Ethnic Notions

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.

I was greatly disturbed by the images in this documentary, es specially being an Afro-Latino. The fact that all of White America see's the blacks as the horrid images they show...angers and saddens me. This may prove to some great information to those who know nothing about the history of minstrel shows and things of that sort, but it may scare those of African descent. Watch with caution.

Also, the narrator say's something along the lines of minstrel shows being the ascendant of todays blacks shows.....this is my opinion, is not true. Minstrel shows were made by Whites, to laugh at their view of blacks. Todays blacks shows were made by blacks who show what they think and so forth.

I think this was an excellent video. I wouldn't listen to young college kids who feel they were forced to watch it at Temple University.

All I can say is that I saw it in college and thought it was good then and is still good today.

It is an eye opener and anyone who has questions about why Black people are offended by certain images, movies, etc should watch and find out.

If a person can watch this video and truly not understand why the images portrayed are indeed offensive, then I have to think that person will never understand. I noticed a previous poster thought the cartoons were funny or amusing, this shows a deep level of ignorance on that persons part.

I saw this doco as part of a racial studies course, and as such found it to be a fascinating and, at times, disturbing, picture of the misconceptions circulated in popular culture regarding African-American culture. While an academic study, this is by no means dry or over-intellectual - in fact if anything it comes across as a little sensationalist at times. However, interesting points are made nonetheless.