Bias Reporting
Gunman storms stage, kills 4 at Ohio club
A gunman stormed the stage during a heavy metal rock concert in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday night, firing at the band and audience and killing four people before a police officer shot and killed him, police said. One of the dead was guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. The gunman also wounded two people.
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We all know that if this would have happened at a hip hop concert the headline would be different. It would probably read as follows.
Gunfire breaks out at rap concert, Rapper “Dimebag” and three other killed
Violence broke out at a rap concert in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday night, firing at the group and audience and killing four people before authorities were able to restore order to the hostile environment. Rapper “Dimebag was killed while performing on the stage. Two other people were also shot during the altercation between the gunman and the group. This follows a rash of violence in the hip hop community.
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At the end of the story you know they would have to bring up Tupac, Biggie, and Jam Master Jay. Could you imagine the editorial pieces on television and in newspapers if this had been at a rap concert? Why is it that when something like this happens in any other music community it is a tragedy? When it happens in the hip hop community it is part of the culture and a product of the violence that they encourage . I do not agree with some of the things that hip hop artist do and personify but I must say that they get a raw deal in media coverage. When the news shows interviews from the scene they will likely show young white women breaking down and telling of how terrifying the ordeal was for them. If this was a rap concert they would find the most ignorant brother in the crowd and give him the spotlight. The media has too much power in most people’s perception of others and their manipulation of it for headlines and ratings is sick and sad.
A gunman stormed the stage during a heavy metal rock concert in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday night, firing at the band and audience and killing four people before a police officer shot and killed him, police said. One of the dead was guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. The gunman also wounded two people.
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We all know that if this would have happened at a hip hop concert the headline would be different. It would probably read as follows.
Gunfire breaks out at rap concert, Rapper “Dimebag” and three other killed
Violence broke out at a rap concert in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday night, firing at the group and audience and killing four people before authorities were able to restore order to the hostile environment. Rapper “Dimebag was killed while performing on the stage. Two other people were also shot during the altercation between the gunman and the group. This follows a rash of violence in the hip hop community.
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At the end of the story you know they would have to bring up Tupac, Biggie, and Jam Master Jay. Could you imagine the editorial pieces on television and in newspapers if this had been at a rap concert? Why is it that when something like this happens in any other music community it is a tragedy? When it happens in the hip hop community it is part of the culture and a product of the violence that they encourage . I do not agree with some of the things that hip hop artist do and personify but I must say that they get a raw deal in media coverage. When the news shows interviews from the scene they will likely show young white women breaking down and telling of how terrifying the ordeal was for them. If this was a rap concert they would find the most ignorant brother in the crowd and give him the spotlight. The media has too much power in most people’s perception of others and their manipulation of it for headlines and ratings is sick and sad.
posted by mrcrazyone @ 6:41 AM
4 Comments:
At December 9, 2004 at 9:22 AM,
melyssa said…
i agree. have you thought about going into journalism? my final paper in my theory class is based on the muted group theory and how african-americans are not given an accurate voice in popular media. i'm going to do some more research and it will become my thesis topic.
At December 9, 2004 at 1:03 PM,
mrcrazyone said…
I haven’t ever thought about going into journalism. I enjoy the cubical life way too much. I would really enjoy reading a thesis on this topic. I think it was Dr. West that said something like imagine if African Americans were seen in their brightest light.
At December 9, 2004 at 11:33 PM,
PRINCE CHARMING said…
call me a conspiracy theorist, but it's all a part of the big scheme to dehumanize us...to make us appear as animals or savages with no control or intelligence.
At December 10, 2004 at 12:15 PM,
mrcrazyone said…
That is a good theory J. It is easy to treat others in ways that in the back of your mind you know is wrong as long as you can justify it by dehumanizing them. I’ve done some reading on some of the reasoning of Jim Crow. I really want to study it in more dept to get a better understanding.
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