America is known for being a diverse country, so why isn’t the entertainment industry more diverse? In most successful movies and TV shows, the main characters are usually white.
Growing up as a minority and watching television, I rarely saw people who looked like me. I always asked myself why my race and gender were almost never seen as the heroine; they are usually seen as the opposite. Many children watch television from a young age like I did, and the roles they see their people playing can affect how they think they should behave.
Even when there are diverse characters in the media, they are shown as stereotypes. There are many misconceptions of certain groups based on television stereotypes. Black people are presented as violent, low-class gang members. Latino people are shown as maids, drug dealers, and illegal immigrants. Women are objectified as sex objects.
Many actors of color are underrated. In 2015, Viola Davis was the first black woman to win an Emmy for the Best Actress in a Drama according to the Guardian.com. Her speech caused controversy when she brought up that the only thing separating women of color from others is opportunity. Davis said at the time, “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there."
There should be more positive representations of diversity in mainstream American media. It’s the 21st century. When will this stop?
