Black Women and Literacy in Feature Films

“ Movies provide an opportunity to witness the everyday experiences of literate black women within certain sociocultural contexts.” (Dowdy 164)

In the chapter of Black Women and Literacy in Feature Film, Dowdy explores the roles and views of black women in nine feature films. All of these films are either starring Lynn Whitfield, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Alfre Woodard or Whoopi Goldberg. Each of the central black characters in the films are all facing a conflict and they don’t show the advancement of black women.  The women, long after the film is over are viewed as uneducated and worthless to society. Three out of the nine films deal with addictions and although it juices the plot up, the storylines portray black women in negative stereotypes. In the movies  “Music from the Heart”, “ Sarafina”, and  “Wit”, the black women have a social status in terms of education. However, their opinions are always trumped by a higher power and they end up stuck in their harsh realities.

I agree with Dowdy’s point of view in the chapter. It’s very true that a majority of films starring black women must show the black women being put down by some sort of higher power. In an industry where there aren’t many black women represented, I think that there need to be more positive roles for black women. Although these roles, may sound boring, it’s a lot more beneficial for the young black girl searching for a role model on the big screen. These films depicting the weak or drug addict black female are only pushing the stereotype associated with being a black woman. In order to change the views and stereotypes of black women, there should be more movies uplifting black women and breaking down the stereotype.  Although it won’t happen overnight, positive black women in films will help breakdown the stereotype associated with black women in the long run.

Work Cited

Dowdy, Joanne. Readers of the Quilt. “ Black Women and Literacy in Feature Films.”

            2005. Hampton Press. Pp. 163-182