How many times have you watched the news and seen a story where the suspect(s) description applied to every black man in sight?
The answer is a given – more times than you care to remember.
An example of how black males are often generalized in the media appeared Sunday on WCTV 6’s web site.
The Krispy Kreme on Magnolia and Park Avenue was reportedly robbed. The suspects were described as two black males, one 6ft. 1 in and the other 5 ft. 7 in.
One was described as being bald, wearing jeans and a dark colored sweatshirt while the other was described as wearing a blue cap, a blue and gray sweatshirt with a red emblem on the front and back.
These descriptions put any black male between 5 ft. and 6 ft. as a probable suspect.
If you are black and bald, you better watch out because you kind of fit the description of one of the Krispy Kreme suspects as well. This is an insult and injustice to black males. If a suspect cannot be described without being generalized, then you do not have a suspect. Even though this issue has been previously brought to light, it continues to plague our television screens.
WCTV 6 is the number one news station in Tallahassee; however, this news leader is repeating stupidity by continuing to generalize suspects, particularly black males, and it needs to stop immediately.
Lauren Walker for the Editorial Board