Just wanted to make a quick post…
In my African Americans in Films class (which I got an A in, thank you very much), we talked about how Black women were portrayed in both film and television. One of the things that we talked about (besides the obvious music video crap) is that in films dating back to the 50s, Black women have always been the crux of overt sexuality and/or over the top humor.
My professor went on to tell us that Black women in films (from back in the day and in some cases of the present) were usually presented as dark skinned, overweight and complacent. A good example would be Imitations of Life.
I know what it is that I’m trying to say but it’s hard to really put it into words. What brought all of this to mind was watching Legally Blonde and Maid in Manhattan. In Legally Blonde, Elle was teaching them to the ‘bend/snap’…why did it have to be a big ass black woman hopping and acting a damn fool while doing the dance, while her white peers were simply ‘doing’ the damn bend/snap? I mean, she was so over the top that it was ridiculous (oh and don’t get me started on the ‘too little’ windsuit and braids).
Then, in Maid in Manhattan, Marisa (Jennifer Lopez) was in the maids’ quarters talking to her three co-workers about going to a function to let her ‘admirer’ know that they couldn’t see each other anymore. They had this big Black woman just being over the top and semi-ghetto.
Why is it that we have to be oversexualized or portrayed as being out of control? Why is it that we can’t have couth or class?
Just an observation….
COMMENTS
It’s a mess. You had me literally laughing out loud girl.
I couldn’t remember exactly what the black lady in Legally Blonde looked like until you mentioned that small ass windsuit and the braids. The whole scene immediately played in my head. Lol. You are crazy!
Tashinkashae1:I understand exactly what you’re trying to say and what you mean. I just bought a movie called Hallelujah(1929). One of the first film talkies, had an all black cast, and produced by MGM studios. Thing is, it wasn’t written by a person of color as is most of these outrageous characters. This is how they make us safe to watch in the homes of white people by making us overly happy. In this movie these people were sharecroppers picking cotton and smiled and sang all day long with not a care in the world. Seriously? Only a person in Hollywood could make up some stuff like that. I got so off topic. Anyway since this is so long…the lead woman was portrayed as this loud, jive talking, evil seductress. I quit. This takes too much to explain but i feel you ;o)
Jia:@tashinkashae: No I had to watch Hallelujah in that same film class. The girl that you’re talking about was more than a seductress. That girl was a straight up hoochie and GOLD digger! OMG I remember watching that movie and getting SO pissed off! I could not believe that!! That movie irked me something fierce!! This was probably the 2nd movie we watched in that film class!
Waiting:Great post! I’m still mad at Queen Latifah for making that monstrosity with Steve Martin a few years back.
Lisa:@waiting – co-sign. She can’t even fall back on the excuse that she was young and trying to break through. Queen just sold us out for a little cash. These roles won’t go away until “actors” stop taking them, and since Hollywood is generally soulless I think it’s just going to continue. Look at reality TV – black folks acting all kinds of stoopit for 15 minutes and 15 cents.
NJoy:i just finished my undergrad in media studies, so i can totally relate to your outrage. im not sure what you’re majoring in, but the more film classes you take, especially those focusing on early 19th century cinema, the more you will begin to see this country’s ugly, racist legacy. And at the expense of blacks and other people of color, too. The “othering” of non-whites and the blackface, redface (peep the representations of native americans in early westerns), brownface (check out charlton heston in touch of evil by wells), yellowface (a title is not coming to me, but you get it) is all going to tug at all types of emotions you have. Nonethless, these films are worth studying for many reasons. Anyway, all that to say, congrats on your A and good for you for asking the right questions. Have lots of fun and best of luck on your journey of deconstructing film and its industry, and connecting their impact on the masses. Shit is deep.