Christopher P. Campbell - Race and news : critical perspectives

In the final chapter of his 2009 examination of race and economics, More Than Just Race: Being Black and Poor in the Inner City, sociologist William Julius Wilson explains how he arrived at a sort of epiphany regarding America's dialogue on race and poverty. In his earlier work (he is the author or editor of a dozen books on the topic), he had argued that a colorblind approach to public policy would be the most effective way to bring about social change. That is, because so many Americans hold fervent misperceptions about the relationship between race and povertyespecially that black and Latino Americans are solely responsible for the dreadful economic conditions that affect them at a far greater rate than white AmericansWilson once believed that it would be more effective to emphasize the impact of social, political and economic policies on all poor Americans, rather than on their disproportionate effect on minority communities. He explains his new position:

In framing public policy we should not shy away from an explicit discussion of the specific issues of race and poverty; on the contrary, we should highlight them in our attempt to convince the nation that these problems should be seriously confronted and that there is an urgent need to address them. The issues of race and poverty should be framed in such a way that not only is a sense of fairness and justice to combat inequality generated, but also people are made aware that our country would be better off if these problems were seriously addressed and eradicated.

(pp. 141142)

In authoring a book about race and news, we find ourselves in complete agreement with the approach that Wilson now advocates. First, we hope that this book will encourage discussions about race that will lead to a broader understanding of the complex ways that skin color continues to affect American attitudes and public policy. Second, we hope that our analyses of race and news will have an impact on how journalists frame issues of race in the hope that news organizations will eventually provide audiences with coverage that conveys the sense of urgency that will be required to affect public policy and finally move America beyond its racist legacy.

We admit to being baffled by the discussions of American society as post racial that surfaced with Barack Obama's candidacy for the presidency of the United States. It's a comforting thought to believe that our country has moved beyond its racist past and that his election is evidence of racial harmony. But there is little evidence to support that belief. Americans who don't happen to be white are far more likely to live in poverty, to receive a second-class education, to have inadequate health care and to be victims of racial discrimination. Our concern is that journalism routinely overlooks the impact of race and racism and has contributed to the notion that we are actually living in a post-racial world.