Activism or “Slacktivism?”: Digital Media and Organizing for Social Change

Courses: Popular Culture and Media, Communication and Community, Critical/Cultural Studies, Organizational Communication, Rhetoric and Public Advocacy, other courses with a focus on the use of digital and social media to organize groups Objectives: In this single class activity students will (a) analyze notions of activism and “slacktivism” from scholarly and popular sources to apply these concepts actively to critical theory; (b) enhance their understanding of how digital media—specifically social media—influences contemporary efforts to organize people through digital media for social change; and (c) critically reflect on their own participation and perceptions of activism in advocacy groups

Braxton Family Values

This article is a review of the television show Braxton Family Values

Scripting Hate Crimes: Victim, Space and Perpetrator Defining Hate

Hate crime legislation is meant to address discrimination at a community level. The hate crime categorization involves the justice system and the media – who play a key role in the community's understanding of the act. In 2008 in Washington, DC, two separate attacks on gay men – one White, one African-American – were categorized differently. One was a hate crime; the other was not. This paper looks at the social scripts employed within the media and police statements that contextualize these events in terms of neighbourhood as well as the race, gender and sexuality of the victims and perpetrators

The Power of Black Magic: The Magical Negro and White Salvation in Film

Movies featuring a “magical” or spiritually gifted Black lead character have been released for many years, and the trend continues to grow in popularity. These Black characters, often referred to as “magical Negroes,” generally focus their abilities toward assisting their White lead counterparts. At first glance, casting the Black and White leads in this manner seems to provide examples of Black and White characters relating to each other in a constructive manner; however, a closer examination of these interactions suggests a reinvention of old Black stereotypes rather than authentic racial harmony. Using a textual analysis of eight selected films: the Matrix trilogy—The Matrix (1999), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), and The Matrix Revolutions (2003)— The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000), The Green Mile (1999), Bringing Down the House (2003), Nurse Betty (2000), and Bruce Almighty (2003), this study formalizes a definition of the magical Negro and determines how these characterizations reinvent traditional Black stereotypes of mammy, jezebel, and Uncle Tom. This study reflects on the complex nature of the portrayal and acceptance of Blacks in contemporary times because these roles may commingle limited progress with traditionally racist stereotypes

An Intersectional Analysis of Television Narratives of African American Women with African American Men on “the Down Low”

The controversial phenomenon of “the down low” has created fear and suspicion of male sexual partners among many African American women. Being on the down low refers to men that lead seemingly heterosexual lives, yet secretly have sex with other men. Popular media have portrayed this topic more widely in more recent years and generally focus on African Americans. Two popular television shows, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and Girlfriends, have dedicated episodes centering heterosexual African American women partnered with African American men on the down low. The popular television film, Cover, features an African American woman who learns her husband secretly has affairs with other men. Black feminist thought provides an intersectional frame for analyzing the content of these portrayals of Black women in relationships with men on the down low. The analysis demonstrates that the down low associates more affluent African Americans with socially deviant behavior and issues, such as hyper-sexuality and HIV/AIDS. Further, they show newer interpretations of African American women “in love and in trouble” and that African American men often have to disguise and remain silent about their sexuality to garner acceptance into their communities

“What They See as Acceptable:” A Co-Cultural Theoretical Analysis of Black Male Students at a Predominantly White Institution

This study uses co-cultural theory to explore how African American male college students select and enact communication strategies at a predominantly White institution when interacting with dominant groups. The authors use focus groups and individual interviews to examine the experiences of the participants. Three themes evolved from the data: (a) aggressive assimilation: negotiating stereotypes and self-identity, (b) nonassertive separation: negotiating marginalization and power imbalances, and (c) desire for accommodation: communication strategy impediments. They conclude with implications for co-cultural theory and suggestions for future research

Envisioning more equitable and just futures: feminist organizational communication in theory and praxis

In this forum, we engage in a reflexive intergenerational conversation regarding the contributions of feminist scholars to organizational communication scholarship, as well as the potentials of feminist organizational communication theory and praxis to address urgent challenges facing our institutions and communities. We also offer critique of this body of work and grapple with its, and in some cases our own, shortcomings. In this article, we highlight four major themes from our conversations including (a) navigating between the center and the margins in feminist organizational communication, (b) making time for intersectionality, (c) reenvisioning academic work based on our feminist values, and (d) imagining feminist futures. We hope this forum will inspire others to join us in exploring innovative ways to advance feminist organizational communication theory, praxis, and pedagogy