It is almost the end of Black History Month, which leaves me shocked that it passed so quickly. I feel like I did not do enough to celebrate. The occasional educational conversation with those who are around me and the consumption of media made to educate the world on Black culture served me well these past few weeks. However, the amount of media about Blackness that is completely skewed or inaccurate is astounding.
Movies often glorify racism and anti-blackness, often by telling stories from a white perspective. This can include introducing a white savior character, someone non-racist who fights the fight for Black people. The Help and Hairspray are both examples of this trope in Black history media. While they may be entertaining films, they are not appropriate to use to educate yourself on Black history. Media also shows racism as something easily fixable or as something that does not cause psychological harm. An immediate example of this is Gone with the Wind, a film that glorifies slavery and caricatures of Black people.
And still, I had people in my inbox explaining that Gone with the Wind is the most accurate film depiction of history ever. That is problematic for multiple reasons, but if we continue to use these types of movies to educate ourselves on Black history, we will continue to have a warped view of this country. Without understanding history, it is impossible to see and understand the structural injustices of today. Movies like Gone with the Wind can create notions that systemic racism is not real.
In these final days of Black History Month, I hope that we can continue to educate ourselves with accurate films about Black culture and Black history. Celebrating Black film directors and writers is always a good way to go when looking to educate yourself.
While it is important to stray away from inaccurate and glorified versions of history, constant Black pain movies are also a negative trope and can be avoided when exposed to Black media. Although pain and intergenerational trauma is a part of Black culture that will not disappear, not every movie needs to expose those aspects as of everyday life. Black joy and happiness is just as important as Black history, and watching films that portray joy is necessary during Black History Month.
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