Weekly Dig Caters to a White Audience
After carefully reading the 9.13.06-9.20.06 edition of Boston's Weekly Dig, I am disappointed to discover that this, "hip, young, alternative news source" caters exclusively to a white audience. There are three features in the Dig that are most concerning to me; I will outline them below:
This edition of the Dig is focused on welcoming newcomers (primarily students) to Boston. They have 20 pages of articles in this section outlining the basics of Boston, as well as places to eat, go out, shop, live, etc. Chapter 3 of this section is called "The 'Hoods: What they are, where they are, and how to get killed in them" (pg 34). The author, Lissa Harris, breaks Boston down by neighborhood and outlines the pros and cons of each area, the cost of living, things to do and "how to get killed."
In Roxbury, Harris writes that the way to get killed is to, "Coach youth basketball. Live in the PJs. Hang out in the waiting room of Boston Medical Center. Be in Roxbury" (pg 36). I find this description, geared primarily to white, college students, to be appalling. Roxbury is a vibrant community where many of Boston's residents of color live. To write that living in the "PJs" (why she thinks it is okay for her to use this slang is also beyond me) and being in Roxbury are ways to get killed completely ignores the socio-economic struggles that many Roxbury residents face. Instead of providing an analysis of an extremely segregated city, Harris chooses to play into stereotypes of urban communities of color and writes them off as dangerous by nature. As a side note, the way to die in the Back Bay/Beacon Hill is to "trip over a stray Saks bag and impale yourself on a dowager" (pg 36).
This edition of the Dig also outlines the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary candidates. They rate candidates based on their stance on "Sodomy (gay rights), Stem Cells, Income tax cuts, the death penalty, the cape wind project, tuition, a T fare hike, economic development, the environment, legalizing casinos, and health care" (pgs 12, 13, 14). The concerns of communities of color and immigrants are completely ignored by this article. Although the immigrants’ rights struggle has been one of the hottest political issues this year, the Dig chooses not to address it in their analysis of gubernatorial candidates. To me, this implies that the Dig does not think its readers care about immigrant’s rights; that they don't expect immigrants, or their friends and families to be reading the paper.
Finally, the Dig has a weekly calendar of events. As always, these events are geared toward young, mostly white, indie rock folks. Ads are for bands that cater to white folks, featured artists are almost exclusively white with a white following.
If the Weekly Dig is the most widely read, hippest, progressive, alternative newspaper in Boston, and it caters exclusively to hip, progressive, alternative white folks, then where do their counter parts of color go to get their news?
This edition of the Dig is focused on welcoming newcomers (primarily students) to Boston. They have 20 pages of articles in this section outlining the basics of Boston, as well as places to eat, go out, shop, live, etc. Chapter 3 of this section is called "The 'Hoods: What they are, where they are, and how to get killed in them" (pg 34). The author, Lissa Harris, breaks Boston down by neighborhood and outlines the pros and cons of each area, the cost of living, things to do and "how to get killed."
In Roxbury, Harris writes that the way to get killed is to, "Coach youth basketball. Live in the PJs. Hang out in the waiting room of Boston Medical Center. Be in Roxbury" (pg 36). I find this description, geared primarily to white, college students, to be appalling. Roxbury is a vibrant community where many of Boston's residents of color live. To write that living in the "PJs" (why she thinks it is okay for her to use this slang is also beyond me) and being in Roxbury are ways to get killed completely ignores the socio-economic struggles that many Roxbury residents face. Instead of providing an analysis of an extremely segregated city, Harris chooses to play into stereotypes of urban communities of color and writes them off as dangerous by nature. As a side note, the way to die in the Back Bay/Beacon Hill is to "trip over a stray Saks bag and impale yourself on a dowager" (pg 36).
