Black Women in Films

In the essay, “Black Women and Literacy in Feature Films”, Joanne Kilgour Dowdy talks about how the media portrays African American women in movies and books.
When black women have leading roles in films, it is usually a role where they are struggling; most films involving black actors are never positive. Movies such as, “The color purple” and “Precious” are prime examples of this. In these movies, the actresses are playing roles where they are struggling and trying to overcome their struggles. In “The Color Purple” Ceile, the main character, is being emotionally and physically beat down by a man. She is psychologically confused about her role in society because of it, and throughout the movie she is slowly realizing who she truly is and how she should be treated. So she tries to fix her situation. In “Precious”, where the title is named after the main character, she is living in a home where she is abused and treated like a slave by her own mother. However, at the end of the movie, she escapes the situation. In both movies, the women triumph at the end from their struggles in the beginning. Movies like these not only show that black women struggle, but it shows how strong they are through their triumphs. So it’s kind of a bittersweet depiction of African American women in society.

People who are of a different race and are closed minded who watch these films, will think that all black women go through troubles like these. That is definitely not the case, because I don’t know many who have gone through horrific events in their lives. Life is not always happy and easy going so it isn’t unreal for writers to write movies like this, but I think that there should be more movies written about black women in a positive way, so outsiders can see both sides. The media plays a major role in altering peoples perceptions on things.

“Voices of our Foremothers"

“Voices of our Foremothers” is about an African American woman who was adopted at a young age by a Euro-American couple. Growing up she was lost in who she was and where she fit in, until she found her place in college. She was inspired by four of her African American women professors to become a teacher in the field of African American studies.

In this text, Birney talks about how her teachers cared for her not only academically, but emotionally as well. She goes on to talk about a study that I found interesting, in which it showed that Black teachers are more caring, “Jacqueline Jordan Irvine found that the African American teachers in her study understood the power of caring.” (Birney 50). I believe that the reason African Americans are more caring is because of all the hardships we have gone through, throughout history. We were once in slaved and had to fight for equal rights against people who treated us like property. Black people weren’t brought up in a society that really cared about them. During the Civil Rights Movements, in which African Americans fought to gain equality, many terrible things happened, such ass the assassination of Dr. King, the imprisonment of Rosa Parks for sitting in the “white” section of the bus, and the beatings of many for unjust reasons. Although African Americans have gained equal rights in today’s society, we are still facing hardships. Many African Americans are in prison and in poverty, and are being murdered due to “black on black” crime.

Black people know what its like to need someone there to cheer them on and pick them up in a time of downfall, so they can relate to struggling students or even students who aren’t struggling who need encouragement. School is very challenging and students need teachers who are sensitive to their academic needs along with their emotional needs, because learning consists of both.

Pimps Whores and Welfare Brats

Many African Americans feel that when caught up in drama, they can use the race card. “It’s because I’m black, huh?”, many times when black people get accused of doing things they tend to think their race has something to do with it. I can agree with this a little bit; sometimes race does matter when things goes wrong. Stereotypes are the reason for this.

I remember in the twelfth grade I took a discussion-based class called, multicultural literature. One of the topics we talked about was racial profiling and the police. We had a police officer come in and talk to us about this matter, but before we got the facts, we discussed it amongst ourselves. We thought about a scenario in which a cop pulls over a black guy riding around in a flashy car. The stereotype about black people is that we are poor and have a high crime rate. So knowing this, the cop will pull the guy over, for no reason, and question where he got the car from and search it for illegal substances. Many people had their own interpretations on this subject, but when we talked to the cop, he cleared it all up. He told us that they are taught the different stereotypes about all races and are taught to racial profile in order to find suspects of a crime. When they are looking for a suspect they are doing it off of a description, so you cant blame them when it is in cases such as that. So when black people try to pull the race card when they are being accused, it’s because of the stereotypes.

Dysfunctional Literacies of Exclusion

Mandi Chikombero's Dyfunctional Literacies of Exclusion discussion the two main literacies in the novel Nervous Conditions which are traditional and colonial/modern literacy which "both belong to the category of cultural literacy (i.e., the knowledge and practice of ideas, values, and attitudes of a specific society)" (150).
As explained, traditional literacy has to do with "oral traditions, myths, legends, folktales, songs, and dances" that Tambu, the main character, learns (151). On the other hand, colonial/modern literacy is to be influenced by "Christianity, western civilization, and commerce", all of which was attained in Zimbabwe, the setting within the novel (154). In my own words, i would say cultural literacy would be to learn about aspects of cultural literacy: the language, beliefs, attire, religion, and overall lifestyle.
To balance both, i would say, is a difficult task to acquire. Wanting to learn of your family's and ancestors traditions but also having to conform to the society in which you live in can be an unbalanced scale in one's mind.
This specific struggle I have seen within my own life regarding me being a student in college. I have to decide each day to value my traditional values I once used as I lived with my parents or my modern literacy of just merely going through my day as a student. My traditional literacies taught me to wake up and pray, go to class, study, and attend my extracurricular activitites. But on the other hand, my modern literacies reveal me learning from my surroundings which are my classmate, my friends, and other students. To go and relax in lower manley, to hang out with my friends, go to parties; all the things of society.
Chikombero's essay displaying that there can be a conflict within balancing more than one literacy is relatable. Some may have to balance other literacies as: occupational literacy, religious literacy, classroom literacy, etc...I believe, however, having multiple literacies makes one a well-rounded, wholesome, diverse individual. I feel there is nothing wrong with more knowledge and information.

