Perception v. Reality “The mask which the actor wears is apt to become his face” - Plato When viewing the documentary, Ethnic Notions, one might wonder in what ways the stereotypical images viewed have affected the images of Blacks. Although one could argue that the images seen were only devised to appeal to people of that time, these images seen in the documentary have had a lasting impact on the psyches of Blacks even to this day. As the documentary indicates, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Blacks were perceived by America as contested stereotypical characters such as Uncle Tom, Mammy, Sambo and Zip Coon. Mammy, portrayed as being happy and content with her present condition, was used as a strategic aspiration to other female slaves. She was shown as the caregiver for the master’s kids, loving to the master’s kids, a tyrant to her own children, unattractive and pitch-black.
Amos ‘n’ Andy - a funny African American sitcom that based its comedy on stereotypical cultural personalities provided the time for blacks to discuss the issue of cultural bias with the world. (Yvonne) The portrayal of racial stereotypes in “Amos ‘n’ Andy” impacted the viewing audience by allowing them to view and understand the racial prejudice that was surrounding a minority group at that time. (Crystal – edits in red) The television show “Amos ‘n’ Andy” was originally on the radio where the characters were portrayed by white actors. Then it was moved to television at a time when racial activism and social movement was growing and because the American public needed a change with regard to their perception of African Americans as a whole. (Crystal) Amos ‘n’ Andy permitted the viewer’s to watch each week a middle class minority group that projected very negative stereotypes for a laugh.
Even so, the whites also need the blacks to be around and it makes the blacks look more superior unintentionally. The reason why the white people seem to demonize or look down the black people is because of the past story about the black people. The blacks are seen as if they are fraud and nothing more than armed gangsters. The setting of this film itself is in the Memphis, which has been known as one of destinations of African-Americans to live over these past 15 years. And, as long as I know the racial
Zook stressed that just like the Jacksons, other African American had great hopes for starting broadcasting and cable ventures; but very few have been succeeded. Zook expresses that African American programmers have troubled perceptions of what black audiences really want. Zook says some programmers think black people like to watch their lifestyles. Zook wrote an essay for The New York Times Sunday magazine, describing her account of no African American owned television and radio. Zook later said those that thought black people preferred gum-smacking, jive-talking sitcoms were proven wrong once again.
The characters we critiqued in film criticism class portrayed such different and unique styles of acting to their singing, dancing, race, and all of the above. However, before my process and journey through the exploration of the films, I believed that African Americans were depicted in a negative way but never to the extreme of which I learned in Film Criticism class. Before I took this course, I do feel as if African Americans were portrayed as positivity in past and current films. My reason for this opinion is because even though we may not have as much freedom and opportunities in today’s film industry, I feel as if a lot of the characters and roles that blacks played in the past were conveyed to the audience with passion, control, inspiration,
Erick Arellano Josue Arrendondo English 115 20Sept2012 That Ho Don’t Fly “At the close of this millennium, hip-hop is still one of the few forums in which young black men, even surreptitiously, are allowed to express their pain”(603). This excerpt from Joan Morgan’s From Fly-Girls to Bitches and Hos poignantly expresses the overall motif of the piece. Morgan makes several assertions about the relationship between female degradation in hip-hop music and the failings and shortcomings of black men being the product of society’s prejudicial treatment and in some cases outright abandonment. She does so with too few literary tactics. Off the bat Ms. Morgan makes use of Ethos and Logos.
“Black Like Me” is a shocking piece of literature capable of enticing anyone that dares read it. Now then, allow me to quickly summarize, review, and critique perhaps one of the most powerful mind changing books in human existence. Quickly summarizing “Black Like Me”, John Howard Griffin the narrator of the book is a writer and a resident of the State of Texas. He becomes aware that in order for him or other whites to fully understand the societal disadvantages that accompany being born with black skin he must become a Negro. Mr. Griffin takes the most extreme measure and although well aware of the repercussions that might follow, he decides to alter his skin pigmentation under the direction of a dermatologist.
Both Williams’ use of black stereotypes and participation in the “blackface” type of acting were considered negative and racist ways of portraying black people during this time period. He charmed his way past barriers that blacks had not been able to overcome, with a smile and comical attitude. Williams opened the door for black actors of his generation as well as for generations to come, in the film and stage industry. During this time, blacks were portrayed as “coons”, a stereotypical depiction what a “negro” was at this time: lazy, dishonest, and corrupt. “Blackface” actors represented the blacks as whites wanted to see them.
In Brent Staples essay entitled Black Men and Public Space, he discusses issues of him being racially profiled on several occasions, and because of this he had been falsely considered a threat on these occasions (Staples). With all the negativity in the media and in movies surrounding racial prejudice and profiling over the years it is only natural to assume that if someone was found to be in the same situations discussed in this essay they would probably react similarly to everyone described by Staples. For some people in Staple’s situation it is possible that they may even get angry and turn violent which would only make the stereotypes true, but for him he chose the alternative, which was to be a little more understanding of the situations by doing things that made these individuals around him feel safe and comfortable, i.e. whistling Beethoven or just giving them a little extra room when on his night walks. This essay also raises a good question, should it be ok for law enforcement or the government to use racial profiling to make arrest or to just simply stop someone because of their race?
However, they envision positive figures as white. Wise notes that environmental conditioning is the reason for white bias against black folks, and mass media report black people as criminals without enough evidence sometimes. Wise argues that black and white people are not equal until white people no longer have a racism bias against blacks, and black people need to challenge and encourage white people to break out of the racist box. Wise, finally, claims that those who carry the racism virus implicate our whole society in the sickness. With the Grain I always study up late until midnight; however, my roommate Sara often watches movies.