Reel Women

Is it just me or is it really Black women against the world? Not only do we look like animals in the music media world we have not advanced in Cinema portrayal in the sixteen year span examined in Joanne Kilgour Dowdy’s, “Reel Women: Black Women and Literacy in Feature Films.” These realities of the way Black Women are seen in White Society are becoming depressing. They are depressing because it has taken class discussions and assigned reading to open my eyes to this truth. In her account which views “literacy as a lens,” Dowdy analyzes nine films and out of the nine films dating from 1985 to 2001 there was only two positive Black women portrayed out of the nine women examined. Coincidently, those women were overshadowed by white powers. One was killed off for being an inspiration to her students and the other not recognized as a key supporter of the music program. I don’t like my new feeling but not I seem angry all the time. I know I have no right to be angry because I don’t know where to point my finger. Whose fault is it? Do we still blame it on the institution of slavery? As a Black woman I am tired of blaming all of our race’s short comings on slavery. We have to do better as a people. Our foremothers strived to advance our race and their progress seems to digress as more generations are formed. He most detrimental by for has to be my generation, generation X. When will we take back the pride and uplift our people? When will we start showing support to Black companies and creating positive role models on the television screen? I think its time.

-Jasmine E. Williams