The Ferocious, Violent Image of a Black Man

Allison S Curseen504 Comments

“Heads of Colored People”, by Nafissa Thompson-Spires, features use of imagery to further the central theme. This is specifically used on page 13 in describing the image the Associated Press used for Riley after his death. Riley had been wearing “an oversize blue shirt and a bedazzled bandana over cornrows” in a social media post, which was used in the article about his death.

The use of this imagery is significant because it plays on black sterotypes. Oversize clothes became mainstream with the rise hip-hop culture- a product of black experience and black creativity. Bandanas are also associated with gang activity, which is not exclusive to black people, but heavily associated with black people. Cornrows are a traditional black hairstyle. While it is a style that is used to protect the hair, it is often deemed unprofessional in mainstream society.

The culmination of this description can lead one to believe that Riley is a “thug” and that his death was justifiable. The story emphasizes the idea that Riley is a black man, but does not necessarily conform to the typical appearance and interests of most black people, or what would be expected of a black person. The character that is set up in the previous part of the story differs significantly from the way he is portrayed in the media following his death. Furthermore, this use of imagery aligns with how many black men are portrayed in media today after they are killed at the hands of police officers. The author most likely shares the opinion that black men are purposely portrayed in violent ways, when we are very diverse in our appearances, interests, and abilities. The way the media is able to use negative stereotypes can create a narrative that death at the hands of a police officer is justifiable. While the use of imagery is rather simple, it depicts a contradiction in the character we know Riley to be through the narrator, making a larger social commentary.

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