Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D.

Professor

  • Waco TX UNITED STATES

Dr. Moody-Ramirez is a nationally known expert on mass media representations of minorities, women and other underrepresented groups

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4 min

What Is Black Twitter and How Is it Changing the National Conversation? Baylor Expert Explains.

“Black Twitter” is a social media phenomenon that is changing the national conversation, but many people – including professional and strategic communicators – do not understand what it is or how it works, says Baylor University’s Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., professor of journalism, public relations and new media.Moody-Ramirez is a nationally recognized expert on mass media representations of minorities, women and other underrepresented groups. She coauthored the 2018 book From Blackface to Black Twitter: Reflections on Black Humor, Race, Politics, & Gender with Janette L. Dates, Ph.D., educator and critical commentator on the images of African-Americans in media.First things first, Moody-Ramirez said, Black Twitter is not a separate entity from Twitter. Black Twitter is a grassroots movement within Twitter that has provided a virtual community of mostly African-American Twitter users a collective voice on a variety of issues, including Black Lives Matter. Black Twitter users often identify themselves using the #blacktwitter hashtag or by focusing on issues related to the black experience.“We conclude [in our book] that alternative spaces, such as Twitter, offer a platform for ideas and concerns from a black perspective about social inequalities, politics and social justice, that were historically prohibited from taking root in other communication venues,” Moody-Ramirez said.In the following Q&A, Moody-Ramirez further explains Black Twitter.Q: When do you see the most Black Twitter activity?A: Much of the content on Black Twitter surfaces during a crisis that impacts black people such as race-related incidents that had less than favorable outcomes for the black community. As the saying goes, if society doesn’t handle it, then Black Twitter will step in to handle it. On a lighter note, Black Twitter users also collectively discuss media content such as TV shows, movies and award ceremonies from the black perspective.Q: How can people monitor what’s happening via Black Twitter?A: "Black Twitter" users often identify themselves using the #blacktwitter hashtag or other hashtags such as #BlackGirlJoy, #blackboyjoy, #blacklivesmatter, or any other hashtag focuses on issues related to the black experience. You can also monitor Black Twitter by following individuals who are known for sharing content about the black experience.Q: If someone outside the African-American community feels passionate about an issue or supports an issue raised by the Black Twitter community, how can they engage? Should they?A: As with any other platform, they should be considerate and proceed with caution. Anyone who is not a regular should make sure what they are sharing is appropriate.Q: Do you see Black Twitter or similar movements emerging on other social media platforms?A: Not to the same extent because Black Twitter is driven by hashtags and certain Twitter users who are trendsetters.Q: Is Black Twitter a reflection or an extension of other historical, social African-American grassroots movements?A: African Americans have used Twitter to share narratives on issues of interest to the black community, particularly in the United States. In her 2015 dissertation, Dr. Meredith Clark writes that African-American Twitter users have emerged as a subset of interest for two reasons – (1) their representation on Twitter has eclipsed that of White U.S. users; (2) because of their representation, they possess a unique ability to dramatically influence Twitter trends.Q: How do you feel Black Twitter will evolve? Will it?A: Scholars such as Feminista Jones and Dr. Meredith Clark have traced the history and content of Black Twitter, noting that the platform is used to share content on timely topics such as racial inequalities, politics, police brutality and women’s rights. In 2013, Feminista Jones described “Black Twitter” as a “collective of active, primarily African-American Twitter users who have created a virtual community that participates in continuous real-time conversations.”ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITYBaylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITYThe College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s oldest and largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments and seven academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. Faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit www.baylor.edu/artsandsciences.

Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D.

2 min

Baylor Expert on Race, Blackface Featured Nationally

Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., professor of journalism, public relations and new media at Baylor University, is a nationally recognized expert on mass media representations of minorities, women and other underrepresented groups. Over the past few weeks, Moody-Ramirez has been interviewed and quoted extensively by some of the nation's top media outlets for their stories about race -specifically the history and cultural significance of blackface. She coauthored the 2018 book From Blackface to Black Twitter: Reflections on Black Humor, Race, Politics, & Gender with Janette L. Dates, Ph.D., educator and critical commentator on the images of African-Americans in media.In a Feb. 10 USA TODAY story about Viriginia's governor and blackface, Moody-Ramirez said, "I think we will see some good come out of these latest revelations. People will be more educated. They can no longer argue they didn't know that it is not appropriate to put on makeup to darken their face or change their hair texture to look like their favorite actor or celebrity . . . They will no longer have that excuse."Other stories include:The Washington PostNortham’s ugly yearbook photo and the racist origins of blackfaceCNNA not-so-funny story about blackfaceArizona RepublicHe objected to a photo of coal miners who appeared to be in blackface. He never imagined the backlash.The Washington PostThe lengthy history of white politicians wearing blackface — and getting a passOZYGovernor Wanted: Predators and Racists Need Not ApplyPRI The WorldHow blackface — ‘America’s first cultural export’ — reinforces oppression across the worldUSA TODAYBlackface in Virginia, other incidents show how deeply rooted anti-black racism is in America

Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D.

