Representation of People of Color in Film and Television

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Table of Contents

Introduction
History and Development of the Disparity
Analysis of Disparity
Solution
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Movies and television are often a refuge and a reflection of the unfolding life. They can also play a massive role in shaping and strengthening cultural beliefs and perceptions about race internationally. Numerous entertainment companies strive to be inclusive, while others strongly reject portraying black people in their shows. Commonly, people of color are represented as dim-witted, fierce, or evil characters who bring destruction. Additionally, they are either antagonists or play background roles such as a waiter, maid, and others. Let’s take a moment to understand how this inequality has developed.

History and Development of the Disparity

Throughout history, individuals have been watching TV and movie about various people represented in different contexts. However, the lives of people of color have never been represented truthfully without imposing any racial stereotypes and perpetuating the supremacy of the white race. Initially, the black characters were introduced into literature, where they were portrayed as gullible, white-loving, but furious humans. The first blacks appeared in Uncle Tom’s Cabin and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (“Edward Said – Framed”). The totality of all these characteristics demonstrated how blacks are different from the whites, hiding racism and projecting the latter’s superiority.

The West misrepresented Eastern residents and claimed them to be totally different from the white population. In 1978, Edward Said, in his book Orientalism analyzed why people of color were referred to as thieves, exotic, and perverse (“Edward Said – Framed”). The ideology of the 19th century presumed that the West would conquer and control the East. It was the primary cause of disparity between races on TV and in movies (“Edward Said – Framed”). These projections from the past still affect the modern film industry because they are expected to be visible (Akbar). Now that the recent history of this disparity is clear, it is indispensable to understand precisely what representation looks like in publishing and why it is currently not enough.

Analysis of Disparity

Society depends on the information on the Internet, which is dubious because it misrepresents people, particularly those of color. The publishing industry was exposed to inequality to the same extent as movies and television (Ho). The books are immensely powerful in shaping one’s cultural outlook; hence, they are forced to increase inclusivity among their staff first. Currently, there is approximately 70% white personnel in the publishing production (Watson 3). With the surge of the Black Lives Matter movement, there has been a significant rise in the number of accounts written by blacks and about them (Watson). In addition, the authors tend to hide their character’s race so as not to inflict any hatred upon them, which proves that there are still many biases to overcome.

As it was identified, the inequality in the area roots deeply in the past. Despite attempts to attract the black community into the industry, stereotypes still restrict the group from fully expressing their true selves (Ho). By now, it is clear that there is a severe problem and that despite the efforts being made to diversify publishing, the industry is still heavily biased. Decisive action is needed to eliminate this inequality and spread awareness among the population.

Solution

The first step towards eliminating the disparity in books, films, and television is to spread awareness. Fixing and ignoring biases is no longer a valid strategy, whereas educating is the primary driver of change. What is more, it is vital to hire more people of color to diversify the workforce (Watson, 2021). This strategy will help alleviate the pressure and reduce the superiority of whites since all people are born equal. By choosing black characters as protagonists, the authors may help the audience to understand what it feels like to be oppressed by society just for skin color. This initiative will reveal the live on the other side and teach people to be tolerant.

The other contribution would be setting the benchmarks meaning that any organization should hire a certain number of people belonging to the black race. Having courageous conversations is vital in order to sustain the climate of trust and suggest new ideas towards expanding the worldview by eliminating racial disparities (Martin 13). In general, the publishing industry should promote blacks’ narratives to demonstrate their point of view and reduce the level of inequality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we need to celebrate diversity in stories since all people are born equal. Although a person cannot rewrite history or even change the way some people think in the present, he can begin to actively contribute to making life a little better for those who need it. Creating opportunities for those who have historically been denied is not charity but justice, and perhaps this is the most definite step forward to ensure progress. These initiatives can be implemented by individuals who seek to provide qualified minority job candidates with employment opportunities and can also be implemented on a larger scale through scholarships and other large-scale efforts. Racial equality will not be achieved comprehensively in a matter of days, months, or even years – the process takes time, but in the end, it is worth all the effort.

Works Cited

“Edward Said – Framed: The Politics of Stereotypes in News.” YouTube, uploaded by Al Jazeera English, Web.

Akbar, Arifa. “Diversity in Publishing – Still Hideously Middle-Class and White?” The Guardian, Web.

Ho, Rosemary. “The History of Publishing Is a History of Racial Inequality.” The Nation, Web.

Martin, Rachel. “4 Ways We Can Support Racial Equality as Publishers.” Elsevier, Web.

Watson, Amy. “Publishing Industry Diversity in The U.S. – Statistics & Facts.” Statista, Web.

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Representation of People of Color in Film and Television

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