Examine Government, Statistics and the Media
"One cannot wage war under present conditions without the support of public opinion, which is tremendously molded
by the press and other forms of propaganda." - General Douglas MacArthur

Watch the CSPAN - Q&A interview with Janks Morton Director, "What Black Men Think."

The film, "What Black Men Think", exposes the issue of how people use statistics to portray slanted information on issues.
He began by asking, are more black men in college or prison? Before you watch this video, answer the question.

Select one of the statistics exposed in the video clip. Double check for yourself.

Where do people get the idea that more black men are in prison?

Many people and groups skew information to advocate for their point of view.
Identify some implications for the people when their government or public organizations create and send misinformation.

Look into the concept of manipulating data to form a slanted message.

Is it about the money? Who does it hurt?

Select an issue. (hint: It can be helpful to choose an issue that is currently or has recently gotten a lot of attention)

What about something they have been saying about teens?

Has the message been formed using manipulated data?

How has it impacted your thinking or daily life?

Food for thought:

"The owners and managers of the press determine which person, which facts, which version of the facts,
and which ideas shall reach the public." - Commission On Freedom Of The Press

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained
only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie.
It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy
of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State." - Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Propaganda Minister

WHAT’ S GOING ON WITH BLACK MEN?
For the last generation or two, as our communities dissolved and our parenting skills broke down,
no one has suffered more than our young black men." Come on People Cosby, Bill & Poussaint, Alvin F.

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