Media — a powerful presence

I don't know if the language of power applies to media in exactly the same way Delpit intended it to apply to the education system. However, I do believe there is a presence of power to the media system. As I see it, the largest problem with power structure in the media are the people and communities we cover as well as the people employed by the system. I have worked at several small newspapers, which are usually staffed by middle-class white people and the community coverage is generally limited to the same demographic. I feel if you limit your media, one of the main venues for people to get community information, this way you cut off part of your community and further the idea of a dominant culture. The media, while not using passive instructions like Delpit’s examples, continues to proliferate the idea that there very few cross-sections and demographics in this country, which then transfers to other institutions like education. With so little awareness of the different cultures coming together in community schools, teachers can easily fall into the language of power.

DD Bixby