Exploring the impact of destructive narratives in corporate media and the efforts of alternative media platforms like a web series led by formerly incarcerated individuals and Prison Radio. Emphasizing on centering black women in media coverage of police brutality and discussing the challenges faced by marginalized communities like transgender individuals and immigrants, including cases of deportation and the disparities in coverage. Highlighting the importance of changing dominant narratives and amplifying voices often overlooked in mainstream media.
"A pillar of the community"." A straight-A student who dreamed of becoming a doctor". "A loving father"."Here through no fault of their own". "She was hysterical and out of control." "He was no angel."
The press, both local and national, humanizes some victims of state or corporate violence, while demonizing others. Despite good intentions and seemingly without noticing, the media all too often create tiered systems of moral worth by trying to find “the perfect victim.”
The media’s search for the perfect victim, and its corollary desire to smear those with less than perfect pasts, makes humanity conditional, further entrenching negative stereotypes and destructive narratives about entire communities.
In this episode, we dissect the real time auditing of those who die or are deported and how we can expand our moral vocabulary to protect all vulnerable people and populations.
We are joined by both Joel Sati and Charlene Carruthers.