Black African American Racism: Ethical or Political Issue in

America? (As Depicted on America’s Most Popular News Portal

During May-June 2020)

Vidya Kusumawardani

Department of Communication Studies, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Jakarta, Sunter Permai Raya,

Jakarta Utara, Indonesia

Keywords: Racism, Digital Media, Political Issue, Ethical Issue, Public Opinion.

Abstract: To identify whether it becomes an ethical or political issue as depicted on CNN and Huffington post during

May-June 2020, I conducted a content analysis method with a quantitative method approached. Population

and sample in this research is an online news article on Hufingtonpost.com and edition.cnn.com. Each

population and sample for each online news articles was 200 population from May, 25-June,9,2020. The unit

analysis of this study was online news articles and themes. Based on themes, political issue is the most

highlight in both media, on huffingtonpost was 77 theme (77%) and CNN was 68 theme (68%). Based on

news articles, black people was threated unfailry by systemic racism in America by law enforcement as

American symbol on huffingtonpost was 83% and CNN was 82%, black people dealing with violence and

bullying on huffingtonpost was 83% and CNN was 82%, police brutality towards black people on

huffingtonpost was 92% and CNN was 89%, power abuse toward to black people on huffingtonpost was 55%

and CNN was 59%, racial problem on huffingtonpost was 68% and CNN was 61%, Democrats and

Republican's view on racism on huffingtonpost was 94% and CNN was 87%, injustice between the white and

the black on huffingtonpost was 84% and CNN was 82%, police brutality on huffingtonpost was 92% and

CNN was 89%. Back to Network Agenda Setting theory, media and public has the same interest on racism

issue, the difference is media has political agenda when they are portraying racism issue. Meanwhile public

has an agenda this issue is becoming a potential issue to gather public opinion among citizens.

1 INTRODUCTION

Racism is not only social and cultural problem, but

also in all aspect. People have different thought about

people with color in community. How people think of

Asian, African-American, Hispanic, Latin, Moslem,

and others. Since this issue has not been handled yet,

it becomes nation’s problem and it becomes

pandemic in America.

People with color have been prejudice in

community. They even could not afford to have the

same facilities as a citizen who has the same rights

with other people just because they don’t have the

same color with the whites, as cited by Prof. Etin

Anwar who is curently living in Geneva, New York,

said that the black people facing “injustice” because

of the American System (Anwar, 2020).

Corresponding Letter

Black people are sick and tired of systemic racism

in America and its implication in society with

triggered a discriminatiaon between the whites and

the blacks, police brutality towards to black

people/community, stigmatization, unfairly criminal

justice system, unfairly in pay/hiring/promotion,

stealing black people real freedom and equality.

(Ben-Meir, 2020).

In case of stigmanization, the whites acted like

they are suspicious of African- American people,

where black man are 73% versus black women is 59%.

In case of education, people acted as if they are not

smart where black man are 61% versus black women

59%. Being subject to slurs or jokes, black man are

57% versus black woman are 49%. Been treated

unfairly in hiring, pay or promotion, black man 50%

versus black woman are 48%. Fear for their personal

Kusumawardani, V.

Black African American Racism: Ethical or Political Issue in America? (as Depicted on America’s Most Popular News Portal During May-June 2020).

DOI: 10.5220/0012579800003821

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 4th International Seminar and Call for Paper (ISCP UTA ’45 JAKARTA 2023), pages 12-25

ISBN: 978-989-758-691-0; ISSN: 2828-853X

safety, black man are 46% while black women are

40%. People assumed they are racist and prejudice,

black man are 31% while black woman are 20%

(Drew Desilver, 2020).

Chart 1: Black Man vs Black Women Dealing with

Prejudice in USA, 2020 (Percentage).

African-American people are treated injustice

than whites in dealing with the police and criminal

justice, where 84% of black adults said in dealing

with police, they are generally treated less fairly than

whites; while 63% of whites said the same. In case of

Criminal Justice System, 87% of blacks and 61% of

whites said the U.S. criminal justice system treats

black people less fairly (Drew Desilver, 2020).

Chart 2: Black man vs Whites Dealing With Injustice in

United States, 2020 (Percentage).

Black adults are about five times as likely whites

to say they’ve been unfairly stopped by the police

because of their etnicity. According to Pew Research

Center, 59% of black man say they’ve been unfairly

stopped by the police, and 31% of black woman

unfairly stopped by the police (Drew Desilver, 2020).

Chart 3: Black man vs Black woman Unfairly Stopped by

The Law Enforcement, 2020.

Across the U.S., black Americans lived in fear by

police officers armed with weapons who monitored

their behaviour, attacked the black people on the

street or even in their homes, and killed them for the

slightest alleged provocation (Philimon, 2020).

Although half of the people shot and killed by

police are white, African-Americans are shot at a

disproportionate rate. They account for less than 13

percent of the U.S. population, but are killed by police

Source: The Washington Post, Sept, 3, 2020

Chart 4: Number of People Killed by Law Enforcement in

US Based on Race or Ethnicity.

59 59

Black Man vs Black Women DealingWith

Prejudice in USA,2020 (percentage)

Black Man Black Woman

100

Black Man White Man

Black vs White Dealing with Injustice in

USA, 2020 (In Percentage)

Dealing with the police

U.S. criminal justice system treats

Black Man vs Black Women Unfairly

Stopped by Law Enforcement in U.S

(Percentage)

Black Man Black Women

Total of People Killed by Law

Enforcement Based on Ethnicity (in

millions)

Black Hispanic White Others

Black African American Racism: Ethical or Political Issue in America? (as Depicted on America’s Most Popular News Portal During

May-June 2020)

at more than twice the rate of White Americans.

