Rising Up

"Even though people of color are fast becoming the majority population in the United States, the perspectives and privileges of white America still dominate our key narrative-setting institutions and industries. People of color, long shut out of mainstream news studios, Hollywood's writers' rooms, and executive suites, are rising up to advance new political and social narratives that center on racial justice and equity. In Rising Up: The Power of Narrative in Pursuing Racial Justice, award-winning broadcast journalist Sonali Kolhatkar delivers a back-pocket guide to racial justice narrative-setting. Kolhatkar focuses on shifting narratives in three spaces: news media, popular culture, and individual discourse. Drawing from her own life experiences as an Asian American woman and media maker of color, she highlights other journalists, writers, creators, educators, and social media influencers who refuse to remain marginalized and are dedicated to building a new culture to displace white supremacy. Kolhatkar carefully and passionately argues that narrative change is a critical step all Americans should engage in to prevent the country from falling further under the influence of false racist, far-right disinformation that leads to social polarization and political violence"--

ANNOTATED CONTENTS 

PREFACE 
I introduce myself to readers with a look at my racial, ethnic, and family background, as well as my journalistic ethos, and how my work as a broadcaster and writer is a part of the narrative shifting that furthers racial justice. 
INTRODUCTION: Driving Like an Asian 
I share a personal experience where a racist stereotype about Asians directly impacted me. This leads to an explanation of how racist narratives affect people of color in devastating ways. I also define and explain what narratives mean, with examples to illustrate narrative shifting, and how the ultimate goal of racial justice narratives is equity. I also preview each chapter for readers. 
ONE 
Faux News Vs. News That’s Fit to Print 
This first chapter is a critique of how right-wing media and corporate media both serve to preserve and perpetuate racist narratives. I trace the rise of racist media narratives from shock jock Bob Grant to Fox News’s Tucker Carlson. I also analyze how establishment outlets like The New York Times have often tolerated racist coverage, resisting for too long, labels such as “racist” for openly xenophobic leaders like Donald Trump. Since the racial justice protests of 2020, some media outlets have finally begun to apologize for their racist coverage. 
TWO 
Independent Media Makers on the Front Lines 
This chapter illustrates why independent media have often been a countervailing force against establishment media by centering racial justice narratives in our coverage. For example, years before corporate media “discovered” Patrisse Cullors, leader of Black Lives Matter, she was a guest on my show. I also share the story of how independent media led the fight against the dehumanizing term “illegals” to describe undocumented immigrants in news coverage.  I also present a study in contrasts, analyzing an NPR interview of sports writer Howard Bryant’s book versus my own, more nuanced interview with Bryant. Finally, I showcase a podcast that illustrates how racial justice activists are creating their own media. 
THREE 
White Hollywood’s Copaganda 
Television and film play a huge role in shaping race-based narratives. In this chapter I focus on how scripted crime TV shows in particular perpetuate false and racist narratives about police, even casting Black actors to play cops on TV to confer innocence on law enforcement. Such pro-police narratives—dubbed “copaganda”—are the direct consequence of white domination in Hollywood’s writers’ rooms. I also summarize the myriad stereotypes that Hollywood has perpetuated about people of color. 
FOUR 
Hollywood’s Changing Hues 
Filmmakers of color have forced their way into Hollywood and begun changing race-based narratives to great effect in recent years. I showcase one of the earliest such TV shows—Black-ish—and how it paved the way for a host of new shows created by Black and Brown writers and showrunners. In film, pioneering creators like Ave DuVernay and Ryan Coogler, have re-written the rules of how people of color are portrayed. There are pitfalls however, in the form of diverse casting to obscure racist stories, and the appropriation of non-white cultures. Ultimately, Hollywood is changing, thanks in part to campaigns like #OscarsSoWhite. 
FIVE 
Social Media and Collective Power 
I explore the digital phenomenon of Black Twitter and how new technology is enabling people of color like Darnella Frazier in Minneapolis to bypass gatekeepers and tell their own unfiltered stories of racial injustices. I profile figures like #MeToo founder Tarana Burke, TikTok dance creator Jalaiah Harmon, and TV writer Janet Mock, who have used digital technology to assert their truths and shape narratives about Black women. Such technology can also be a useful tool to hold powerful people accountable, and “cancel” the careers of racist hatemongers. But digital platforms are ultimately controlled by elites and are often guilty of algorithmic bias toward racist narratives. 
SIX 
Changing Narratives, One Person at a Time 
There are person-to-person means of narrative shifting that can be extremely powerful. I quote academics like Robin D. G. Kelley, Oriel Mária Siu, and Yohuru Williams who discuss education and Critical Race Theory as means for narrative shifting. I also profile Loretta Ross’s “Calling In” courses that teach people how to reach allies without alienating them, and how social scientists have studied an approach called “deep canvassing” that is extremely effective in changing people’s minds about racism and other social issues. 
CONCLUSION 
Rising Up for Our Stories, Our Lives 
I conclude the book with a personal story of how I was deeply moved during a Black Lives Matter march in 2020 by a powerful vocal protest that gave voice to a yearning for racial justice. The U.S. is in the midst of a messy and profound change as the nation’s demographic shift is yet to be reflected in the halls of power and of narrative-setting industries. I make the case that narrative shifting without movement building is merely public relations and that it must be an intimate part of organizing for racial justice. 
EPILOGUE 
I close with a personal understanding of how white supremacy is often based on an irrational fear of losing power as the U.S. heads toward a future where white people are a minority. Ultimately, we can rise to a better (racially just) future, together. 
RESOURCES 
A useful list of organizations, campaigns, and media outlets engaged in the work of narrative shifting for racial justice.