the bleeding may become so profuse that it is a threat to the entire body.
In America, the ulcer of racism starts to bleed when the scab is picked off by the media. The media has arrogantly played casting director in America by assigning particular social roles to particular people — roles based on race and/or ethnicity, and socio-economic economic status. When members of racial or ethnic groups do not follow the rules or play the role according to the rules white American society, they are held up to intensive, negative scrutiny.
For example, Black Americans are too often portrayed as abusers of the welfare system, producers of fatherless children and as criminals. When a suspect is Black, there is nearly always a photograph available. In contrast, there is no end to the documentaries and news features that show how well immigrant groups have fared in this country.
