ChickenBones: A Journal

for Literary & Artistic African-American Themes

   

Home  

Google
 

  in reality the mass media has always supported the ideology and agenda of the ruling elites from

slavery to their current campaign of global imperialism and domination. Case in point,

the recent Invasion of Iraq, despite widespread opposition to a unilateral assault on Iraq

 

 

Blacks As Whipping Boys

By Junious Ricardo Stanton

 

The corporate elite-owned and controlled media function to create a climate of opinion, to shape social perception by framing the reality and information which basically shapes perception by framing the reality and information which basically shapes the formation and expression of opinions. They do this mainly through setting the issues agenda, that is by controlling the "domain of discourse" e.g. determining what is worthy of public exposure and discussion. They choose what issues and information are to be emphasized, to be ignored or suppressed. Consequently they create visibility and legitimacy for certain persons, groups and opinions and thereby impose limits on public knowledge, interest, discourse, understanding, behavioral orientation and capacity. 

-- Dr. Amos Wilson Blueprint For Black Power,  p. 229

 

The revelation New York Times journalist Jayson Blair plagiarized stories, took credit for work that was not his own, and created the impression he was involved in incidents that in fact he was not, has taken a bizarre twist. At a time when many AmeriKKKans realize the corporate owned media shape reality to fit the agenda of the ruling elites and increasingly more truth seekers are turning to other sources such as the Internet, shortwave radio, and satellite television for their information, Jayson Blair's indiscretions are being used by the Times and related media as a ruse to kill two birds with one stone.

 The mostly white male editorial boards of the mainstream and alternative media have pounced on Blair with both feet denouncing him as a traitor to journalistic integrity, something we all know is virtually non existent in these times of universal deceit, disinformation and denial, to further malign African people and take pot shots at "Affirmative Action.". In effect Jayson Blair has become the scapegoat and whipping boy for the multifarious sins of the corporate owned media. Jayson Blair resigned in disgrace amidst the hoots and jeers of his white peers -- all of whom, truth be told, at one time or another under deadline or editorial pressure have done some of the things they've verbally stoned Blair for. 

How can a media so embedded (as in prostitution) with the out and out fascists who run this country point fingers at Jayson Blair? What Blair did is both unethical and indefensible especially from an Afrocentric point because that misguided "brother" was doing dirty work for one of the paragons of global white supremacy!

AmeriKKKan mythology posits freedom of the press as one of the rights guaranteed by the "Bill of Rights," which purportedly ensures a diversity of ideas and an open vibrant public discussion and debate of the issues facing the people on a daily basis. However, in reality the mass media has always supported the ideology and agenda of the ruling elites from slavery to their current campaign of global imperialism and domination. Case in point, the recent Invasion of Iraq, despite widespread opposition to a unilateral assault on Iraq by conscious AmeriKKKans and peace-loving people all over the world, the corporate owned media pushed the administration's fascist agenda, parroting Bush's lies about "weapons of mass destruction" and Saddam Hussein posing an immediate threat to the US. 

Every network talking head became a cheerleader for US imperialism. There was absolutely no anti-war presence on the major networks and cable news agencies. Any dissent was met with swift retaliation, intimidation, and attack. Anyone who dared challenge the administration party line was denounced as unpatriotic, a supporter of terrorism, or a coward. So much for diversity, freedom of thought and expression. The disclosure of Blair's plagiarism comes on the heels of mounting public derision following the Bush administration's failure to produce the weapons of mass destruction that prompted the pre-emptive invasion of another weak and defenseless nation (given AmeriKKKa is the dominant Western military superpower most nations in its cross hairs will be much weaker and relatively easy pickings; with the exception of North Korea).

The corporate-owned mass media served as lapdogs and cheerleaders for the ruling elites' invasion and occupation of both Afghanistan and Iraq now most thinking people are beginning to suspect, we have been played big time. The New York Times is one of the main culprits. The Times was one of the primary targets of CIA infiltration in Operation Mockingbird which dates back to the late '40's. The Times has a long history of CIA/journalistic collusion. Which is worse, plagiarizing someone else's work or promoting lies and fascist imperialist policies that cost the lives of hundreds of US soldiers and countless innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq? Aren't both unethical and immoral? That's what makes the media's chastisement of Blair all the more hypocritical.

POSITIVELY BLACK

posted 19 may 2003

 

 

Home  Positively Black Table