Warriors Don’t Cry

Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Beals is a real and motivating narrative about optimism, bravery, and change. Characters in this story lead a life of disparity and prejudice at the beginning, but their determination makes them fight for what they believe in. They find themselves at the face of adversity when they join an all-white school. They are not scared but fight till the very end in spite of all the insults and blackmail they receive. At the end of the book, they emerge victorious due to their brave spirits.

Melba Beals use of news sources such as the Arkansas Gazette should be considered in the discussion about media conglomerates. Through this, an understanding of how conglomerates work, their advantages and disadvantages are realized (Beals, 1994). For instance, media conglomeration involves the merging of various small firms to form one stable company. As a result, revenue increases through viewership and control of resources from the small firms. This results in only a few media firms controlling the market, which threatens democracy due to its negative impact on the audiences. The media house in question could be against the ruling government. As a result of its dominance, it can influence the people considerably to the extent of undermining democracy.

Additionally, conglomeration leads to media bias due to lack of competition and diversity. This can be attributed to little or no competition and a lack of media diversity. For instance, if the media comes with a specific narrative about government policy, the people believe in them due to the absence of other media sources to oppose the story. For example, the news reporters in Warriors Don’t Cry harass Melba Beals and her friends with questions. Melba Beals use of news sources also helps in understand the role of the media in the society. For instance, the media has the role of informing the people on what is happening in the country. For example, breaking news on government operations and especially development projects. It is also the media’s role to criticize the government and especially when it comes up with oppressive policies. Additionally, it is also obligated to obtain all sides of a given story and give an account on the right and wrong results.

There exist significant similarities between both the consumers and producers of media discussed in the memoir and those that currently live in American society. To begin with, both parties focus on the contemporary issues happening in the community at a particular time. In a nutshell, the big topics are given priority by both parties. For instance, the media uses the hot topic as its cover page and especially in print media such as newspapers and magazines. Consumers, on the other hand, find themselves discussing the given topic due to its trending rate. For instance, Melda Beals and her friends’ story of joining an all-white school caught the media’s and consumers’ attention. This also happens in the current American society when a particular topic comes up it captures both the media’s and consumer’s attention.

Another similarity between the two parties is that they both tend to influence political issues. This is because they at times lack control on content in the public domain and especially when big entities support different campaigns financially. For instance, they may avail content based on their political standpoint. Therefore, they support whatever favors them, and the majority of the consumers supports those ideas no matter how harmful they may be.

Both media consumers and producers discussed in the memoir and the current American society choose what to view and read grounded on their beliefs. Although knowledgeable individuals depend on individual knowledge and preceding knowledge, the press plays a significant role in convincing its consumers and especially those who are not well informed. For instance, in both cases, the media can convince its consumers on how good or bad a product is and especially those who lack enough knowledge about the product in question and are not ready to do any extra research on the product.

In addition, both reflect and portray the view of the lesser elites who control it. They can manipulate what people can see and hear to suit their interests. Both consumers and producers emphasize on what suites their needs and interest. Anything which does not favor them does not receive much airplay and discussion and is easily dismissed. For instance, the media producers easily avoid and silence topics capable of holding them responsible for their actions. Consumers, on the other hand, avoid issues that go against their beliefs and will.

There exists a significant difference between both consumers and producers of media discussed in the memoir and those that currently live in American society. To begin with, consumers in the biography were passive consumers of content due to the inferior technology during that time. The current consumers, however, can consume and produce content due to advancement in technology (Stefanone, Lackaff, & Rosen Davan, 2010). Earlier on, consumers could only read or watch news compared to now, whereby they can provide report through social media. Media producers are also able to produce high-quality videos and share stories at a higher rate compared to the period discussed in the memoir due to technological advancement.

Another significant difference is that current consumers and media producers can closely interact through different media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. As a result, the consumers can give feedback to producers and among themselves through social media interaction. During the period discussed in the memoir, this was littler or not possible as media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter were not available. Media producers in the period discussed in the memoir mostly used print media which uses text and still images. This means consumers had to wait for quite some time to get information through newspapers. The current producers, however, use multimedia; hence, consumers get firsthand knowledge as events occur through Medias such as videos and texts.

Melba Beals was encouraged to pursue a career as a news correspondent at NBC by her commitment to fairness for all and activism in the interest of social justice. The hardships she and her friends faced when they decided to join what was regarded as an all-white school shaped her career. Additionally, how the media responded to their case gave her the zeal and anxiety to join the media to fight for the rights and freedoms of all despite their racial affiliation.  Her real-world experiences enabled her to enlighten students on the hardships that one may go through before they achieve what they want in life. Besides, as a result of her past experiences with the media, she was willing to change the way the press handles different people and cases. In this case those undergoing difficulties in life, for instance, asking discriminating questions to a victim of race.

In conclusion, as civil rights figure, Melba Beals wanted to set an excellent example to the rest of the media fraternity. She wanted people to understand that all lives matter and that individuals should be given equal chances despite their social backgrounds.

References

Beals, M. P. (1994). Warriors Don’t Cry. Washington Square Press, 1-240.

Stefanone, M. A., Lackaff, D., & Rosen Davan. (2010). The Relationship between Traditional Mass Media and “Social Media. Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 1-25.

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Warriors Don’t Cry

Melba Beals references a number of media outlets throughout her memoir.  Specifically explain how her use of two or more of the following news sources including the Arkansas Gazette, Arkansas Democrat, The Associated Press Wire and the New York Post should be considered in light of our broader discussion of media conglomerates today.  What are the similarities and differences between both the consumers and producers of media discussed in the memoir and those that currently exist in American society? Lastly, briefly address how Melba was inspired to later become an NBC news correspondent so that she may give voice to the “unexposed corners where otherwise invisible people are forced to hide as their truth is ignored.”

Note:  An online op-ed article on media conglomerates “These 6 Corporations Control 90% of The Media in America” is located in Business insider June, 14 2012.  You are not required or expected to quote from this article.   Use only as additional contextual information on media conglomerates.  See link below for access:

http://www.businessinsider.com/these-6-corporations-control-90-of-the-media-in-america-2012-6

Additionally, you may consult my lecture on this topic.

• 4 pages (Not including Cover Page)
• Include Cover Page
• 12 Font. Double Spaced.
• Avoid summarizing the book of offering too much background information that is unrelated to prompt.
• Concisely analyze essay the prompt above. Do not reiterate the prompt in the essay.
• Avoid over quoting. Two short quotable sentences from the text is appropriate.
• Avoid colloquial expressions. Slang is inappropriate in an academic paper
• Avoid using all first and second person pronouns in your writing. Examples included “me,” “my,” “I,” “we,” “our,” “you,” and “your.”  There are ways to express yourself without using these pronouns.  Often times your thoughts, ideas and conclusions can just be stated affirmatively.  For example, rather than “I think these factors seem to suggest that Beals’ conclusions are accurate, write “These factors seem to suggest that Beals’ conclusions are accurate.”   Instead of “If you think about this aspect…” try “If one thinks about this aspect…”
• Proofread to avoid grammatical errors.