by Jermaine Reed M.F.A.,–Copy Editor, The Drive Student Blog
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans. With FEMA taking longer than normal to respond, hungry victims searched stores for food. When the media learned of this, outlets plastered Black faces on their webpages under the word “looters.” However, a different narrative unfolded for the whites affected by Katrina who robbed stores. The same media called them survivors. The only noticeable difference between the Black and white victims of Hurricane Katrina was their skin color. Now, amid a global pandemic, the media is framing African Americans as lawless thugs for breaking shelter-in-place orders while that same media is painting whites as rightfully fed-up protestors out exercising their right to freedom.
In March of this year, New York Daily News ran a story on a group of Black males playing basketball when they should have been home during New York’s shelter-in-place order. When the NYPD saw the men, instead of arresting them, the cops told them they had done nothing wrong. Then, the cops left. That should have been the end of the story, but it wasn’t.
“So, what makes a white person committing an act a hero, but the Black person committing that same act a criminal?”
Later, a video of the interaction between the cops and ballplayers surfaced on the internet. On Twitter, users scolded the group for being outside against official recommendations. Conservative news outlets pondered if people were taking the shelter-in-place order too lightly. It seemed as though everyone had reached a consensus: those men should have been arrested for breaking the shelter-in-place order.
“Online talk show hosts called them heroes and held debates to explore whether the protestors had a legitimate position.”
However, recently and against the advice of medical professionals in his own administration, President Trump has been playing with the idea of reopening the economy. Recently, armed protestors stormed Michigan’s state capitol building in the name of reopening the economy. After tweeting that states should “liberate” their citizens, shelter-in-place protestors stormed the streets. Conservative news podcasts encouraged them by commending them for standing up for their freedom. Online talk show hosts called them heroes and held debates to explore whether the protestors had a legitimate position.
So, what makes a white person committing an act a hero, but the Black person committing that same act a criminal? While the coronavirus disproportionately ravages Black communities, media, and social media are demonizing Black people enjoying outside like their white counterparts. It is unfair at least. At worst, it is unamerican.
Everyone has a responsibility to see to it that racist double-standards don’t prevail. When social media and digital news sources attack one race of people for doing something another race is praised for, people must fight this. They must point out racist double-standards without fear. They must complain to editors, staff writers, or whoever will listen.
“Campaigns like First Lady Melania Trump’s “Be Best” tell children to treat others nicely. Is “Be Best” doing enough at this crucial point in history?”
The future generation will learn from this current generation to either fuel racism or extinguish it. Picking on groups of people is bullying. Ironically, anti-bullying campaigns run rampant through every form of media. What does singling out a race of people for no reason other than their skin color teach them? At the very least, the two previously mentioned messages confuse children. This is why racist digital content must be stopped. Campaigns like First Lady Melania Trump’s “Be Best” tell children to treat others nicely. Is “Be Best” doing enough at this crucial point in history?
There are a couple ways to combat online racism. The first way to do this is by not being part of the problem. Don’t insult people, especially not based on race. Next, if someone is being racist online, call that person out. If that doesn’t work, report the person. If these steps are followed, online racism can be conquered.
If you or someone you know who is between the ages 13 and 24 and is being bullied, please call Stomp Out Bullying 1-800-273-8255 or the GLBT National Youth Talkline at 1-800-246-7743 for help.
-And remember,
Stay Informed, Open-minded, and Driven!
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