ABSTRACT
Consistent and predominant images of depicting Black people as criminals in the media have been a long-standing practice. These images have appeared in local news stories, TV shows, and films creating a false sense that Black people should be feared, tamed, and subdued. The leading question is as follows: How have images of Black people being portrayed as “thugs” in the media-influenced perceptions and shaped racial bias? There are two major sections in this chapter. Section 1 includes an examination of the origin and history of racist stereotypes of Black people in American media. Section 2 focuses on the harmful effects of stereotypes and how these shape racial biases.
