The role and responsibility of the media in eradicating social isolation, promoting cultural harmony and leading the charge in truth-telling.
In this era of extreme political polarization, affronts to human rights, flagrant bigotry and actual denial of cold, hard facts – the power of the Mainstream Media as a tool of social connectedness has never been more important.
Due to the slashing of much-needed social service programs, and the relentless deceitful talking points being trotted out by the Trump administration since the President took office in 2017, socio-economic and cultural divides are being drawn more clearly. Despite the connectivity that the Internet can bring, a national crisis of social isolation has resulted from this divide scenario.
This cultural disconnect can create apathy regarding impactful polices and available resources in neighboring communities. Lower-income communities are often represented in the media as if they offer no value other than providing salacious stories of violence and drugs for late-night news. The targeted misrepresentation of low-income and vulnerable communities can lead to their being consistently undervalued and overlooked for proper allocation of funds and resources.
We can do better. And, I think there is way through and I look to you, Mainstream Media, for your support. You have been leading the charge with holding this Administration accountable. And, the bar needs to be raised one rung higher. Now is the time to tell all of our cultural stories, highlight our successes, and be bold in your truth-telling. We will continue to protest, tweet, kneel, and make our voices heard while injustice continues unabated.
Truth will guide us like a lighthouse through the storm of this purposely-perpetuated chaos.
“Isolation and loneliness are central causes of depression and despair.” – bell hooks
Currently, social isolation has resulted from a marriage of technology with a strategic agenda of fear and exclusion. In an age where media and personal connections can be accessed in the blink of an eye, people are lonelier than ever.
A study by Cigna, published in May 2018, revealed that “nearly half of Americans report sometimes or always feeling alone (46 percent) or left out (47 percent).”
While the Cigna study noted that loneliness was prevalent across all races and genders, the loneliness rankings were higher for those residing in homes where the total household income is less than $75,000, very likely indicating a direct connection between poverty and feelings of marginalization and despair.
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
When the media shares stories of our victories (not our failings), however ordinary, it celebrates the beauty of our communities, knocks down the false walls of division, and activates our sense of connectedness and compassionate concern for the well-being of others. There is an elegance, grace, and nobility in the ancient tradition of sharing of stories which fosters cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
However, when we never venture out of the comfort zone of our individual communities, and never come to know the beauty of another culture, that can then be reflected at the ballot box when voting for leaders who will have the power to affect or not affect true policy change and dedicated resources for communities in need.
I am advocating for the creation of a new media paradigm which educates, uplifts and promotes social justice and accomplishes this by sharing our stories of celebration and cultural festivals. The old media paradigm, as described by Silas Bent, “Harmony seldom makes a headline.” is unfortunately still relevant and actively promoting feelings of isolation and desperation which will lead to our national undoing.
What is the future of the media? To be directed and led by the powerful forces of anger and deceit? Or to lead with courage, dignity, and a clear moral compass acting as the heartbeat of our nation? Let’s trade social isolation for the expanded social wealth of cultural curiosity, wonderment, and connection.
In this information age, no one should feel excluded from the national cultural narrative that the media helps define every day. Everyone is due the opportunity to learn about and connect with a new community or neighborhood that can be quite literally a short Lyft ride away. We are waiting and watching. Don’t let us down.
Let’s rise above the Orwellian misinformation campaigns of conservative news outlets and their attendant political leaders. Telling the truth should not be a revolutionary act, but in our current climate, it is. We need you, media outlets. Help us assert our human dignity.
We live in an era where we have to declare that Black Lives Matter, and defend actual truth, both of which should have to be affirmed, they are both a given.
The mere telling of the truth is considered an act of social justice.
I invite you: Tell our stories, celebrate our successes, and bridge the cultural gaps that are being created and manipulated.
One of the most important ways to reduce social isolation is to go out in the world and connect with new people, neighborhoods, and traditions. Exploring a new community during a cultural festival, for example, is an interactive way to experience cultures and communities that might be new to us. It gives us the chance to see what is vibrant and extraordinary in every community. We can then abandon feelings of apathy and the concept of “the other” and be concerned for the social welfare of that community.
For the last 12 years here in Los Angeles, Bakewell Media and the Los Angeles Sentinel has been hosting Taste of Soul in the Crenshaw District, a festival celebrating all the vibrant aspects of African American culture including cuisine, music, dance, shopping, and local entrepreneurship. This free family event, which draws crowds of up to 350,000, does not get front page placement in the calendar section. Why? And, why have so many of my friends, both native Angelenos, and longtime denizens of Los Angeles, never heard of this festival?
In that vein, please consider doing a large-scale feature in your calendar section for the next Taste of Soul festival which is an exhilarating day of fun that is open to the whole family:
Taste of Soul
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Crenshaw District
In this divisive climate of human rights violations, abhorrent displays of unchecked racism, and relentless denial of facts, logic, and science, all of which benefits President Trump and his cohort of elites, there is a vanguard of hope and positivity led by social justice activists, community leaders, environmental stewards, artists, hopefully, the Mainstream Media.
In closing, I am heartened by the call to action from Gurujas, of the musical group White Sun, in her 2017 GRAMMY award acceptance speech for Best New Age Album, “Let’s do better.”