How are ethnic minorities portrayed in the media

Separating Americans based upon ethnicity is a common practice in the world of journalism. News Articles featuring subjects related to crime and poverty, are generally the only type of publicity minorities, especially Hispanics receive from the media. This type of propaganda has served as a key element in the cause of racial tensions among ethic groups.

The medias influence on the general population could very well be compared to a rudder on a ship, possessing the capability to maneuver an enormous vessel to its destination. The press as well possess the same proficiency, using the stroke of a pen, rather then a rudder, to determine the over all perspective of the minority in the United States.

Unfortunately a large percentage of Americans are highly depended upon the limited amount of information provided by their local newspaper, or television station, to insure a fair, and unbiased assessment of the reasons such problems as crime, and poverty, exist at a higher percentage rate in the minority population, than in their Caucasian counterpart. The Supreme Court found that freedom, but not responsibility, is mandated by the First Amendment and so it ruled that the government may not force newspapers to publish that which they do not desire to publish.

All of us are familiar with the quote, The pen is mightier then the sword. Is there any conclusive evidence to validate if indeed there is any truth in the proverbial saying? During the past two years, Hispanics have experienced first hand the effects of detrimental coverage by the news media. Arizona’s highly controversial law S.B.1070 had ill effects on the entire community. Although the law was intended to help regulate illegal immigration, the negative publicity against illegals immigrants being of the same ethnic group, brought about animosity within the nation, towards the entire Latino population.

Is there a legitimate reason for Hispanics to have a feeling of insecurity in the country? Is history the prophet of he future? On February 19th 1942 Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. Under the terms of the Order, Japanese immigrants were racially profiled and were removed from their homes and placed in Internet camps. The United States government claimed they were a threat to national security, however during the entire war there were ten cases of spying for Japan, all of which were of Caucasian descent.

Prior to the birth of America, European immigration from the countries of England, Germany, France, e.t.c. made their way across the Atlantic ocean. Upon their arrival, there was a variety of cultures, Religious beliefs, language barriers. Never the less, America did not cease to exist. They set aside ethnic barriers, and formed a nation.

“A nation divided amongst itself cannot stand,” The question is, what part of American history are we willing to revive in this twenty first century.