Portrayals of Racism in Films Racism can be described as discrimination directed against someone or a group of people of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. As an ongoing issue throughout time, it has been represented in TV shows, films, literature, and art. Specifically, various films have portrayed racism through the oppression and segregation of African Americans. Films such as Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, A Bronx Tale, and Driving Miss Daisy depict the prejudices against African Americans in distinct and similar ways.
To begin with, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner conveys the story of an African American man and a White woman, Dr. John Prentice and Joanna “Joey” Drayton, facing their parents and society for the first time as an interracial couple. In this comedy/drama, the relationship between Dr. Prentice and Joanna is unexpected and shocking for those around them. Hillary, one of Mrs. Drayton’s employees, says, “I simply couldn't believe it, I mean it’s so unlike Joey to do something so appallingly stupid,” after finding out
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In this movie, Calogero, or "C", is not prejudiced against African Americans despite being surrounded by people that are. He quickly takes a liking for Jane, an African American girl, and tries to defend her brother during a fight initiated by his friends. C also attempts to keep his friends away from multiple African Americans by saying, “ Why don't you just leave them alone?… They ain’t bothering nobody.” This represented his unprejudiced and accepting attitude toward them. Although, C wasn’t racist, his friends were. This is shown twice when they attack the black cyclists riding in their neighborhood and bomb an African American neighborhood. Also, the blacks are constantly referred to as “niggers” throughout the film. A Bronx Tale shows the harsh treatment of African Americans and its