The last class we watch a film about African Americans and how they were treated and depicted. Then we were to think about if the illustrations of these African Americans would do more harm than good. Does it affect them still to this day?
Here are my thoughts as I watched the movie. I was very surprised at the monkey like features of the African American people. They were viewed as having huge lips, wide eyes, very large feet and hands that almost seemed to drag as they walked, and terrible teeth. Their features were overly exaggerated. I believe these Jim Crow images were very devestating to the African American people. It made them seem unintelligent. The only job the can obtain and maintain were servant like jobs. Not only this but they also made the African Americans come across as very lazy, unintelligent, child like and always avoiding work when they can.
Then they were depicted with smiles and happy go lucky looks about them that it made it seem that slavery was not such a terrible institution and being that they are so lazy and avoid work at all costs they are lucky these white people are even allowing them to work for them.
These pictures were horrible and it did harm the image and reputation as African Americans even to this day. I mean just take a social program such as welfare for example. There can be two women walking down the street each with three-five kids. One woman is white while the other is black. The first thing that will most likely jump in many peoples minds is that the Black lady is on welfare and she will be having another kid in a few years to stay in the program so she wont have to work. Without even knowing either of their stories we have just passed judgement on these two women. I'm not saying this to be racist or prejudice but I believe many people are guilty of thinking that way one time or another.
So yes these illustrations and all the ways African Americans were depicted in the Jim Crow south has had a huge negative impact on them back then as well as today.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I agree that the images portrayed in this film have had a negative impact on African Americans. Not only were they seen as "ugly," but also as "unintelligent." when someone is seen as unintelligent and "baffon-like" it is extremely difficult to take that person seriously. No wonder African Americans had immense struggles after slavery to move on and upward in society.
This film did show some very degrading images of African Americans. In cartoons and drawings, certain features of the African American were emphasized that supposedly differ from white Americans. It seems to me that these images were aimed at highlighting constructed racial differences between blacks and whites in an attempt to make African Americans seem very different from whites. These images were another way for white Americans to oppress black people.
I agree, I think a lot of the exaggerated almost ape or animal like features were just a way of justifying the cruelty of slavery. Likewise, long after emancipation, like we saw in the movies and cartoons from the 30s and 40s, images like these justified segregation and racial violence.
You make an interesting point at the end about how these images have remained with us, including in politics with the image of black welfare abusers. It reminded me of how the Republican party just recently apologized for its use of 'the Southern Strategy' for many years: that is, quietly courting racist voters with the use of none-too-subtle racial overtones during campaigns.
Post a Comment