An Examination of Minstrel Show Archetypes
The most troubling element of stereotypes are typically their alleged roots in reality. We’ve all heard it said at some time that stereotypes of race, social cliques and economic classes are based on truth. This is what I find to be so dangerous about the archetypical characters found in early 20th century minstrel shows, many of which continue to be seen in modern media.
If we begin in a mental state of believing that all stereotypes are at least partially rooted in truth we have already alienated blacks from whites a fair deal. To do so not only makes the stereotypes in question seem harmless, but also socially ingrains that some part of it is the truth.
We become conditioned, as a society, to believe that black women are angry Sapphires, who are constantly looking for a fight. Stereotypes such as this one force even modern black women to white wash themselves, their own personalities and appearances, in order to seem
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sophisticated to pass as civilized. Essentially, they are told they need to be whiter so as not to intimidate white people. Black men must also overcome archetypes put in place roughly a century ago.
They too, must whiten themselves in order to not be automatically viewed as criminals and a general threat to whites. The modern version of a coon is not too different from the character that began it all, with a penchant for gambling, violence, and illicit behavior and substances. This stereotype unfortunately works hand in hand with the system of disenfranchisement running rampant in our country today.
And yet, perhaps the most worrisome of archetypes for me are those of the Savage and Pickaninnies. During the time surrounding the second world war, not too long after the establishment of these stereotypes, Hitler was giving speeches comparing the Jewish people as “rats”, and in Rwanda, Tutsi individuals were referred to as “cockroaches”. This is a system known as dehumanization and is often a key role in things such as slavery, but as noted above, it is also a key role in the rationalization of committing mass
genocide. While African Americans did suffer a period of dehumanization and slavery in America, we have not seen full scale national genocide of Black Americans. However, in light of recent events such as the deaths Trayvon Martin, Freddie Grey, Sandra Bland and countless others, it would not be far fetched to say that these archetypes have already done their damage, that a system of eradication is horrifyingly enough, not too distant from where we stand now. Of the African Americans killed by police in the last year, more than thirty-percent were recorded as being unarmed. The true problem with stereotypes is simple, not everyone seems to understand that they are not irrefutable truths. They are still used in media shape that way that blacks are viewed in America, and they are still used to justify the way that they are treated. It may seem harmless now, but it always does at first.
In the essays, “Turkeys in the Kitchen” by Dave Barry, and “Just Walk on By” by Brent Staples, they argue the theme of gender, and racial stereotypes that have been present in our world from the very beginning. Barry suggests through a sarcastic and humors tone that gender stereotypes have been present since before the start of time; he uses a highly conversational style to prove this, as well as narrates to give the reader a better understanding of exactly what he’s talking about. Staples, on the other hand, uses a more authoritative tone to support his theme of racial stereotyping; he also uses the mode of rhetoric exemplification to his benefit, and is able to show the audience that this issue is just as important as the gender stereotypes that take place in our society still today. Barry believes that despite the fact that people are against stereotypes they still will always fall back on them; and Staples believes that people need to change themselves in order to not fit into those common stereotypes. They prove this through the history of gender discrimination in the 19th century factories, and through the 1970-1980’s and also up until today’s racial discrimination in the media. However, if we all hate stereotypes, then why do we always seem to be falling back on them?
Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, we are presented with various representations of stereotypes involving numerous characters of all ages. Due to specific encounters, we are faced with repeated stereotypical situations. For example, Walter Cunningham is a poor, misunderstood boy who comes from an underestimated family name. Along with the main character Scout, who narrates the story from a young age and finds herself constantly reminded to be the lady she is not. In like manner, Tom Robinson is familiar with the ways of Maycomb, Alabama who easily loses hope with his case of an alleged rape. Walter, Scout and Tom all validate as victims of stereotyping, but from the goodwill within and taking the time to understand someone beforehand,
3) Stereotypes of Race “Who, Negroes? Negroes don’t control this school or much of anything else – haven’t you learned even that? No, sir, they support it, but I control it. I’s big and black and I say ‘Yes, suh’ as loudly as any burrhead when it’s convenient, but I am still the king down here” (Ellison
In class, we watched a film called Ethnic Notions. In this film, it brought to light how devastating and powerful images can be. Due to exaggerated images and caricatures created pre-civil war era of black men and women, stereotypes were created and have negatively affected the black race in society. Caricatures, such as the Sambo, Zip Coon, Mammy, and Brute, have unfortunately been engrained in the minds of generations. So much so their stereotypes still persist today.
The movie 'Ethnic Notions' describes different ways in which African-Americans were presented during the 19th and 20th centuries. It traces and presents the evolution of the rooted stereotypes which have created prejudice towards African-Americans. This documentary movie is narrated to take the spectator back to the antebellum roots of African-American stereotypical names such as boy, girl, auntie, uncle, Sprinkling Sambo, Mammy Yams, the Salt and Pepper Shakers, etc. It does so by presenting us with multiple dehumanized characters and cartons portraying African-Americans as carefree Sambos, faithful Mammies, savage Brutes, and wide-eyed Pickaninnies. These representations of African-Americans roll across the screen in popular songs, children's rhymes, household artifacts and advertisements. These various ways to depict the African ?American society through countless decades rooted stereotypes in the American society. I think that many of these still prevail in the contemporary society, decades after the civil rights movement occurred.
