male actors and mammy
can you recall the last time you laughed at martin's "sha-na-na" (singing forever sha-na-na to kid) or jamie foxx dressed as "wanda," or even the last time you had a good laugh a "madea?" well.... i definitely have enjoyed those movies before, but today i read a very interesting article in essence magazine about the portrayal of black women under the mammy characature by actors such as eddie murphy, tyler perry, lawrence and foxx. maybe i should lighten up, but i don't feel like it today. :)the article traced the stages of this portrayal; they began with the flip wilson variety show and moved up to current day, norbit and madea. this article was a one pager, by an author i can not remember (i'll get back to you) - but i was glued to it. (it's in the issue with holly robinson peete on it). this book made me dig deep. you know we all do that on multiple occasions, but this article hit home for me in some ways. i thought of the "veil" which ellison detailed in invisible man and the pain of "pecola" that morrison wrote of in the bluest eye. wow - i just took it back to my african diaspora of the world class at spelman.
basically, the article showed how each of these roles portrayed either a desexualized fat women or a desperate black woman chasing anything with legs. i can agree - did you ever see madea as being "beautiful" or "sexy?" what about wanda? don't even let me go there with sha-na-na... we just sat back and laughed....and got used to it. how many women in 2007 do you know who meet this portrayal?
i try not to think of these sorts of things tooo deeply, but it does sadden me to see how all types of audiences who have adapted to this modern day display of a comical mammy. when i think of mammy, i think of a slight bit of shame associated with the oppression/degradation effects of jim crow. i'm with dave chappelle on this one - he refuses to dress up as a woman. he claims that black comedian actors who have become successful have at some point dressed as a woman. i think he's about 90% right. i can even remember steve urkel doing this! damn when does it stop!
my question to you is whether or not you think it would be as successful a movie to see a black woman or white man dressed as a desexualized, uneducated, ambitious-lacking, but loving black man? should we call it big daddy's house? lol. don't you think there would be an uproar! i do. sugar - i KNOW you have something to say about this, that's why you're my girl!
i'm finally back from my weekend vacation and i'm loving the dark complexion i came back with. i feel like it made everything on me look better! skin, hair, clothes - absolutely everything! check the pic. the best place for the BEST service in south beach is "the forge" it is the best restaurant in the world. go on a sunday and ask the waiter with the big ass toaster around his neck to stop trying to make us feel good. we hate that shit. peace.
posted by dcsavvystar at 5.6.07
9 Comments:
I mos def laughed & Sha-na-na, Wanda et al but I think ever since Norbit came out & there was so much outcry I feel differently & think there needs to be more public descent against these caricatures.
Bygbaby
Excellent Post. This cross-dressing stuff definitely desexualizes black males and further perpetuates stereotypes. Once that image is pushed, the black men that could have been role models for black boys become liabilities in diminishing their self worth.
CASE INFORMATION
Number: CR-06-482292-A
Caption: THE STATE OF OHIO vs. DAMON MARBURY
Status: CASE CLOSED
Judge Name: JOHN J RUSSO
PO Name: RICHARD P KRAFT
Next Event: N/A
Arrested: N/A
DEFENDANT INFORMATION
Number: 104739
Name: DAMON C MARBURY
Status: DEFN BAIL
Date of Birth: 06/25/1969
Race: BLACK
Sex: MALE
CHARGES
Statute Description
2913.02 THEFT; AGGRAVATED THEFT
2913.11 PASSING BAD CHECKS
2913.11 PASSING BAD CHECKS
2913.11 PASSING BAD CHECKS
2913.11 PASSING BAD CHECKS
