Little Rock Central desegregation
How can the media help or hurt such situations?
How far has our country come in race relations since 1957?
20 points for your thoughtful answer, due by 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11
September 4
On this day in 1957, 15-year-old Elizabeth Eckford encountered an angry mob when she attempted to enter Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Eckford was one of nine teenagers, known as the Little Rock Nine, who became the first African American students to attend the previously all-white Little Rock Central High School after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled school segregation unconstitutional in its famous Brown v. Board of Education decision.
While the nine students had planned to enter the school together, the meeting place was changed the night before and Eckford, whose family did not have a telephone, did not learn about the change of plans. As a result, she attempted to enter the school alone through a mob of 400 angry segregationists and a blockage by the Arkansas National Guard, which the pro-segregationist governor, Orval Faubus, had ordered to block the students in violation of the Supreme Court decision.
Due to the line of soldiers blockading the school and threats from the crowd, Eckford was forced to flee to a bus stop. As she sat at the bus stop crying, New York Times reporter Benjamin Fine consoled the scared girl, telling her "don't let them see you cry." Civil rights activist Grace Lorch, who had learned that Eckford had arrived separately from the other students, then arrived to escort her home.
In response to Eckford and the other students being blocked from the school, Little Rock Mayor Woodrow Wilson Mann asked President Eisenhower to send federal troops to protect the students. To enforce desegregation, Eisenhower sent the US Army's 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock and federalized the entire Arkansas National Guard to remove control from the governor. The Little Rock Nine were able to start school by the end of September. Although soldiers were deployed at the school for the entire year, many of the students experienced physical and verbal abuse, including Eckford who at one point was pushed down the stairs.
The governor continued to fight integration and, the following year -- in what came to be known as the "Lost Year" -- ordered Little Rock's four high schools closed rather than allow it to continue. As a result, Eckford did not graduate from Central High but took correspondence courses to complete her degree. Eckford and the rest of the Little Rock Nine were awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP and she later received a BA in history at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.
The famous photograph pictured here shows Elizabeth Eckford on September 4, 1957 as she walked alone through a mob to Central High. Taken by Will Counts, it was a runner-up for the Pulitzer Prize for Photography. The young woman shouting in the photo, Hazel Massery, apologized to Eckford and the two made amends at a 40th anniversary celebration of the school's integration.
The story of Eckford and Massery is also told in the fascinating book for adult readers "Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock" (http://amzn.to/1r9xsOS).
For an excellent autobiography by another member of the Little Rock Nine, Melba Pattillo Beals, for ages 12 and up, we highly recommend “Warriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock’s Central High” at http://www.amightygirl.com/warriors-don-t-cry
For a compelling fictional account of the tumultuous school integration of 1950s Little Rock for readers 10 to 13, check out "Lions of Little Rock" at http://www.amightygirl.com/the-lions-of-little-rock
Daisy Bates, the organizer of the Little Rock Nine group, has also written a memoir "The Long Shadow of Little Rock: A Memoir" for ages 13 and up at http://www.amightygirl.com/the-long-shadow-of-little-rock
Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison has also written an excellent account of the movement for desegregation. Filled with stirring stories and archival photographs, "Remember: The Journey to School Integration" is highly recommended for ages 8 to 14 at http://www.amightygirl.com/remember-the-journey-to-school-i…
For several books and a film about Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in the US South, visit http://www.amightygirl.com/charact…/historical-characters-2…
And, for many stories about the role of girls and women in the Civil Rights Movement, visit our special feature on the "Top Mighty Girl Books on Civil Rights History" at http://www.amightygirl.com/mighty-girl…/civil-rights-history
In situations such as the one that occurred in Little Rock 60 years ago, the media can be very helpful by shedding light on what is going on and spreading the word about it. However, news of what is going on makes it to parties who are strongly opposed to it, it can prove very harmful as well. Also, if the media relays facts incorrectly, it could prove detrimental to the parties affected.
