Perception vs. reality: How the media paints black Americans
Can the public get a true picture of the African-American community when what we read, see and hear are stereotypical images of blacks? Patricia Dixon, an associate professor of African-American Studies at Georgia State, looks at the portrayals of African Americans on stage and in TV shows and feature films. Sara Eschholz, an assistant professor of criminal justice, provides perspective on crime-related racial representations in the media, while Becky Tatum, also an assistant professor of criminal justice, studies the link between rap music and youth violence. Contact Dixon at 404-651-4882 or [email protected]; Eschholz at 404-651-3659 or [email protected]; and Tatum at 404-651-1379.
Black models influence buying decisions
The racial makeup of models used to promote products could dictate consumers' buying decisions, according to research by Corliss Green, assistant professor of marketing at Georgia State. By studying the response of promotional advertising across ethnic and racial lines, research shows that African-Americans respond to products more favorably when the models are of their same race. Green can be contacted at (404) 651-4182 or [email protected].
New Black Panthers differ from predecessors
Members of the Black Panther Party of the 1960s and 1970s don't necessarily approve of the views and activities of a group calling itself the New Black Panther Party, according to Charles Jones, a professor of African-American studies at Georgia State. A few years ago, former Black Panthers even sued to try to stop the new group from using the name because they felt it didn't stand for the same goals. Jones, editor of the book The Black Panther Party Reconsidered, studies differences between the two groups. His work has helped correct misconceptions about the often-feared original group - that it was anti-white and more of a gang than a viable political organization. Contact Jones at 404-651-2157 or [email protected].
Rich language may have humble origin
Why does the dialect of many African-Americans - "ebonics" - differ from Standard American English? One theory maintains that modern African-American Vernacular Language has Creole origins, resulting from a pidgin of English and various West African languages that slaves who spoke in different tongues used to communicate with each other. Georgia State University's Mary Brown Zeigler, associate professor of English, researches the sociolinguistic characteristics of African American Vernacular English in speech and writing. Contact Zeigler at 404-651-2900 or [email protected].
University Relations contact: Betsy Robertson, 404-651-3572 [email protected]
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