Hispanic Americans are also killed by police at a

disproportionate rate (The Washington Post, 2020).

The chart shows that the rate at which black

Americans are killed by police is more than twice as

high as the rate for white Americans. Black american

32 million in total, Hispanic 24 millions in total,

Whites 13 millions in total, and others 4 millions in

total. Most victims are young males between 20-40

years old. Based on data of washington Post on

Sept,3, 2020 data shows that young males ages

between 20-24, 600 males was killed. Young males

ages between 25-29, 800 males was killed. Young

males ages between 30-34, 900 males was killed.

Young males ages between 35-39, 700 males was

killed (The Washington Post, 2020).

One of cases recently is Geoge Floyd, a black man

who was killed in a Minneapolis police custody on

May 25,2020. Minneapolis police officers arrested

George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, after a Deli

employee called 911, accusing him of buying

cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. Seventeen

minutes after the first squad car arrived at the scene,

Mr. Floyd was unconscious and pinned beneath three

police officers, showing no signs of life (Evan Hill et

al, 2020)

George Floyd’s death under the knee of a

Minneapolis police officer was a blunt reminder of

Chicago's racial divide and history of police brutality

against African Americans (Ali, 2020). In spite of

George Floyd, there are others black people whose

become the victim either by white police officer or

white supremacies.

As cited by the huffingtonpost Floyd’s death

resembled of Erick Garner, an unarmed black man

from staten island who pleaded-with an officer

choking hum during a 2014 arrest. Later on is

Breonna, a black woman who was recently killed

during a police drug raid at her Keuntucky home. The

killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man who was

confronted and killed by the two white men while

Jogging in georgia.

Some schoolars for over decades agreed that bias,

prejudice and stigmanization of black people was

triggered by excessive fear of the white group againts

immigrant group which is African American which

called Xenophobhia. More over, media playing the

major roles in our daily lives and it infiltrates our

perceptions and understanding with messages that

impact in our belief and value systems by their news.

In this case, media has a major role to implement our

perception toward to black people.

The aims of the research is to identify either

racism is an ethical or political issue as portrayed in

digital news after George Floyd’s death by

Minneapolis police officer on May, 25,2020 as stated

in both huffingtonpost and CNN during May, 25-June,

9, 2020.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

Xenophobia itself came to us by way of New Latin

and first appeared in print in English in the late 19th

century (1877). Xenophobia is “fear and hatred of

strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange

or foreign”. 'Xenophobia' comes from the Greek

words 'xenos' (either "stranger" or “guest")

and 'phobos' ("fear" or “flight”) (Xenophobia VS

Racism, n.d.).

Xenophobia can be defined as “attitudes,

prejudices and behavior that reject, exclude and often

villy persons, based on the perception that they are

outsiders or foreigners to the community, society or

national identity (Miller, 2018).

Xenophobia also differs from racism, which “has

been typically associated with prejudices against

individuals found on a socially constructed notion of

groups’ differentiating visible phenotypical markers,

such as skin color”. Further, “xenophobia targets

specifically those individuals who are foreigners in a

particular community, often regardless of their visible

characteristics or visible differences with the native

individuals” (Miller, 2018)

Xenophobia is often connected to a belief in a

hierarchical world order, where one sees one’s own

nation-state as superior to others. It is

“amultidimensional and multi-causal phenomenon

and is often associated with times of economic and

political instability (Miller, 2018). It is indicates that

xenophobia is rooted in competition for access to

limited resources (Miller, 2018)

Racism is bias, prejudice and full of hatred by

people based on their color. White people is more

powerfull than people with color. As cited by Day

(2009) "racism is prejudice with power against people

of color such as African-American, Hispanic, Asian

American, and Native Americans.

He assumed that white people are inherently

superior to people of color" (Day, 2009). Racism is

defined “As any attitude, action, or institutional

structure which subordinates a person or group

because of his/her or their color”(usccr, n.d.).

Race is an unequal relationship between inferior

(the whites) and minority in social group and how

people are perceived and treated in the normal actions

of everyday life (Manning, 2001).

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Some groups which are defined as an ìnferior race

become part of the privileged majority “the “whites”.

Other groups such as African, Latino, American

Indian, Pacific Islander and Asian, they are facing

more difficulties while living in America (Manning,

2001).

During the beginning stages of film and media,

where whites people controlled the entertainment

industry, they would choose what images they would

like to portray towards to African- American people.

Since then, they have to struggled to represent their

own stories, beliefs, opinions and identities

(Kulaszewicks, 2015).

Bias, disempowerment and discrimination in

regards to race have been longstanding issues within

several aspects of mainstream media, including

television news, entertainment, and advertising.

During 1939, racial segregation was becoming a

heated topic in the United States (Kulaszewicks,

2015). United states has a history in marginalizing the

black people where number of black men and boys

are being prejudice and underrepresented in the

various media (Partnership, 2011)…outside of sports

games, the representation of African Americans [in

popular video games] drops precipitously, with many

of the remaining featured as gangsters and street

people … (Williams et al., 2009 )(Williams, D.,

Martins, N., Consalvo, M., & Ivory, 2009).

During research conducted by Happer and Philo

(2013), it was established that media can also play a

role in shaping behavior, legitimizing certain courses

of action but can also insert doubting confusion into

debate (C Happer & G. Philo, 2013).

Drew’s research (2011) is focused on how news

media can work to improve racial tensions in society,

which is an optimistic contrast to other research

which discusses the negative effects of media on

public perception of race (Entman, 1992).

Over decades, media has bias, prejudice, and

consits of hatred towards black people. Blacks are

overrepresented as perpetrators of violent crime when

news coverage is compared with arrest rates but are

underrepresented in the more sympathetic roles of

victim, law enforcer as cited in Entman and Gross,

2008 p.98, as cited by Travis L. Dixon &Daniel

Linz ,2000 (Partnership, 2011).