ReplyDeleteSince 1957, I feel as though our country has made some major steps forward in race relations, while also taking equally major steps backward. During the Kennedy and Johnson administrations of the 1960's, the United States saw a huge boost in race relations due to the implementation of many civil rights acts and moves for integration. Despite this, racism has still been all too common in individuals due to ingrained manners of thinking passed down through generations. Today, race relations are far worse than they have been in many years. With the stories of police brutality toward African Americans and the establishment of divisive groups that are based on race, there is a needless general feeling of hostility between people of different races.
It is in situations like this that media can both help and hinder the situation itself and the people involved. Due to the media, this story was able to be told on a widespread platform allowing people knowledge of the event all over the country rather than just the state of Arkansas. The media allowed everyone to see this event; however, during this time period not everyone was a major supporter of the desegregation. It was great for everyone to find out about the Little Rock Nine and to see how truly awful these people were treating the nine kids and how something or someone needed to intervene to help the situation. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the people who did not support the Little Rock Nine were given a wider platform to show their hatred and disdain for the event. The media allowed for many viewers to take on this event, but of course there was both a widespread support and disdain for it.
ReplyDeleteSince 1957 our country has made a huge leap from the steps that we were once at; however, we are still not at a point that is perfect on the acceptance of different races. It has migrated from not only African Americans, but to other minorities such as Hispanics, Asians, Middle Easterns, et cetera. While America has come far in it's tolerance of other races and cultures, it has not come far in the acceptance of these different races and cultures. The civil rights campaigns have greatly helped other races and cultures, and have grown in numbers over the past few years. I believe America has made success in the acceptance of races, yet I still strongly believe that we have a long way to still go.
The media can help a cause by getting the word out and making it clear what is going on. This is necessary so people can get involved or at least informed on the issue. It can hurt by doing this as well, causing more people with that viewpoint to get involved on the wrong side. The paper itself can cause harm if on the wrong side of an issue.
ReplyDeleteI would like to say the country has come far since then; but nowadays it just feels like that racism was just under the surface, unknown except to its victims. Now that it can no longer be hidden, with the rise of social media and by the fact that most people have a phone that doubles as a camera, it feels like we have seen a backlash to calling it out. It has become even more apparent over the past few years, especially with the last election cycle and the rise of the "alt-right" and literal Nazis marching in the streets. It shows that we still have a long ways to go until we reach equality.
In this particular case, I feel as though the media helped through enlightening the public and bringing awareness. However, in present times I feel that the media has since become a means of manipulation for any "side" with the upper hand in an issue regarding society. These days the media tends to sugar coat situations, and give people what they want to hear rather than the truth. Facts are manipulated, and the media chooses sides.
ReplyDeleteOn the topic of racial relations since the 1950's, I believe they have become much less prominent, however, people tend to use it as a crutch whenever things are not going how they would like and the issue is then blown out of proportion by the media. While it may still be somewhat of an issue, the issue of race is far less prominent than it used to be. Equality is no longer such a large issue as people often make it out to be.
In the case of the Little Rock Nine, I would have to say that the media helped bring the issue of segregation/desegregation to the forefront of national attention. The point of the media is to bring attention to certain topics/issues going on in society, and in this case as well as many others that are going on in TODAY'S society, I would say that it has helped to do that.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the issue of racial relations since 1957, I would say that it has gotten somewhat better in the regard of the victims of racism being able to obtain justice easier. Racism in 1957 was a somewhat "hushed" topic, whereas now it is no longer in the shadows. As seen in Charlottesville, the "alt-right" and other hate groups no longer fear the scrutiny of society. The Ku Klux Klan in 1957 wore hoods to cover their faces so they would not be identified, whereas the protesters in Charlottesville didn't. Our nation has come a long way since 1957, but not so far as to say that racism no longer exists.
The media can both help and hurt a situation such as this. On one hand (seen with the LR9 situation) media coverage can awaken the populace to it's own indignity, or show a more civilized group of people just how bad a certain issue is to incite them to take action. On the other hand, media can have an almost adverse effect to a situation. In an event such as the Red Scare, the consistent 'what ifs' that radio, television, and news produced had a fair portion of America afraid of it's own neighbors just for having a differing political opinion.
