Racial Bias in the United States due to Mass Media

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The United States of America has been called a “mixing pot” since the birth of the nation. Everyone, especially politicians and educators, will proudly declare that the U.S. is a land of unmatched diversity. The U.S. seems to always be portrayed as a highly cultural territory, harboring a vast population of many races. Admittedly, the United States has come a long in terms of eliminating racial barriers and pursuing equality. All around the world, America is seen as a country of colors, yet mass media does not recognize that fact.
Racial bias is a prevalent trend in today’s media, and white people are favored in comparison to any other race. Seemingly every aspect of mass media is soaked in bias. Oftentimes, this leaves out minorities and simultaneously caters to white people. To fully comprehend the extent of racial bias in media, one must become aware of several features that play into it. This includes, but may not be limited to, societal changes in America in terms of equality and racism, why racial bias occurs, examples of where it can be found in media, who is being favored and discriminated against, affects on the general public, and how it can possibly be solved. In addition to understanding the basic concepts of racial bias in the media, it is also crucial for one to comprehend that some believe racial bias does not exist, especially in the media, and why those people believe that.
It is important to understand racism and the history of racism before one can comprehend racial bias in mass media, says Stephen Balkaran, professor of African-American studies and coordinator of the Civil Rights Project at Central Connecticut State University. “Race has become an institutional part of American society. From the Founding on...

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