Post #8- Mainstream Entertainment

Link to article: History of Racial Tension for Fla. City and Blacks

History of Racial Tension for Fla. City and Blacks
By: Mike Schneider and Suzette Laboy

Since Barack Obama’s presidential election win in 2008 many North American’s would argue that we live in a “colour-blind” nation. This means that we think and look beyond racism and other markers of difference, and that we live in what is called a “post-race” era. However, I can argue that by looking at it this way, and ignoring the differences in multiculturalism, we are only furthering racism. Multiculturalism should be recognized and celebrated, and I believe that mainstream entertainment has the power to do so.

Visionary and American president Obama

According to Jamie Moshin and Ronald L. Jackson (2011) the 2004 film “Crash” reveals how although racism is hidden in public, it is often expressed privately. In the article “History of Racial Tension for Fla. City and Blacks”, we see how this view of racism is proven. The article refers to several events that have occurred in a (predominately white) Orlando, Florida region that have been part of a ten year span of racial issues between the black community and the police department.

In class we discussed the theory of relational privilege. In a lecture on March 23, 2012, to a COMM 372OU class, Tess Pierce claimed this theory refers to how those from different diversities communicate involving power dynamics. In the film Crash we see an example of the raw form of relational privilege in California communities. Crash was commended for shining light on how sub-cultures inter-relate across class and colour lines in present-day America. When it comes to the issues in the Orlando community, Obama himself has shed light globally on the racist issues within this community.

Most recent killing in the Orlando area was this 17-year-old (left), allegedly shot in self-defence.

According to Moshin and Jackson every day racism is hidden. “Closing our eyes, acting like it is not there, or even conflating bigotry with racism are not effective strategies for this eradication or racism or White Privilege, both of which have material effects for non-White, racial Others in our Society,” (pg. 215). When authorities and the surrounding communities like the one in Orlando ignore racism, it will only work to further encourage the racist tendencies between community members. When we ignore racism, it will not simply cease to exist. Luckily, when figures such as Obama begin to discuss racism we can begin to better understand that although we are not a “colour-blind” nation, we don’t need to be.

References

Moshin, J. & Jackson, R. L. Inscribing racial bodies and relieving responsibility: Examining racial politics in Crash. In Lacy & Ono pp. 214-232.

Schneider, M., and Laboy, S. (2012, March 23). History of Racial Tension for Fla. City and Blacks. Associated Press. Retrieved from: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/history-racial-tension-fla-city-blacks-15984145

(T. Pierce, COMM 372OU, March 23, 2012).