African-Americans are frequently portrayed with

personality characteristics that are stereotypically

negative. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

(1977) found that African American television

portrayals typically depicted the following

stereotypic personality characteristics: inferior,

stupid, comical, immoral, and dishonest as cited by

Dates.1990 (Carter, 2008) as cited in Watson 2009

that African American have been stereotyped as

violent and impulsive sexual predators (Weaver Jr,

2016). Black males are targets for negative coverage,

but it is further concerning that all Americans are

liable to be impacted in ways that affect their racial

perception (Kulaszewicks, 2015).

In Barlow (2011), Dean Larry Davis from the

University of Pittsburgh was quoted stating that,

“Overwhelmingly, White Americans learn about

African Americans not through personal relationships,

but through images shown by media. Unfortunately,

Blacks too consume these same images”(Barlow,

2011)

University of Michigan Professor, Richard Allen,

discussed findings that African Americans who were

highly exposed to media, television, were more likely

to report lower self esteem (Luther, C., Ringer Lepre,

C., & Clark, 2012).

Oliver concluded through studies that Black men

were misidentified by all participants in this specific

study as violent criminals (Oliver, 2003).

Grant (2012) conducted qualitative research also

examining how Black males are represented in the

media. The research concluded that Black men are

represented by media as “the common criminal of this

society”(Grant, 2012).

Mostly, people trust the news that provided by the

media either offline or online media. It is necessary

for American consumer to trust the news amidst the

spread of fake news, and consumers are more vocal

about whether or not they have faith in a source to

report news correctly (Watson, 2020). Credibility and

accuracy is become essential to engage news

consumer. Cited by Happer and Philo (2013), Media

impacts our beliefs, assumptions, public ideology, as

well as our experiences (Kulaszewicks, 2015).

Media affects in our perception for what happens

in the world, as cited by Happer and Philo (2013) "the

media – offline and online – play a central role in

communicating to the public what happens in the

world. In those cases in which audiences do not

possess direct knowledge or experience of what is

happening, they become particularly reliant upon the

media to inform them (C Happer & G. Philo, 2013).

The Internet and its numerous online platforms

have become a global arena for the formation,

distribution, and reception of world news, opinions,

and agendas. Thus, one would have expected the

emergence of a global news system serving as the

public sphere. As a consequence, journalism is

becoming more oriented towards news of global

importance from a global perspective (Mario Haim &

Jungblut, 2020).

Black African American Racism: Ethical or Political Issue in America? (as Depicted on America’s Most Popular News Portal During

May-June 2020)

Some news consumers in the United States like to

access news brands via a mobile device. During 2018,

CNN was the most popular news brand among mobile

users in 2018, with 28.4 million consumers accessing

CNN’s content exclusively via mobile (Watson, 2020)

In February 2020, the most popular news website

in the United States was Yahoo News, with 175

million unique monthly visitors. Following Google

News with 150 million monthly visitors, Huffington

Post 110 million visitors, CNN with 95 million

unique visitors and The New York Times with 70

million visitor per month respectively (Watson, 2020).

Source: Amy Watson. Statistika. April 2020

Chart 5: Most Popular News Website in The United States

as of February 2020 by Unique Monthly Visitors.

In terms of agenda-setting, these changes call for

a new model of the agenda-setting process. The

classic approach follows a stimulus–response-like

model where the media are capable of shaping the

public’s agenda under certain circumstances.This is

probably not the case in today’s fragmented media

environment (Neumann, R. W., Guggenheim, L.,

Jang, S. M., & Bae, 2014).

According to some researchers, in digital world,

as Chaffee and Metzger noted, “the key problem for

agenda-setting theory will change from what issues

the media tell people to think about to what issues

people tell the media they want to think about” (Luo,

2014).

The main causes of those changes are the

hybridisation process and the commercialisation of

media content. competition are the reasons why

media senders are primarily focused on satisfying the

needs of the recipients (Nowak, n.d.).

On digital world, selection of topics to be included

in the media agenda is determined by the viewers,

readers, or users’ preferences, rather than by

journalists or publishers (Nowak, n.d.).

Figure 1: Agenda Setting in Digital Age.

Based on that approach demonstrates that issues

and objects can move between agendas not only

individually (separately), but also simultaneously and

as groups and bloggers should be seen as mediators

between the media agenda and the public

agenda,fulfilling the previously mentioned role of

early recognisers (Nowak, n.d.).

As cited by Fabrizio Gilardi, et al (2020), digital

platforms have reduced the gatekeeping power of

traditional media and, potentially, they have

increased the capacity of various kinds of actors to

shape the agenda (Fabrizio Giraldi, 2020).

As cited by Chadwick (2017) and Jungherr et

al.,(2019) the internet and social media have created

new “hybrid media systems” that have expanded the

number and types of actors potentially able to shape

the political discourse and agenda (Chadwick, 2017).

Stated by Kolbitsch & Maurer (2006). with the

advent of the Internet, the public is provided with a

vast amount of information and interactive

opportunities to engage in the content-creation

process The two way. Based on Chafee and Matzger

(2001) interactive communication capacity and

decentralized nature of the Internet give more power

to people whose agendas would not normally be

reported by the major mass media (Luo, 2014).

Through exchange of ideas and opinions, netizens

collectively construct their own agenda to determine

what issues are important to be included for

discussion (Luo, 2014).

Racism is become public agenda in society that

creates by the media in order to gain a greater

understanding on how people reacts on xenophobia

and racism toward African American as stated in the

media in digital news platform.

