The issue of race still remains one of the most prevalent topics in American existence. From the remnants of colonial past to the more recent systemic inequalities highlighted by the Black Lives Matter Movement, racism has left undeniable marks on the American psyche and has infiltrated every facet of American existence from housing, employment, education and the criminal justice system. Representation of race in the media is therefore imperative as the media today serves a more powerful cause than it ever has; not only is it a form of entertainment, but a tool used for shaping perceptions, narratives and ultimately discourses within society. It is within this context that “The Wire” emerges. “The Wire”, through its raw and unfiltered portrayal of the racial dynamics of the 2000s Baltimore, can serve as a blueprint based on which societal landscape of ethnic America can be mapped. That is precisely the goal of this thesis. Firstly, historical context was established; through the neoliberal past of America, economic failure of industrial cities has been mapped, with attention drawn to Baltimore through a systematic dismantlement of its failing educational, healthcare and judicial systems.Then the focus was shifted on the show and its faithful portrayal of the said failing systems. Through neoliberal critique, the class situation of impoverished African-Americans was examined; CRT provided useful analysis of the show's portrayal of the decline of the systematic social nets; Fanon's and DuBois’ concepts of white gaze and double consciousness were used in order to analyze characters at a micro level, establishing them as victims of a failing and inherently racist system.