ReplyDeleteAs far as progress in race relations goes in America: things have certainly improved, but they are far from perfect. Too far from perfect for the year to be 2017 anyway. Things have come a long way since '57. I can share a classroom with a plethora of ethnic and cultural backgrounds other than mine without having to worry for their safety. No one bats an eye (at least that I can see) at an interracial couple. No one is openly touted as unclean unless they've had a hard days work behind them. There looks to be hope for the future, sadly today isn't that future. There long lived a stereotype of a bigot to be an uneducated person, likely a hillbilly with affiliation to the KKK. At least that's the stereotype that I grew up with. For the most part, those people are going away and there seems to be a plethora of accepting people. Things were looking up save for a few riots in the inner cities of America, then Donald Trump and Charlottesville happened, and that stereotype is beginning to look a lot like educated Americans.
Media is a powerful tool, and just like any other powerful tool it can be used for good or bad. In the case of the 1957 Little Rock nine the media played an essential role in the madness which eventually led to good. However, it was not like this in the beginning. The news of Central High in Little Rock becoming one of the first high schools in the nation to desegregate by admitting 9 African-Americans sparked controversy in the whole country. Back in 1957, racial equality was something close to blasphemy in the primarily white and racist America. So, it was no surprise that people were upset of the transition to desegregation. Due to this event being highly publicized and televised riots and violence soon erupted. This caused the Little Rock nine's high school experience to become a complete nightmare. However, all the backlash from the integration being covered by the media resulted in America to questioning their behavior and showcasing exactly how cruel racism is. This led to America eventually accepting desegregation and it spreading all across the country which is something very good. An example of how media can put the spotlight on horrible problems which eventually leads to solving them.
ReplyDeleteAs far as America's take on racism today, it is still here but very reduced and sometimes hidden. People cannot be as bold with racism today because it will result in them losing positions in the workforce and social hierarchy. Racism is nearly not as bad as it was in the past being that now people are more accepting of people's differences and their or more opportunities for people of color. However, there are still hints of prejudice towards people of color that results in them being followed in stores, being judged for speaking their native language, or in extreme cases killed for crimes they did not commit. Will racism ever truly be gone? Who knows, but I believe society will slowly progress and learn to accept people of all different backgrounds even if they do not understand them.
ln situations like the Little Rock Nine, I believe that the media was helpful in bringing attention to what was happening. The issue wasn't just seen in Arkansas, but all over the country. The media isn't always completely honest in today's society though, and it can be notorious for showing the worse side of things. Whether the media effects things for better or for worse is really dependent upon what side is being shown.
ReplyDeleteI believe our country has come a long way in the past sixty years, in terms of racial relations. Things are definitely better than they used to be, but we still have not reached the point of perfect equality. There is still plenty of room for improvement in this country.
The media can help and hurt in a situation like the Little Rock Nine. For instance, the story of the Little Rock Nine spread to people all over the country and helped shine light on how big of an issue segregation was. Although national media attention did help in this case it also cause some bad, especially involving Hazel Bryan. Hazel Bryan is the girl seen in the photo above screaming, by no means do I support her being so rude, but she still didn't deserve all that was to come. Hazel was only fifteen when the photo was spread all over the nation and she quickly became hated by thousands of people. Everyone makes mistakes as a young teen, but Hazel's was pretty major. Shortly after the photo was spread nation wide she began to receive hate mail to her school and the photo also sparked many slanderous publications about her. The attention and hate eventually became to much for her and her family and she had to leave Central High School. Since the events of the Little Rock Nine she has met with the American American woman in the photo, Elizabeth Eckford, and apologized. However, even though she has learned from her mistakes and tried to make a better name for herself she will always be remembered for being discriminatory as a child. This particular photo helped shine a light on all of the issues will segregation in the South, but at the same time it hurt someone.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to race relations in America today, we have become a more accepting country, however there still is a racial divide in some groups. With the recent events in Charlottesville and police brutality it has become clear that it is not just a redneck without any teeth that discriminates, even the people that are supposed to protect us can be racist. Even with all progress that has been made, there have been major setbacks that thicken the racial divide of the people in our country. However even with all the recent setbacks, I believe that our generation is one of the most accepting of others, and we can change the future of race relations for the greater good.
How can the media help or hurt such situations?