Black and on Welfare: What You Don't KNow About Single-Parent Women

"Women should be tough, tender, laugh as much as possible, and live long lives. The struggle for equality continues unabated, and the woman warrior who is armed with wit and courage will be among the first to celebrate victory." -- Maya Angelou, (1993)

This quote opens the article, "Black and on Welfare" by Sandra Golden. This article details the struggles of a young woman's life and her decision to turn to government help. With her decision to do so, and the factors causing her to do so yield wild yet common stereotypes and mis-judgement of character, surprisingly from those whose jobs it is to help her. Golden gives details of this story, describes the welfare system, sites some reflections from other black females concerning welfare, provides her idea of the source of literacy development and recommendations in bettering the welfare system.

Golden states in her text the perception of Black women involved with the welfare system. "Unfortunately, our perceptions are that Black women on welfare have no interest in working and prefer staying at home, rather than obtaining employment and providing for their families." Golden gives credit to the Welfare System for recognizing Black women's academic literacy, however, they fail to recognize the home, family, community and social literacies that are equally important.

Golden breaks down the Welfare System into four important components or purposes. First, to provide assistance to needy families so that children can be taken care of in their own homes or in the homes of relatives. Second to end dependence of needy parents on government benefits, by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage. Third, to prevent and reduce out of wedlock pregnancies, and finally to encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. (cited in Mink, 1998, pp. 104- 193)

In 1999 Golden conducted a study that invited 12 single-parent Black females to discuss their issues and concerns regarding the new law of the restriction of Food Stamp entitlements. During this study Golden found many things concerning welfare and the perception of these Black women who utilize it. They are undermined and criticized for "putting themselves in that position". She combatted these accusations through the evidence of the women in her study that overcame their battles. The literacies that are not recognized by the Welfare System were also highlighted by Golden and she gave supportive evidence stating the literacy gained during home, family, community, and social involvement and participation.

During this text, several questions arose in my mind. First and foremost, if there is a program in place for the benefit of public assistance, why is their criticism and harsh judgement to those who take advantage of the system? Are we stuck so much in the mindset that women aim to be "barefoot and pregnant" all the days of their existence? If the program is in place for assistance there shouldn't be any judgement and undermining. Positivity doesn't come easily from negativity. We are STILL, even today, still proving ourselves in society; as African American, as a women, and as Literate African American Women.

Going Against The Grain

White people didn’t think of blacks as humans, so there for, when the talk about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness came about they didn’t believe it applied to African Americans, “…white people claiming individual rights and natural rights for themselves while simultaneously suppressing the rights of people of African descent.” (Going Against the Grain 117). It’s crazy how something as simple as skin color made the minds of white people believe that African Americans weren’t human. They had all the same body parts as they did and all the biological factors that make humans human. The ignorance level was so high back then, that they didn’t know any better.

In ADW, we just learned about how the Europeans colonized Africa. They developed the African countries at the expense of the Africans, just so they could make money. They made them do harsh labor and treated them like slaves again. There justification for treating them like things was because they didn’t believe they were human.

I feel like the reason why President Adams did nothing about slavery, even though he didn’t care for it, was because he didn’t want to be judged. He was considered an elite white man, and because of that he had to agree with the policy of slavery. He was brought up with it and everyone around him participated, so he had to keep quite. He might have kept quiet so the white people wouldn’t talk about his presidency in a negative way; he wanted to be liked.

Jefferson too, was a man who was said to be against slavery, but didn’t act on it appropriately. He had slaves himself, but didn’t like the concept of slavery, how ironic. He also didn’t know any better and just wanted to fit in. Who knows, but maybe he didn’t treat the slaves he had like true slaves. Jefferson had children with slave women, so he actually liked black people. I think that after he was already in the slavery business he got to know African Americans for who they truly were and realized that they were in fact human, and not some aliens. He just didn’t know how to handle the situation.

Women and Literacy in Alice Walker's The Color Purple

Women abused by men have been brain washed into thinking they are no good. The horrible treatment they are given affects them psychologically. “Realizing that her life is demeaning, Celie does not actually know that she deserves better.” (Walters 141), after being treated poorly for so long, the abused women begin to think they are supposed to be treated in that way and their lives are worthless. The childish treatment they have been given will carry on with them when they are free or deal with other people who don’t abuse them. They will eventually follow everyone’s orders on instinct, even if its not a command. The childish aspect comes from them being told what to do and getting in trouble for making minor mistakes they aren’t aware they are making.

Men are intimidating, therefore women may keep quiet to avoid being mocked, doubted, or beaten. They have been taught to let others think for them. Abused women aren’t allowed freedom, so when they get it, they don’t know what to do with themselves; Celie from the color purple is a prime example, “I think what color Shug Avery would wear…something purple maybe a little red in it too” (p.20).

Once women abused by men get out of that relationship, they begin to hate men and the next guy they date will be paying for the other man’s faults. The new man in their lives will be blamed for things he didn’t even do yet. The women will just expect that he will do wrong because the last man did wrong. She puts all men in the same category; she thinks that all men are just alike. Women who are abused do not know how to love correctly, their view on what love is has been altered negatively.