Document Type

Undergraduate Research Paper

Publication Date

2025

Paper Status

Winner

Abstract

This research paper examines the significant impact of media on the public narratives surrounding the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which emerged in 2013 in response to systemic racism and police violence against Black individuals. By exploring the evolution and manipulation of media portrayals, the study highlights how both digital and traditional media have influenced public perceptions of BLM. The central thesis posits that strategic manipulation by counter-movements and selective media framing have significantly distorted the movement’s original intentions, contributing to societal misunderstandings and cultural violence. Drawing on Johan Galtung’s theory of cultural violence, the study illustrates how language and symbols within media narratives have been used to legitimize repression and delegitimize nonviolent resistance. The analysis also applies Mohandas K. Gandhi’s concept of trusteeship to the role of media institutions, arguing that journalists and media owners, as stewards of public discourse, have a moral responsibility to prioritize truth, diversity, and equity over profit and political alignment. Through an analysis of secondary sources, including academic journals, articles, and media reports, the paper investigates how language and imagery have been used to undermine BLM’s legitimacy. Additionally, it explores the implications of this distortion, particularly in relation to historical narratives of nonviolent resistance and the broader societal impact on racial justice movements. The findings highlight the urgent need for balanced and accountable media coverage that uplifts nonviolent movements like BLM, ensuring a more informed public and a more just, democratic society.

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