"60 Minutes" Story on Snitching Reinforces the Need to Support the Black Press

PART 1: THE MESSAGE

For the past few months mainstream media has hyped the "stop snitchin" slogan, giving it a life - and definition - of it's own. A recent story on CBS News' 60 Minutes presented a one-dimensional view of snitching that appears to be part of an ongoing propaganda campaign designed to hold hip-hop culture accountable for the dysfunctional criminal justice system, and divert the public's attention from the real problems in America.

Whether it's propaganda, pimping, or simply sloppy journalism, the story "Stop Snitchin" was biased and inaccurate. A cursory review of the facts reinforces the urgent need to resurrect the black press as an authentic voice and trustworthy news source capable of dispelling the latest stereotypes.

In the black community it is commonly understood that a snitch is a crafty criminal who negotiates a deal for himself by telling on others. Since the days of slavery, providing information to authorities to gain favor has been viewed negatively. Judas would be considered a snitch primarily because he was one of the disciples, one of the crew.

But, according to the 60 Minutes story, witnesses and concerned citizens are now considered snitches. The report indicated that people of all ages in the black community, even children, are abiding by this so-called code-of-silence out of fear of retaliation. A related story, "A Conspiracy Of Silence, CBS News Investigates: Epidemic Of Witness Intimidation Plagues Justice System" aired a week after the "Stop Snitchin" show.

While it is true that blacks and other minorities have a history of strained relationships with the police, concerned citizens routinely complain about crack houses, slow response times and a lack of police patrols in inner-city neighborhoods. Black people also serve as witnesses and jurors.

Instead of displaying outrage at the suggestion that hip-hop culture has convinced law-abiding "inner-city residents" to participate in a conspiracy against the justice system, many uninformed black people believe and perpetuate this propaganda before checking the source and motives of the messenger.