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The Democratic and Republican Parties, they are

claimed that their policies are racial benefit and

minority in United States. Democratic supporter

belives that Democratic party focuses on racial and

minority where Republican party doesn’t.Over 70

percent of African Americans contend that the

Democratic Party “works hard on issues black people

care about.” Latinos and Asian Americans are only a

little less likely to believe that Democratic Party is

particularly responsive to issues that affect their own

pan-ethnic group (L. Hajnan Zoltan & Horrowitz D.

Jeremy, 2014).

Racism is an overused, complex, poorly

understood but also indispensable notion for

diagnosing American society and particularly its

political dynamics (Lawrence., 2017).Over decades,

racism is being American Dillema as cited by

Sociologist Gunmar Myrdal “......racism inside the

United States as an American Dilemma”.

For various political reasons, the United States has

largely remained apart from the general global

discussion about racism. The U.S. government

refused to recognize the Declaration on the

Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination for

many years (Manning, 2001)

Based on Martina Manzone, ethics is defined as

“a moral philosophy or code of morals practiced by a

person or group of people, without treating other

persons or groups of people as inferior based on their

race, sex, national origin, age or other

characteristics.”Meanwile. black people has been

treated unfairly in all aspect in America.

The fact that Black people were slaves, and the

carefully cultivated myth that slaves were always

obedient and happily served their white masters, left

an indelible imprint on white people that has lasted

generations. They maintain that African Americans

were born to servitude and hence they do not qualify

for equal treatment, equal opportunity, and equal

status. (Ben-Meir, 2020).

Racial prejudice in America takes a heavy toll on

African Americans, which translates to

discrimination in all aspects including education, job

opportunities, professional advancements, and

medical treatment, especially maternal health. Black

workers receive 22 percent less in salary than whites

with the same education and experience; Black

women receive even less—34.2 percent (Ben-Meir,

2020)

Changes in media systems over the last decade

have caused significant shifts in how public opinion

cues are produced, circulated, and consumed

(Chadwick, 2017).

As both consumers and producers, netizens do not

merely react to traditional media coverage, they also

have the ability to influence media content. In other

words, the issue salience was transferred from the

media agenda to the netizen’s agenda (Luo, 2014).

3 METHODS

A Content Analysis method utilized for this research.

For this research,we conducted only two most

popular news website in United States which is

huffpost.com and edition.cnn.com during May,25-

June, 9,2020.The reason for using a content analysis

method to idenyify either racsim issue is an ethical or

political that portrayed by the media in digital age

after George Floyd death.

Population and sample in this research is an online

news article which derived from The

Hufingtonpost.com and edition.cnn.com which most

popular among American citizen during 2020. Each

population and sample for each online news was 100

populations. Since the population for each online

news article is 100, therefore we collect them as a

sample, totaly would be 200 sample of online news

article from May, 25-June,9,2020.

Two graduates’ students were chosen as coders to

exemine either racism issue is an ethical or political

that portrayed by the media in digital age after

George Floyd’s death.

The unit analysis of this study was online news

articles and theme. Before coding and judging the

news articles and theme, it should be entirely read by

the coders. They then grouped the articles into three

major variables which is basic charateristic of online

news articles as a whole, racism as an ethical issue

and racism as a political issue towards to George

Floyd’s death.

The coders identified the online news articles of

hufftpost.com and edition.cnn.com during May 25-

June, 9,2020 towards to George Floyd’s death. The

theme are (1) Police Brutality (2) Racial problem, (3)

Politics Issue (4) Law and Justice, (5) Law

Enforcement, (6) Religion Issue, (7) Economic Issue

(8) Health Issue ,(9) education issue.

The coders will idenified George Floyd death and

racism as ethical issue that portrayed that portrayed

by digital news during May 25-June, 9,2020 which

derived from two most popular article websites

among American citizen, which is huffpost.com and

edition.cnn.com. This issues are: (1) Black people in

dealing with the police, (2) Black people Been trated

unfairly hiring, pay or promotion,(3) Black People

dealing with bullying and Violence, (4) People acted

Black African American Racism: Ethical or Political Issue in America? (as Depicted on America’s Most Popular News Portal During

May-June 2020)

like they were suspicious of them;(5) People acted as

if they were not smart; (6) Equal rights between the

black and the white , (7) Police Brutality towards

black peoplblack community/general; (8)Black

people being subject to slurs or jokes (9) Feared for

their personal safety; (10) Solidarity to black

communities.

The coders will idenified George Floyd death and

racism as political issue that portrayed by digital news

during May 25-June,9,2020 which derived from two

most popular article websites among American

citizen, which is huffpost.com and edition.cnn.com.

This issues are (1) Presidential Election, (2)

Government credibility, (3) Authority (4)

Leadership/power abuse, (5)Racial Problem, (6)

Culture Wars (7) Public trust/distruct to American

Symbols (8) Law Enforccement (9)Presidential

Campaign and racism issue (10) Racism and health

issue (11) Religion as a political gain (12) Democrats

and Republican view on racism (13) Racism and

Education issue (14) Racism and Economic issue (15)

environment issue/community safety; (16) Justice

system in America towards to blak people (17)

Injustice between the whites and the black (18)Police

Brutality

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Content Analysis of Theme in Both huffpost.com and

edition.cnn.com

Based on the data analysis of theme in both

huffpost.com and edition.cnn.com during May, 25,

2020-June, 9,2020 regarding to George Floyd Death

by Minneapolis Police Officer, politics issue becomes

the most highlight news in both online media. Politics

issue in huffpost.com was 77 theme (77%) and

edition.cnn.com was 68 theme (68%). Police brutality

issue in huffpost.com was 4 theme (4%) and

edition.cnn.com was 11 theme (11%). Racial problem

issue in huffpost.com was 11 theme (11%) and

edition.cnn.com was 7 theme.

