Serial is a podcast that became very popular throughout the world. The podcast followed the same case week by week and really dived in to it. This case was of 1999 Murder of Have Min Lee, a 18-year-old student. Lee's ex-boyfriend, Adnan Masud Syed, was arrested on and charged with first-degree murder. Through out the podcast there are many different reasons brought to the table for why Hae Min Lee was killed, as well as why Adnan was convicted, race was factor. Serial displays the built in racism Americans have toward other Americans with different cultures and beliefs. Through out this podcast, the question: Does your culture define you? is brought forth. Serial shows that with your culture stereotypes become attached to you, no matter whether they are true or not.
Through out Adnans trial race is often brought up. The Prosecution tries to make Adnan seem like a terrifying terrorist muslim, most likely the most common stereotype against Muslims. They say that he shouldn't get bail because he could flee to Pakistan. They also say that because the Muslim community supports him he is therefore, more of a treat. Other statements like this are made in the trail even though they do not pertain to the case. The Prosecution actually had to release a apology letter for many of these statements.Yet, The Prosecutions claims show how in our society when people are different from use, we make judgment using previous stereotypes we have seen from these culture.
Yet in the podcast Koening, the lead reporter, does a great jobing with calling this racist statements out. She brings up that though in the case they say Adnan is Pakistani, he isn’t. He is american, with Pakistani heritage and brought up with Muslim culture. Koening begins to question this trails handling of race.
Through these podcast, Race and how we define is brought to the for front. In our society, if we continue to bring up race and talk about it we will have more progress than if we pretend races is not a factor in our society.
(Most of my examples are from Episode 6 &7. But I also highly suggest listing to all of Serial.)
I love Serial, and I think the discussion of racial profiling is an important part of the case that Sarah Koenig discusses. I think Koenig, in fact, does a good job of analyzing the role of race in the judicial system. She is open about the possibility, and likelihood, that Syed's race played a role in his conviction.
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