-IMAGE-
This image was the front page of ESPN.com on October 2nd, 2011. Two large African-American football players are violently grabbing a white football player while the text under the image states “The Ravens mugged the Jets...”. The white football player is in distress and attempting to get the black football players off of him, but he is surrounded by big black tattooed arms. The black football players are clearly stronger and bigger than the white football player and are pushing and pulling him however they want. Number 54 is in control, even leaning into the white player. Furthermore, though it is just a reflection of the team they are playing, it is interesting to notice that the two black athletes are in uniforms that are predominately black, while the white athlete is in a white uniform – which just further points out their skin color differences.
-REACTION-
When I first saw the image, I thought that this was just another sports photo; a couple of athletes rough housing during the game. But after reading the caption, I was immediately shocked at the obvious message it was sending out to all those that viewed the front page of ESPN that day: that black people ‘mug’ white people. The white body is definitely portrayed as “neutral” while the black body is violent, aggressive and instigating the altercation. These all build and add to the viewer’s perception of “raced” black bodies.
-ANALYSIS-
What is most startling to me is how recent and current this blatant racist image and text is in our media. It is sending out a message loud and clear about African Americans and their stereotyped role in society. It is displaying the scenario of a “black body” being violent towards an innocent “white body”. By using the term “mugging” – it only makes the argument of the photo even more transparent. It communicating and ultimately associating the illegal and violent act of mugging a person to African Americans. It is establishing society’s perception of how black and white bodies interact. It exemplifies the stereotype that mugging and assaults are committed by African Americans.
I find this image very shocking. Not only is the racism blatant, but the picture doesn't even look like a normal game-action photo. To me, that makes it seem that the editor went out of his/her way to find a picture that typifies his/her opinion of what a typical mugging looks like. Even if the choice of photo was not made expressly by race, it illustrates the unconscious racism and stereotypes deeply embedded in our culture.
ReplyDeleteThis image didnt shock me as much as the caption did. Alone as a picture, this is seen in a typical NFL game as players occasionally get caught up in the heat of the moment and get physical after the play. But he caption is what really puts this over the edge. Describing two big black men as "mugging" a white guy is about as stereotypical as it gets.
ReplyDeleteNice analysis! I always saw black people in newspapers as football players.
ReplyDeleteIt makes us assume that African-Americans are only good at sports.
ReplyDelete