Representations of Slavery in Hollywood Cinema

Over the years Hollywood has attempted to address the issue of slavery and although a number of films have been made, prominent voices from the African American community have criticised such films for re-presenting slavery through a white middle class perspective. Here are some examples of Hollywood films and TV shows that have explored slavery:

1). The Birth of a Nation (1915) offers some of the earliest representations of slavery and was influential for establishing many of the early black stereotypes. The film takes place in the period known as the reconstruction and depicts African Americans as one dimensional, ignorant and politically inept. The film was notorious in its representation of the African American man as a sexual brute.



2). Roots (1977) TV Series - This was a groundbreaking TV series that made the slaves the main protagonists and focus of the narrative. What made Roots so unqiue in the 1970s was its broad appeal to American audiences. The story of Kunta Kinte traces a journey from African to America and finally gives a 'voice' to the African slave.



3). Amistad (1997) is Spielberg's epic re-telling of a slave ship rebellion. Based on a true story, the film yet again offers some of the sharpest depictions of the journey and ordeal slaves were forced to go on from their homes in Africa. What the film succeeds at conveying is the crime of slavery especially in the Middle Passage sequence.