Reel Women: Black Women and Literacy in Feature Films

JoAnne Kilgour Dowdy talks of the importance of critical film literacy. Because our society is so media saavy, feature films are an important part of our life as they affect our literacy as black women. This affects how we view, more so she, films. Dowdy gives an overview of nine films ranging from 1985-2001. The emphasis that the stereotypical opinions of black women have not changed, as these movies show how little the media understands the literacy of the black woman. Dowdy stresses the importance of our knowledge of these films as they pertain to how we are viewed in not just society but Hollywood. For example, she mentions Eve's Bayou. The film is about a homemaker who struggles to keep her sanity as she deals with a cheating husband, her three children, and the standards of society.

This deals with a different aspect as it portrays the homemaker as a wealthy black woman of society. Although it is heavily disguised, she is given the sterotypical black woman role as a caregiver except she cares for her family and not an outside person. Her mother-in-law comes and helps her cope with the chaotics in her life, acting as "mammy." There is no evidence of her educational background provided in the movie. She is seen as just a beautiful wealthy housewife. Dowdy points out that our literacy is not viewed as important as it has not made an appearance on the movie screeen. As a society that lives through the media, this is sad as black women have still not been able to find a place where their literacy is portrayed in a pleaasing and accurate manner.

Movies are more than forms of entertainment, they are a message board that conveys the thoughts and opinions of society. Black women have long seen the struggle as they try to be more than caregivers and drug users in feature films. Dowdy makes it a point that we are not too young, as students, to take a look and see the pattern. Showmanship of black literacy is scarce in Hollywood as "Eve's Bayou" shows. Dowdy just wants people to bridge the gap between films and literacy, especially when talking about black women. Movies are used as a way of getting ideas across to people. We have to take notice that we are not portrayed in the best of light. These movies range from 1985-2001, and not a lot has changed. There just has to be an understanding that our literacy is few and far between. There have to be some changes if we ever want to be known as more than a maid or a caregiver for someone.