That’s Not Me I See on TV . . . : African American Youth Interpret Media Images of Black Females

How do African American youth perceive images of black women in popular media? How do they interpret the meaning of these messages, especially those that maintain persistent negative stereotypes? Focus groups with African American high school and college-age youth were conducted. Findings indicate that youth, both male and female, readily identified many images of black women as negative, inaccurate, and offensive. Further, their responses suggest their concern about the impact of these images on how majority groups may perceive black women and black communities, overall.