Overcoming Media Distortions Through Media Literacy
WHEREAS, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ("NAACP") Hollywood Bureau ("Bureau") advocates for equitable opportunity and authentic representations in the entertainment industry that reflect our diverse communities. The Bureau forges alliance, partnerships and coalitions and issues publications that honor the diverse and multicultural forms of artistic expression in media; and
WHEREAS, The NAACP's publication, Guidelines for Depictions of Black Life in Media, clarifies the purpose and consequences of mass media storytelling and illustrates how the circumstances of Black life have been largely influenced by media; and
WHEREAS, Internal and external perceptions of Black life can be directly traced to media's depictions; and WHEREAS, Media, defined in all its forms and extensions, including film, television, music, print and digital, operates with intent and every frame is deliberate; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Association for Media Literacy Education ("NAMLE"), media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and act using all forms of communication and Media Literacy Education is the educational field dedicated to teaching the skills associated with media literacy; and
WHEREAS, NAMLE recommends outreach to diverse populations, specifically communities of color, to support their participation, scholarship, teaching or new program development; and
WHEREAS, The nonprofit advocacy organization, Media Literacy Now, states with quickly advancing technology, without media literacy skills, anyone can be subject to manipulation and exploitation; and
WHEREAS, Media Literacy Now drives policy change at local, state, and national levels in the U.S. to ensure all K-12 students are taught media literacy so that they become healthy, confident, and competent media consumers and creators; and
WHEREAS, Media literacy in general and specifically in the Black community is necessary to provide consumers a deeper insight about media distortions and its resulting psycho-social implications on society; and
WHEREAS, The values of dominant culture are reinforced and affirmed by intentional elections made by media operators, in selecting which visions and voices to empower; and
WHEREAS, Deliberate choices made by media to assert dominant perspectives are the result of concerted and contemplative efforts to perpetuate a status quo; and
WHEREAS, In order to remediate this pervasive condition, media literacy is necessary to provide consumers with deeper insight about media distortions and resulting circumstances; and
WHEREAS, the NAACP will seek to expand media literacy to the organization's leaders and members.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP establishes media literacy as an effective means of combating the historic onslaught of false imagery and propagandistic messaging "mainstream media" has perpetuated about the creed and character of the Black community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP's initial approach will pursue K-12 school curriculum for media literacy that synthesizes the effort within existing subject matter lesson plans.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on local, state and national policymakers to prioritize media literacy education in K-12 schools.