WP2 part 1: History of Representation in Hollywood

Post 1: History of Representation in Hollywood

Representation in media has come a long way since the dawn of Hollywood. From the early 1900s to now, we have seen a massive shift in not only the amount of diverse identities in media, but also how these identities are portrayed to viewers. To understand what I constitute as “good” representation, it is important to understand the history of diversity in Hollywood and the impact of various representations, despite their level of accuracy. There is no way to chronicle every major advancement in diversity in media, but I am going to include a few highlights that reflect representation during various time periods.

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Pictured above is Hattie McDaniel, the first Black woman to win an academy award for her role as a slave, Mammy, in Gone with the Wind (1939). Gone with the Wind takes place during the American Civil War and tells the story of a plantation owner’s daughter and her love interest. In the film, slaves are represented as content and willfully in their position. This representation is obviously inaccurate, but paved the way for Black actors and actresses to earn their rightful spot in Hollywood. Despite her recognized success for the role in the film, Hattie McDaniel was not permitted to attend the first screening of the film or sit with her white counterparts for the awards show. In the years following the film, McDaniel and Arthur Spingarn of the NAACP met with various film studios to put an end to the inaccurate portrayal and mistreatment of Black people within film (Gaydos and Gray). Although the representation and treatment of McDaniel within the film was far from progressive, it still enacted necessary change within the industry. In terms of how slaves were represented in the film, I would not consider this a positive representation. But in terms of the effects it had on the industry, it was definitely a leap towards change.

Guess who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)

Linked above is the trailer for the film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967). This film stars Sydney Poitier, a Black man engaged to his white fiancee who is bringing him home to meet her white parents. In his role, Poitier emulates the “ideal” Black man, one worthy of being accepted into white society. Again, by current standards this would not be considered proper representation, but at the time it was seen as a very liberal film (CBC Radio). This film took place during the civil rights movement, when it was still very uncommon to see interracial relationships.

Blaxploitation of the 1970s

Post civil rights movement brought on a new caricature of Black people in Hollywood. Instead of the subservient maids or “acceptable” Black people they had played in the past, Black actors/actresses were now portrayed as angry, aggressive criminals seeking revenge on white people (CBC Radio). This is referred to as “Blaxploitation”. In these films, Black people were portrayed as having superhuman strength and fighting skills, almost in a superhero-like manner. Although this era of cinema was also a villainized representation, it was the first time the Black community had seen themselves in such a powerful light.

Do the Right Thing (1989)

While many films from the Blaxploitation era were wildly successful and celebrated, activists worried that they were pushing the movement in the wrong direction (CBC Radio). Around this time, Blaxploitation films started to die out and Spike Lee’s blockbuster film Do the Right Thing was released. This film was a major departure from Blaxploitation and offered one of the first accurate depictions of the racial climate in America. The film’s widespread success forced mainstream consumers to address violence against the Black community by police and law enforcement.

Diversity in Media Today

The brief timeline above includes very few of hundreds important events in the history of diversity within media. These events and many more have led us to a point today where we see movies with racially diverse, queer, and disabled individuals in leading roles with their stories front and center. These advancements do not come without their own set of challenges, and it is important to critically examine representations in current media to ensure we are not mirroring the past.

Sources

“From Servants to Outlaws: 100 Years of Black Representation in Hollywood Films | CBC Radio.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 1 Mar. 2023, www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/from-servants-to-outlaws-100-years-of-black-representation-in-hollywood-films-1.5953758.

Gaydos, Steven, and Gray, Tim. “A Telling Look Back at the Century-Old Quest for Diversity in Entertainment.” Variety, Variety, 23 Feb. 2016, variety.com/2016/film/news/diversity-history-movies-tv-1201712294/.