ReplyDeleteThe media has a lot of wiggle room to bend the truth and/or provide "alternative facts". In this way, they hurt such situations by showing the public a story that is completely misleading. It is too easy for them to be able to bend the truth in stories that it occurs too often throughout multiple media sources. The public can't do anything to stop it and we can't always know whether something is completely true or 100% BS.
On the other hand, the media can help such situations by quickly spreading the REAL story to allow the public to know what is going on. This way, more people are hearing the truth and if they want to get involved or try to help out, they should have no problem doing so. The media has a lot of control of how news is portrayed to us, and whether or not they decide to be honest is totally up to them.
How far has our country come in race relations since 1957?
Our country has come along very well in terms of race relations, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. Racism is still a big thing in the US, and we see/hear about it almost everyday. Anybody can discriminate against race, and we have seen this in everyday citizens and even our police officers. There's no way for us to end racism, as it's impossible to change every last person's opinion on race, but we sure can keep punishing those who continue to partake in racist movements in public areas.
In this situation, media can help get the word out about what is going on, and to help spread it around the country. It is a good way to get everyone involved and informed on the issue. The media can also control what information they put out there and how it is said. The media can give incorrect information to cater to their thoughts, therefore shifting others viewpoints.
DeleteOur country has improved since 1957, but I think today we are going backwards. Racism is still very prevalent in todays society. From police brutality toward African Americans to the mistreatment of Hispanics, Arabians, Asians, and many other races, racism is still seen today on the news and all over social media. It is a matter that in my opinion over the past few years has became more problematic. Although, it is not possible to change everyone's opinions on racism this nation would greatly benefit from being more accepting and to work towards equality.
The media is so broad and wide that it can reach almost everyone in the world. This allows it to be helpful as well as hurtful, depending on how the media is used. This can be explained with the help of the situation involving the Little Rock Nine. During this specific historic event, I view the media as very helpful. As it was stated above, the year was 1957 and the family of Elizabeth Eckford did not own a landline telephone in their home. This shows that technology was not a very big concern or as much of a necessity as it is today.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, the media had to serve as an informer to not only communities, but society as a whole. Since the media is so widespread, this allowed many people to get informed. The Little Rock Nine was definitely an event that people needed to know about during that time, and even to this day. The world was changing both under law and through society’s views and opinions. All of this was given a platform to be expressed through not only television announcements, but most importantly through the newspaper. People paid attention to headlines, so it was important that the media gave viewpoints from all sides. This can eventually cause the media to be hurtful. Sometimes the media will only express or discuss views that are one-sided, instead of actually updating people with facts and news. It is very important to know how to see through media and obtain helpful information.
When I sit down and think about how far our country has come in race relations since 1957, I want to believe that we have grown, but the more I watch the news I see history repeating itself. Of course, we’re not in segregated schools and the National Guard does not greet meet me at Irby Hall every morning, but we still deal with racial injustices today. The biggest issue that seems to get the most media coverage recently is police brutality. Many black people have been shown in videos being pulled over and in a short period of time after, they are pronounced dead. What causes even more of an uproar is that almost every incident involves a black victim and a white officer. These same white officers almost always never end being indicted for their actions. Communities are exhausted and are using social media as platform to express their heavy hearts. Yes, we have taken steps forward, but we still have a long way to go and I believe the media will help us get there.
How can the media help or hurt such situations?
ReplyDeleteI believe that media is able to not only help shed light on what is happening during differing events going on around the world, but also that it is able to hurt the situations by how it is talked about or shown to millions. The way media is, it has the ability to bend the truth by providing shallow truths, basically covering the event but without informing everyone about what is actually happening. This can lead to people interpreting the situations differently, not just for the better, but most of the time for the worse. Relating to the media coverage of 1957 during one of the most famous events, having to do with racial discrimination, the Little Rock Nine was talked about throughout the country. The news coverage led to many groups of people and individuals to get involved in either helping the kids out or rallying against them in the street, which is what happened when Elizabeth Eckford wasn't informed about the change of plans, due to no telephone within her home, and attempted to walk into the school all alone. She was rallied against, eventually leading her to run to a nearby bus stop to escape the crowds. This event was a necessary component in the changing of laws and regulations pointing to that of segregation and racism. It even helped in changing many standards that people held during that time and even currently. To learn about this event, is to learn about how difficult it was for non-white families to live within the United States, especially when viewing the Little Rock Nine and everything they had to go through just to go to school. So I feel that media does help in showing what is happening, but that it is hurtful in ways it is expressed and displayed for all to see.