4 min

Race, Culture Expert Shares History and Why Blackface and other Cultural Appropriation at Halloween is Inappropriate

“When in doubt, choose a different costume,” Baylor expert saysMegyn Kelly, host of NBC’s “Megyn Kelly Today,” is facing national criticism for her suggestion during a roundtable discussion this week that it was OK for white people to dress in blackface for Halloween. After two days of backlash, media accounts reveal that the future of her career is in question.But the questions she raised regarding blackface and cultural appropriation should be addressed, especially as Halloween approaches, said Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., professor of journalism, public relations and new media in Baylor University’s College of Arts & Sciences. She is a nationally known expert on mass media representations of minorities, women and other underrepresented groups and coauthored the new book "From Blackface to Black Twitter: Reflections on Black Humor, Race, Politics, & Gender."Moody-Ramirez said people need to understand the historical significance of blackface to grasp its negative reception today.“When you know better, you do better,” she said.At its base form, she said, blackface is the use of makeup by a nonblack person to appear black. She added that many people do not understand why the seemingly simple act of a white person darkening his skin like a black person at Halloween – even if it’s an act to honor a favorite entertainer or sports figure – can be offensive.“Dressing in blackface during Halloween is inappropriate because the blackface tradition is founded upon the enactment of demeaning stereotypes of black people,” Moody-Ramirez explained. “Blackface has been frowned upon since the blackface minstrel shows of 18th and 19th centuries when various aspects of African/African American culture were appropriated and used for profit. Dressing up in blackface invokes representations of unflattering images of blacks as lazy, unintelligent and criminal in nature.”Yet the issue is bigger than blackface. Any cultural appropriation – defined as the adoption of elements of a minority culture by members of the dominant culture – can be deemed inappropriate and offensive.“Cultural appropriation is distinct from equal cultural exchange because of the presence of power inequities that are a consequence of oppression,” Moody-Ramirez said. “Cultural appropriation is important to consider during Halloween because this is the time of year when we are most likely to dress up in a costume that is representative of another culture.”Common cultural appropriation missteps include darkening one’s face, wearing ethnic garb and/or dressing up to provoke laughter rather than show respect for a group/person, she said.“When considering a costume, think of whether it would show honor or disrespect for a group/person,” Moody-Ramirez advised. “If you don’t know the meaning of the ethnic attire you are considering for Halloween, you shouldn’t wear it. For instance, tribal markings, headdresses and turbans would not be appropriate costume attire because they are tied to a specific ceremony or religious meaning.”Showing respect for other cultures should include honoring their traditions.“Some cultures have laws that ban or restrict individuals from wearing religious attire in public places. Other cultures save certain attire for special ceremonies and honors,” Moody-Ramirez said.Moody-Ramirez offered the following tips to consider when choosing a Halloween costume this year.Avoid dressing in a costume that will reflect another ethnicity or culture.Choose something that is fun and tasteful – animals, movie characters (without darkening your skin), ghosts, ghouls, etc.If you dress like someone of a different ethnicity/culture, don’t darken your face or emphasize features like eyes, teeth or noses.Think about whether the costume will be perceived as tasteful or tasteless.Use the grandmother test. If you post it on social media, would your grandmother be proud or disappointed?“When in doubt,” she said, “choose a different costume.”ABOUT MIA MOODY-RAMIREZ, Ph.D.Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., is the director of graduate studies, director of American studies and professor of journalism, public relations and new media in the Baylor University College of Arts & Sciences. Her research emphasizes mass media representations of women, minorities and other underrepresented groups. She recently coauthored the book "From Blackface to Black Twitter: Reflections on Black Humor, Race, Politics, & Gender." Other books include: “The Obamas and Mass Media: Race, Gender, Religion, and Politics (Palgrave Macmillan) with Dr. Jannette Dates, and “Black and Mainstream Press’ Framing of Racial Profiling: A Historical Perspective” (University Press of America).Ramirez is head of the Minorities and Communication division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), which is committed to advancing research, teaching and professional freedom and responsibility scholarship and initiatives that explore the relationship between racial and ethnic minorities and mass communication. In August, she was presented with AEJMC’s Lionel Barrow Jr. Award for Distinguished Achievement in Diversity Research and Education and also was recognized as one of nine Institute for Diverse Leadership in Journalism and Communication Fellows.ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITYBaylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.ABOUT BAYLOR’S COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCESThe College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s oldest and largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments and seven academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 coursestaught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. Faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit www.baylor.edu/artsandsciences.

Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D.
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Biography

Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., is the Director of Graduate Studies, Director of American Studies and a professor of journalism, public relations and new media in the Baylor University College of Arts & Sciences.

She recently coauthored the book "From Blackface to Black Twitter: Reflections on Black Humor, Race, Politics, & Gender."

She is Vice Head of the Minorities and Communication Division and Secretary for the Commission on the Status of Women. She served on the AEJMC Strategic Plan Implementation Committee from 2013 to 2016.