Most interested theme/headlines was brought by

huffingtonpost were: Hundreds Protest George Floyd

‘s Death in Mineeapolis (huffpost.com-May,26,2020);

Public Figures Express Outrage and Demand

Accountability After George Floyd Killing

(huffpost.com- May, 27,2020); Minneapolis Mayor

Calls for Charges in George Floyd Death

(huffppost.com-May,27,2020); Trump Calls George

Floyd Protesters “THUGS” Threatens Violent

Intervention in Mineapolis (huffpost.com-

May,29,2020); Chris Hayes Turns Donald Trump’s

Own Campaign Claims Against Him (huffpost.com-

May,29,2020);

Meanwhile as we can see on edition.cnn.com

were: George Floyd's family says four officers

involved in his death should be charged with murder

(edition.cnn.com-May,27,2020); Trump's a disaster

for black voters, but they also need to hold Biden

accountable (edition.cnn.com-May, 28,2020); This is

not the America I want to pass down to my children

(edition.cnn.com-May,29,2020); Trump's slap at

Twitter shows his use of power for personal whims

(edition.cnn.com-May, 29,2020).

We could identify that based on theme, politics

issue is playing the main roles to control public

ideology. As cited by Happer and Philo (2013), media

impacts our beliefs, assumptions, public ideology, as

well as our experiences (Kulaszewicks, 2015).

Lippmann indicates on how mass media can set a

particular agenda which can influence the opinions of

the public. In this case, media (huffpost.com and

edition.cnn.com) portrayed George Floyd’s death

during May, 25-June, 9, 2020 as a political issue

based on theme.

As stated by Lawrence (2017) racism is an

overused, complex, poorly understood but also

indispensable notion for diagnosing American

society and particularly its political dynamics

between parties and politicians a.k.a Republican and

Democrats Parties which lead by Donald Trump and

John Biden.

5 DATA ANALYSIS OF RACISM

AS AN ETHICAL ISSUE

Based on the data analysis of racism as an Ethical

Issue in United States as portrayed in online media,

towards to George Floyd’s death, variable of police

brutality towards to black people or comunity in

general becomes the most highlight, in

huffpost.com was 92 issues (92%) and

edition.cnn.com was 89 issues (89%).

Form of police brutality was as stated by

hufftpost.com, a black man died after Minneapolice

offiicer pressing his knee into the handcuffed man’s

neck as he shouted that he couldn’t breath

(huffpost.com-May, 26,2020); Floyd, a black man,

died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck

(huffpost.com-May 26,2020); Police violence against

Black Americans (huffpost.com-May,29,2020);

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Chart 6.

Meanwhile as stated in edition.cnn.com, In just a

few weeks we have learned of the killing of two black

men: George Floyd, who died after he was held down

with a knee of a white police officer on his neck, and

Ahmaud Arbery, who was hunted down by a former

police officer and his son (both white) while he was

jogging (edition.cnn.com-May, 29,2020);Added to

these is the recent attention surrounding the March

death of Breonna Taylor, a black EMT who was

killed after officers forced their way inside her home

to serve a search warrant (edition.cnn.com-May,

29,2020) and more.

Black people dealing with bullying and violence

in United States has become the second most

highlight in the news booth hufpost.com and

edition.cnn.com during May, 25-June, 9, 2020. Black

people dealing with bullying and violence in

huffpost.com was 83 issues (83%) and

edition.cnn.com was 82 issues (82%).

Form of bullying and violence towards to black

people as mention in the hufftpost.com were The

death of Floyd, the Black man who died after a white

cop kneeled on his neck, has spurred massive protests

over racism and police brutality (huffpost.com-June,

4,2020); the police killing of George Floyd, a Black

man in Minneapolis, on May 25 (huffpost.com-June,

4,2020); The death of George Floyd and Breonna

Taylor at the hands of police officers has reignited the

rage, pain, and deep sadness our community has

suffered for generations,”(huffpost.com-June,5,2020);

Police brutality, the targeting of Black people and the

lack of accountability for these actions

(huffpost.com-June, 5,2020);

Meawhile, form of bullying and violence towards

to black people as stated on edition.cnn.com were

George Floyd, a black man who was heard on video

aying he couldn't breathe as a white police officer

pinned him down with his knee (edition.cnn.com-

May, 29,2020); They (young people) have

experienced trauma," she told CNN. "Seeing your

friends, your families and even yourself harassed by

the police and killed by the police, it's traumatic. And

they don't know what to do with that."

(edition.cnn.com-June, 5,2020); I have to have a talk

with him to make sure he doesn't grow up to be one

of those cops who kills a black man or a black

woman," she told WDAF. "I have to make sure that

cycle doesn't continue to him." (edition.cnn.com-June,

5, 2020). This variable value as the same as variable

of black people dealing with police.

Following Solidarity to black communities has

become the third most highlight in the news both

huffpost.com and edition.cnn.com during May, 25-

June, 9,2020. Solidarity to black people communiities

in hufftpost.com was 71 issues (71%) and

edition.cnn.com was 66 issues (66%).

Form of solidarity to black people community as

mention on hufftpost.com were Protesters set police

cars ablaze, smashed businesses’ windows and

skirmished with baton-wielding officers in streets

from Atlanta to Los Angeles, as anger over George

Floyd’s death spread across the country

(huffpost.com-May, 29,2020);

Meanwhile, form solidarity to black people as

mention on edition.cnn.com were I protested tonight

to show my solidarity with my black brothers and

1 0 2 2 2 1

6 1 0 2 3 2

Data Analysis Based On Theme Issues -

huffpost.com vs editioncnn.com (May, 25-

June, 9, 2020)

Huffpost.com Edition.cnn.com

Black African American Racism: Ethical or Political Issue in America? (as Depicted on America’s Most Popular News Portal During

May-June 2020)

Chart 7: Data Analysis of Racism as an Ethical Issue During May,25-June, 9,2020.

sisters that are being openly murdered in the streets

by the people that are supposed to be protecting them.

