Information transmitted through people, media, technological platforms, and books influences the way different cultures, religions and ethnic groups are perceived. Stereotypes and preconceived images of others are derivatives of the process. A critical understanding of the functions of digital, media, and information systems is therefore indispensable in countering prejudice and discrimination, and promoting tolerance, social inclusion, and dialogue.
While many people get accustomed to a highly digitalized daily routine, various forms of racism burgeon in online spaces. They often take shape in disinformation and hate speech targeting diverse population segments. The root causes are intricate. Whereas, the lack of critical thinking about information, media content, and purposeful use of technology as a key factor is evident.
UNESCO fosters media and information literate societies, which can contribute to enabling people to acquire this critical understanding and necessary skills to identify and counter discriminations in all forms in information and media content - online or offline. The UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Policy and Strategy Guidelines highlight cultural and linguistic diversity as central development framework to foster media and information literate societies for human solidarity. The UNESCO MIL Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) also includes a module about intercultural dialogue that addresses stereotypical representation of people based on cultures, race, religion, ethnicity, and gender.
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reminds us that, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” It is this reasoning and conscience
that the acquisition of media and information literacy competencies can stir in all peoples.
Against this backdrop, UNESCO caught up with several media and information literacy (MIL) experts in a series of short interviews, who shared their personal experiences and insights concerning MIL and anti-racism.
Below are the first two interviews in the series: Dr Maha Bashri (USA), Associate Professor of Communication at United Arab Emirates University, and Olunifesi Suraj (Nigeria), Senior Lecturer from the University of Lago.
Interview 1: Dr Maha Bashri, Associate Professor of Communication at United Arab Emirates University
UNESCO: Dr Bashri, you are a woman and a MIL expert/practitioner. How do you think MIL is relevant to tackle racial discrimination?
Maha Bashri: Racism stems from engrained biases that are upheld by institutional structures. MIL tackles information and how different audiences synthesize it. MIL programs should play a role in educating and raising awareness about systemic racism in society. There are many tactics that can employed to this- for example school and higher education curricula that incorporate the importance of diversification in media representations.
UNESCO: Have you had a personal experience of racial discrimination?
Maha Bashri: As a black woman the question should not be if I have had a personal experience but how I have learned to cope with microaggressions and racial discrimination in my life. To answer the question, it’s an experience I live all the time- more so in certain societies.
UNESCO: How did you respond to the experience?
Maha Bashri: The rational approach is to try take the higher road but not before pointing out the discrimination. However, there are situations when having a rational discourse with the perpetrator is not possible. For example, when power dynamics are not in my favor and I cannot initiate such discourse I am unable to point it out - e.g. a traffic stop by the police.
UNESCO: How would you characterize incidents of racial discrimination?
Maha Bashri: Racial discrimination exists not only in the United States (my country) but globally. The US is now in the court of public opinion because of what audiences are watching play out as a direct consequence of recent events. However, racism is everywhere around the world. It’s not only the US that is guilty of it. As a black woman I can attest (from my personal experiences) that microaggressions as well as explicit racism continue to be directed at people of color globally.
UNESCO: Do you know how MIL is being applied in your country address these challenges?
Maha Bashri: I am not aware of MIL programs utilized in the US (on a large scale) to address the challenges. I believe there is definitely room to do so. But most importantly, it has to be ensured that those who suffer from the consequences of racism have a voice in how these MIL programs/approaches are designed and implemented.
Interview 2: Olunifesi Suraj (Nigeria), Senior Lecturer from the University of Lago
UNESCO: Dr Suraj, you are a MIL expert/practitioner. How do you think MIL is relevant to tackle racial discrimination?
Olunifesi Suraj: Racial Discrimination is a cultural stigma which appeal to some people sensibility. Media plays a role in amplifying this unfortunate social disorder. Ignorantly, some people promote it and often, media also is culpable in amplifying the cultural stereotype. Media and information literacy is needed to understand the underlying ideology and the intended purpose behind racial discrimination. Media and information literacy will empower people to challenge the media stereotype and question the ideology behind racism. It will make people to go beyond the racial message to revealing the identity of people behind the information they are consuming. In this regard, they will be empowered to provide a counter-narratives that can counter the racist ideology.
UNESCO: Have you had a personal experience of racial discrimination?
Olunifesi Suraj: I have never experience racial discrimination, but I have heard people complain about it. I have equally read it in the media. I have read and seen blacks discriminated against in parts of Asia which went viral. I have equally read about Xenophobic attacks of other black nationals in South Africa. Apartheid issues in South Africa where majority blacks were discriminated against by minority whites are also well documented.
UNESCO: How did you respond to the experience?
Olunifesi Suraj: Like I said I have not been a victim of racism but where it has happened, we have seen violent reaction which has resulted in killings and arson. Some have equally reported it to the authorities concerned. Some have publicly complained and set up demonstrations.
UNESCO: How would you characterize incidents of racial discrimination?
Olunifesi Suraj: In Nigeria, there are about 250 ethnic tribes and three major tribes. Hence, ethnic discrimination is a common place. The consequences are inter-ethnic rivalry, nepotism, lopsided appointment which favour the tribe in power, unnecessary favouritism which have divided the country along ethnic bias. It has made the political arena highly unstable with far reaching consequences.
UNESCO: Do you know how MIL is being applied in your country address these challenges?
Olunifesi Suraj: We have been trying to stress intercultural dialogue and intercultural sensitivity. The need to recognize identity of differences and intercultural tolerance is crucial. Media and information literacy for journalists and media practitioners to moderate speech and media content has been on the front burner. Besides, through UNESCO Regional Office in Nairobi, association of media practitioners, relevant government ministries, academics, NGO and civil associations known as Media and Information Literacy Coalition of Nigeria (MILCON) has been formed to address racial and ethnic discrimination.
Follow our website for others in the series MIL Experts Speak.
