Depictions Of African Americans In Films
Films and television shows have been portraying African-Americans in unfavorable comparisons compared to their Caucasian counterparts. These depictions reinforce stereotypes associated with the African-Americans. Studies show that these television portrayals influence the attitude of people towards one another. The first stereotype is thuggery. Most of the black male actors are characterized as con-artists, drug dealers, pimps, and other forms of criminals in films and television shows. These roles fuel racial stereotypes that African-Americans are dangerous. These films do not provide the social context, why most of the black men end up in prison. They overlook the fact that there are economic and racial injustices that work against the African-Americans (Schmader, Block, & Lickel, 2015). Also, there is racial profiling of the black men by the police department. …show more content…
The recent increase in the number of television shows has fueled this stereotype. Shows such as the Basketball Wives portray these women as the most aggressive and the loudest. According to black women, these depictions influence their careers and love life. The depiction of black womanhood in the screens does not live up to reality. The final stereotypes are the domestics. After hundreds of years of servitude, it is no doubt this is the reason they are portrayed as the mammy or domestic workers (Tukachinsky, Mastro & Yarchi, 2015). There was intense criticism after the production of the television show ‘The Help’ in the way it portrayed the black maids. Their work is to nurture and guide white
Films and television shows have been portraying African-Americans in unfavorable comparisons compared to their Caucasian counterparts. These depictions reinforce stereotypes associated with the African-Americans. Studies show that these television portrayals influence the attitude of people towards one another. The first stereotype is thuggery. Most of the black male actors are characterized as con-artists, drug dealers, pimps, and other forms of criminals in films and television shows. These roles fuel racial stereotypes that African-Americans are dangerous. These films do not provide the social context, why most of the black men end up in prison. They overlook the fact that there are economic and racial injustices that work against the African-Americans (Schmader, Block, & Lickel, 2015). Also, there is racial profiling of the black men by the police department. …show more content…
The recent increase in the number of television shows has fueled this stereotype. Shows such as the Basketball Wives portray these women as the most aggressive and the loudest. According to black women, these depictions influence their careers and love life. The depiction of black womanhood in the screens does not live up to reality. The final stereotypes are the domestics. After hundreds of years of servitude, it is no doubt this is the reason they are portrayed as the mammy or domestic workers (Tukachinsky, Mastro & Yarchi, 2015). There was intense criticism after the production of the television show ‘The Help’ in the way it portrayed the black maids. Their work is to nurture and guide white