Myth, Race, and the Media: From Pandemic to Protests

A Two-Part Series on Race in America

This discussion series was made possible by a generous gift from Robert and Barbara Whitten, to Baylor’s Department of Religion to establish an endowed lecture series on Faith and Public Life.

Part I: Where Are We Now?

Part II: Where Do We Go From Here?

Events in 2020 have brought into clear focus the deep wounds of racism that exist in American life. As we as individuals and as a nation seek understanding and healing, it is important to examine the ways in which beliefs and attitudes towards race in America are influenced and reenforced by media coverage.

This two-part virtual discussion was focused on the way race is covered in the media and on concrete strategies for racial healing and reconciliation. Panel One discussed current media coverage of race, and how it creates and propagates mythologies that obscure mutual understanding and reconciliation. Panel Two explored how we as a nation, and our media, can move beyond mythologies towards healing that both addresses truly the sin of racism and its remedy.