Date of Award
Spring 2023
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice; College of Arts & Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Ana Maria Garcia
Abstract
American culture has a very rich history that has shaped our society in the present day. One thing in history that has stayed with us throughout the years is racism. This phenomenon has had a big impact on our society throughout the years. And if it never came into existence, our world would be a much different place. Racism affects any and everything imaginable. It affects the way we see each other, communicate, and interact with each other. Slavery was a turning point for racism and it allowed for racism to flourish by dehumanizing people just because of the color of their skin. This concept transgressed itself into the civil rights era. Here, black Americans were freed from their physical shackles and indentured servitude, but they couldn't escape the shackles placed on them by society. They are hard to throw away because the images that were used to justify the harsh reality of slavery are still used to justify the mistreatment of black Americans today. This paper will examine how images that were created in the past that depict black people as less than are still being used today to continue the ongoing narrative. These images were made from white supremacists beliefs to keep black people as subservient. After being treated as such for decades, it is hard to break the shackles of white supremacy. In order to be seen for our full potential, we have to get rid of these ideals to further help black people advance in society socially and economically.
Recommended Citation
Gindrow, Peyton, "Controlling Images: Black Male and Female Representations" (2023). Capstone Showcase. 1.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2023/soc_anth_cj/1
Controlling Images: Black Male and Female Representations
American culture has a very rich history that has shaped our society in the present day. One thing in history that has stayed with us throughout the years is racism. This phenomenon has had a big impact on our society throughout the years. And if it never came into existence, our world would be a much different place. Racism affects any and everything imaginable. It affects the way we see each other, communicate, and interact with each other. Slavery was a turning point for racism and it allowed for racism to flourish by dehumanizing people just because of the color of their skin. This concept transgressed itself into the civil rights era. Here, black Americans were freed from their physical shackles and indentured servitude, but they couldn't escape the shackles placed on them by society. They are hard to throw away because the images that were used to justify the harsh reality of slavery are still used to justify the mistreatment of black Americans today. This paper will examine how images that were created in the past that depict black people as less than are still being used today to continue the ongoing narrative. These images were made from white supremacists beliefs to keep black people as subservient. After being treated as such for decades, it is hard to break the shackles of white supremacy. In order to be seen for our full potential, we have to get rid of these ideals to further help black people advance in society socially and economically.