Bamboolzed

r. BabiihaEnglish 10202 August 2002Blacks In TelevisionThe motion picture Bamboozled, focuses on how the media stereotype black people. In the 20th century African Americans were misused and abused by the media because they were interpreted as poor, stupid, and ignorant. Also, white actors painted their faces black to make front of black people. In the film Spike Lee shows how two poor black men, Man Ray and Womack, make a fool of themselves by acting in black faces. Throughout American history the media always showed negative images about blacks instead of positive ones. Although, today there is still stereotypes the black race have become successful black performers just like whites.In Bamboozled, the main character, Pierre Delacroix, is portrayed to be a black man who wants to be white. Because he talks proper and haves a whitish accent he is not like the other blacks. In television history black people had to be a certain way in order to make it in the business, which is why Delacroix acts that way. His boss, Dunwitty, who is white, thought he was blacker than him because of his black wife and Ebonics dialogue. Since the manager portrayed himself to be black he thought he had the authority to say the word "nigger." However, the person in charge wanted Delacroix to have a black show, which would criticize his people. Because Delacroix wanted to be famous he came up with a show named "Mantan-the New Millennium Minstrel." This show was based on two black men, Mantan and Sleep 'n Eat, who sing, dance, and prance in a watermelon patch. It stereotype black people being as coons and poor who were slaves of white people. The show haunted black people because of the time when whites were acting in black faces and slavery.In the film Spike Lee pointed out that blacks also take responsibility for stereotypes portrayed by the media. At one time blacks were only able to act in black faces. There were shows and cartoons when blacks made their faces blacker, which were directed by whites to show racism and stereotypes. In "Mantan-the New Millennium Minstrel," all the characters had foolish names as Li'l Nigger Jim, Sambo, Rastus and a band called Alabama Porch Monkeys. In the film the black society was angry because the black actors were embarrassing them and disgracing their race. Also the show sponsored a malt liquor called Da Bomb, which was a commercial of black rappers who was urging viewers to "get your freak on." This commercial portrayed black people to be drunks, party animals, and freaks. Another point in the film is that blacks allowed whites to fool them. An additional commercial that sponsored the show was Timmy Hilnigger. This advertisement showed how a white clothing line could make black people spend all their money in buying their clothes and making them stay poor in the ghetto. The black people in the commercial were talking Ebonics, acting ignorant, and making Timmy Hilnigger superior over them by saying he's the man. Another example, is when Delacroix was getting an award for his show, but he didn't accept it because he thought, Matthew Modine, a white guy deserved it more than him. Throughout the film Mantan and Sleep n' Eat made a fool out of themselves by making the white audiences laugh. The show wanted to emphasize comedy, but it criticized black people and it's ancestors. The show itself became racist because the entire audience and crew had black faces. The non-black audience was saying they were niggers and proud to be one. All blacks that liked the show thought it was a joke, but it criticizes their race. The person who had the opening act was saying arrogant things about African Americans. This made many black people angry because their own people was making front of them. There