The United States

Finally, there is the stereotype of Sloan’s brother, Julius, or Big Blak Africa. This is one of the most easily recognizable stereotypes; the stereotype of a thug. Big Blak does not conform to any white ideals and rejects all things white, going so far as to remove the “C” from “black” as he believed that it had Caucasian connotations. Stereotypes for Big Blak can be seen in his dress and mannerisms, as well as in the people that he chose to keep company with. They listened to stereotypical rap music and were often seen

Minstrel performers where as the film described, a group of white Caucasians that would perform with black face paint and mock African Americans. This form of entertainment grew popular and provided one of the strongest depiction of the Sambo. Right next to the Sambo was the Zip Coon, a dandy, and a buffoon, a Zip Coon would attempt to imitate whites. But with poor grammar and with little to no intelligents the Zip Coon's attempts proved to be a nothing more then a racist mockery. Therefor creating a generalization of Stupidity with in the African American population and creating a notion of Racial inequality. Also with the Sambo and Zip Coon was the Mammy. The mammy is described and viewed as a jolly, obese, African American women, the strongest Mammy depiction was first evident in the film Judge Priest in 1934. The Uncle figure was depicted in similar nature as the Mammy but in male form and a depiction called the Pickaninny provided a generalization of silly and worthless African American Child.

Staples experienced his first stereotype when a terrified woman perceived him as dangerous. Initially, he was surprised, embarrassed and dismayed all at once because “he was too soft to kill a chicken let alone hold a knife to a person’s throat.” However, he personally knows the draws for young thugs, and realizes that the woman had reason to fear such people. This also helps his argument, particularly because it appeals to pathos and fear of being misjudged wrongfully. Furthermore, it clarifies his emphasis that it mattered to him how he was viewed by others and being judged based solely on race is wrong because he used the words “fear” and weapon.”

In the 1800s, minstrel shows took America by storm. These shows demonstrated characteristics of African-Americans that confirmed stereotypes that many whites believed at the time. Several characteristics were over exaggerated through characters. One character in particular, Zip Coon, was an extremely dehumanizing stereotype. At first, Zip Coon was an arrogant individual who would try to be high class but was too ignorant. Ultimately, Zip Coon combined with Jim Crow to create the “coon” stereotype.

Stereotypes are defined as an oversimplified image or idea about a specific type of person. It is believed that stereotypes about African Americans began in the United States around the 18th century. Anti-Black stereotypes arguably the most developed racist stereotypes in racial framing and have been used as foundations for the capture, enslavement, and later, the subjugation of African American people. Stating that stereotypes are just a joke is an understatement of the consequential after – math racial images and stereotypes have on the African American population. Even stereotypes that are considered positive are often concealed with negative implications and reasons as to why they exist. Most people may think they only hold stereotypes in the back of their head, but studies show that people are more likely to fall back on them in making judgments when they feel challenged, face uncertainty, or experience sensory overload. Using information from class, comparisons from the films we have watched and Ed Guerrero’s Framing Blackness, this paper will analyze the stereotypes in the television show Empire.

Blackface performances were popular in American theaters for roughly 100 years, beginning around the 1830’s. In 1950’s blackface minstrel shows, white and black performers were not able to share the stage therefore they opted to paint their faces black with polish. These “black” characters were always portrayed as either villains or comedic. Blackface had been used to make arguments for slavery and why African Americans should not be given full human rights. These are narratives created by white men that were made to oppress and dehumanize an entire race of people. The minstrel show clip titled “Cotton and Chick Watts Blackface Minstrel Show Comedy” we are shown a very degrading performance put on by two white

The narrator encounters racial stereotypes throughout the novel. He first encounters Tod Clifton selling Sambo dolls on the streets. Clifton is singing a jingle trying to promote the dolls:

Different archetypes have been used to represent black people through television, live performances, and film. These stereotypes consisted of “Coon”, “Mulatto”, “Mammy”, and “Tom” (site—Johnson). Prior to films and television, African American’s were depicted by white actors wearing “blackface” in which white people entertained audiences through plots that portrayed African Americans in stereotypical ways that had prevailed since the time of slavery. “Coon” for instance, was created as a from of comedy and amusement for white individuals, as this image allowed for comic relief through idiocy. “Coons” had, in essence, a low level of intelligence with minimal common sense. Their dull-wittedness advocated the view that African American people were unintelligent beings who were incompetent and unable to formulate intelligible thoughts. This further reinforced the idea that African American people were in need of instruction and guidance from white individuals—just as they did during slavery—in order for African Americans to sustain and remain alive, or else they would be damaged by their own incapabilities. Similar to the “Coon”, Mammy was also a common character who was portrayed as an obese and grumpy woman who also provided comic relief to white folks. Mammy’s creation was

These images idea became very popular and people came to believe that all blacks fit those

There are three stereotypes offered today and taught to many: the angry black stereotype: Always pointing his finger at the rest of the world and had appeared so often that it was all that people knew. The noble Negro, who was always victimized by whites and could only be saved by the good will of other whites. And the urban outlaw stereotype, which is the violent or criminal outlaw that is most popular today. What is left out is the middle class, the people supporting a family, volunteering at school, attending church, and seeking the American dream .

Racial stereotyping started in America during the beginning days of slavery. Many racial stereotypes involving mental and physical capabilities was initiated from slave owners. White slave owners projected their own

In “Going to Meet the Man” by James Baldwin the reader opens up with a scene that is considered one of the most horrific torture and murder scenes in history; or of the 1940’s. The story is so graphic that it takes you away from the main idea of racism, hatred and murder. Nevertheless, the theme of the story is a transformation of a young child into a stereotypical Black Southern-American hating bigot. Through dramatic detail Baldwin explains the mindset of a white southern police officer and how he came to hate Black-Americans. This was representative of the racial, violent black South because this exemplified what happens to most white-Americans and how they are brained washed unknowingly to hate anyone that does not resemble the same

Although initially the stereotype may have been developed to serve as a way of fighting slavery within the community, the reality is that it later on extended far beyond these bounds. It would be imperative for one to consider the possible impact that the presentation of the stereotype could have had on the people in the community. It got to a point that the idea of the Sambo was even evident in literature in children stories, thousands of artifacts, restaurant names and menus and even some of the music titles gave an idea of this stereotype (Johnson 48). The white men, women and children in the community embraced the overall view of the African American male as the fat, wide-eyed grinning black man. The stereotype was perpetuated over and over in the centuries till it got to a point that it shaped the enduring attitudes of people towards the African American

The Sambo was a stereotypical portrayal of blacks that helped whites alleviate their guilt over slavery. This story helped them to continue to see themselves as the principled, righteous and the rightful dominant race, “…The myth of sambo resolved both Moral and political conflict of allowing slavery in a free society” (Film: Ethnic Notions) This story of Sambo, the happy slave and later Zip Coon helped provide whites proof that blacks were meant to be slaves, “…provided a double edge defense of slavery. Zip coons proof of blacks ludacris failure to adapt to freedom and sambo, the fantasy of happy darkies in their proper place.” (Film: Ethnic Notions) Instead of slavery as an abominable thing, the propaganda of Sambo flipped the

He has a droopy hat riddled with holes and is wearing unbuttoned overalls with fabric patches, looking like a poor farmboy. Also, he committed a crime against his better judgement, just to get a few bucks which shows his low economic status. Sambo’s socioeconomic status and appearance encourage feelings of superiority over the stereotypical poor, unhuman African-American.