I protested for all of the black women who die

disproportionately in child birth compared to their

white counterparts. I protested for black men who are

disproportionately arrested and convicted for crimes

compared to their white counterparts. And I protested

for black children that are shot over bags of Skittles

(edition.cnn.com-May, 30,2020).

Following “Feared for their (black people) persol

safety”has become the most highlight in the news

both huffpost.com and edition.cnn.com during May,

25-June, 9, 2020. Feared for their personal safety in

huffpost.com was 39 issues (39%) and

edition.cnn.com was 40 issues (40%).

Form of feared of their (black

people/communities) personal safety as mention on

huffpost.com was Trump’s reference to “vicious

dogs” was “no subtle reminder to African Americans

of segregationists who let dogs out on women,

children and innocent people in the South.” Bowser

said she and others are “just shaken that an American

president would utter such words about his fellow

Americans.” (huffpost.com-May, 30,2020);

Meanwhile, form of feared of their personal safety

as mention on edition.cnn.com was Everyone's ready

for a change, ready to get together," a woman

identified as Bambara told CNN affiliate WSB-TV.

She also said the stakes were too high to stay at

home."I literally can't breathe, can't think, because I

know at any time my life, or my brother's or my

friends' life are in danger just because of the color of

their skin," she said.(edition.cnn.com-May, 30,2020).

As cited by Lawrence D. Bobo, America still has

a deep problem of racism. The term racism and the

social phenomena it is intended to grasp are

troubleness (Lawrence D Bobo, 2017). Smithsonian

Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch wrote that the recent

killing in Minnesota of George Floyd has forced the

country to confront the reality that, in the past 50

years we are still a nation riven by inequality and

racial division.” Racial, economic and educational

disparities between the blacks and the whites are

deeply entrenched in U.S. institutions.

Same as Lawrence D. Bobo, cited by

Kulaszewicks (2015) black males are targets for

negative coverage, but it is further concerning that all

Americans are liable to be impacted in ways that

affect their racial perception (Kulaszewicks, 2015).

Over decades, racism is being American Dillema as

cited by Sociologist Gunmar Myrdal “......racism

inside the United States as an American Dilemma”.

Throughout the long experience of black people

in the United States, there have been a series of racial

domains or systems of structural racism, each with its

own peculiar characteristics, but all maintained to

ensure the hegemony of white over non-white

(Manning, 2001).

5.1 Data Analysis of Racism as a

Political Issue

Based on the data analysis of racism as political Issue

in United States as portrayed in online media, towards

to George Floyd’s death, variable of Republican and

Democrats view on racism was becoming the most

highlight in both huffpost.com and edition.cnn.com

100

Huffpost.com Edition.cnn.com

ISCP UTA ’45 JAKARTA 2023 - THE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR AND CALL FOR PAPER (ISCP) UTA ’45 JAKARTA

with total of issue of huffpost.com was 94 (94%) and

edition.cnn.com was 87 (87%) issues.

Form variable of Republican and Democrats view

on racism as stated in the articles was Americans

deserve a President who will unite us -- instead,

however, President Donald Trump continues to spout

the politics of social and racial division that helped

get him elected in the first place. Unsurprisingly, his

response to this tragedy is as insidious as it is

counterproductive. (edition.cnn.com-June, 2,2020).

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday

excoriated President Donald Trump's "bitterness,

combativeness and self-interest" as nationwide

protests have intensified over the death of George

Floyd. The Republican governor made the comments

at a press conference when asked about Trump's

video teleconference call, in which the President

urged state leaders to aggressively target violent

protesters (edition.cnn.com-June, 2,2020).

The Democratic governor made the comments

moments after Trump declared himself "your

president of law and order" as peaceful protesters just

outside the White House gates were dispersed with

tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets, apparently so

Trump could visit a nearby church.(edition.cnn.com-

June, 2, 2020).

Joe Biden issued a blistering condemnation of

President Donald Trump on Tuesday and pledged to

offer a break from the "selfishness and fear" that he

said have marked Trump's tenure in office and

response to protests against racism and police

brutality (edition.cnn.com-June, 3, 2020).

Following police brutality has become the second

most highlight in online media platform,as mention

on huffington post was 92 issues (92%) and

edition.cnn.com was 89 issues (89%).

Form of racism as a tools of police brutality as

mention on hufftpost.com were: Cook said they were

marching peacefully with about 100 protesters for

hours when police started using tear gas and shooting

rubber bullets. As they tried to get away, they were

pepper sprayed and her son was hit at close range by

a rubber bullet, she said. They were both jailed and

released on Monday, charged with riot and violating

curfew (huffpost.com-June,6,2020).

Meanwhile, form of racism as tools pof police

brutality as mention on edition.cnn.com was Ortiz

and another friend in the car with him were put in zip-

tie restraints and forced to wait on a bus for hours

before police took them to jail, where he would spend

the weekend. It was scary. It was confusing. I felt

violated,” said Ortiz, a cellist who identifies as a

biracial Mexican American. (edition.cnn..com-June,

6,2020).

Following, variable of Injustice between the

whites and the blacks people has become the third

most highlight in the news, both huffpost.com and

edition.cnn.com during May, 25-June, 9 2020.

