The Search for Thugs

Liberal Media? (Portrayals, Perceptions, and
Propaganda)
Click, the television is turned on. Now, are the television
shows simply reflecting the societal norm or are
they influencing and initiating the activities and trends of
their viewers? Is the clothing style shown on television
simply a reflection of the style already established, or is it
helping influence future fashion trends by showing the
next ???must have??? clothing item? The truth seems to lie
somewhere in the middle. Yes, some of the images shown
are societal reflections, yet some of the images are influential
on the future trends and activities of its viewers. At
times, both scenarios are present simultaneously.
One puzzling element of the theory of cause and effect
(which includes elements of perceptions and insinuations)
is how white and Black America are often shown
as polar opposites. Negative imagery of African-Americans
is shown to be representative of their actual environment,
culture, and activities. On the other hand, negative
imagery of White America is shown not only as not being
representative of the whole, but there are those who view
the negative imagery and conclude that the negative actions
of whites are simply a result of said imagery.
Oftentimes, the negative imagery is directly connected to
the negative behavior of whites. It is surmised (by some)
that if this negative imagery was not shown, White
America would not be involved in as much negative activity
that plagues society today.
So, it is insinuated that White America would be leading
a wholesome existence if not for the corrupting effects
of negative imagery shown by the media, while negative
imagery of African-Americans is just representative
of who ???they??? (African-Americans) are.
African-Americans are dissatisfied with the media
in America, because it lacks balance in its portrayal of
African-Americans. On the news, the crook may be a white
man, but the sheriff who arrests, the prosecutor who prosecutes,
and the judge who sentences him to jail are often
also white. We watch a movie and while the villain is
white, the hero oftentimes is also white.
While watching television or reading a book, we find
that the negative images of whites are usually ???balanced???
by positive images of whites. With a balanced portrayal,
the viewer (or reader) is able to more easily separate the
negative actions of a particular race at a specific time,
from those thought to be their general makeup.

Liberal Media? (Portrayals, Perceptions, and
Propaganda)
Click, the television is turned on. Now, are the television
shows simply reflecting the societal norm or are
they influencing and initiating the activities and trends of
their viewers? Is the clothing style shown on television
simply a reflection of the style already established, or is it
helping influence future fashion trends by showing the
next ???must have??? clothing item? The truth seems to lie
somewhere in the middle. Yes, some of the images shown
are societal reflections, yet some of the images are influential
on the future trends and activities of its viewers. At
times, both scenarios are present simultaneously.
One puzzling element of the theory of cause and effect
(which includes elements of perceptions and insinuations)
is how white and Black America are often shown
as polar opposites. Negative imagery of African-Americans
is shown to be representative of their actual environment,
culture, and activities. On the other hand, negative
imagery of White America is shown not only as not being
representative of the whole, but there are those who view
the negative imagery and conclude that the negative actions
of whites are simply a result of said imagery.
Oftentimes, the negative imagery is directly connected to
the negative behavior of whites. It is surmised (by some)
that if this negative imagery was not shown, White
America would not be involved in as much negative activity
that plagues society today.
So, it is insinuated that White America would be leading
a wholesome existence if not for the corrupting effects
of negative imagery shown by the media, while negative
imagery of African-Americans is just representative
of who ???they??? (African-Americans) are.
African-Americans are dissatisfied with the media
in America, because it lacks balance in its portrayal of
African-Americans. On the news, the crook may be a white
man, but the sheriff who arrests, the prosecutor who prosecutes,
and the judge who sentences him to jail are often
also white. We watch a movie and while the villain is
white, the hero oftentimes is also white.
While watching television or reading a book, we find
that the negative images of whites are usually ???balanced???
by positive images of whites. With a balanced portrayal,
the viewer (or reader) is able to more easily separate the
negative actions of a particular race at a specific time,
from those thought to be their general makeup.

i wish every person in our great country a merry christmas and a happy new year lets pull togeter the word thug i hate it but i will wear it .thugs comes in all flavors black and white and on and on peace for 2008 your pal the thug.........

The young black thugs have ruined our chances of freedom. I don???t care if the white man put the drugs and poverty in our neighborhoods. Where is the fight for justice that our people once had? When I was growing up, Dr. King and others preached education. Education is the key to freedom, but it???s hard to educate our kids when the white media in Hollywood and elsewhere wants to only sponsor the negative images of blacks. But us as blacks need to stop falling for it. You can not make a decent salary with tattoos on your faces and necks looking like a fool. Our men won???t get hired by looking like a thug with a suit on. Two earrings in their ears, long braids in their hair or locks while pippin down the hallways, yelling, ???my ***???what???s up man???? Do our people really have no self-esteem and pride about themselves? It seems that the slave masters put the N-word in our heads, and with the discovery of rap music since the 80s we believe that???s what we are??????stupid animals and fools.

