Chris Menning

kenyatta:

I spoke with Zoe Chace of NPR’s All Things Considered last week about the two headed (viral video + hit remix) Antoine Dodson/Auto Tune The News “Bed Intruder” meme.

There are many lessons to be learned from the Antoine Dodson story not the least of which is the problem of representation of the Black community in the media. A few people who saw Antoine’s behavior in the original video got upset, seeing Antoine as perpetuating stereotypes about low income black communities in the South.  This reaction is understandable — when you don’t have equal representation of American black experiences, then people are going to feel anxious when seeing Antoine Dodson on camera. When you don’t come across these kinds of encounters in real life, it just might make you feel uncomfortable.

But when you take the time to hear Antoine’s story, you realize both how honest and sincere he is as well as how appropriate his reaction on camera is.

It’s unfair to declare anyone, including Antoine Dodson sole representative for the Black Community. All Antoine Dodson can control is his own media and in that sense, he’s done a phenomenal job.

kenyatta:

I spoke with Zoe Chace of NPR’s All Things Considered last week about the two headed (viral video + hit remix) Antoine Dodson/Auto Tune The News “Bed Intruder” meme.

There are many lessons to be learned from the Antoine Dodson story not the least of which is the problem of representation of the Black community in the media. A few people who saw Antoine’s behavior in the original video got upset, seeing Antoine as perpetuating stereotypes about low income black communities in the South.  This reaction is understandable — when you don’t have equal representation of American black experiences, then people are going to feel anxious when seeing Antoine Dodson on camera. When you don’t come across these kinds of encounters in real life, it just might make you feel uncomfortable.

But when you take the time to hear Antoine’s story, you realize both how honest and sincere he is as well as how appropriate his reaction on camera is.

It’s unfair to declare anyone, including Antoine Dodson sole representative for the Black Community. All Antoine Dodson can control is his own media and in that sense, he’s done a phenomenal job.