Blog Buddy Research Task

Representation of black people in film

The intial cinematic silent period is important when discussing stereotypes and roles of black characters in film. The reason, according to Donald Bogle, is that the five basic stereotypes (Toms, Mulattoes, Mammies, Bucks and Coons) which would from then on dominate the African-Americans on screen, were introduced at that time.

The first black American character was portrayed on screen in the short motion picture 'Uncle Toms Cabin' by Edwin S Porter in 1903. Ironically and most likely due to the racial tensions of that time, the actor portraying the black man on screen was actually an unnamed white actor using make up to give himself a black face. The various stereotypes initially created through white actors portraying black characters were all used for the same outcome, the desire to entertain a predominantly white audience by creating, emphasising and enhancing the negative social ideologies toward african americans of the time, in which they were clearly regarded inferior to thier white colonialists (due to the slave era) and thus conveyed so onscreen.

As societies changed and time moved on African Americans were finally given the change to play the parts of black characters in film. Thus giving the characters more depth and realistic plausibility than the previous white actors with black faces, and became a ground breaking opportunity for Afican Amrican actors to become new stars within the movie industry. However unfortunately, many actors even till today find it hard to play dynamic, thought provoking, stimulating or any other diverse parts, and instead find themselves struggling to break free from the stereotypes they became wedged into, due to the creation of the five basic and solid stereotypes created previously by thier white co-actors, writers and directors.