Ethnic Notions (1986)

This documentary traces the deep-rooted stereotypes which have fueled anti-black prejudice.

Director:

Marlon Riggs

Stars:

Barbara T. Christian, Esther Rolle

Cast

Credited cast:
Barbara T. Christian	...	Herself
Esther Rolle	...	Narrator

Storyline

Ethnic Notions is Marlon Riggs' Emmy-winning documentary that takes viewers on a disturbing voyage through American history, tracing for the first time the deep-rooted stereotypes which have fueled anti-black prejudice. Through these images we can begin to understand the evolution of racial consciousness in America. Loyal Toms, carefree Sambos, faithful Mammies, grinning Coons, savage Brutes, and wide-eyed Pickaninnies roll across the screen in cartoons, feature films, popular songs, minstrel shows, advertisements, folklore, household artifacts, even children's rhymes. These dehumanizing caricatures permeated popular culture from the 1820s to the Civil Rights period and implanted themselves deep in the American psyche. Narration by Esther Rolle and commentary by respected scholars shed light on the origins and devastating consequences of this 150 yearlong parade of bigotry. Ethnic Notions situates each stereotype historically in white society's shifting needs to justify racist ...

---

Plot Keywords:

independent film

---

Genres:

Documentary

---

Details

Official Sites:

California Newsreel [United States]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Company Credits

Production Co:

Signifyin' Works

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Did You Know?

Connections

Features The Birth of a Nation (1915)

User Reviews

Fascinating look at the nuances of harmful stereotypes

A nicely subtle parsing of the stereotypes of African-Americans that have dominated popular culture in America since the early days of slavery. The commentary on the evolution of types, and the cultural motivations for the creation of caricatures like the laughing Sambo or the asexual Mammy, is particularly interesting. Both an invaluable historical documentary and an insightful commentary on the larger impact of racist, harmful depictions in popular culture on the people they're intended to ridicule and belittle. Derisory caricatures of blacks have both inspired and justified (and helped to make legal) racism and racial violence.