MediaHerd doesn’t want to tax the limits of your hippocampus, but remember way back when Sen. Obama gave a speech about race? It sparked a range of comments and supposedly signaled the start of a long overdue “national discussion” about race? Heck, even Republicans were impressed by the rhetorical gifts of this young Democrat! MediaHerd predicted to friends and family that the breathless coverage would disappear faster than berber-spiced petite filet at the White House Correspondents Dinner. And sure enough, it did. News about his speech and its continuing impact are as rare today as sightings of the ivory-billed woodpecker.

Sen. Obama’s speech serves as an illustrative reference point from which to observe the media herd’s despicable tendency to report stories in a way that advance racial stereotypes.

MediaHerd wades into turbulent waters…..

This morning, New York detectives Gescard F. Isnora, Michael Oliver and Marc Cooper were acquitted by Justice Arthur J. Cooperman on charges stemming from the death of Sean Bell who was killed in a fusillade of bullets on November 25, 2006. MediaHerd wants its readers to quickly review the New York Times article, blog and accompanying photos. What do you see?

You see black people expressing outrage. You see tears. You see anger.

You also read things like this:

While his decision prompted several supporters of Mr. Bell to storm out of the courtroom, and there were a few small scuffles outside the courthouse, by early afternoon there were no suggestions of any broader unrest around the city.

…

Roughly 30 court officers stood by, around the courtroom and in the aisles.

…

A subdued Queens district attorney, Richard A. Brown, whose office prosecuted the case, said at a news conference: “Judge Cooperman discharged his responsibilities fairly and consciously under the law. I accept his verdict, and I urge all fair-minded individuals in this city to do the same.” Commissioner Kelly, speaking in Brooklyn, would not comment on the verdict itself. But he did say that while there were no reports of unrest in response to the acquittals, the Police Department was ready should it occur.

“We have prepared, we have done some drills and some practice with appropriate units and personnel if there is any violence, but again, we don’t anticipate violence,” Mr. Kelly said. “There have been no problems. Obviously there will be some people who are disappointed with the verdict. We understand that.

All The News That’s Fit To Print our ass. Here is the “Paper of Record” almost glumly reporting only “a few scuffles” but “no suggestions of any broader unrest around the city” and the NYC police commissioner reassuring a frightened public that the police have done drills with appropriate units in case violence erupts. Excuse MediaHerd’s French, but how f’d up is that? No wonder black people are angry!

The media herd loves to report on black anger. That’s the media herd storyline – black people are angry and emotional and prone to violence during high-profile trials. MediaHerd repeats – it is not our storyline – this is the storyline followed by the media herd when it comes to black people and America’s criminal justice system.

Media Herd believes that black anger towards the police in particular and towards the American criminal justice system in general is fueled by a combination of real bias and perceived bias. Of course MediaHerd can only speculate since the media herd isn’t reporting on the “why” or asking questions. What about promoting the “national dialogue” that Sen. Obama supposedly sparked just last month!

Bottom Line: MediaHerd means no offense and welcomes critical commentary and wants to listen because that’s what we need to do instead of shouting at each other.