A Closer Study At Mammy - 1851 Words

A closer study at Mammy, the quintessential Southern African-American nanny, as the core icon of African-American womanhood, during the Civil War, particularly in films, who has figured prominently on memory, reveals that her depiction and characteristics skewed the collective and individual memory of the role of real African-American women, such as Harriet Tubman. This powerful figure in Southern households created stereotyped images of African American women slaves, i.e. Gone with the Wind (1939), allowing audiences to believe this to be an accurate depiction of African American women rather than recognizing the major contributions they made in the Civil War. The stereotype overshadowed the real efforts and work of African American women, both enslaved and freed; and left a false image which affected women then and now. Particularly, in Civil War era films, African American women were predominantly shown as having a robust figure, a constant smile, and a happy disposition, i.e. mammies. â€Å"By the time the flood of Civil War features began in 1908, these racist cliches were set in stone† (Chadwick 80). The archetype of Mammy became a stereotype created by white producers in an effort to portray African American women in a more pleasing light, to satisfy white audiences. Filmmakers actions created an intensified racial stereotype and instilled a false image of African Americans. Chadwick called this â€Å"the Hollywood black†: a racial viewpoint filmmakers created about blacks.Show MoreRelatedBlack Women‚Äà ´s Identity in American Media and Culture1601 Words   |  7 Pageswe viewed in our own communities? Black women and their hair are so diverse. Do black women who straighten their hair hate themselves? This is a common belief among many people. Many think that women who straighten their hair are trying to get closer to whiteness and further from African heritage. There are many different reasons why a black woman would straighten her hair. Black experience in America has greatly shaped the black woman’s image of herself through white supremacy, slavery, andRead MoreThe Battle Of The Civil War1627 Words   |  7 PagesWind, it is the character of Mammy (played by Hattie McDaniel), another black maid, who embodies the film s implication that the social environment of the southern plantation was stable and even ideal. Mammy runs the day-to-day operations of the household, and has an unhinged sense of loyalty to her masters. The issue of slavery is not central to the film s plot, so it is not necessarily expected for it to define Mammy s relationship with her masters. 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France obviously captivated Wordsworths attentionRead MoreThe Impact Of Media On The Media2801 Words   |  12 PagesRaced: The Causes Behind the Misrepresentation of Blacks in the Media Mammies to nannies, bucks to thugs and deadbeats, servants to crooks in positions of power: this is the evolution of Black images in the media. Although in more recent years, it seems that film and television representation has evolved for the better, there are always messages that are not positive being subliminally sent through to the viewing audience. Regarding this, movie and television show characters are not the only representationsRead MoreEssay on Media Influence on Black Children5404 Words   |  22 Pagesself-esteem became very popular among whites and some blacks. The Amos ‘n Andy Show was taken off air after being protested by blacks including the NAACP. Through the years shows came a long way in the portrayal of blacks as slaves, maids or the jolly Mammy. Schools in the 1950s were segregated, poorly funded and focused primarily on industrial education. Children were hard pressed to find information about Black/African-American history especially in school texts. The media helped solve the lack ofRead MoreMandinka Empire21578 Words   |  87 PagesBound to Africa: the Mandinka Legacy in the New World Schaffer, Matt. History in Africa, Volume 32, 2005, pp. 321-369 (Article) Published by African Studies Association DOI: 10.1353/hia.2005.0021 For additional information about this article http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/hia/summary/v032/32.1schaffer.html Access Provided by your local institution at 03/10/13 1:43PM GMT BOUND TO AFRICA: THE MANDINKA LEGACY IN THE NEW WORLD MATT SCHAFFER I I offer here a theory of â€Å"cultural convergence