This edition of the Dig also outlines the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary candidates. They rate candidates based on their stance on "Sodomy (gay rights), Stem Cells, Income tax cuts, the death penalty, the cape wind project, tuition, a T fare hike, economic development, the environment, legalizing casinos, and health care" (pgs 12, 13, 14). The concerns of communities of color and immigrants are completely ignored by this article. Although the immigrants’ rights struggle has been one of the hottest political issues this year, the Dig chooses not to address it in their analysis of gubernatorial candidates. To me, this implies that the Dig does not think its readers care about immigrant’s rights; that they don't expect immigrants, or their friends and families to be reading the paper.
Finally, the Dig has a weekly calendar of events. As always, these events are geared toward young, mostly white, indie rock folks. Ads are for bands that cater to white folks, featured artists are almost exclusively white with a white following.
If the Weekly Dig is the most widely read, hippest, progressive, alternative newspaper in Boston, and it caters exclusively to hip, progressive, alternative white folks, then where do their counter parts of color go to get their news?
posted by sarahlight at
Thursday, September 28, 2006
5 Comments:
Wow, Sarah, I've never read the Weekly Dig, but from what you've observed, it's certainly not "alternative." It's more like mainstream, white, racist news. By putting a black face on violence, Lissa Harris tries to be funny by relying on the really hurtful, traditional, and --horrors! -- OLD stereotypes of race. If the Weekly Dig really wants to be progressive, alternative, young, and hip, they should stop perpetuating the dominant default narratives of the white (old) mainstream, hire some smart, young, hip editors and journalists of color who can write with style, flash, and integrity about our vibrant minority majority city.
By
Janet, at 11:39 AM
I just found this. Sigh. Saying that Roxbury is more violent than the Back Bay is racist? Better tell the BPD--they have some neighborhood beats to switch up. Double the police presence on Comm Ave, stat. We're wasting vital police resources by trying to keep kids from getting gunned down on Washington Street.
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=160918
I live in fucking Mattapan. I had surgery at BMC a few months ago--they were awesome, best medical care I've ever had, but yeah, their waiting room IS a great place to get whooping SARS. And the Dig beats up on Kerry Healey for her immigration-dissembling all the time.
But you don't really care, do you? If you hate our coverage so much, why don't you write us letters, or tip us off to events we don't get press releases for? Why don't you pitch us some damn stories? No, it's much more fun to take potshots from your august perch of moral superiority.
By
Harris, at 9:44 PM
i agree absolutely. the dig ought to have pretended that violence isn't an issue at all in roxbury. no wait, it should have left roxbury completely off of the list of neighborhoods. no wait, they should just run all their jokes, ads, and stories past you before printing anything.
By
Vive42, at 9:13 PM
As one who grew up in Boston, and lived in Boston for over 30 years, I can say, Boston has always been "racist" the article in question is so racist it makes me sick. Dig needs to get out into the greater Boston community and search for the articles. stop sitting back waiting for the article to come to you. the person who said th live in "f" Mattapan. Get a grip. Who cares where you live in Boston. Folks are just asking that you take a look in the mirror at your racial issues. And it appears you have many. stop being defensive and ask yourself are you happy with yourself. If you says yes, you should have a talk with your God, and maybe talk with some folks at other community newspapers in the South End, Dorchester, Mattapan. These community newspapers have a great history of outreaching and covering the black community of Boston in a positive way.
Good luck
By
African American Political Pundit, at 8:02 PM
Sarah! It's Allison Silva. I just stumbled upon your blog entry and prior to realizing it was you was impressed by its insight. Now that I know you are the author, I am certain it's brilliant :) I happen to be a HUGE fan of the weekly dig but I think you really exposed what may very well be a nasty problem with it. I intend to more carefully review it in the future. The dig has some biting and witty commentary that rivals many modern day political satirists but you may very well be correct about its whitewashing of topics and its audience. I look forward to discussing this one when you return to me!!! I would encourage everyone to read the dig before passing judgement, however. I am hoping that this instance is exclusive to several isolated articles, perhaps authored by the same pen? We'll see.
By
Anonymous, at 12:05 PM
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