Comments on: Race, Terror and Mass Shootings

By: Ziming Han

Ziming Han — Sat, 12 May 2018 03:31:28 +0000

I am surprised to hear that white males do the majority of mass shootings, because according to medias what I learn is those events are mostly related to terroism and Muslim. From recent studies I think the reason why meidas report terrorist event done by whites or people of other race differently is because whites want to feel good about themselves and keep their racial arrogance and sense of belonging. To please white audiances medias bias report these events so that they won’t be disappointed or annoyed.

By: Zachary D Katz

Zachary D Katz — Fri, 11 May 2018 21:49:03 +0000

Sarah- This was a phenomena that I become intrigued with as well. While the statistics are correct in your statement, it is fascinating how people of color are still given this untrue stereotype. Could it be that people are color are exposed more by the media and others that has developed an untrue stereotype and bias? The media is a big problem ,especially with how they perceive events in racial terms. They have always been looking for the top news story to improve their rating of course, but I feel as if they portrays many situations as a result of bias.

By: Kyle Watkins

Kyle Watkins — Tue, 01 May 2018 17:03:27 +0000

I think the very conversation on gun violence (as important as it is) is very revealing about the different associations of guns and violence based on who is holding the gun. The rhetoric of this debate goes back to the general dehumanization of Black men and association between skin color and violence and danger. What happens when gun violence is linked to a person of color, media and rhetoric portrays this event as confirmation of these associations whereas when a White person is tied to gun violence (even if it statistically is more frequent) it is portrayed as an exception. This is clarifying of the white supremacist system because of the undoing that would have to occur in the logic of implicit (and explicit) racists in order to view White gun violence as anything other than an exception. Associations of a White person with a gun speak for patriotism and bravery and exercising constitutional right. This contrasts media portrayal of a Black man with a gun as the antithesis of this. Viewing the White man as the enemy or inherently violent goes against all of these implicit socialized associations.