Talking Points 4

1. “Young people, unprotected by any intellectual armor, hear or watch these stories again and again, often from the warmth of their mother’s or father’s lap.” Young children are often predisposed to the images on television, which are not meant for them to see. Children do not realize the racial undercurrents that are present in modern media, and will believe it as truth. If a child, who does not know any better, see’s a black man acting like a buffoon on television, he or she may believe that is how all black people behave all the time.

2. “When women do appear, they look like Jessica Rabbit or Playboy centerfolds – even in many of the new and ‘improved’ children’s movies.” One of the most popular stereotypes in our society. The classic “Barbie” look is what all young girls aspire to attain. The problem with this is that it is almost unattainable, and it is often unhealthy for women to maintain this figure.

3. “After viewing a number of cartoons, Kenya scolded parents in an essay, “A Black Cinderella? Give Me a Break.” She wrote: “Have you ever seen a black person, an Asian, a Hispanic in a cartoon? Did they have a leading role or were they a servant? What do you think this is doing to your child’s mind?” She ended her piece: “Women who aren’t white begin to feel left out and ugly because they never get to play the princess.” As the student said, there are no black princesses. This is an extension of white privilege. If you are not white, then you are not allowed to be a princess. There are very few examples of black people, Hispanics, or Asians being represented as anything other than a side character.

As I am reading this, I am thinking of Delpit’s reading. Delpit outlines how the culture of power works, but Christensen shows, through the media, who utilizes the culture of power, and what the culture of power looks like. In the culture of power, the princesses are white, and skinny, while the powerful men are white and attractive. The side characters, who are made up of people of color, work to foster racial stereotypes among minorities.