DEFENDANT IN COURT. COUNSEL MARY JO TIPPING PRESENT. COURT REPORTER BERNICE KING PRESENT. ON A FORMER DAY OF COURT THE DEFENDANT PLEAD GUILTY TO THEFT; AGGRAVATED THEFT 2913.02 - F5 AS CHARGED IN COUNT(S) 1 OF THE INDICTMENT. DEFENDANT ADDRESSES THE COURT. THE COURT CONSIDERED ALL REQUIRED FACTORS OF THE LAW. THE COURT FINDS THAT A COMMUNITY CONTROL SANCTION WILL ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND WILL NOT DEMEAN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT THE DEFENDANT IS SENTENCED TO 5 YEAR(S) OF COMMUNITY CONTROL, UNDER SUPERVISION OF THE ADULT PROBATION DEPARTMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: DEFENDANT TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. COURT ORDERS DEFENDANT TO BE SUPERVISED BY: REGULAR SUPERVISION UNIT SUBMIT TO RANDOM DRUG TESTING OBTAIN / MAINTAIN VERIFIABLE EMPLOYMENT, PROVIDE PROOF OF EMPLOYMENT TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. VIOLATION OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY RESULT IN MORE RESTRICTIVE SANCTIONS, OR A PRISON TERM OF 10 MONTH(S) AS APPROVED BY LAW. DEFENDANT ADVISED POST RELEASE CONTROL IS PART OF THIS PRISON SENTENCE FOR THE ABOVE FELONY(S) UNDER O.R.C.2967.28. FOR 3 YEARS. RESTITUTION ORDERED IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,755.00 TO BEATRICE HERRON, LILLIAN MIDDLEBROOKS, TORI ANDERSON, CHAUTE CLARK AND OTHER UNKNOWN VICTIMS.; PAYABLE THROUGH THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. THE DEFENDANT IS ORDERED TO PAY A SUPERVISION FEE IN THE SUM OF $ 200.00. DEFENDANT IS TO PAY COURT COSTS. 05/29/2007 CPMOM 05/29/2007 12:18:29
Case Number Case Title
CR-07-496933-A THE STATE OF OHIO vs. DAMON C MARBURY
CR-07-496932-A THE STATE OF OHIO vs. DAMON C MARBURY
CR-93-297195-B STATE OF OHIO vs. DAMON MARBURY
CR-92-290151-B STATE OF OHIO vs. DAMON MARBURY
CR-91-261882-ZA STATE OF OHIO vs. DAMON C MARBURY
CR-90-250000-ZA STATE OF OHIO vs. DAMON C MARBURY
DAG... this anon person sure hates dc, they really need to get over it and get a life.
ANYWAY... girl what a great post I've never even thought about this I just hate madea...I just thought they were representing the 'big mamma' presence...but wow, I'm going to read the article.
Do I run my mouth too much? lol Listen, I'd be the biggest hypocrit if I said I didn't laugh at these "caricatures" at some point, but the writer of that article is right, we do need to really think about what we're really supporting and you are funny for pointing out "Big Daddy's House". I don't think "they'd" like that too much. lol
I do feel a bit ashamed if I go to see something like a "Madea" film or "Big Mama's House" and there's someone white in the audience. Almost like it's a dirty inside joke and it's now being put on display. That feeling of shame is what makes it horrible for us to indulge in these characters.
I'm on a 12-step program as we speak. lol This blog is one of the devices that is keeping me in check! :) Thanks for putting up the mirror today!
This is an excellent post. I've laughed at Madea, and Sha-nay-nay, and most of those caricatures as well, but the Norbit movie really did it for me as well. Something about that imagery just took the joke too far.
We do need to take a look at the images and stereotypes that we continually perpetuate with these types of characters. Very thought provoking, I'll have to take a look at the article.
Sugar - of course you don't talk too much. lol I absolutely love your opinion! I put you out there though ;)
Brandon - thanks for stopping by! it's part of that intelligence/ignorance thing that I thought I should bring to our attention.
Byg - thanks too! yes - the D40 is my new best fried, btw... and yes - this mess is out of control!
Tasha - thanks for the comment. Norbit is actually the reason the writer of the Essence article decided to write it. It's a damn shame.
Just me - Anonymous is definitely hating! From here on out - no Anonymous posting! take that! lol.
lol...this was a hilarious post. sorry I missed it.
making rounds to see what i've missed.
Big ups to Dave Chapelle.
Excellent post. Thankyou for the food for thought. This is a must read blog.
~PurpleZoe
Post a Comment
<< Home