July-->Herman & Chomsky

This reading correlates with my State of Black America class because it talks about the inequality of wealth and power between the dominant group and marginalized groups. The quote “It [propaganda model] traces the routes by which money and power are able to filter out the news fit to print, marginalized dissent, and allow government and dominant private interests to get their messages across to the public,” broadly explains how our media is unequally controlled by one huge force. For example, when it comes to black Americans being displayed in the media market they are often associated with being violent, financially disadvantaged, unintelligent, or worthless people. The only reason why these perceptions are cast about this marginalized group is because its oppressor is in control over media, which allows their messages to be heard to general public. But, when comparing the percentages of black Americans in the United States (12.4%) to white Americans in the United States (73.9%) you notice a substantial difference in the United States population. If the population of both of these two cultural groups were equal, then there wouldn’t be a huge percentage gap between them, especially when talking about violence, poverty, high-educational levels, and role significance.

The main reason why white Americans have so much power over marginalized groups, besides dominance, is because of the financial wealth gap between them and minorities. Money or wealth in the United States establishes your role in society by providing individuals with reliable social networks, higher-education, financial stability, and a head-start on life, which are all major resources that produce upward mobility. Since minorities tend to lack wealth, when compared to white Americans it puts them further down the success ladder. Like Horkheimer & Adorno said “Only those who can keep paying the exorbitant fees charged by the advertising agencies… That is, those who are already part of the system…,” which infers, money is needed for the initial start in life but will always have a cycling affect for one culture (white Americans).