These two sets of images illustrate the stark racial bias in US media

Although the internet has its fair share of downsides, one plus point is how it enables a wide discussion of complex topics.

Subjects like race, which typically went under-discussed in a traditionally white-dominated media, are now being debated in a much more open and democratic way.

At indy100, we frequently report on incidents of horrific racism that have always been happening, but thanks to social media are only now getting anywhere near attention they deserve.

But sadly, when it comes to accurate and proper representation of people of colour in the media, there’s still some way to go.

Too often POC are characterised as the perpetrators of crime, while white people receive favourable coverage. This is not only stereotypical but inaccurate.

An image posted by educator and activist Qasim Rashid on Twitter highlights just how much of a problem racial bias in the media still is.

The image shows two Google images search results. The first shows images of an unidentified black man who confessed to killing a man for trying to rape his daughter. The second shows images of Chris Watts, a white man who admitted to murdering his wife and daughters.

The contrast between the two images is staggering, causing Twitter users to react strongly. People took particular issue with reports highlighting that Watts was in debt before he murdered his family.

This article was originally published in August 2018