How far has our country come in race relations since 1957?
Thinking about what society was, as far as racism, and what it is now, I like to think that a lot of standards towards race has changed drastically. But watching the news and exploring media, I realize that it is still a very VERY discussed topic everywhere. Especially with people who hold beliefs about a person and expectations about an individual solely based upon their skin color, which I find very inhumane. I feel that racial discrimination is still a thing within the U.S. but it is not as bad as it was back in 1957. People have, for the most part, become more accepting, except for the certain individuals, who have led to media covered events, such as that relating to police brutality, which is still an ongoing issues within the country. I believe that we have come far when discussing how racial injustice has changed over the years, but I also think we still have a ways to go before we are able to talk about it as if it were only something in the past. Media, I believe will help us to reach that point in our society, even if it may take years to get us there.
I think the media can both hurt and help such situations. Hurt in the fact that it can cause more damage to the individuals in a video, post, or in this case, a photo than necessary. For example, (lets say Instagram existed in 1957) if this photo was to be posted, Elizabeth Eckford's situation could be dramatically worse due to hateful, nasty comments. However, media can help in the fact that it can do a great job of shedding light on the issues most people love to ignore. It forces people to be faced with the cruel reality of the racism that is, unfortunately, still very prevalent in today's society. I think our country has not come very far in race relations since 1957. If the individuals in this photo were wearing up-to-date clothing, then people could easily mistake it for being taken yesterday. Yes, Blacks and Whites are able to coexist in today's world, but I would argue that equality is not yet in the realm of our reality. Police brutality, Charlottesville, the "All Lives Matter" and "Blue Lives Matter" campaigns, along with much more, prove that racism is still alive.
ReplyDeleteI think the media helps in situations like the little rock nine. The media can be used to inform people on what's going on. for example all the media coverage on things happening today helps such as hurricane Harvey. The media provides pictures, videos and interviews reporting on situations like that to inform everybody about what's going on. when people have a place like the media to learn and find out what's happening they can then make an effort to help. I think we have grown a little bit when it comes to race relations but it does still exist. Whites and blacks can go to school today without a angry mob of people standing outside shows improvement but there are many cases that prove we are still fighting this issue. however, we have improved in my opinion but we still have work to do.
ReplyDeleteI think that the media can easily help and hurt in a situation like this. On one hand its informing people one different issues that are going on. On the other hand the media can be harmful depending on how a particular outlet views the topic. With the Little Rock Nine I believe that the media helped show just how bad segregation was.
ReplyDeleteI believe race relations have come a long way since 1957 but I still believe that there is an issue.This is mostly because the mindset of an older generation has transferred it the children or grandchildren. I also believe that the media plays a big role in this too with some of the language that is used when reporting. For example when African Americans are protesting peacefully is it often called rioting because of a handful radical individuals but when caucasian are lighting cars on fire and fighting in the streets because their favorite team won it is called celebrating. American still has a long way to go with race relations, it may never be perfect but I believe it will get better.
with any situation, the media both helps and hurts. i'm sure some people reevaluated themselves and society when they saw what was going on on tv, and it helped. but i'm sure that there were a lot of negative voices speaking out about it and making things worse. have you ever listened to local talk radio? they're still full of hateful speech, and i'm sure things probably weren't any better back in 1957. the media does well to get people's emotions going. it's a double-edged sword.
ReplyDeletei think that race relations have gotten better since the little rock nine, but we still have a long way to go. we have this weird obsession with our differences that has been there since the beginning. but we've made progress in the last 60 years. people at least try to not be racist to each other now. but white ethnocentrism still has its hooks in a lot of people deep down inside. i remember hearing the parents from high school getting worked up about the fact that the school system "busses in kids from little rock." the kids from little rock were black! it's the same issue! or maybe its an economic issue... even if people aren't as racist as they used to be, they're still classist.
