Reid states how majority of the time blak female actresses are in supporting roles, with white superiors. "In this narrative form, the black female house servant functions as the object by which the white heroine regains her self-confidence." Reid points out how the films present black female protagonists as selfish and establish their good will/ christian as the only means by which such black heroines can enter the sentimental hearts of a mainstream audience.
I think reid makes valid points of how black actresses were represented in the past when they were just a part of a dominate white cast. I think things have changed alot since then, where african american actresses are getting more lead roles in both films and television. Tylery perry has succeeded in writing and directoring numerous african american films with a mostly if not all black cast, Jada pinkett Smith is the lead role in the medical t.v show Hawthorne. Queen Latifah has also been successful as a lead role both primarily black and white films. I think the times have changed in that black female actresses are playing fewer supporting roles as a servant or someone inferior to their white castmates.
Good work. We should talk about Tyler Perry films tonight in the larger scheme of things, perhaps comparing his TV show House of Payne (since we will watch Color Adjustment tonight) with filmic portrayals of women.
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