Public Expressions of Private Sentiments: Unveiling the Pulse of Racial Tolerance through Online News Readers' Comments

Abstract

Ever since the election of the nation's first Black president, there have been strong persistent claims that racism is no longer a problem in the United States. However, there are indicators in society that reveal that the death of racism is just a myth. The emergence of online news readers' comments have allowed the amplification of private sentiments on a public space and this study examines how race is articulated behind an anonymous and unconstrained space. Using the Texas Relay/Highland Mall as a case study, this research uncovers the racial discourse present in the online comments section following the Austin American-Statesman's news coverage of the highly controversial incident. The discourse analysis findings reveals patterns of modern racism that still permeate throughout society today suggesting that race tolerance has been greatly exaggerated in today's modern society.