Stereotypes Of Afro-American Women In Hollywood

On January 29th, 2016, Kevin D. Williamson a columnist of the National Review, wrote an article titled satirically titled On the Difficulties of the Movie Star. Williamson's argument revolves around the fact that although African Americans make up 12 percent of the US population, they are just six thousandths of a percent of the global population, and Hollywood is surely a “fully global enterprise”. He then reasons that it would be years even decades until an African American be nominated for an Academy Award if they were randomly distributed, just as it would be unlikely for ethnic minorities such as “Ukrainians or Comorians” to be nominated. He then stated that this shows African Americans, like white Americans are “overrepresented in Hollywood”.

During the 20th Century, it can be noted that minorities have made significant strides in securing their dreams and reaching equality in America. The advances such as the right to own land and the right to vote has defined America to be the “land of opportunity”. Despite the political advances obtained, minorities still suffer from the racist beliefs that have also been ingrained into American society. Although it has been long since these bigoted practices have been upheld by the law, it could be argued that supremacist ideologies and derogatory stereotypes are still seen in the entertainment industry. Historically, the portrayal of minorities, especially African Americans, has been less ideal.

Since today’s society is infatuated with celebrities, the Academy Awards hold prevalence in society and influence what kinds of stories the masses believe to be the most relevant or important. Denying black artists a chance to be recognized leads to fewer opportunities for growth and success. Brody states, “An Oscar or a nomination gives an actor’s career a boost, and for now, those boosts—those roles, that financing—remain limited mainly to white filmmakers and actors” (2). Since nominations tend to favor white artists, Brody claims they are the ones who have the most freedom to experiment with different genres. When the same types of people create the same types of movies about the same experiences, there are fewer films with thought-provoking and meaningful topics that “confront the unquestioned and enfeebled assumptions of artistic merit” (Brody 4).

Women have long been negatively stereotyped in American society, usually portrayed as submissive and passive while at the same time seen as disobedient and pushy. These contradictory representations are doubly imposed upon Black women. For example, there are common stereotypes ascribed particularly to African American women, such as the “promiscuous jezebel”. This stereotype, which evolved during slavery, continues to exist and still contributes to the harassment of African American women today. More specifically, it shapes how black women and others formulate beliefs and interactions regarding African American female sexuality. They are informed by historical experience and imagery therefore black women are perceived to be alluring and seductive with an uncontrollable sexual appetite. The characterization of African American women as a promiscuous Jezebels reaffirm society 's belief that African American women are less individualistic. Is it possible for black women to express sexuality while not conforming to stereotypes? In an attempt to redefine black sexuality, black female artists reclaim sexual identity as a representation of female desire as opposed to an objectification of male desire. For example, artists such as Zora Neale Hurston and Nicki Minaj have created recreated black female sexuality as self-possessed in order to counter negative images. By depicting black women’s sexuality as positive and enjoyable, this allows them to critically examine, challenge, and

Slavery began in America when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 to help with the production of profitable crops such as tobacco. In the United States, colorism began when slavery owners preferred slaves with light skin to work indoors and dark skinned women were sent to work outdoors in more grueling situations. Slave owners also engaged in sexual intercourse with light skinned women. Slave owners didn’t recognize their child as blood but they weren’t put to work outside along with the dark skinned slaves. Colorism is the principle that those with light, fair skin are treated with higher respect than those with darker skin. It is discrimination based on skin color in which people are treated differently based on the social meanings attached to their skin tone.

Over the past 20 years hip hop and Hollywood cinema have steadily maintained and produced cliché and stereotypical images of hyper sexuality, violence, and the inequality of African American roles within hip hop and Hollywood cinema. I believe that hip hop artists as well as Hollywood have still maintained these clichés and stereotypes, instead of focusing on dissolving them, and creating an equal basis of hip hop and Hollywood cinema, where white people and black people are looked upon as the same and equal. Through the years Hip Hop has garnered a wide basis of followers. Since its appearance in the 1970s, Hip Hop has kept the same themes, styles, and language without much deflection towards a more equal base and less racially charged genre.

For Todays topic I am going to discuss Black Entertainment Television (BET), an American basic cable and satellite tv channel. BET was started in 1979 as one of the first channels for African Americans. The goal was to reach the African American community in America with programming that was relevant to African American people. There has been controversy about whether or not it has played out well. BET has definitely affected media images of African Americans, but the question is, has it had a positive or negative effect? I believe that the networks content reinforces negative stereotypes of blacks in the U.S.

When the misrepresentation of POC in films becomes an indicator that we are not boldly confronting the issues needed to be confronted, a change must occur. As bell hooks and many other active progressive thinkers, emboldened by the current racial inequalities of our society, have asserted, pop culture has a significant impact on our perception of matter. In knowing the impact, it is imperative that in the concurring systematic oppressions we do not remain stagnant. Through a close examination of films: Pan, Braveheart, and Ghost in the Shell, we can vividly see how the overrepresentation of white expose the underlying oppression within our society. According to the statistics conducted by USC, there is an evident disproportion of minorities in both film and media. Yet, this disproportion is rarely challenged. The Oscars of 2016 became a visual catalyst in the need for proper representation. The prevalence of institutionalized racism in our current society can never truly be effaced if we fail to grasp its strong presence in popular culture. The existing racism in Hollywood explicitly displays a regression in racial equality in society. Hollywood is more than “sorority” racist; it is plagued by something far worse: It is plagued by institutionalized racism. The three movies and their whitewashed cast explore the racism within the system. In acknowledging the flaws, an effort should be made

