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Stereotypes of African American Women in the Media

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Stereotypes Follow African American Women Everywhere!

In the media, black women are a constant stereotype. African American women are continuously portrayed negatively, reinforcing the well-known stereotypes. In this lens, I would like to bring attention to some of the ways African American women are treated in the media. The way black women are shown on television, magazines and movies affects how people view and treat them in real life.

Check out Lovin' My Sistas--Unveiling the Mistreatment of Black Women for much more discussion on this issue and other topics pertaining to the black African American woman.

Stereotype #1: African American Women Are Not Women At All

When was the last time you saw the black actress in a movie as soft, feminine, a lady that is desired? It's seen sometimes, yes, but most of the time the black woman is treated as if she can help herself and is not a lady. She is loud, tough, and mean. And to make a scene absolutely hilarious, a man (usually a black man.....but even MORE funny if it is a white man) will be enlisted to dress and make fun of the black woman. This further reinforces the idea that black women are masculine and not "real" women.

Why Do Black Men Make Fun of Black Women?

Have you ever seen a black woman dress up like a man and make fun of him? Would that even be funny?

You may have heard the statistics about black women and marriage. African American women marry at lower rates and that could be because black women are not viewed as women. We are seen as stereotypes. Who would want to chase after someone they've been conditioned to believe is mean, gruff, manly and angry?

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Stereotype #2: African American Women Lend the 'Tude!

Black women tend to play the black best friend of the white girls--on standby to deliver some needed attitude or "tell it like it is" advice. People look at this character and think that black women are waiting for the opportunity to "go off" and that they are mean people not to be approached at all.

The Black Girl/Woman Always Plays the Best Friend

An Example: The Pepsi Ad Aired During Superbowl 2011

Recently, a Pepsi Ad was shown during the Superbowl. It was totally racist against black women, depicting them as emasculating, rude and angry.

Here is a quote from the discussion going on at Lovin' My Sistas on this topic.

"That commercial that they CHOSE for us puts into the subconscious mind of men that BLACK WOMEN are:

1. super controlling
2. very mean
3. anger issues
4. weight issues
5. don't work out like white women do
6. jealous of white women
7. men should like white women
8. black woman has no sense, she will sit there and wildly throw a full can of soda at someone at the drop of a dime
9. black women wear cheap looking wigs

to top it all off she's DARK.....they use the light skin/biracial black women as the pretty, sexy black woman (on the rare occasions they show black women as sexy), and then the DARK black woman is the angry/mammy black woman, or the slut.

until there are enough POSITIVE images out there in the media floating around daily about black women of all hues, commercials like that should NEVER be aired."

Pepsi Max Super Bowl Ad 2011: by SuperBowlXLVAds | video info

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Discussions About African American Women Stereotypes

Come Visit the Forum!

Black Women Stereotypes: Why Do Black Men Make Fun of Black Women?: "You don't see other women being made fun of for being ugly.... when they make fun of black women, it's ALL of us at the same time, our entire group, and they always make us look ugly, dumb, bossy and ghetto"
VH1 and Black Women's Image: "When white women get mad (the woman's scorned) they pout and complain to their friends, BUT when black women get mad watch out! black women, will cut you up, burn your clothes, scream at the top of their lungs, and on and on of EXTREME cases of anger that could actually apply to anyone; however, it was thrown onto black women."
Black People: Image Vs. Reality: "The media does play up the racial stereotypes and make us look like ignorant fools, but what about what people see unfiltered? "

Stereotype #3: African American Women Are Only Pretty If.....

You know what's coming.

America has improved over the years about including darker-skinned black women on tv and magazines. However, there still is that misconception that African American women are beautiful only if they are light skinned. Think of the more popular black female singers. Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Keri Hilson, Nicki Minaj......

Beautiful Black Women Singers of All Hues Who Don't Get Their Due

Then there's the weaves because black women just don't have hair that measures up.

Or anything that measures up....unless it's on a white/hispanic woman. Black women generally have nice full lips. They also have larger shapely butts in higher numbers than any other race. Yet they (we) are not recognized for the beauty in those features.....but a Kim Kardashian or Angelina Jolie is worshiped for their big booty and thick lips, respectively.

What African American Women Need You to Know

We are not Stereotypes

African American women are not the stereotypes you see on screen. Black women are individuals and lead different paths in life. Please do not judge a black woman based on how she is portrayed on television. We have varied looks, personalities, ambitions, careers....the list goes on.