Minstrelsy, or minstrel shows, were a widely popular form of entertainment during the eighteenth century that consisted of comedic acts of white people negatively impersonating the African American population as lazy, unintelligent, and superstitious with offensive theatrical makeup called blackface. While minstrel shows encouraged the promotion of music and what Americans may have considered to be the high points of black culture in some shows, they also showed extreme discrimination and racial inequality. With the rise of minstrelsy also came the growing influence that these negative caricatures had on society and culture, even literature. One literary work creates a large amount of controversy even today because of its seemingly racial and discriminatory plot; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is controversial only because of Twain's accurate depiction of the social issues of the time, especially race. Mark Twain himself loved minstrel shows, and because he accurately portrays his characters as products of their time, including Jim, the different caricatures of the stereotypical black slave are evident in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, where Jim rejects the stereotypical blackface portrayal of minstrelsy.
For many years, African Americans have faced the challenge of being accurately and positively portrayed within mainstream media, such as American made films. They are often represented as people who are inferior to those of the Caucasian race, and are frequently presented with problems that are related to racial discrimination. The portrayal of African Americans in media such as movies has often been considered a large contributing factor to the racial tensions that still exist in our world today (Lemons, 1977). The movie, To Kill a Mockingbird, sheds light on the portrayal of African Americans in movies, and how stereotypes can greatly impact the lives of those who are not of the Caucasian race.
... also appear racist on the basis of the ideology that still exists in some parts of the world, that the white race is superior over the black race.
For many years, racial and ethnic stereotypes have been portrayed on multiple television programs. These stereotypes are still illustrated on a day-to-day basis, even though times have changed. Racial or ethnic stereotypes should not be perpetuated on certain television programs. These stereotypes provide false information about groups, do not account for every person, allow older generations to influence younger generations, create tension between groups, and affect people in many ways. To begin, racial or ethnic stereotypes on certain television programs provide false information about groups of people.
At one point in time, these stereotypes may have been true; however, in today’s modern society, most of these stereotypes are outdated and false, which leads them to turn into misconceptions. Usually, stereotypes are utilized to humiliate and degrade the person or group; they also do not provide any beneficial outcomes. Stereotypes focus on how a particular group acts because of the radical ideas and actions of the few, how a particular group looks, or how that group is physically lacking in some way. These stereotypes often lead to conflicts because the group does not appreciate the way it is perceived. Seldom are the stereotypes placed on a group of people truthful and accurate.
...nd attractive. It creates a double consciousness that is difficult to reconcile. Carla Williams argues that “given the legacy of images created of black women… it is an especially complex task for contemporary black women to define their own image, one that necessarily both incorporates and subverts the stereotypes, myths, facts and fantasies that have preceded them. (Wallace-Sanders et.al, 196) The root of the problem lies within our society. While very culpable, mainstream music and advertisements are not the only promoters of female objectification; the key is unwinding the inner tensions between these two groups. There is a need for the promotion of female solidarity, regardless of their skin color. We need to rid society of the evil of racism—only then will conceptions surrounding African Americans parallel and be as positive as those surrounding white women.
In conclusion, stereotypes are always going to come in different shapes and forms. We may not realize it at first, but we need to know they are there. In order for stereotypes to be broken, people need to stop feeding people what they think it is to be something or someone they have no idea about. Stereotypes come from uneducated biased people and with that cause a lot of false information. We need to change what information we give out because we are hurting other humans with our assumptions.
Everyone in their lifetime have been ignorant to other race at least once in their lifetime. This comes from the stereotypes of each race. Such as “ all black people eat watermelon and love fried chicken” or “ all Latinos are immigrants and work for little pay”. Without having experience with other race, individuals tend to stick to with what they know and confront people with knowledge based off of stereotypes. Stereotypes were meant to categorize others and [put down] various racial identities. I believe they we 're made to make it [easier] for individuals to have categorizes. Your brain tend to group things so you no longer need to consider information about each individual member of the group.The term “acting white” has been around for
Bleaching even though it as existed from slavery days was not so prevalent in the 1800s this is why men and women practiced mental bleaching has I call it. They bleach true the use marriage, they marry some body of a lighter skin or give birth to a child of lighter complexion. This was a form of upward mobility, a step closer to whiteness. This mate or offspring would change their status, their color and hence their life. The woman in the star is part of a great number of women in Jamaica and a across the world who are subjecting themselves to beauty rituals such as bleaching. This is done to keep a breast in a world of white supremacy. To neglect these rituals to these women are to fall behind and to be loss in a sea of just another ugly, black woman with no hope or future.
There are several factors that play a role in the development of stereotypes. The biggest learning of stereotypes come from family influences. Young children don’t see color or hold beliefs about culture and religion, but as they grow up, their ideas about people change with the people that they are surrounded by and associated with. Stereotypes also come from the media and social categorization (Ferguson). In young l...