Following the Black Lives Matter protests, a surge of cultural media has appeared that addresses race and the Black experience. This includes books, music, movies and TV shows that address these topics.
Some observers are worried that racial intolerance is also appearing in popular culture. They worry that if this trend of woke content continues, it could backfire.
Karens
Deconstructing Karen is a new documentary that attempts to get white women to acknowledge their racism. It was created by two activists, Saira Rao and Regina Jackson, who host dinners with white women to discuss their perspectives on race and inequality.
Last month, the phrase “Karen” gained widespread notoriety when video of Amy Cooper calling the police on a Black man went viral. This sparked outrage over its perceived racism, leading to Cooper’s eventual apology.
Karens’ videos have caused shock, apprehension and outrage around the world, but some experts claim they also reveal an undercover form of racism within America’s predominantly white society. They contend that these rage-inspiring incidents are not indicative of Black anger but rather evidence that White Americans feel insecure and threatened.
As the coronavirus pandemic has worsened into a nationwide health emergency, tensions have arisen which has made it easier for people to express their anger online. Millions of Karens – or Kens as they’re known in meme land – have been captured on camera harassing people of color or trying to police their neighbors’ behaviour.
Some who have been affected by these incidents claim they’re angry for various reasons, such as job loss or the stress of quarantine. Others, however, argue that they’re simply displaying a form of racism many White Americans still carry from their childhoods.
Some report that racism has intensified during the pandemic due to job losses and fears about people of color becoming infected. It’s a form of prejudice which has spread throughout neighborhoods, schools and workplaces across America.
In a sense, these Karens aren’t so much expressing their anger as they are displaying an ignorance about racism and how it functions in society. They’re simply using rhetoric to try and maintain their white privilege – which has come under attack since the election of President Donald Trump.
But in a wider sense, White Americans are just as guilty of racism as Black Americans are and their vitriol does not align with the antiracism movements such as Black Lives Matter. That’s why they’re being called out on it – in ways that don’t involve soothing their egos or relieving stress.
African Americans
The United States was founded on principles of freedom and equality, yet its laws and policies have long been designed to exclude and suppress people of color. As a result, racial stereotypes have emerged in popular culture.
Minstrel songs were written as a response to changing conditions in the United States and were designed to convey white superiority. These songs featured various images such as the watermelon-obsessed dancing fool or streetwise pimp.
Though these jokes were meant to be amusing and lighthearted, they still reflect the racism experienced by black Americans. They often highlight differences such as laziness, submissivity, and an emphasis on the inferiority of black bodies.
Another example of a stereotype deeply embedded in America’s past is racially segregated housing patterns. These were established during the antebellum era and remain prevalent today due to African-Americans being forced into separate neighborhoods even after they gained political rights during the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Segregated communities were mostly situated in the south and west of Chicago, where most Black residents lived. This resulted in the dissolution of a central hub for African-American culture as well as Black political activism.
Recent research suggests the growing intolerance for racism among African Americans may be related to brain changes caused by stress. A recent study suggests when individuals experience race-based discrimination, their anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which is often connected with social exclusion and stress, becomes activated.
This area of the brain can be activated by a variety of emotional and physical stimuli, including racial discrimination. When this area becomes overburdened with stress-related information, people become more susceptible to anxiety and depression symptoms.
African Americans tend to be more vulnerable to depression and other mental health issues than White Americans, including suicidal thoughts and psychosis. This could be due to chronic stress or increased sensitivity to threats.
Whites
Many popular culture sources, such as films, music and television, are revisiting long-established acts and shows with critical eyes. “It’s like people are talking about these things differently now and aren’t afraid to call them out,” Emerson College professor Wes Jackson observes.
Dr. Robin DiAngelo, a psychiatrist who coined the term “white fragility,” warns that as whites become increasingly aware of racism in their society, they may experience feelings of guilt, sadness, confusion or defensiveness. These responses can have detrimental consequences when they lead people to act in ways which further exacerbate or prolong racial discrimination against their own group.
Research has demonstrated that racial discrimination can produce physiological reactions similar to other forms of stress, such as anxiety or depression. This is likely because racial discrimination stimulates the same neural pathways as other social stressors do; however, the sensitivity to responses to discriminatory material may depend on other factors.
Studies have revealed that individuals’ levels of physiological reactivity to racial discrimination vary based on their personality and the context in which they encounter it. Individuals who tend towards impulsivity and harbor negative views about other races tend to experience higher levels of reactivity than others.
Reactive anger may be indicative of social isolation or loneliness, which makes people more vulnerable to the effects of racial discrimination. It may also lead to feelings of hopelessness, fear or confusion.
Research suggests that lack of social integration may contribute to increased sensitivity to racial discrimination, though the exact cause remains uncertain. Some experts speculate it could be because white people tend to be more secure in their skin and less likely to face challenges or confrontations related to their racial identities.
Furthermore, a lack of diversity within their communities can result in lower levels of civic engagement and political involvement, both of which could impede economic development. Furthermore, an absence of minority representation in media outlets may contribute to an unfavorable perception of minority cultures.
Intolerant People
Around the world, people are becoming less tolerant of racism – particularly in Western countries. This sentiment can be seen in popular culture.
When watching or reading a movie, people often react negatively to the characters’ race or ethnicity. They feel these characters are stereotypical and their actions are motivated by racism. This can cause them discomfort and even anger towards them.
They may also blame themselves for the situation. This is known as vicarious trauma and it can be a way of trying to make sense of what has transpired.
To truly understand another person and their beliefs, cultures and traditions, it is essential to educate yourself through reading books, blogs and other media that present different viewpoints. This can be accomplished by taking time out of your busy schedule to read books that provide diverse viewpoints or watch documentaries that introduce different viewpoints.
Another essential step is understanding why you feel intolerant. Doing this can help you transform your negative views and become more accepting of others.
Intolerant individuals typically hold negative attitudes towards other people due to a belief that others are inferior. This can be caused by personal experiences with children of a different race or religion, or from what they’ve read about other groups on social media platforms.
People who are tolerant often bend the rules to get things done. While this can be a beneficial trait, it may indicate they’re not as open-minded or flexible as they could be.
Workplace conflicts often stem from not giving employees enough room to think through their responses. To resolve these issues, take the time to give your staff members space and time to reflect on their choices.
You can also talk to them about your opinions. Express why you don’t agree with them and inquire what their perspective is. Additionally, offer them constructive criticism in order for them to improve.
Research has indicated that the growing intolerance for racism can be a source of anxiety for many people. Studies have demonstrated that it causes significant stress to the brain, as well as anger and feelings of guilt.
