Communicating for Racial Justice
Overview
The Center for Media Justice offers the following definition of framing (a particular communication strategy – see Framing and Messaging) applied to communicating about racial justice. They note that justice framing, “is a methodology that exposes structural inequity, emphasizes social responsibility and corporate accountability, and highlights the role of government and policy. Justice framing uses news coverage, policy, entertainment media, and all forms of communications to move public conversations toward a collective vision of progressive structural change.” When and how to be explicit about race is still controversial, even in the racial equity field. It is critical to be able to showcase and explain not just racial disparities, but also the full narrative on why and how these disparities came to be in place. This section discusses the dangers of not talking about race, provides tools on how to share stories, and also provides information about the role of implicit bias.
Tools
- Advancing Better Outcomes for All Children: Reporting Data Using A Racial Equity Lens
- Vision, Values, and Voice: A Communications Toolkit
- Narrative Stress Test: A Collaborative Checklist for Social Justice Groups and Alliances Using Narra
- Reclaiming Native Truth A Project to Dispel America’s Myths and Misconceptions
- How to Talk Effectively about Race
Research
- The Dangers of Not Speaking About Race: A Summary of Research Affirming the Merits of a Color-Conscious Approach to Racial Communication and Equity
- The Final Evaluation Report: The Media Justice Fund Of The Funding Exchange
- Raise Every Voice: Strategic Communications & Progressive Change Making
- His Story: Shifting Narratives for Boys and Men of Color
- How to Tell Compelling Stories while Avoiding Exploitation
Practice
- Stop Dog Whistle Racism
- Talking about Race: Toward a Transformative Agenda Resource Notebook
- Echoing Justice: Communicating Strategies for Community Organizing in the 21st Century
- smartMeme's Story-based Strategy Campaign Model
- Moving the Race Conversation Forward
- Improving Media Coverage and Public Perceptions of African-American Men and Boys
- On Message: Using Strategic Communications to Advance Social Change in Black and Latino Communities
- Talking About Race
Key sites
- Center for Media Justice
- Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation
- The Opportunity Agenda