What a ridiculous article. I'm a black man and I don't care what Rev. Al Sharpton says. I don't care what Oprah says either. If these ball players want to drive around showing off "bling" and waving guns then that's the way they want to live their lives. As for me and many other black men like me, we'll continue to go to college, buy land and homes, raise families, etc.

this is your pal the thug thanks for telling me to learn to write thats what i am doing now and no thanks to the person that says black men need to be sterilize. i think you need your head clear before you say things like this i would not say that about your son....... have a great day asap your pal the thug

Dear Mr. Thug@...Please do all Black American Men a favor and learn how to write.

I just want to say Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all. Hopefully resolutions this year will be to change peolpes hearts, minds and judgements. Hopefully people will open their eyes to see the human inside, and not the color of skin outside. I hope everyones hearts are filled with warmth, love and joy. May God Bless Us All!

i am a black man you can talk about my people all you want .its not going to help you are us i am going to tell you what going to happin for me is take care of my family and live right the person who said black people can go back to africa can go in my place america my home just as much as yours............thanks have a nice day your pall the thug.................

i am a black man you can talk all you want about our people thats not going to help anything not you or us igoing to tell you what i am going to do .take care of my family and live right for the person who said blacks can go back to africa they can go for me america my home just as much as yours............... thanks .your pall the thug...........

I am a blk male with two little mixed blk-asain girls,I readand see everday bad things about black people. Never do you see more on whites,asain,spanish or others, I hear things how other race should not date blacks. WHY? WHAT IS WORNG WITH BLK? Its not only blacks that are poor,doing bad , not having a job, drop-out or so called a Thug.what i'm trying to say is don't look a my skin look at me for me,for what I am. I'm just someone who looking for a long life and good freinds. ps where are the blk supper hearos?

I am a mother of a Black Male man-child. I have struggled to educate my son that what you see in the media is not a true representation of the black male potential or experince. I am the sister of 4 very successful black men. My father was a strong and positive role model for my brothers. However this genration has the perception that to be educated, wearing your pants on your true waist is lame. That are looking at the images in the media as the model. They are not realizing that this images are design for one thing only PROFIT. I also want to comment on the authors comment on being scared straight. Where did that come from? Why not that he made a positive decision to lead a postive life for the sake of this reponsibilties to his family. Let us be deligent in our choice of words. To me Scared-Straight conjures up images of prison.

It is those who thoughtlessly give birth to these rudderless males whose behavior must be addressed. We must end welfare in it's current form now. A permanent underclass is anathema to a free market capitalist society such as this one. The consequences for doing nothing in school, and then dropping out, and then making babies wily-nily should be whatever those consequences are, free from government interference. Isn't this how illegal immigrants live? The thug mentality situation is exacerbated by the immoral welfare "bailout" from these poor choices, which are made over and over again. No more section 8. No more public housing. Nothing for those who aren't disabled or elderly. Give out food only, and to children only. Shunning education and hardwork is supposed to lead to a particular outcome in this country. Why doesn't it?

I have really gotten caught up in some online comment sections of various new-sites. You hate to think that all is lost in this world now days. There is so much division on everything.

This topic is one (of many) I just can't comprehend. As a thirty-somthing white male from the rural midwest I have seen all different perspectives in life. My paternal grandfather made many racial remarks growing up, my maternal grandfather never made racial comments.

I was raised to be tolerant and respectful of all races, religeons, etc. I have raised my 16 and 12 yr old sons to be tolerant of all people.

When it comes to the thug label and postings here it amazes me to see internal and external racial comments. My kids grew up watching a good role model in Reggie Miller then we see him replaced with S. Jackson, R. Artest, J. Tinsley. Hence the Thug perception.

My oldest loves BET, Hip Hop, Gansta Rap, etc. Based on this exposure he enjoys/admires the culture. I have never allowed the N word. But he is a white kid who has been conditioned the N with the "gga" is a term of endearment to his friends black and white. He doesn't have a clue as to how he may be percieved by society as a whole. Is he wrong? Is it OK for the artist and not OK for the audience?

I try to understand, but I truly don't. To see intra-race bias does not help. To see in this day and age social segregation such as United Negro Collge Fund, Miss Black USA, etc it is hard to explain to Generation X and Y that everyone should be equal. There is animosity with the younger generations about race because history is history to them. The here and now is what they see.
Jews, Shiite, Sunni, Protestant, Catholic, etc. Everyone wants to tear down and destroy the other.
Peace on Earth and Good Will toward Humankind. Happy Holidays.