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.
This phrase has replaced some of the earlier titles that were used to label black people. It is considered the most politically correct way to speak about a person of African descent, because it acknowledges where black Africans came from and creates a sense of self-respect in their struggle to become American. Some of the older labels that have been discarded include “negro […,] and colored” (Cave). Now looked upon as offensive or demeaning, these words were used in the 1860’s during everyday American life. They were intended to obliterate any confidence in the slaves, but unintentionally led to unity among a discriminated people.
The second way is “Nigga” and that is used by African Americans when talking to their friend. The number one argument of this word is, why is it okay for African Americans to use this word if they are so entirely offended by it? That is the one question that seems to never be answered because what seems to be lack of responsibility in the African American race for refusing to stop using it themselves. In reality there is no positive way in which someone can use this word because in the dictionary it is defined as an insult. However, African Americans have taken a spin on the word and used it in pop culture.
He has smiled his way into people’s hearts; I have been obliged to fight my way.” Booker T. Washington made this powerful statement about one of the most controversial African Americans in history, Edgar “Bert” Williams. Bert Williams is an incredibly influential person in the history of acting. Many people may disagree with this statement. Instead of viewing Bert as influential, they might see him as controversial. 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.
Despite common expectation, that members of such a community should "know better", various forms of racism in the community have become so normalized that they are simply brushed off. Racism however is prevalent in the LGBTQ community and as a result Black Gay males suffer from the invisibility of a black gay voice as well as conflicting social identifiers, and even worst black gay stereotypes. In this essay, using the works of Rinaldo Walcott, Audre Lorde, and Ron Simmons, I will identify and analyze instance of racism in Toronto’s LGBTQ community, How stereotypes and the conditional acceptance within the community are the cause of black gay males being marginalized, excluded, and suffering while living with inequality on a regular basis. I will also explain how improving the current state of racial communications between individuals in the community can change the lives of the community and society. Within the LGBTQ Community, there are several instances of racism, that are swept under the rug.
He gives examples, such as the fact that most Blacks in the Deep South were still not able to vote and that racial violence was still occurring throughout the Nation. One of the most important ways that King got his objective to motivate across to his audience was by relating to the people and by already being a leader. If another person were to have given the exact same speech, they probably would not have succeeded in getting the same objective across. King was clearly an influential leader during the civil rights era and all Americans knew him as such. One of the skills he used most lucratively was the use of “master metaphors.” Terms such as “cash the check” of the “promissory note” (in reference to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution), aided him in getting the point across that Blacks in America had
How It Feels to Be Colored Me Race is a sensitive and emotional subject that most people shrink away from, especially in the case of African Americans. The injustice that was brought upon them in this country was unspeakable and still has a lingering effect on society today. Albeit rightly so, many African Americans harbor deep bitterness towards the way their ancestors were enslaved, but not Zora Hurston. In her essay, How It Feels to Be Colored Me, she explores the discovery of her identity and self-pride. Hurston employs colorful diction and figurative language to set the determined and proud tone of this piece.
In one confrontation involving Ras, Clifton, and the narrator, the Exhorter has many places where either his grammar is off or the words are spelled wrong for emphasis, “Come in with us, mahn. We build a glorious movement of black people/Taking their money is shit, mahn. Money without dignity- That’s bahd shit!” (371). The unnecessary presence of h’s in specific words only adds to the vision that Ellison makes. By including Ras in this fashion, he creates a stereotype view of the Black Race.
But, all of this was in the past and should stay there. The big problem is people still mentioning it and makes it an excuse for racism. From what I have experienced with my American black friends that when a whit man refer to them by the word “Nigger” they would fight him or at least call him “ cracker” to insult him. However, when I call them “niggers” they accept it as a complement and they call me “Nigger” too. Moreover, my black friends told me that if a whit people called you “Nigger” that’s mean they are racists, but if a black people call you that it is a complement between brothers.
King delivered one of the greatest speeches in American history. His speech has made a strong impact on the hearts of Americans about how badly African-Americans were being treated. King’s purpose of the speech is to provoke America to give African-Americans their promised freedom. Within the speech, King uses word choice, repetition, and metaphor to promote his main ideas. King uses word choice to contrast the negative past and present that the African-Americans have faced with the positive anticipated future.