The Black Lives Matter movement has spurred many institutions to look at themselves more closely and openly declare their commitment ridding themselves of systemic racism and to being part of the revolutionary change we need. Yes! Yes Again!
We need to keep pressuring all of our institutions, public and private, to create dynamic reform toward eliminating discrimination of all kinds from their practices, at the same time we individuals need to notice our own biases and reform our own behaviors.
Recently you published an editorial stating how you use language in concordance with widely accepted journalistic conventions, boasting of The Recorder’s good taste and equanimous, unbiased treatment of people and groups. However, twice quite recently I have flinched at items.
I’ll share one example. Page one of your July 2 sports section displayed a photo of two professional women soccer players, one black-skinned, the other white-skinned. They have their heads bowed and arms around each other in a symmetrical posture. The photo’s caption starts: “Chicago Red Stars’ Julie Ertz, left, holds Casey Short after players for their team knelt…” What?
The white woman holding the black woman? Are you kidding me? They were sharing a moment equally, even if the photographer’s read of the situation was of Julie consoling Casey. The appearance of dominance alluded to in your caption is damaging to the goal we all should have of routing out both conscious and unconscious racism. Instead it could have said: “Chicago Red Stars players Julie Ertz and Casey Short embrace each other in an emotional moment after players for their team knelt during the national anthem before an NSWL Challenge Cup match….”
Look deeper, Recorder. Have your writers and editors sharpen your focus to ferret out and actively counter inappropriate bias in your presentation of the news.
Louise Doud
Warwick