HOW WHITE MEDIA MANAGES BLACK LEADERS

by Mumia Abu-Jamal

[Col. Writ. 7/8/02]

For years Black leaders and activists have charged that there is a conspiracy against their number, one of the government.

While that charge has largely been ignored, there is little question that the media has been the passionate enemy of Black leaders. One need look no further than the nearest tabloid.

'The media,' to paraphrase Marshall McLuhan, 'is more than the message.' It is the social and political entity that defines and affirms social relationships and protects the status quo. It is an essentially conservative institution that opposes that which is radical, and that which opposes the status quo.

How could any thinking Black leader not be radically opposed to the current white supremacist system, which degrades, devalues and limits Black life?

When any Black leader or group emerges that advocates Black unity or Black Power, he or it is undoubtedly a media target. Former reporter and now journalism professor, Jack Lule writes:

Critics long have argued that the news media miss or ignore matters of race because of the overwhelming white face of the nations newsrooms. Others argue that the news performs a more damaging role. They say that the news media, when they do report on race, foster stereotypes and predominantly offer negative images, such as the portrayal of young black males as criminals and drug users. Black political leaders in particular attract negative coverage, critics say. The news degrades black activists and situates moderate black leaders on more "legitimate" middle ground. From coverage of Malcolm X to that of the Black Panthers, of Louis Farrakhan, and of Al Sharpton, stories of black leaders who espouse controversial views reflect a troubled relationship among the news, race and politics. [Lule, Jack.

Daily News, Eternal Stories

(N.Y.: Guilford Press, 2001), p. 65.]

(Interestingly, notice how neither Farrakhan nor Sharpton are usually addressed by their religious titles, Minister or Reverend. When is the last time you read an article that did not address the

Rev. Billy Graham?)

At the beginning of the 20th century there was considerable criticism of "yellow journalism," or the practice of sensational, exploitative reporting to hype paper sales.

Yellow journalism has been surpassed by an insidious kind of "white journalism," where the corporate press acts as a kind of super-manager of African American political, social, and cultural leadership. It disciplines them to "stay in their place," to be "responsible" instead of radical (God forbid, revolutionary). They perform this service to preserve white supremacy.

Black leaders must recognize this assault, and resist it.

Since when is it the job or responsibility of any predominantly white institution to manage Black leaders? What is their expertise?

In whose interest do they work?

In whose interest have they ever worked?

Black leadership, is for Black people to decide.

And that's as it should be. For the corporate, white, majoritarian media works to preserve the status quo; a status quo that insures the continued repression and restriction that defines too much of Black life in America.

And they wanna keep it that way.

Text © copyright 2002 by Mumia Abu-Jamal.
All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission of the author.

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