Black skin, black robes...white justice?
Subtitle: reality courtroom productions and the black presence
By: by Merlene Adina George.
Published: 2005
Language: eng
Number of pages: 126
Subjects: Reality television programs -- Social aspects -- United States.; Legal drama -- Social aspects -- United States.; Racism on television.; African American judges -- Attitudes.; Judges -- United States -- Attitudes.; Discrimination in justice administration -- United States.
Other titles: Reality courtroom productions and the black presence.
Description: This thesis examines the trend of reality courtroom programs on television. Specifically, it questions the prevalence of black judges heading these programs, and the overabundance of black litigants appearing on these shows. George argues that the black presence on these programs is employed to foreground whiteness. Looking at three of these courtroom productions, she argues that the highly rated white judge, Judge Judy, relies on the courtroom of the black judges in order to reinforce her emphasis on morality, individual responsibility, and traditional family values. While Judge Judy is portrayed as embodying such upstanding values, the black presence becomes tantamount to deviance---promiscuous behaviour, single mother households, out-of-control children. This study examines how the simultaneous manipulation of both "positive" and negative portrayals of black people on television works to conceal inequality and oppression.
Notes: Thesis (M.A.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-125)

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