In Support of Legislation Creating a Section Within the Federal Communication Commission to Monitor the Number of Ethnic Minorities on Prime Time Television

WHEREAS, it is the long-standing policy of the NAACP that people of color are under-represented by all of the major networks during prime-time television; and

WHEREAS, when ethnic minorities are portrayed on network television during prime time, it is disproportionately in a negative light; and

WHEREAS, ethnic minorities are also severely under-represented in the development and production of prime time television shows; and

WHEREAS, it is a stated goal of the NAACP to increase the number of ethnic minorities on prime time television and the manner in which people of color are represented, as well as the number of ethnic minorities involved in the creation and making of prime time television shows; and

WHEREAS, legislation has been introduced to establish a clearinghouse within the Federal Communications Commission to monitor ethnic and minority bias; and

WHEREAS, such a clearinghouse would be charged with responding to complaints, grievances relating to radio, television and cable television broadcast programming and its depiction of ethnic and minority groups; and

WHEREAS, the proposed clearinghouse will be responsible for collecting, analyzing, and preparing information from public and private agencies relating to the portrayal of ethnic and minority groups by radio, television and cable television broadcast programming.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP supports and endorses legislation introduced in the 106th Congress by Congressman Eliot Engel, of New York, H.R. 125, a bill to direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish an ethnic and minority affairs section.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP call upon the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to pass H.R. 125 and that President Clinton to sign this legislation into law.