Malik, S. (2002) Representing Black Britain: Black and Asian Images on Television. London: SAGE.
Introduction
In sociology, when we study the media, we often ask: Who gets represented, and how?
Dr Sarita Malik, a leading media sociologist, has done groundbreaking research on how Black and Asian people have been represented in British television and what this reveals about race, identity, and power in Britain.
Malik’s most famous book, Representing Black Britain: A History of Black and Asian Images on British Television (2002), explores how the media both reflects and shapes society. Her work links perfectly to OCR topics like:
- The media’s role in constructing social identities
- Inequality and ownership in cultural production
- The relationship between representation, ideology and power
1. The Media Doesn’t Just Reflect Society – It Shapes It
Malik argues that British television has created a “racialised regime of representation” — meaning that the media doesn’t just show what society is like; it helps to define how we understand race and identity.
For example, TV shows and news stories have often presented Black and Asian people in limited or stereotypical ways — as “immigrants,” “problems,” or “outsiders.” These patterns help shape what audiences think is normal or British.
This connects with OCR ideas about media influence, hegemony, and how the media acts as an agent of socialisation, influencing our worldviews.
2. Representation Changes Over Time
Malik traces how representation has changed from the 1950s to today:
- 1950s–1970s: Early television often portrayed Black people as “others” or as part of “race relations problems.”
- 1980s–1990s: Black and Asian characters became more visible, but were still often defined by stereotypes or social issues (e.g. crime, migration).
- 2000s onwards: There’s more diversity, but Malik argues the media still frames Blackness as something separate from “Britishness.”
This shows how historical context, migration, and policy (like multiculturalism) shape representation.
3. Genre Matters: News, Comedy, Sport and Drama
Malik looks at different types of television to show how representation works differently across genres:
- News: Black people are often shown in relation to crime or conflict, reinforcing “moral panics” (links to Cohen, 1972).
- Comedy and Sitcoms: Black and Asian characters may appear more often but can still be reduced to stereotypes or comic relief.
- Sport: Black men are often celebrated for physical talent but not for leadership or intelligence — a form of racialised stereotyping.
- Drama: Black British characters are often written by white producers, raising questions about authentic voice and ownership.
This is useful for OCR’s Media and Inequality topic — showing how genre conventions can reproduce or challenge stereotypes.
4. Diversity Behind the Scenes
Malik also highlights that who works in the media matters. Representation isn’t just about what we see, but about who has power in production.
She points out that while TV companies now talk about “diversity,” many initiatives focus on appearance rather than real structural change.
For instance, having more Black actors on screen doesn’t automatically mean Black producers, writers or directors are shaping those stories.
This links to the OCR concept of institutional power — who controls cultural production — and to Marxist or neo-Marxist ideas about ideology and control in the media.
5. Defining Black British Identity
Malik explores how the media has shaped what it means to be “Black British.”
She argues that representations often position Black people as different from the mainstream idea of being British.
In her more recent work (2022), she reflects that while there has been progress, Black Britishness is still seen as conditional — accepted when it fits mainstream norms, but marginalised when it challenges them.
For OCR students, this connects directly to identity, culture, and ethnicity as social constructs that are shaped by the media.
Key Examples from Malik’s Research
| Example | What Malik Found | OCR Link |
|---|---|---|
| TV news coverage of Black communities | Often frames them as problems or threats | Media stereotypes, moral panics |
| Black comedy and sitcoms | Often rely on outdated or exaggerated stereotypes | Representation and genre |
| Sports coverage | Focuses on physical strength, not intellect | Racialised masculinity |
| Diversity policies in broadcasting | More tokenism than real change | Power, ownership, ideology |
Why Malik’s Work Matters
For Cambridge OCR Sociology, Malik’s research helps you to:
- Analyse how representation reflects and reinforces power inequalities.
- Understand the relationship between media ownership, diversity, and representation.
- Evaluate whether changes in the media have truly created equal representation or just a new form of tokenism.
Her work encourages you to question who gets to tell Britain’s stories and what that means for national identity.
Discussion Questions
- Malik uses the term “racialised regime of representation.” What does this mean, and how might it still apply to British media today?
- How have representations of Black British people changed over time — and what might explain those changes?
- Why does Malik argue that “diversity” does not always mean equality?
- How do different TV genres (like comedy, sport, or news) shape racial stereotypes in different ways?
- To what extent do you think media representations reflect reality — or construct it?
- Can you think of any recent TV programmes or media examples that challenge Malik’s arguments?
Further Reading
- Malik, S. (2002) Representing Black Britain: Black and Asian Images on Television. London: SAGE.
- Malik, S. (2013) “‘Creative diversity’: UK public service broadcasting after multiculturalism.” Popular Communication, 11(3): 227–241.
- Malik, S. (2022) “Reflections on representing Black Britain.” Journal of Cultural Economy.
Summary
Sarita Malik’s work gives us a powerful sociological lens for analysing media representation.
Her research shows that media is not just entertainment, it’s a space where ideas about race, identity and belonging are produced and contested.
For Cambridge OCR Sociology students, Malik’s work helps you apply theory to real-life examples, linking media, inequality, and identity; all central themes in your course.
You can download a PPT on Malik’s (2002) work from the link below.
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