Lecture Notes: History and Impact of Black Stereotypes in Media

Introduction

Examination of the perception vs. reality of Black identity.
Discussion on systemic racism in media, emphasizing the #OscarsSoWhite movement of 2015 and 2016.
Importance of looking at historical and ongoing stereotyping of Black characters in media.

Minstrelsy and Early Film: Black characters often depicted by white actors in blackface.
Systemic Racism: Stereotypes were crafted to justify slavery.

Faithful Servants
- Mammy Trope: Desexualized, loyal, and devoted to white families.
  - Example: Hattie McDaniel's role in "Gone with the Wind."
- Uncle Tom Figure: Subservient and docile, originating from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s "Uncle Tom’s Cabin."
  - Evolved into a derogatory term for subservient Black people.
- Modern Descendants: Include 'Magical Negro' trope.
Unfit for Society
- Sambo and Coon Caricatures: Black people portrayed as lazy, unintelligent.
- Coon Caricature's Impact: Influenced policies such as the myth of the welfare queen.
- Angry Black Woman (Sapphire): Depicts Black women as aggressive, domineering.
Animalistic Portrayals
- Hypersexualization: Jezebel stereotype for women; Brute/Mandingo for men.
- Dangerous Myths: Used to justify violent policies like lynching.

Continued Presence: Modern films and TV shows still contain remnants of these stereotypes.
Satirical Responses:
- Films like Spike Lee’s "Bamboozled" critique these stereotypes.
- Use of satire to expose and ridicule harmful depictions.

Overpolicing and Brutalization: Stereotypes contribute to justification of systemic racism.
Examples of Counteraction:
- Black Lives Matter protests highlight and push back against these issues.

Importance of critical viewing and understanding media representations.
Encouragement to seek nuanced depictions and question ingrained cultural stereotypes.
MUBI Streaming Service: As a source for diverse, less-mainstream films.