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Blaxploitation Of African American Films Essay

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Hollywood is at the center of the American entertainment industry and has played a very significant role in shaping the image of African Americans in popular culture. African
Americans were not often portrayed in a good way in the 20th century, They were represented in a stereotypical depiction in film and theater, often portrayed as ignorant, aggressive and servile.
But this short essay will be discussing the modern 21st century representation of African
Americans in Hollywood and how it compared to the 20th century Hollywood films as well as discussing the influence of Blaxploitation
Holloywood’s depiction of African Americans in the 20th century was fraught with racism and discrimination. For much of the 20th century African Americans were …show more content…

One of the most significant positive impacts of blaxploitation and Hood films was the film's ability to shed light on issues of police brutality and racial profiling. Both types of films explored the experiences of African Americans who were targeted and mistreated by law enforcement often for no other reason than the color of their skin.
These films help raise awareness of the systemic nature of police brutality and the impact it had on black communities. Hood films have been credited with giving rise to the “urban crime drama” genre which has continued to gain popularity in recent years. The TV show “snowfall” has tackled similar issues in blaxploitation and hood films but with greater complexity. These works have contributed to a platform that has been underrepresented, communities get to tell their stories about race, policing and justice in america.
With increased lead roles in Hollywood , it also comes with more diversity. There has been a push to increase diversity behind the camera as well. According to a UCLA report, in
2021 was the most diverse year for the Hollywood film industry.UCLA 2021 movie watchers in the US are becoming more diverse and prefer content with greater diversity.The number …show more content…

As a result of these efforts, we now have films like Black Panther and Crazy Rich asians, which feature mostly non-white casts and directors. There has also been a push for more women in leadership roles in Hollywood , but that’s a different topic.
In conclusion , Hollywood has played a very important role in shaping the image of African
Americans in popular culture. In the 20th century African Americans weren’t often portrayed in a good way and were represented in a stereotypical depiction in the theaters. The mammy and uncle tome stereotypes were used to justify the mistreatment and exploitations of African
Americans. These stereotypes were harmful and perpetuated the idea that African Americans were inferior and naturally suited to basic work. However, since the 20th century there has been significant shift away from these stereotypes in the hollywood filming industry .
One of the most significant changes has been the emergence of African American writers, directors and producers who are able to make their own stories and control the narrative. This has allowed more authentic portrayal of the African American characters in the (at the

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