Subliminally Superior

Teddy Roosevelt proclaimed, “The most ultimately righteous of all wars is a war with savages.” The overtones of racial superiority have been echoed before in many past presidents. The prejudicial sentiments seem to be bubbling back up to the surface in the current election year.

Historically, stereotypical imagery of African Americans has been irreprehensible from the use of the blackface minstrel shows of the 19th century to modern media’s depiction of African Americans as morally inferior. Lawrence Grossman, former CNS News president, stated local news “disproportionately show African-Americans under arrest, living in slums, on welfare, and in need of help from the community.” Even in video games, the stereotypes are alive in that 79% of African American male characters engaged in physical and verbal aggression. The constant barrage of stereotypical imagery has been subconsciously placed in the minds of many Americans and it is constantly affirmed in entertainment and media.

Recently there was a fabricated story of the mutilation of a white McCain supporter by a tall knife-wielding black man that has been making the rounds. The fact that a McCain aide pushed the story along to news organization without substantiating a shred of it is idiotic. The backwards “B” carved into her cheek should be as clear of an indicator one need for the validity of her story. This underlying meaning of the story perpetrates the imagery of the “savage” and it’s frightening because it plays on the fear and imagery of that stereotype.

I wish that these types of stories would not sway people toward the McCain camp by fueling the perpetual fear created by stereotypes. I fear many have already chosen their candidate by the superficial color of their skin because of their subliminal trepidations. Because media and entertainment continuously recycle negative labels, I’m defeated in knowing that this behavior will continue indefinitely.