Suspect Number 1: The Criminalization of Black Men in the Media It’s time to talk about the way that black men are portrayed in the media. In early film and television, black characters were strictly categorized. From brutal savages to submissives, from characters of comic fodder to lazy subhuman creatures, the typical black man was only presented in specific and offensive ways. Fast forward to the new millennium and black men are often portrayed as criminals and thugs. This has contributed to the perceptions of black men as “Suspect Number 1.” In this session, participants will explore these stereotypical portrayals and discuss how this affects bias against black men in society.