Today, the entertainment industry has been amplified due to cinema emerging through the combination of new advancements in technology and has broaden the media and film industries horizons, the entertainment business has opened up the “opportunity gates” and has taken a turn for many minorities (African Americans, Hispanics, Asian, etc.) to live the dream and be a part of the uncontrollable whirlwind of entertainment. However, in some cases the media does not always shed the best limelight equally for each minority. For example, by looking at the past motion pictures and television shows that stared African Americans such The Fresh Prince of Bel Air- Mistaken Identity Episode, Will and Carlton getting pulled

Historically, women have participated in industry affairs. For as long as movies have been a major part of popular culture, women have written them (McCreadie 1-3). Movies in the 1930s alleviated nationwide sadness enacted by the Great Depression (McCreadie 67). However, just because they were able to enter the business did not mean they never struggled against hyper-masculine studio executives who overwrote their ideas. Lillian Hellman, exemplarily, wrote a script about Russia that studio heads promptly butchered to encourage anti-Russian attitudes in America (McCreadie 80). From this, one can deduce that women were commonly dismissed by male executives. Contemporary screenwriter Shonda Rhimes has also remarked on the absence of diversity in the film and movie industry and the way being a black woman has affected her career. Rhimes is a part of multiple minority groups which makes it easier for her to introduce sociopolitical issues into her TV shows and depict them from a genuine perspective that appears to people of color, women, and the LGBT members of her audience (ironically, all minorities, that when combined make up the majority of her viewers). Rhimes showed dissatisfaction at the need for identifiers in minority-led shows, such as “female-driven comedies” or “black shows” (Myers). While shows about white men are standard, anything otherwise must be specified. This demonstrates the horrifically abysmal shortage of women in the industry. Rhimes also remarked that she “was never going to get any further…if I just allowed myself to be the very nice girl who wrote stuff…all of the things that are possible are never going to happen if you’re busy waiting for someone to give you something. You have to take it” (Myers). While Hollywood’s issues with misogyny seem like an immovable object, these women prove to be the

Following the invention of the motion picture camera in the 1890’s, the American film industry has steadily grown for over 100 years. Compared to white actors who have always occupied a large portion of the roles in movies, actors of color have always been the minority in the industry. Throughout the century, the number of actors of color in films increased, but the consistent lack diversity in some of the most well-known Hollywood films has significantly contributed to the fact that black audiences have little representation, and as a result, it has reinforced the fact that institutionalised racism still widely exists in the film industry.

Film has played a profound effect on popular culture and the world, but it seems that the same Caucasian male faces appear in all films. People of color and women fail to see their self in film, as “the film industry still functions as a straight, white boy’s club” (Moraes, 1). James Baldwin is an activist and social critic concerning the rights of minorities, mainly African Americans. He notes that African Americans today are “worthless human beings” (Baldwin, 1) and are “not expected to aspire to excellence” (Baldwin, 1) as laid out by society. This is evident in Hollywood’s practice of underrepresenting minorities and women in film, just as nations fail to prevent the undercutting of women and minorities in all walks of life. To address

It is hard to believe that color was such a major factor as few as, 63 years ago. The color of one’s skin is often said to make them, unjustly, inferior, to someone with non-pigmented skin. The color of a person’s skin was the leading principle of unfair treatment throughout history. Skin color dictated what line an individual would stand in and what bathroom they could use. Throughout time, racism has evolved from the blatant disrespect to people of color, but yet, it still exists.

We live in a white supremacist society. There is a system set in place that favors white people and it’s been this way since the founding of America. Racism in Hollywood is no different, since its conception Hollywood’s preference for white faces has been clear and continuous. From the 1915 film Birth of a Nation to Cameron Crowe’s 2015 film Aloha, Hollywood’s has proven time and time again that we are not living in a post racial society. Racism within Hollywood can be seen in different forms, from its lack of diversity, negative stereotyping of people of color, and the age old white savior character.

Slave owners created a hierarchy among the slaves based upon skin color. Light-skinned slaves were given additional freedoms opposed to people with darker skin.(Lindsay) In society, African-Americans with lighter skin are perceived as more intelligent and less threatening. Statistics show that people were shown pictures of African-Americans with different skin complexions and the ones with lighter skin were seen as wealthier, more intelligent, happier and even more beautiful than people with dark skin.(Poupart) Colorism is defined as the attitude among African Americans discriminating against other African Americans because of their skin complexion, for instance being too light or too dark. After slavery ended in the U.S., colorism didn’t disappear. In black America, those with light-skin received employment opportunities off limits to darker-skinned African Americans. This is why upper-class families in black society were largely light-skinned. Soon, light skin and privilege were considered one in the same in the black community, with light skin being the sole criteria for acceptance into the black aristocracy. Upper blacks routinely administered the brown paper bag test to determine if fellow blacks were light enough to socialize with. The institution of American slavery from 1619 to 1865 has caused an everlasting effect on African-Americans. There is a very prominent idea of self hate amongst African-Americans due to slavery.