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Hollywood stereotypes like Steppin Fetchit had a lasting effect on Black Americans. (352 hits)


Hollywood sought to curve the rise of black nationalism in the 1930s by introducing characters that would depict them as dumb, stupid, lazy and shiftless. Directors gave them roles as comedian so as to get African Americans laughing at the same time subliminal subduction of the obvious. Steppin Fetchit, Amos and Andy are only a few of the characters depicted in Hollywood as examples of the way Black folk should behave in society. Head down, uncertain, unclear and vagrant. This was growing as Marcus Garvey and the Nation of Islam was stirring up the masses with a sense of black pride. For those that wanted nothing to do with the likes of Marcus Garvey and the Nation of Islam,there was the Hollywood characters generating laughter at the same time as implanting the seed of laziness and shiftlessness among African Americans for generations yet to come.
Posted By: jamal Abraham
Thursday, May 13th 2010 at 7:14PM
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Today, my people's head is not down so much but we see the pants and trousers down.
Friday, May 14th 2010 at 10:18AM
jamal Abraham
yourPeople's pants and trousers are down from PrisonAnalogies

Friday, May 14th 2010 at 10:36AM
robert powell
Yes, but look at how the Chinese were once depicted. Even ridiculed. But were able to chart their own course and look at them [as a group] now. Those early depictions of Blacks were a sign of THEIR times, it's history to me and mine. It has no impact today whatsoever.

That being said, I appreciate you trying to light a fire under people. I've tried too, many times, but to little avail. Our people think one way and hard to get their heads turned around. Trust me, it's like arguing with a closed door ... it ain't gonna open up on its own.
Friday, May 14th 2010 at 10:36AM
Craig Amos
Excellent point about the Chinese...they "did" turn that image around. Image change has to do with "what a people DO"...not so much with what they say or sing.
Friday, May 14th 2010 at 11:25AM
jamal Abraham
My 10 years old would laugh at such rhetoric.... Uncle Ben (on the Rice Pkg) Aunt Jemima ... All depict Beautiful Black Symbols... A long way from the bandanna!! It was Sidney Poitier.... Bill Cosby... Ossie Davis... Ruby Dee... Lena Horne....Lorraine Hansberry showed a different dimension on how we should see ourselves.
Friday, May 14th 2010 at 1:24PM
Cynthia Merrill Artis
Whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not, most of today's conscious rappers are the modern day Steppin Fetchit.

How come nobody hasn't mentioned the OBVIOUS one (Kanye West)?

Kanye West talked a great game about how George Bush let New Orleans down during Hurricane Katrina, and now he's dating Kim Kardashian.

BTW, didn't the actor Steppin Fetchit join the NOI during the 1960's?

Friday, May 14th 2010 at 1:58PM
Siebra Muhammad
Great Point, Sis Siebra...rappers are generally degrading, funny and just as disgusting. Also, they attract audiences of both black and white just like Steppin Fetchit.
Friday, May 14th 2010 at 4:56PM
jamal Abraham
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