Weird Media Racial Biases

[TripleB]

Here's some interesting racial biases I've observed in the media over the last few years.

Most news outlets now have websites that allow readers to comment on articles, and link them to social networking sites.

Anytime a black person commits a crime, the reporter does not mention the race of the suspect. However, in the comments, readers will point to police public information releases that describe the suspect.

The news article will only say things such as "the suspect in the armed robbery is described as age 20 to 30, male, approximately 5'8"" but will never say black male.

However, when a white person commits a crime, it's listed as white male.

When the hispanic Zimmerman shot the black Martin in self defense last month, the news jumped all over this, describing Zimmerman as a "white-hispanic" and laying the foundation for a national race war that sparked protests and marches across the country. The media even went so far as to edit Zimmerman's 911 call to make him sound racist (and today, fortunately, the NBC producer was fired for doing this).

If someone points out that more than 50% of the US prison population is black, while only 12% of the US is black, that makes them racist.

I'm not sure what to make of all this except that it seems like reverse racism.

[moda0306]

When the hispanic Zimmerman shot the black Martin in self defense last month

Wow... loaded that up with assumptions a bit, don't you think?  We don't know exactly what happened, but it would appear that Zimmerman was going after Martin.  It's possible, given the probable events that lead to the fight, that under the stand-your-ground law, had Martin been armed, he could have shot Zimmerman.

Zimmerman has domestic assault incidents on his record.  Zimmerman had been charged with resisting arrest.  Zimmerman had called the police 46 times since 2011, indicating a certain amount of persistant paranoia.  I think it's anything but clear self-defense in this case.  Of course, the gun lobby had gotten unbelievably lax standards of self defense passed in Florida, basically giving any hot head with a gun final say over whether he goes to jail or not.  Add that to the lack of witnesses, and it's likely a tough conviction... but I'm still extremely skeptical of this guy.

If someone points out that more than 50% of the US prison population is black, while only 12% of the US is black, that makes them racist.

According to some, yes.  According to others, blacks are an inferior race.  There's a lot of racism by both sides of the media coverage and public support in the wake of this event.  I'm less interested in the emotions and talking poinits around race & racism than the economics... until the mid-20th century, most blacks were basically subject to actual slavery or wage-slavery, with no foundation of wealth or education to stand on after slavery ended, it basically didn't end, and they went right back trading their labors for food, shelter, and rights they'd already earned.  Of course, many holders of substantial wealth today would love to forget all this.  Is that racist?  Probably not, so much as it is convenient.  Regardless of what you call it, though, it's part of a broader discussion on what our society should look like... not how different media outlets skew things like they skew every other subject.

[TripleB]

Zimmerman has domestic assault incidents on his record.  Zimmerman had been charged with resisting arrest.  Zimmerman had called the police 46 times since 2011, indicating a certain amount of persistant paranoia.

Martin has a record of burglary and drug abuse. If Zimmerman's prior history is admissible so is the "innocent" 17 year old.

Considering Zimmerman didn't kill anyone in the previous 46 calls to 911, that would make me look more favorably on him with the likelihood being Martin aggressed on Zimmerman.

If only more people called 911 and actually gave a shit when crime went on around them, there might be less crime. There might be more dead criminals, but there might also be less crime.

[clacy]

As for Zimmerman, I won't lose any sleep over him getting charged with manslaughter and serving some time.  He is a complete idiot, who at the very least pursued Trayvon to some degree after being told not to.

As for TripleB's point, there is no doubt that this occurs.  I live in a city where there is a lot of violent crime and the vast majority of it is black on black. 

There have been two attempted break ins on my house in recent months. On one attempt I saw one of the guys trying to break in, and I assure you that used the words "black male" in the police report.

[MediumTex]

The media clearly has many biases. some of which members of the media would admit to, and others they might not even be aware of.

One thing that I think affects media coverage of crime and race issues is that the big media markets are obviously in large urban areas, and it is large urban areas where the urban poor are apparently disproportionately made up of minorities, while poor people away from the cities appear to be more evenly distributed across all ethnic groups.  Since it probably IS true in these big cities that minorities are committing a lot of the crimes, the media seems to look for alternate narratives to help report the crime situation without appearing to be saying that all crimes are committed by minorities.  I think that one of the things they do in response to this concern is they stop reporting the ethnicity of the suspect.  A better approach if they wanted to present a more balanced picture would be to drive about a hundred miles outside of the city and report on crime in those communities.  Crimes there will typically be committed by a more ethnically diverse group of people. 

Another dimension to the crime story is economic.  Poor people probably commit more crimes per capita than other members of society.  If minorities make up more of the poor population, it would make sense that they would commit more crimes, not because they are minorities, but perhaps because they are poor.  I wish there was more reporting around this topic.  I would like to know how much a criminal suspect made in legal income in the 12 months preceding the crime he was accused of committing.

