#racialissues

[milkshakegum]

When dogs are cross-breed they are called Azkals and the name doesn't resonate as a compliment. Rather, a discrimination. It is as if they are less of a being. They don't make a stand against pure breeds and are left unwanted. But when human beings are interracial, an equivalent for a cross-breed, they are revered and envied.

[darknekoqueen]

If you’re my follower and still don’t see an issue please leave. There is a racial issue and an issue with the #police in general. I’m sick of it #stephonclark #justiceforstephonclark #racialinjustice #racialissues

[hoodedpoetry]

Thoughts? 🤔✊ #FCHW #MarshawnLynch #NFL #BlackAthletes #speakup #racialissues #sports #let'stalk #blackpeople #discussions #smokecircle #CollinKaepernick {@fchwlife}⚡️ #Repost @spokenreasons with @insta.save.repost (at Town Bizz)

[last30news-blog]

Sir Charles had a show about racial issues. Richard Spencer leader of the Alt-Right made a guest appearance. What your thinking right now...is exactly what happened. #CharlesBarkley #RichardSpencer #AltRight #RacialIssues Last30 coming soon!! LIKE/SHARE/FOLLOW

[kikirichardson]

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Hey! Did you catch this week's discussion about #colorism on #PlayingDevilsAdvocate? Check out this snippet, watch the show & share your thoughts! #KiKiRichardson #Race #RacialIssues #ColorBias #Bias #PaperBagTest #BlueVeinSociety #Lightskin #Darkskin #lightskinvsdarkskin

[officialdaghost-blog]

Pre shaven head, "oh you look partly native." Post shaven head, "are you mexican?" #CholoLife #Native #RacialIssues #Selfie #SelfieKing #shavedhead #FeelingConfident #IGuess

[honeybunnybabiii]

I legit hate America. My parents should've legit left my ass in Nigeria. This country was and never will be great. Swear.

[tastebudblog]

The Oscars Has a Race Problem, But a “White” Academy is Just the Tip of the Iceberg

by Olivia Klayman

There is a long-standing debate as to whether or not society influences the media, or if the media is a reflection of society.

As with most things, this is neither a “black” or “white” issue; or is it?

Many hold the belief that this award ceremony historically honors one race over the other.

While I would argue that there have been many significant improvements since the Civil Rights Movement, one of the most ignored yet most important factors has been this country’s increasing outcry for proper representation in the media.

America, noted for being a “country of immigrants,” can come across most of the time, as a “White America.”

I would be curious to see how the voters’ race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, and religion, influences their votes because from an objective standpoint, it seems as though the Academy only values people of their color for their ability to represent their own race.

These socially constructed archetypes then determine the roles that are “appropriate” for certain races to play.

If you look at black Academy Award Winners in the last ten years, for example, you’ll find that each winner portrays either a person from history who shared the same race, or, was a character who helped perpetuate the same stereotypes flooding the media.

Dreamgirls (Jennifer Hudson); 12 Years a Slave (Lupita Nyong’o); The Help (Viola Davis); Precious (Mo’Nique); and even Ray (Jamie Foxx) are all films that cast people of color on a need basis.

Can you see what’s wrong with this picture?

I think it is unfair to entirely blame the Academy given that they give the awards, not make the films. That said, I would be willing to argue that the Academy seems to favor a “white” agenda; whether it is conscious choice or not.

It’s important to acknowledge that while a white man can be cast in any role and still not influence public opinion as to what it means to be “white,” the roles people of color play are indicative of what it means to be a member of that community.

These people have great difficulty distinguishing themselves from their race.

These actors have to either take the moral high-ground and reject paying jobs that reinforce these stereotypes, or get paid knowing that they’re endorsing the same oppressive industry that makes it difficult to succeed based on their own merit.  

There’s also the possibility that some films choose not to cast people of color for fear of associating their work with the same racially-charged stereotypes, as well as issues of racial inequality. Maybe they fear that this may shift the focus away from their movie to the stigmatized backgrounds of the actors playing their roles. Either way, it’s unacceptable.

Take a look at the nominated films for this year’s awards ceremony. Would different casting really make that much of an impact in some of these films? The answer is, “NO.”

Our country functions on a “supply and demand” basis. This mentality is not limited to our economic system. The unfortunate truth is that the few people of color who have won an Academy Award have been those actors who played roles that “supplied” what society was “demanding,” at the time.

While it’s easy to scapegoat racial inequality in the media on the Academy Awards, it’s unrealistic and honestly ignorant.

If anything, this conflict should force you to introspectively reflect on what sort of content you support with your business because let’s face it: movies that don’t sell don’t win awards. It’s just a fact.

Film, a medium that typically helps viewers escape from reality, may actually reflect the sort of prejudiced beliefs that still reign supreme in this country.

Though the Academy Awards may pride itself on giving accolades to those who are “worthy,” it’s important to ask yourself “who is being given the opportunity to succeed?”

One can only hope that this sort of criticism can be a catalyst to a larger-scale dialogue as to the true role race plays in this country and its politics.