Invisible Narrative of African Americans in Film

In film today African Americans are characterized in the Stereotypes  we place on 

them in society. The film industry is a media form that does not receive the credit it 

deserves, when it comes to the impact it has society. I recall when I first watched the 

movie Training Day starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, and the reaction me 

and my cousins had from watching the movie. For about 2-3 months all we wanted to do was 

become corrupt cops and embody the role Washington played in the movie. But when does a 

movie become more than just a movie? What does it say when majority of the roles for African 

American men are displayed as drug dealers, criminals, murders, and the list 

continues. Granted, Denzel Washington has performed in countless other movies where 

he did not play the stereotypical role for black actors. However, Training Day of all the movies 

he has starred in, was the only one he has received an Oscar for. Although, through public 

opinion, he has had better performances in movies such as Glory or Malcolm X. In both cases 

he was nominated, but did not receive the award. Even The Hurricane, a movie that debuted a 

year before Training Day when he was once again nominated, but not worthy of an Oscar.

 

  
  The focus of this example, is not that Washington does not receive the credit he deserves. 

But instead the glorification we have as a society to witness the stereotypes we place upon 

African American males. This stigma in the film industry has a severe impact on societies’ 

view of us, but more importantly the idea that these characters are who we should strive to 

be in reality. It is hard enough for the African American male to achieve in a world where we 

are judged instinctively based on our appearance. As a community of men we will continue 

to be at a disadvantage in America due to the stereotypes placed upon us. This epidemic 

will never revolutionize when our goal in life is to embody these exact stereotypes! Because 

that is what we see, and what is deemed as success.  

The frustration I have with the film industry is not so much in that they are 

conforming the minds of people in society. But more that the power they have 

over the African American community. As a young black man growing up, 

success and discovering away to prosper in the world is a frightening reality. At 

an adolescent age when our minds are very vulnerable to the things we see on 

media formats, because of how society glorifies these things, this is what we 

strive to be. Beyond just film, the same stereotypical rhetoric and behavior is 

seen on TV, advertising, and heard on the radio.We are constantly exploited in 

entertainment to make money, but the overall damage is much more severe. As 

a community our youth chooses to become rappers, athletes, drug dealers, 

hustlers, the things we see on media formats. Which lead to the decline of

African Americans in college and the workforce, but an increase in the prison 

and Jail Population  .