Variable of Injustice between the whites and the

blacks people in huffppost.com was 84 issues (84%)

and edition.cnn.com was 82 issues (82%).

Form of Injustice between the whites and the

blacks people as mention on huffpost.com were was

The unrest and the frustration you’re seeing in the

killing of Breonna Taylor is just as much of a

cumulative effect of years of pain, frustration,

anguish and injustice as it is about how horribly

devastating this incident has been,” said Kentucky

state Rep. Charles Booker (D), who is from and

represents part of West Louisville.(huffpost.com-

May, 25,2020);“police in America are looting black

bodies” during an impassioned , legthy monologue on

the death of George Floyd and the nationwide protest

(huffpost.com- May,30,2020); It was that other

pandemic that we’re far too familiar with in America

— the pandemic of racism and discrimination — that

killed George Floyd.”(huffpost.com-june, 4,2020).

Meanwhile, form of injustice between the white

and the blacks and mention on edition.cnn.com were

The racial disparities that force black families to

breathe pollutants from nearby brownfields, oil

refineries, and freeways, and the impact on their

respiratory system, is exasperating the effects of this

pandemic. As is the lack of preventative care and

health care access, and neighborhoods tucked in food

deserts with little to no access to nutritious options --

factors that lead to elevated rates of high blood

pressure and diabetes (edition.cnn.com-May,

29,2020); We see in the news channels, the media

about discrimination on the basis of color or religion

these days, and then there is killing due to that, and

then there are some who even take it as a pride to be

able to kill somebody."(edition.cnn.com-May,

29,2020).

Following racial problem has become the fourth

most highlight in the news in both huffpost.com and

edition.cnn.com during May,25-June, 9,2020.

Racism as mention in online platform was 68 issues

(68%) on huffpost.com and 61 issues (61%) on

edition.cnn.com. Form of racism as mention in the

news was However, Floyd’s death has deepened the

distrust between Minneapolis residents and police,

and prompted a continued series of nationwide — and

global — protests against racism and police

brutality.(huffpost.com-June, 7,2020); Biden is now

promising specific legislation to address the lack of

racial equality under the law, giving his potential

presidency a generational and reforming purpose --

Black African American Racism: Ethical or Political Issue in America? (as Depicted on America’s Most Popular News Portal During

May-June 2020)

and possibly an issue that could unite the Democratic

left fully behind him and lance suspicion over his role

in 1990s crime legislation.(edition.cnn.com-June,

3,2020).

Following leadership/power abuse has become

the fifth most highlight in the news in both

huffpost.com and edition.cnn.com during May, 25-

June, 9,2020. Leadership/power abuse was 55 issues

(55%) in huffington,com and 59 issues (59%) in

edition.cnn.com.

Form of leadership/power abuse as mention in

online platform was The president has tried to portray

the protesters and looters with a broad brush as

“radical-left, bad people,” ominously invoking the

name “antifa,” an umbrella term for leftist militants

bound more by belief than organizational structure.

Trump tweeted last Sunday that he planned to

designate antifa as a terrorist organization

(huffpost.com-June, 6,2020).

The President, by choosing to incite division

rather than to heal it in the wake of George Floyd's

killing and by setting federal security forces on

protestors, is signaling no limits to his bid to retain

power. He is tearing at social scars to revive a

presidency humbled by a pandemic and an economic

disaster, and he seems set on creating the dystopian

fight between order and chaos he has long evoked

(edition.cnn.com-June, 3, 2020).

Following public trust/distrust on state’s symbols

as mention in both huffpost.com and edition.cnn.com

during May, 25-June, 9,2020 has become the most

highlight in the news. Public trust/distrust was 41

issues (41%) in huffington.com and 45 issues (45%)

in edition.cnn.com.

Form of public trust/distrust towards to American

symbols was “I’m very enthusiastic that people

around the world were galvanized by the horrific

murder of George Floyd in saying, ‘No, no, no.’ And

also, I think that people are going to come out to vote.

I’m talking about specifically United States of

America, people are going to come out and vote and

say hell no to Agent Orange,” Lee said, using his

nickname for Trump. (huffpost.com-June,

9,2020);The director went on to say that the

upcoming presidential election could be the most

important in the modern world, adding that if Trump

is reelected the “world is in peril.” (huffpost.com,

June, 9,2020).

What he did comes off as tone-deaf," said Costi

Hinn, a conservative evangelical pastor and author in

Arizona. "The word of God is not powerful in a

picture. It's powerful when it's opened up. If you

really want to leverage the power of God's word, let

it be heard. (edition.cnn.com-June, 4, 2020); Many

doubt the justice of our country, and with good reason.

Black people see the repeated violation of their rights

without an urgent and adequate response from

American institutions," Bush said. (edition.cnn.com-

June, 4,2020); We are witnessing the consequences of

three years without mature leadership," said the

retired Marine general in a statement, criticizing

Trump for threatening to deploy regular troops to

quell unrest in a flagrant threat to US political

stability.(edition.cnn.com-June, 4, 2020); "It erodes

the moral ground that ensures a trusted bond between

men and women in uniform and the society they are

sworn to protect, and of which they themselves are a

part. Keeping public order rests with civilian state and

local leaders who best understand their communities

and are answerable to them." (edition.cnn.com-June,

4,2020).

Chart 8: Data Analysis of Racism as a Political Issue During

May,25-June, 9,2020.