With any situation, the media is an extremely important tool of swaying public opinion. Without media, most people would not know of such situations' existence. Depending on the situation, media can help or hurt. In the case of the Little Rock Nine, the media helped by bringing the situation to national attention. Hypothetically speaking, President Eisenhower might not have even gotten involved had nobody known about it, but since everyone did know about it, Eisenhower had to follow national popular opinion, which, in this case, was also, for all intents and purposes, federal law. However, without local and national reporting along with (UCA Alum) Will Counts' famous photograph, the nation might not have known about the situation in Little Rock.
ReplyDeleteRace relations have certainly come a long way since the 1950's. We are in no way perfect about it as a nation. Racism obviously still exists in America, but we've progressed greatly. We have steps to make as a nation and as a people. As the people from the more racist generations continue to pass on and new generations are born in a world where racism is not considered commonplace, the problem of racism will eventually die down. Racism will never leave us, but soon today's world is much better for race relations than that of our parents' and grandparents'.
The media is a tool. Whether it helps or hinders society depends on the intentions of those wielding that tool. I believe the media can be a great help in exposing the ugliness of situations like that the Little Rock Nine faced and getting the public to act against racism. On the other hand media itself was used to promote the ideals of racism and misinform the public.
ReplyDeleteI believe in some ways our country has improved race relations since 1957. But improved doesn't mean solved. We still have an incredibly long way to go. There's not mobs of people protesting integration of schools anymore, but we have Nazis marching on Universities and established news sources and politicians trying too portray genocidal fascism as a valid political ideal. We live in a society where in some circles saying that unarmed black men and women shouldn't be murdered by the police is considered controversial. We have a long way to go and I believe that good media and teaching people how to understand the media is a step in the right direction.
I feel that in any situation the media can help and/or hurt. In many situations, the media is used to provide people that aren't necessarily involved get information, but they can also sway peoples opinions based on the information given, or even not given. With the Little Rock Nine, I think that the media helped to shed light on what was happening and especially with photos, like the one above, it shows just how hateful people were with this topic.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think our country has come a long way in the last 60 years regarding race relations. However, racism is still very relevant and happens everyday whether we realize it or not. With that being said, we are not perfect and there is always room to grow. I feel things with race relations has changes, but we have a long way to go.
I think the media is a complicated thing. The media is great for getting certain events out to the public but it's so hard to get something out without someones personal opinion being in it. Its very hard to say it helps or doesn't. I would like to believe it leans more towards the end of helping society. If it wasn't for media how would anyone know anything? Only word of mouth, and snail mail? Society functions from knowledge of what is going on around it. I do think the media could do better at covering certain events. I especially believe this is an issue when it comes to race. Our country has come a long way but I do think it still needs to come a lot further. I think what is going on in Houston with the cleanup is shedding a light on the true side of humanity. Everyone is putting aside race and rallying around a community to help. Also with the cleanup in Houston is a good example of how the media could do better at covering things. I believe we had a lot of coverage for the upcoming days and the damage Harvey caused but there is little to known coverage of the clean up.
ReplyDelete• How can the media help or hurt such situations?
ReplyDeleteo The media can both help and hurt situations similar to the Little Rock Central desegregation. When the media gets ahold of such an important event, it can help by making the movement widely known, circulating news about it in order to gain supporters, and possibly sparking a revolution in the way Americans think. The Little Rock Nine situation involved lots of controversy, and a new way of thinking, and by the media putting it out there and making it known, this new way of thinking may have been embraced by people who simply needed to see a change before they made a change. The media can, however, hurt such situations in a similar way. By putting this news out and showing this situation to the country, many people receiving this information may not have handled it well, being as that there are many people in the world who hate change, or who are very prejudiced. When such people get ahold of news like this, they may react harshly and/or violently. This can be devastating to situations such as the Little Rock Nine because protesters would’ve jumped at the opportunity to do anything they thought could’ve stopped it, including spewing hatred, acting in violence, and creating chaos for the lives of the students. There’s also the fact that media is not always accurate, or truthful. Sometimes people may get their facts wrong, sometimes people may corrupt the media. Many people don’t think about the fact that their main news source could be incorrect, which is a huge problem in modern day media.
