Racial/Anti-immigrant Coding in the Media

Encounter - Using media gathered by students, look at where racism is present in media messages.  Instructor should pull a sample video or transcript from Lou Dobbs’ program on CNN.  Watch this video or other appropriate anti-immigrant media.  Have learners identify where they see immigrants being singled out, connect this with white skin bias and the imposition of a white cultural norm.  Note that the anti-immigrant political position is often referred to as “nativism.”

Reflect - Let discussion flow but be prepared with guiding questions:
•    What racial ‘code’ words to you see here?
•    How do ‘code’ words and phrases work to perpetuate racist paradigms?
•    Why are these codings so potent?
 

Allow at least 40 minutes