She was named the 2016 AEJMC Commission on the Status of Women Outstanding Woman of the Year. She completed the Scripps Howard Academic Leadership Academy at LSU in 2014. She was the recipient of the third-annual Baylor University Diversity Award. She is a 2016-17 Academy of Teaching & Learning Baylor Fellow.

Her research emphasizes mass media representations of women, minorities and other underrepresented groups.

In 2013, she co-authored The Obamas and Mass Media: Race, Gender, Religion, and Politics (Palgrave Macmillan) with Dr. Jannette Dates. She solo authored Black and Mainstream Press’ Framing of Racial Profiling: A Historical Perspective (University Press of America) in 2009.

She has been published in Public Relations Review, Journalism Educator and the Journal of Magazine & New Media Research, and more.

She is an editorial board member for Mass Communication and Society Journal, Howard Journal of Communication and The Journal of Social Media in Society. She serves as a conference paper reviewer for the AEJMC Midwinter Conference, National Association of Communication, AEJMC Conference and the Southeast Colloquium.

She teaches courses in public relations, research methods and gender, race and media studies. Her expertise on these topics has been featured in various local, national and international media outlets.

Her journalism experience includes working as a blogger, staff writer and columnist for the Waco Tribune-Herald, editor and publisher of FOR Seasons magazine and Elegant Woman magazine and managing editor for Stevens Publishing.

She received her B.A. in journalism from Texas A&M University, M.A. in journalism from Baylor University, M.S. in Educational Psychology, and her Ph.D. in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.

She teaches the following courses:
• Mass Communication Research Theory
• Research Methods
• PR Programming
• Representations of Women and Minorities in the Mass Media

Areas of Expertise

Race, Class, and Culture
Pop Culture
New Media
Writing for Media Markets
Historical Stereotypes in Social Media

Accomplishments

Top Paper

Awarded by the SWECJMC Southwest Symposium

Top Paper, Public Relations Division

Awarded by the ICA

Diversity Enhancement Award

Awarded by Baylor University

Education

The University of Texas at Austin

Ph.D.

Journalism

2006

Baylor University

M.A.

Journalism

2001

Baylor University

M.S.Ed.

Educational Psychology

1999

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Media Appearances

This Halloween, choose your costume wisely

Wisconsin State Journal  online

2022-10-29

Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., professor and chair of journalism, public relations and new media, is quoted in this article about cultural appropriation regarding Halloween costumes. Moody-Ramirez, who wrote the book “From Blackface to Black Twitter,” said some costumes such as blackface, Native headdresses and sombreros are always unacceptable. But for other costumes, she encourages parents to do their research and use their best judgment.

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Jeffrey Dahmer Halloween Costumes for Kids Spark Outrage: 'Sick'

Newsweek  online

2022-10-24

Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., professor and chair of journalism, public relations and new media, is quoted in this article about the reaction to controversial Halloween costumes, such as that of gruesome serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, the subject of a recent Netflix series.

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Jeffrey Dahmer Isn't the Only Controversial Costume Banned From Stores

Newsweek  online

2022-10-18

Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., professor and chair of journalism, public relations and new media, is quoted in this article about controversial costumes, such as that of gruesome serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, have been barred by various retailers over the years.

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Articles

Citizen Framing of# Ferguson on Twitter

The Journal of Social Media in Society

2016

This textual analysis examined the framing of Ferguson, Missouri, that emerged following Michael Brown’s death in 2014. The analysis indicates tweets focused on the protests that followed and the racial nature of the incident. The most salient themes characterized Ferguson within the context of “bigger picture” issues, “otherness” narratives and “protest” frames. Many tweets transmitted a racialized tone, characterizing Ferguson as a “less than desirable town with mostly Black residents and low-life thugs.” This study provides support for the use of textual analysis in studies ...

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Twitter Analysis of Tweets that Emerged after the #Wacoshooting

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal

2016

This study analyzes the tweets that emerged following the Waco biker incident of 2015. Findings indicate individuals used Twitter to take a stand on the highly publicized incidents surrounding the shootout. Thousands of tweets emerged with popular hashtags to identify the case such as #wacoshooting , wacobikers and #wacothugs, #Ferguson, #whitebikers, #blacklivesmatter and #Whiteprivilege. Responses to the Waco shootout were polarizing with individuals weighing in on Twitter to show support or scorn for the bikers, city officials, law enforcement and attorneys.

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Rap Music Literacy: A Case Study of Millennial Audience Reception to Rap Lyrics Depicting Independent Women

Journal of Media Literacy Education

2015

Using a feminist lens and a constructivist approach as the theoretical framework, we used rap lyrics and videos to help college students explore mass media’s representation of the “independent” Black woman and the concept of “independence” in general. Students must be able to formulate their own concept of independence to counteract the messages and stereotypes they receive in popular culture through advertisements, film, print and music. The authors found that independence is situationally defined and it is a complex concept that is differentiated in consideration ...

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