Democrat and Republic’s view on racism as the

most highlight in both online media, was matched

with Zoltan., et.al (2014) that scholars have clearly

0 20 40 60 80 100

Presidential Election

Government credibility

Authority

Leadership /power…

Racial problem

Culture wars

Public Trust/distrust to…

Law Enforcement

Presidential campaign…

Racism and Health

Religion as a political…

Democrat and…

Racism and education…

Racism and economic…

Environment/commun…

Justice System in…

Innjustice Between…

Police Brutallity

Racism as Political Issues

Edition.cnn.com Huffpost.com

ISCP UTA ’45 JAKARTA 2023 - THE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR AND CALL FOR PAPER (ISCP) UTA ’45 JAKARTA

demonstrated close ties between race and party at

different periods in American history. It is, however,

less clear whether in recent decades one party’s

policies can and should be viewed as being more

beneficial to minority well-being (L. Hajnan Zoltan

& Horrowitz D. Jeremy, 2014).

5.2 Agenda Setting Theory on Racism

Issue on Digital Media

Back to Agenda Setting Theory on digital media,

agenda-setting theory will change from what issues

the media tell people to think about to what issues

people tell the media they want to think about” (LUO,

2014) and selection of topics to be included in the

media agenda is determined by the viewers, readers,

or users’ preferences, rather than by journalists or

publishers (Nowak, n.d.).

George Floyd’s death was recorded by Darnella

Frazier, who was 17 when she recorded George

Floyd's murder in Minneapolis last year in a clip that

would go viral and become a key piece of evidence

against his killer and set off global protests for racial

justice and police reform.

From the data above, back to Network Agenda

Setting Theory, public puts racism issue as a public

agenda to gather public opinion in confronting

American systemic racism toward the black

community and media puts racism issue as a political

agenda with their headlines and articles based on

public interest on racism issue toward Black People.

5.3 Racism Issue and Public Opinion

on Digital Media

Based on themes and articles in both huffington post

and CNN during May, 25- June, 9,2020, media and

public has political agenda to put racism to attracts

public reaction on it after George Floyd’s death by

Minneapolis Police officer on May, 25,20220 and

going viral after a 17 years old black lady recorded

the incident.

Based on recorded video, it set off global protests

for racial justice and police reform in America.

People urges that government could charge the police

officer who murdered George Floyd and the

accountability of legal proceedings.

Yet, this issue will lead public opinion towards to

systematic racism system in dealing with black

community. People distrust with American symbol

such as law enforcement in America especially in

Trump’s era.

Discussing of politician portrayals in media

towards to George Floyd’s death, Donald Trump’s

portrayal not as good as John Biden, Democrat

presidential nominee for the 2020 election. As stated

in both Huffington Post and CNN (digital news

platform), during May, 25-June, 9,2020, there are

some public reaction either to Donald Trump or John

Biden as the presidential nominee.

Mostly, American people have no faith in Donald

Trump as a President of America. This thought cannot

be seperated from the action of Donald Trump as a

President when dealing with black community. As

stated in both huffington post and CNN :

“The president has tried to portray the protesters

and looters with a broad brush as “radical-left, bad

people,” ominously invoking the name “antifa,” an

umbrella term for leftist militants bound more by

belief than organizational structure”. (huffpost.com)

“Americans deserve a President who will unite us

-- instead, however, President Donald Trump

continues to spout the politics of social and racial

division that helped get him elected in the first place.

Unsurprisingly, his response to this tragedy is as

insidious as it is counterproductive”.

(edition.cnn.com).

“The director went on to say that the upcoming

presidential election could be the most important in

the modern world, adding that if Trump is reelected

the “world is in peril”. (edition.cnn.com).

5.4 Xenophobia Triggered Racism

Toward African American

Back to Xenophobia which lead to racial action

toward to African American, the incident of Goerge

Floyd’s who killed by Minneapolice officer, shows

that the whites rejects the African American (an

inferior based on the perception that they are

outsiders or foreigners to the community, society or

national identity.

The rejection of African American whose living

in America mostly shows by verbal harrashment,

physical force, aggression or unwanted physical

contact, workplace discrimination, abuse of power by

police or police brutality, denied service and so on as

stated in the news article in both digital media.

Xenophobia toward African American people in

America can be lead by media where media has bias,

prejudice, and consist of hatred towards black people.

Blacks are overrepresented as perpetrators of violent

crime when news coverage is compared with arrest

rates but are underrepresented in the more

sympathetic roles of victim, law enforcer as cited in

Entman and Gross, 2008 p.98, Travis L. Dixon

&Daniel Linz ,2000 (Partnership, 2011).

Black African American Racism: Ethical or Political Issue in America? (as Depicted on America’s Most Popular News Portal During

May-June 2020)

6 CONCLUSION

Racism is become not only social issue but somehow

it is become political issue in America toward to

African-American. George Floyd’s incident has

being a big question among nation regarding to

systematical racism in United states. Racism action in

America was triggered by excessive fear of the white

group againts immigrant group which is African-

American which called Xenophobhia. As stated in the

both huffingtonpost and CNN, media has portrayed

black people as a victim of America’s systemic

racism by highlighted Democrat and Republican’s

view on racism, Injustice between the Whites and the

Blacks, racial problem, leadership/power abuse,

public trust/distrust and yet this issue will lead public

opinion towards to each presidential nominee, both

John Biden (Democrat) and Donald Trump (Republic)

dealing with black community in America.

The purpose of this study is to identify either

racism is an ethical or political issue as portrayed in

online news after George Floyd’s death by

Minneapolis police officer on May, 25,2020 as stated

in both huffingtonpost and CNN during May, 25-June,

9, 2020. Based on the results, I can conclude that

somehow media and public has a asignificant role in

installing some perceptions related to an object such

as African American, Black people, white people, the

whites, racism in the texts. Racism has become a

nation pandemic not only in America but also in all

nations. My study on media and racism will open the

public mind on how media can be used as a tool to

educate people on how people shoud reacts toward to

inferior group in order to minimize the racism among

people in society.

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May-June 2020)