Why it's so important for kids to see diverse TV and movie characters

By Julie Dobrow, Calvin Gidney & Jennifer Burton (Tufts University)

The hype surrounding “Black Panther” has been as hyperbolic as any feat its characters might perform, with the film being praised for its layered story and what’s been described as its “Afrofuturist” cast. And “Black Panther” will be joined by “A Wrinkle in Time,” another film with blockbuster potential and an interracial cast.

But no matter how much money or how many awards films like “Black Panther” and “A Wrinkle in Time” amass, our research strongly suggests another reason they’re important: Children need a diverse universe of media images. And for the most part, they haven’t had one.

Read the full article at The Conversation.

Originally published 13 July 2018 in The Conversation. Reproduced under Creative Commons license.

Television continues to be the main source of media consumption for kids.