The documentary Ethnic Notions is both eye opening and heart breaking. Director Marlon Riggs delves into the racist history of depictions of African Americans. Furthermore, the correlation between these depictions and the beauty standard within the Black community are highlighted. Caricatures of African Americans are woven into the fabric of American culture.
Prior to seeing the film, I was not aware of the nursing rhymes and children books featuring "little nigger children". Educators from the University of California Irivne offered insightful information regarding the ramifications of pickaninny images. Depictions of pickaninnies furthered notions that Blacks, particularly Black children were subhuman. These stories often illustrated Black children getting killed in ways that were perceived to be comical. Such illustrations trivialized the lives of African American children. The devaluing of Black lives through cartoon is linked to the state of Black lives in America in the 21st century. Like pickaninny imagery, the mammy stereotype has stood the test of time.
The film pointed at problematic images of Aunt Jemima, and Hattie Daniels. In the 21st century, Black male comedians have picked up the torch of the mammy. Many comedians such as Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy have dressed as mammy figures for comedic purposes. Recently, men have gained popularity on social media for wearing over exaggerated make up and dressing like women. I think that the long history of imitating Black women, and the success that many have gained from doing so is one of the main reasons Black men continue to do it.
Interestingly, mammy figures had a unique function during slavery. Mammy's debunked gender norms.They were strong matriarchs who did not have the luxury of buying into "the role of a woman". One of the cons of mammy imagery is, the belief that Black women are strong and can withstand anything. This belief is often used as a justification to abuse Black women.
Prior to seeing the film, I was not aware of the nursing rhymes and children books featuring "little nigger children". Educators from the University of California Irivne offered insightful information regarding the ramifications of pickaninny images. Depictions of pickaninnies furthered notions that Blacks, particularly Black children were subhuman. These stories often illustrated Black children getting killed in ways that were perceived to be comical. Such illustrations trivialized the lives of African American children. The devaluing of Black lives through cartoon is linked to the state of Black lives in America in the 21st century. Like pickaninny imagery, the mammy stereotype has stood the test of time.
The film pointed at problematic images of Aunt Jemima, and Hattie Daniels. In the 21st century, Black male comedians have picked up the torch of the mammy. Many comedians such as Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy have dressed as mammy figures for comedic purposes. Recently, men have gained popularity on social media for wearing over exaggerated make up and dressing like women. I think that the long history of imitating Black women, and the success that many have gained from doing so is one of the main reasons Black men continue to do it.
Interestingly, mammy figures had a unique function during slavery. Mammy's debunked gender norms.They were strong matriarchs who did not have the luxury of buying into "the role of a woman". One of the cons of mammy imagery is, the belief that Black women are strong and can withstand anything. This belief is often used as a justification to abuse Black women.
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