Turning Negative to Positive: African American Portrayal in Media

As the day progresses into the late evening hour most of America sits in front of their televisions impatiently waiting to watch their favorite shows. From prime time television to viral videos on YouTube, media has become one of the most influential areas of life. The clothes we wear, slogans we say, and actions we portray are all influenced by media. For example, in 2012 “Ain’t nobody got time for that” became a popular slogan which transcended from a news interview that went viral. Although the slogan was catchy, it became famous more so for the way it was presented. The interviewee was an African American female who was a victim of a house fire. With the female being very passionate and animated while speaking in an urban accent, it provided for great entertainment. Sadly, that news interview lacked the appropriate representation of African Americans. The way media portrays a certain message “can have an inordinate influence on the public’s perception of blacks” (Holt 6). Audiences have been a witness to negative portrayal of African Americans since the days of “blackface”, where Caucasian American actors painted their faces black to depict African Americans. According to blog author Michelle Whalen, “now, more than ever, images of African Americans are transcending racial stereotypes and forging ahead into the fight for equality” (1). In the past two decades, media has been successful in providing positive progression in the portrayal of African Americans although some areas of television continue to have an absence in the proper cultural approach.

The representation of African Americans in media has significantly progressed leading to the perceptions that African Americans have overcome the negative portrayal in media. In the column, “Distorted Reality” authors S. Lichter and Daniel Amundson presented a study which discussed how “black representation has gradually increased and negative stereotypes have decreased” (8). The debut of The Cosby Show in 1984 was the first of many important movements towards the disappearance of negative media. It was one of the “first times in television’s history an influential and wealthy African American family was featured” on televisions around the world (Whalen). The Cosby Show was a pioneer for positive African American representation in media. In late 80’s and early 90’s audiences witnessed the emergence of sitcoms such as Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Family Matters. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Family Matters much like The Cosby Show provided another look at successful African American families. In both sitcoms the fathers are the bread winners of the family, and worked very hard to provide a great life for their families. These shows broke through the mold of presenting African American in an urban background. With the support of these shows, “blacks are more likely to be portrayed positively than are whites, and they engage in proportionately less violent and criminal behavior” (Lichter and Amundson 1). America has now become more acceptable to watching successful African Americans on television.

In current media, we as an audience have witnessed a portion of stereotypes that have vanished from the media although many are still in existence. Within the past 3 years ABC’s hit show Scandal has become one of America’s most popular shows. Filled with drama and suspense, the show continues to tease their audience causing them to tune in every Thursday night wanting more. Even more exciting, Kerry Washington, who plays Olivia Pope, “is the first African-American female lead on a network TV drama in 40 years” (Dowell 1). The master mind behind all the suspense and excitement is also an African American by the name of Shonda Rhimes, who is also famous for the creation of Grey’s Anatomy. Oliva Pope is “an educated, elegant, witty and incredibly intelligent African American woman. Her character has an outstanding reputation and is well respected. People say her name in reverent tones” (“Scandal”). We have reached a point in society where it is acceptable for African Americans to be as successful as Olivia Pope.

With more characters such as Olivia Pope emerging on a regular basis, it is understandable how one would feel as if the negative portrayal has become extinct. The 2009 Disney movie, The Princess and the Frog, was the “first animated feature with an African American princess” (Gehlawat 421). There was an understandingly great deal of hype presented along with the success of creating the first African American princess. With Disney being one of the major American animation companies, this speaks greatly about the current state of media changing these negative stereotypes. I commend Disney for the creation of this princess who is “from a loving, two-parent, working-class home, is ambitious, independent and characterized as strong and resilient” (Williams). Both areas of production are examples displaying the greats strides media has taken to present African Americans in a more positive aspect.

Although we have witnessed a positive progression in media to accurately represent African Americans, there are still important actions that need to transpire to completely remove the negative stereotypes. Kerry Washington’s character Olivia Pope presents one of few positive portrayals of African Americans in media, but everything that glitters is not always gold. Most of the energy in the hit television series is created around the affair that Olivia Pope has with the President of the United States. For much of the series Ms. Pope remains Mr. President’s secret, furthermore insinuating stereotypes of black women always being second best. When has adultery become an action that is glorified in America? While some individuals feel like the show is “slowly changing television,” I feel like it is blocking all the potential success of African Americans in television (“Scandal”). Every time an intimate scene between her and the President is captured, media takes one step forward and two step backwards. This aspect of the show is nothing more than a negative stereotype presenting African American women as women who perceive affairs as satisfactory actions.

In addition, in The Princess and the Frog, Princess Tiana is “transformed into a green frog for most of the movie’s duration” (Lester 302). Most of the previous princesses are enchanting and fairy- tale like whereas Princess Tiana is presented as an unappealing creature. Presenting an African American princess as an unattractive creature presents the stereotype that African Americans are still not worthy of roles of beauty. As previously stated, media has a strong influence on our culture. Children of course... are less likely to distinguish a stereotype from reality (Lester 304). Therefore, is this really how we want our younger generation to view the African American culture? Audiences should avoid becoming content with the few positive portrayals we are currently witnessing in media.

As seen with the media productions I presented, both productions display the progression of advances past racial stereotypes in media. If they are examined closely, it is seen that they all still have some form of negativity. African American representation in media should not be presented at the expense of negative media. With the increase in African American writers, producers, and directors in the entertainment business, more roles should be created that present African Americans in a positive manner. In agreeance with Holt, “these changes will not be effective if we, as minorities, cannot refrain from perpetuating and utilizing the same stereotypes that our opponents have made famous” (12). America is somewhat an imitation culture. We take part in whatever may look successful for someone else. Therefore if one writer, producer, or director strays from the conventional view of media, allowing African American entertainers to positively display their talents, then others will follow in pursuit. As former President Lyndon B. Johnson stated:
“If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it.”
The people that gain the most from the progressive advancement in cultural media are our future generations. They should be able to feel comfort while watching someone of a different ethnicity on prime television. It should not be absurd to witness a well-spoken African American being interviewed on the news. I do not want my children to feel like their ethnicity provides a limitation for them pursuing a career in media. Only we hold the potential to completely negate the negative stereotypes in media and shed a more positive light on African Americans expressing a sense of equality to our younger generations.

Works Cited
Dowell, Matt. ""Scandal Slowly Changing Television" Inspiring African-American Females of All Ages." NCCNews Archive. Syracuse University, 22 Nov. 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
Gehlawat, Ajay. "The Strange Case of The Princess and the Frog: Passing and the Elision of Race." Journal of African American Studies (2010): 417-31. EBSCO. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
Holt, Lanier F. "Writing the Wrong: Can Counter-Stereotypes Offset Negative Media Messages about African Americans?:." Jornalism and Mass Communiation Quaterly (2013): 108-25. Sage Journals. Web. 9 Feb. 2014.
Lester, Neal A. "Disney’s The Princess and the Frog: The Pride, the Pressure, and the Politics of Being a First." The Journal of American Culture 33.4 (2010): 294-308. EBSCO. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
Lichter, S; Amundson, Daniel. Center for Media and Public Affairs, Distorted Reality: Hispanic Characters in TV Entertainment. June, 1997.
SCANDAL and the Portrayal of African American Women in the Media." RSS. Blogs College of Charleston, 27 Nov. 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
Whalen, Michelle. "African American Representation in the Media." Lifepaths360.com. N.p., 27 Nov. 2007. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.