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Abstract

Systemic racism experienced by Black Americans operates through institutional and structural mechanisms, producing enduring harms such as disproportionate police violence, economic inequality, and social marginalization. In response, organized resistance has emerged through civil rights advocacy, grassroots organizing, and contemporary anti-racist movements such as Black Lives Matter (BLM). Because news media shape public understanding of these movements, prior research shows that U.S. coverage often portrays Black Americans negatively; however, less attention has been paid to how ideological differences across media outlets structure this discourse. This study integrates corpus linguistics and critical discourse analysis to examine 482 U.S. news articles referencing “Black Lives Matter.” Using a discourse-historical approach, it analyzes how systemic racism is reinforced, negotiated, or challenged in media narratives. The findings reveal that left- and center-wing media frame systemic racism as a structural and enduring reality, while right-wing media express skepticism toward its very existence. The study addresses a gap in research by demonstrating how ideological orientations of news outlets systematically shape representations of systemic racism and the legitimacy of BLM within the contemporary U.S. media landscape.

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2026-07-04
2026-07-16

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Systemic racism and ideology in media representations of #BlackLivesMatter
John Benjamins ; https://doi.org/10.1075/jlp.25138.ade
/content/journals/10.1075/jlp.25138.ade
/content/journals/10.1075/jlp.25138.ade
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keywords: BLM ; critical discourse analysis ; discourse-historical approach ; mainstream media discourse ; corpus linguistics ; Racism ; anti-racist movements

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