African American Stereotypes in the Film Industry - 982 Words

African-Americans have long endured demeaning and misrepresentative images within the film industry and American society as a whole. In the early 20th century, an abundance of films depicted an idealized vision of life in the south, in which blacks were happily subservient to their role as the property of their white masters. The roles of black characters were also portrayed by white actors in blackface. Blackface was a form of theatrical makeup used to represent an image of a black person and was employed as a means to portray negative images of African-Americans and to showcase them in an inferior light. Fortunately, the use of blackface dwindled as it was considered extremely offensive and derogatory, although the practice still remains in use today though very limited due to the rightful stigma surrounding it. However, the negative portrayals of African-Americans in film did not end there and continued for a long time after. African-Americans were still confined to roles which of ten portrayed blacks as incompetent, child-like, hyper-sexualized, and criminal. Even the more positive roles offered to African-Americans provided limited options and reinforced the belief that the proper social position for African-Americans was that of a servant who was devoted to his or her white masters and to upholding that particular social order. These roles were often as loyal servants, mammies, and butlers - some even found great success and prominence in these roles, most notablyShow MoreRelatedThe Stereotypes Of African Americans1347 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican Americans have been oppressed ever since slavery was abolished and it seems to be a never-ending cycle. White Americans oppressed the black population because they needed a way to remind everyone of their so-called supremacy. They did this through many different ways but the most common were by theatrical performances. 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