Multicultural Initiatives: Challenging Media

What's this blog about?

I teach several courses under the broad topic of "Multicultural Education," prioritizing social justice issues of access, power/privilege, & narrowing the academic achievement gap. I am a person of color and I almost always have a white co-teacher. We include topics, such as: racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, ethnocentrism, deculturalization, transforming curriculum, etc. This is a place where I post information that we teach; lesson plans for activities; and resources we use and/or which are shared with me by my adult students.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Challenging Media - The Disney Influence

The video summarizes and offers some example the corporate (national & international) power which Disney has to influence the media, children, and society. Unprecedented control over images and messages leads to a limited world view. As you view these videos/songs, ask yourself these questions:

What stereotypes are portrayed?
Do those stereotypes still exist?
In your teaching/learning, what have you taught/learned that dismantled the stereotypes?

This video gives a specific example of the "Disney racism" towards African Americans. These are "Jim Crows" and even have an African American accent.