One of the things I find amusing on this front are the home security system commercials in which they are clearly trying to create a sense of fear to sell more security systems, but the burglar always seems to be this white guy dressed up in a black outfit that looks like something a burglar would wear.  I'm not saying that there aren't white burglars, but they're not ALL white, even though the security system commercials would suggest that they are.

Here is a funny story that is sort of relevant to this topic.  My wife used to be an actress, and she knew a lot of other actors.  One of her fellow actors did bit parts in the "Crime Stoppers" re-enactments that ran on the local news.  He was black.  He was talking to her one day about a recent run-in he'd had with the police.  Apparently, a woman saw the Crime Stoppers re-enactment of a crime in which my wife's friend played the bad guy, and when she later saw my wife's friend on the street she called the police to report that she'd spotted the suspect featured on that week's Crime Stoppers.  The police at first were pretty aggressive, but after he explained what had apparently happened the police backed off.  He told them that he WAS the bad guy in the Crime Stoppers re-enactment, but that he was NOT the actual bad guy.  I would love to have listened in to that conversation.

[Reub]

I was on a grand jury once and the witness was asked by the assistant district attorney to describe the alleged perpetrator. When the witness mentioned that the alleged perpetrator was a black male the assistant district attorney (also black) immediately interrupted him and had the word "black" stricken from the record and instructed the jury to disregard.

[Reub]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/ ... 9U20120408

"Trayvon Martin call was "mistake, not deliberate": NBC"

From the news story:

"The edit in question, which aired on the network's flagship "Today" morning show last week, made it appear that Zimmerman told police that Martin was black without being prompted, when, in fact, the full tape reveals that the neighborhood watch captain only did so when responding to a question posed by a dispatcher."

[jackely]

Here's a link to a story and video demonstrating the awful truth of how dangerous it is for persons of a certain race to walk in certain areas populated by persons of a certain other race. In this case, as in a similar case in Miami, the victims were tourists from a foreign country apparently not fully cognizant of the state of racial relations in America.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/04/0 ... on-camera/

[brick-house]

Raising kids is a full time job.  The family (mom, dad, children) is a robust unit that serves as a building block for healthy communities.  A single mom with multiple children in a dangerous neighborhood is a fragile building block that leads to unhealthy communities. 

http://articles.philly.com/2012-02-22/e ... ionships/2

I applaud him, because unwed parenting is epidemic. An alarming 72 percent of African-American children are born to single mothers, increasing their chance of growing up impoverished and suffering from academic and social disadvantages. The New York Times recently called out-of-wedlock parenting "the new normal."

So, what do we do about it?

As Mondesire pointed out, "I can't march this problem away."

But he can encourage local singles to become more mindful about how and when they become parents.

"These are all conversations we shy away from," Mondesire told me when I stopped by his Germantown office on Monday. "Whenever I talk at the NAACP . . . when I'm angry about [former district attorney] Lynne Abraham or some injustice at the Police Department, everybody [says], 'Right on.' When I say 'Before I end, I want to talk about father-absent households and the toll that takes when we have to go bury children,' everybody gets real quiet."

[Tortoise]

One of the things I find amusing on this front are the home security system commercials in which they are clearly trying to create a sense of fear to sell more security systems, but the burglar always seems to be this white guy dressed up in a black outfit that looks like something a burglar would wear.  I'm not saying that there aren't white burglars, but they're not ALL white, even though the security system commercials would suggest that they are.

I've always found that amusing, as well. Here are a few of those commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ku1YOrxXeQ (0:30)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMpKDZDjBWM (1:03)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syjM1dPriBA (1:04)

[MediumTex]

One of the things I find amusing on this front are the home security system commercials in which they are clearly trying to create a sense of fear to sell more security systems, but the burglar always seems to be this white guy dressed up in a black outfit that looks like something a burglar would wear.  I'm not saying that there aren't white burglars, but they're not ALL white, even though the security system commercials would suggest that they are.

I've always found that amusing, as well. Here are a few of those commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ku1YOrxXeQ (0:30)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMpKDZDjBWM (1:03)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syjM1dPriBA (1:04)

When you watch them all together it's especially funny.

I would love to call the 800# and ask them if black and Hispanic burglars react the same way that white burglars do when they hear the alarm.

If they said yes, I would ask if that is covered in the warranty.

If they said no, I would ask if they had a deluxe model that repelled burglars of all ethnicities.

[KevinW]

I'm tickled by media that seems to come from a bizarro-world mostly like ours, but with a few key changes.

On Brinks-world, burglars have superhuman strength that allows them to knock in doors and windows with the back of their hand. Yet they're completely terrified by a buzzer. It's a good place to run a security company.

I get a similar rise watching Walker: Texas Ranger. On that bizarro-world, people are 100% good or 100% evil with no shades of gray, there are no miranda or police brutality laws, and guns don't work outside of roundhouse-kick range. It's a good place to be a badass cop who solves all problems with roundhouse kicks.

