Axulus
Veteran Member
The Quincy Story
Themes
Based on an unconfirmed report by the media, the victim was at one point a victimizer; armed robber. If this is true, the fact that he was a white male, within his 30s, and with a prior criminal record validates the reference Karmen (2007) makes in the course text: “most perpetrators and many of their victims had been in trouble with the law before their final showdown” and that “about 45 percent of the deceased turned out to have criminal records (arrests or convictions for misdemeanors or felonies)” (p. 89).
Victim Portrayal
The victim was vilified by the media from the beginning of the report.
Media Reinforcement of Portrayal
The omnipresent vilification within this news piece was quite heavily supported by the biased comments of the outspoken reporter, who repeatedly mentioned the victim’s prior involvement, or insinuations of prior involvement, in the world of crime. Not only was the victim vilified, but he was also undignified, as according to the reporter the victim’s body laid next to a car: “only 30 feet behind me” – as the newscaster so prominently said.
Patterns
Official crime statistics and the Quincy murder victim are tied in closely. The victim is: male, in his 30’s, most likely single, living in lower to middle class environment and with a prior criminal record. Moreover, the news report further adds strength to this assertion by having viewers assume that there were two white males involved in the killing of the Caucasian victim. This supports the intraracial assertion by Karmen (2007).
http://criminaljusticeonlineblog.com/11/victimology-themes-patterns-victim-portrayal-and-the-media/
So race is the only factor in how the media portrays certain victims, or just one of many factors?
You still don't get it. No one has said anything is always the one thing. If that has been said, show where. If not, this proves nothing. And it certainly does not disprove centuries of documented history of race and racism, or the current lived experience of minorities in the US.
So what exactly is your point? What great truth propels you?
My point is there are people who can not see or will not see me or people like me. And they call us dumb or liars when we speak what see have lived in truth. Even as we die from their blindness, it is we who are wrong and we who cause evil be speaking that evils name. We are not real. We are phantoms to be feared and exorcised or not believed in and ignored.
For some, Ralph Ellison is still right.
My point is that the media, first and foremost, hammers on about victims alleged past criminal involvement regardless of race all the time, especially if the victim fits the media's profile for such, young, often single male from lower to middle class neighborhoods.
Yes, race is a factor, but does not appear to be the biggest factor in many situations. You keep emphasizing race, race, and only race. That racism is so severe that it causes every sector of society to do outlandishly racist things, allowing the execution of blacks on a whim and then the media and legal system put on a show, blame the victim, and the racists in the system swoop in and let the offender off.
This has been the constant theme of your posts lately.