Reel Women: Black Women and Literacy in Feature Films

Dowdy expresses that it is imperative for people in our society today to be knowledgeable about critical films in order to survive in the media world. Because the history of Black people hasn’t changed much over the last century, it is also imperative to have Black students knowledgeable about the Black character in critical films. This type of knowledge will allow students to connect themselves with their cultures and society. This understanding of Black films will give us an appreciation and respect for the things we take for granted as African American citizens. For example, many popular movies and books portray the lives of Black women and how they interacted with White societies.

 In many of the cases analyzed in this reading we see that many of the Black female roles have little to no educational background.  If they have had the privilege of finishing school they are still trumped by the whites and their political power.  The ending results of the films are almost always positive, yet by seeing them through film literacy and focusing on the black female, we notice that the messages they are representing are not always progressive.  In the movie “Eve’ Bayou”, none of the black women have jobs outside of the household.  This portrays the belief that women may not be capable of obtaining a job outside the house.  Also, in “Wit” the only black female actress in this movie does not even know the meaning of a simple word, yet she is a nurse.  This is an example of us getting a job outside the house, but we as black women, don’t seem knowledgeable enough to seem fit for that part.  It is pivotal for the audience to be capable to acknowledge these unspoken messages the characters depict so we can change them in the future and showcase our women in a more educated and successful light.

Educators find this as an avenue to build student/teacher relationships as they analyze details and evidence together. Because students view these movies so often, it is an easy way to learn Black Woman literacy. Looking at literacy through a lens, many professions in the media field require people to function in mainstream society, have verbal and communication skills, and able to read.  Students believe that literacy include many aspects of the media and connecting it to navigating through life.  “We can say that our pedagogy has moved beyond being critical to making constructive changes in the way that Black women are represented in movies and the way that critical analysts use such symbols to enhance their worldview”( Dowdy 179-180).  

Works Cited

Dowdy, Joanne. "Reel Women: Black Women and Literacy in Feature Films." Readers of the Quilt. ED. Joanne Kilgour Dowdy. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton P., Inc., 2005. Print.