AFP

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Dear Media, Your Coverage Of Hate Crimes Is Problematic

Ezinne Ukoha

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Grief is a sleek devil. Just when you think you’re okay, another blow blindsides you. Suddenly an eruption of intense rage overwhelms and destabilizes the fragile foundation that can’t afford to be further cracked.

The cold-blooded killing of George Floyd, 46, has ignited pained fury across the nation, as we are presented with fiery images of rioting in Minneapolis and other parts of the country in response to the heartrending footage of ruthless thugs-in-uniform, relishing the last minutes that were snuffed out of a Black body, sprawled on a street in America.

As expected, major news organizations are fixated on the exploitation of Black pain and Black death with blaring headlines that promise the click worthy content that we’ve been trained to receive with traitorous familiarity and desensitized reception.

The graphic death video is a viral sensation for ambitious anchors and expert bloggers at big-named brands, who have perfected the tricks of refreshing recycled articles that were breaking news an hour ago.

As much as CNN and similarly recognized news outlets are committed to the preferred default of “auto-play” for the horrific display of white supremacy, that occurred in broad daylight, there’s also a more sinister approach attached to the problematic coverage of…

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