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  • Essay / Representation of African-Americans in Film: Django Unleashed and 12 Years a Slave

    The topic of representation of African-Americans in film is vast and encompasses various aspects. In the 19th and 20th centuries, major film production companies, particularly Hollywood, did not incorporate black men in most films, which is attributed to widespread racial discrimination during that era. However, at the dawn of the 21st century, the appearance of black men on the big screens was established in which they formed a greater part of film characters as well as production managers. In doing so, there are a myriad of ways that African Americans are represented in every element of the film shown. Here's a countdown of the representation of black men in films. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Physical Strength and High Productivity The strength of the black man was the ultimate recipe for his slavery in the 19th and 20th centuries. So this has been a fundamental factor and tool for the representation of African-Americans in various films. To this end, the masculinity of African Americans stood out significantly, and that was why most auctioneers and slave traders loved them (“Popular and Persuasive Stereotypes of African Americans”). Other films echoing the masculinity and physical strength of the black man include Django Unchained and 12 Years a Slave. In 12 Years a Slave, African Americans are depicted as engines used by whites for production, as they are subjected to black collar jobs in which they work as servants on farms. In the film Django Unchained, African Americans are depicted in two distinct ways. This film concedes, or rather cites the example of Malcolm X regarding the behavior of African-Americans. The film uses this point to depict the divide between African Americans regarding issues affecting them, suggesting that this community is not united. In the film, Django aggressively launches a revolution against the black man's enslaver, and yet Stephen acts as a key man for the white man's enslavement of African Americans. The two characters differ in ideology, which portrays African Americans as a group of people incapable of seeing and acting against the issues that affect them. This confirms Malcolm's argument regarding the field negro who does not care about his master's business as well as the house negro who is a puppet of the master. To this end, the film portrays the hard-working part of the African community who are launching a revolution that is gearing up for their appreciation. This is evidenced by Django's bold actions as he runs through the white man's farm, killing his guards. Conversely, the film also shows the weak African-Americans who are manipulated like puppets. Stephen is the agent in this case, and he actively defends his master, and it is also interesting that he was the first to notice that Django did not have good intentions for his master. This demonstrates the internal struggles and divisions within this community, and these conflicts are largely potentiated and aggravated by personal interests as well as ideology. It was in Stephen's best interest to defend his master and that was because he was housed and fed by his white master. However, Django's interest was to free the black man and bring him out of slavery. African Americans, throughout most films, have been portrayed as second-class citizens, and this is a product of racially discriminatory stereotypes in which the community is viewed..