[jackely]

One of the things I find amusing on this front are the home security system commercials in which they are clearly trying to create a sense of fear to sell more security systems, but the burglar always seems to be this white guy dressed up in a black outfit that looks like something a burglar would wear.  I'm not saying that there aren't white burglars, but they're not ALL white, even though the security system commercials would suggest that they are.

I've always found that amusing, as well. Here are a few of those commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ku1YOrxXeQ (0:30)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMpKDZDjBWM (1:03)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syjM1dPriBA (1:04)

What's even funnier is that most of them are not only white males but middle-aged white males.

It would have been very interesting sitting in on the meetings where they decided who to cast in the robber role. African Americans were obviously off the table from the start. Can you imagine the outrage? Ditto other ethnic groups. Women obviously aren't threatening enough so that left white males. I suppose they went with older males because they are more scary than younger ones and also maybe because they are the group least likely to rise up in outrage over the commercial.

Also, just so happens to be the group least likely to break into your house (except for the women, that is).

[lazyboy]

When talking about crime, race and class it's important to keep in mind that the most costly financial crimes are done by white collar criminals. Also keep in mind that there are many things that corporations legally do that are killing people, stealing from people and poisoning the planet on grand scale.  

[Reub]

Yeah, man. Power to the people, man! Where am I, man?

[MediumTex]

When talking about crime, race and class its important to keep in mind that the most costly financial crimes are done by white collar criminals. Also keep in mind that there are many things that corporations legally do that are killing people, stealing from people and poisoning the planet on grand scale.   >:(

The police apparatus is sort of like a dog in that it often figures out who to chase based upon who runs.

Since financial criminals are experts at not looking suspicious, and rarely run when they see the police, it's harder for them to be identified by the law enforcement technique of simply chasing whoever runs.

The fact that most financial criminals operate within a carefully cultivated delusion of self-validation also makes it harder to even identify them as criminals.

Contrary to what we like to think, much of what we consider law enforcement is a lot more like a giant "catch and release" wildlife management program than a meaningful effort to create justice in society.  Against this backdrop, it shouldn't be surprising that so few financial criminals are ever targeted by law enforcement.  Asking most prosecutors to go after the real criminals in society is sort of like asking a weekend bass fisherman whether he would be interested in going on an expedition to catch Mody Dick.

[AdamA]

Asking most prosecutors to go after the real criminals in society is sort of like asking a weekend bass fisherman whether he would be interested in going on an expedition to catch Mody Dick.

That is a point very well made.

[lazyboy]

Yeah, man. Power to the people, man! Where am I, man?

About a year ago our home was broken into during the day, while we were away. Fortunately, the things that were taken were replaceable and partially covered by insurance. At the time we were a bit stunned but also understood that things were going to be OK and we we not inclined to hold a grudge about it. We figured out how it happened, and think that it must have been some day laborers, working for a tree contractor who cased the place during a tree removal job a few days earlier. We also think they were probably immigrant day laborers and most likely here in this country illegally. At least, that's what we think. Now, here's the thing about relative losses. I've been much more seriously ripped off materially by white collar criminals in my very fortunate life then by thieves who break and enter. So if I got a gun and a security system, which I'm not saying is a bad idea, per se, because maybe it could save a life, it  would not have protected me financially against more serious losses that I've suffered. (In Mr. Zimmerman's situation, having a gun took a life, which is all we know for sure). Now, if someone is going to get upset about the dangers in this world, I'm just saying it's a good idea to develop an expanded awareness of where the real dangers are.

[moda0306]

I am acquainted with an insurance-peddler that makes 6-figures and openly jokes about being a worse thief than the ones we worry about.  He basically sells to poor old people, and does annuity plans on the side where he gets and up front 10% commission.

Lazyboy's point is spot on.

[Reub]

Yeah! Let's release all of the thieves, rapists and murderers from jail and make room for the real societal threats....the insurance salesmen!

[MediumTex]

Yeah! Let's release all of the thieves, rapists and murderers from jail and make room for the real societal threats....the insurance salesmen!

I don't think that's what we're saying.

Maybe keep the current thieves, rapists and murderers locked up and just add a few more thieves from the financial services industry.

To take Lehman as an example, there was clearly a high level of fraud going on in the way they were manipulating their revenue and earnings to make the firm look much healthier than it was.  I thought that Sarbanes-Oxley and other post-Enron reforms were supposed to make this kind of thing either go away or be subject to serious criminal penalties. 

If I had been a large Lehman stockholder, I would be PISSED that no one seems to have been held accountable for the many Enron-like accounting tricks and gimmicks they were using to hide their true condition.

[Reub]

We do not have to go all the way back to Lehman. We could start with Corzine of MF Global fame.