If It Walks Like a Duck: The Perception of Bias

By Norman Franklin

Things are not always what they appear to be. This saying serves as a precaution, urging us not to overthink ambiguous matters or assume the worst.

By Norman Franklin

But sometimes, things are exactly as they appear. We have been conditioned to take things in stride, brush them off, and accept the narratives presented to us.

Since 2016, there has been a quiet but evolving assault on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). It has spread to state legislatures, where bills have been submitted, and policies crafted to limit DEI initiatives. Now, DEI programs are prohibited by executive order from the President. The argument? That DEI is bad for the country, that it divides us.

We have allowed the narrative on DEI policies, programs, and initiatives to be framed as racial preference. But it was never about that. DEI was always about equity and inclusion— about ensuring a level playing field for all qualified applicants.

The assault has targeted colleges, universities, and the labor force. Now, with executive orders prohibiting any recognition of DEI, the attack has expanded into media and network programming, particularly affecting on-camera personalities and support staff.

Recently, CNN and MSNBC reshuffled their program schedules, canceling several primetime shows. Notably, the canceled programs were primarily hosted by people of color (POC).

Joy Reid, the voice behind ReidOut, and one of the most outspoken figures in media, was canceled. Ayman Mohyeldin, Jonathan Capehart, Katie Phang, and Alex Wagner also fell under the purging axe.

Leadership changes and declining ratings were cited as justification for these moves. At face value, this seems plausible.

Changes at the top often signal a shift in network priorities. Rebecca Kutler is now the president of MSNBC. Some of the canceled programs did struggle with ratings, yet some lower-performing shows with white hosts were retained.

The post-election decline in viewership is not unusual. Progressive, left-leaning social and political programs saw a 46% drop in viewership in the first ten months of 2024. However, ratings rebounded after the inauguration, surging 86% in primetime viewership.

Things are not always what they appear to be. Although the shakeup walks like a duck, let’s try to interpret it from multiple perspectives.

MSNBC leadership may have overreacted to temporary ratings declines. Their impulsive decision to cancel POC-hosted programs failed to account for the cyclical nature of political news audiences.

Perhaps the network simply wanted a refresh— introducing a new lineup for a re-engaged audience. Network executives may have assessed that the underperforming shows were misaligned with their evolving brand, making restructuring a calculated move to strengthen primetime programming.

But we cannot ignore one glaring fact: all the canceled programs were hosted by POC. Is the network deliberately reducing its diversity footprint?

News media is protected by the First Amendment, yet we have entered a regressive era where the duck no longer hides but arrogantly walks. In today’s climate, it has become acceptable to boast of being racist, with little fear of consequence.

Another social idiom comes to mind—one embedded in the lyrics of a late 1960s R&B song. It was affirming, reminding us to reflect on our times, our space, and the circumstances we navigate in America’s social construct.

Whether on the dance floors of our favorite escapes or in the pews of our places of worship, we held onto hope—that rejection, oppression, and the devaluation of our contributions to America’s greatness were fading.

"Things are never as bad as they seem, it’s just thinking about it that makes it so mean," the song rhythmically chimed.

But this? This, we must think about.