• How far has our country come in race relations since 1957?
o I believe that our country has come extremely far in race relations since ’57, however I still think there’s much progress to be made. Where tensions towards integration and interracial couples were high in the middle of the 20th century, they are seemingly (for the most part) gone today. This is partly due to the fact that racism is now frowned upon, and those who are racist and bigoted cannot publicly be so, for the most part. Times may be changing yet again, but as of right now, our country’s come very far in race relations since 1957.
In situations like the one that occurred at Little Rock Central in 1957, I think that the media is something that can be a negative thing for the situation. Although the media can help to make people aware of the situation it also draws people who oppose whats going on. For example, the riots that have occurred across the past couple of years in Ferguson, Missouri, as well as Baltimore, Maryland. In these instances the media started to cover this and talk to people on the streets who were rioting. This caused more and more people to join in until the cities were complete chaos. As for how race relations have changed since 1957, I think they have definitely improved. I think that there is still racism and situations where racism is implied, but I think overall it is a lot better. I think some people believe that there Is more race disputes than there actually are. This is partly because of the media. Things such as police brutality are very exaggerated. Whenever one of those situations occurs the media blows it out of proportion and makes it look as if all cops are like that which makes people very angry and causes the tension between races. I think that is one of the major reasons why there is still tension when it comes to race relations; however, I think they have drastically improved since the 1950's and 60's.
ReplyDeleteIn situations like these I believe the media has both good and bad influences. The media helps the community by educating its residents on new issues arising within the general problem at hand. However, the media also has the potential and likelihood to stretch the truth or sway one’s opinions towards a more popular, possibly negative opinion. It also takes away a sense of privacy for the person directly involved.
ReplyDeleteI believe that since 1957 the race relations in our country have taken a slight detour to positive actions and unity but have overall stayed on the path of negativity and disunity. As a nation we have gotten rid of the segregation in everyday life but still do not have complete acceptance of each other’s differences. With the rising and current race issues in our society it seems as though we have not advanced much at all and history is starting to repeat itself.
I believe that traditional media and social media have done a great job keeping people informed, even given the information from a different perspective. but that can also be a flaw. social media is able to spread information quickly, and people are able to become more aware about race relations. it helps identify prejudice people and ideas that are still rampant. we have come a long way from those days, but we still need to improve.
ReplyDeleteMedia has a profound way of influencing people. In such instances, it would have been very easy for any persons with access to the media in this time period to have put negative or positive ideas in their heads. The media is used to inform people on what is happening in the world around them and even on false truths. In the case of the Little Rock nine the media helped spread the word on the desegregation, which obviously made people either very upset or very happy.
ReplyDeleteRacism is still prevalent in our country today. No person, no matter their race should have to be scared of the people who are supposed to be there to protect them, you know what I'm talking about. Its so sad to see that our country still has white supremacy groups, people are MURDERING others because of their race. Harrison, AR is literally known for their involvement with the KKK for heavens sake. Im not saying our country hasn't gotten any better since 1957, but it is definitely nowhere near where it should be in 2017.
Media can be helpful if one is receiving information from a reliable source. In some situations media can make matters worst.
ReplyDeleteRace relations has gotten better since 1957. Schools are more diverse now as far as that goes but it seems like we as a society are taking a U-turn and going back to those times. Racism is still alive.
In situations like this, the media can be a huge influence. It has the ability to shed light on the truth if they chose to do so, but depending on the integrity of the reporter and the way that they choose to cover the story, they have the ability to sway the opinion of the audience/consumers. In this particular instance, the reporter that said to E "Don't let them see you cry," went above and beyond being a good reporter. He was being a good person and doing what he felt was right in a horrible situation.
ReplyDeleteOur country has come so far in regards to race relations since 1957. Schools are segregated, people are open and proud of being part of interracial couples and friendships, people overall are more open minded and accepting. The new generations see the ideas of racism as unacceptable and unfathomable. That isn't everyone. There are still some issued of racism in the nation. We are not perfect, but overall, it is way better than it was in 1957.