Three Overdone Themes in African American Cinema: Filling the Void

An article on MadameNoire.com sparked my interest. The author references the 1997 movie, "Love Jones" (starring Nia Long and Larenz Tate) to make a valid point: Black Romances are severely lacking in Hollywood. Sure, one or two films have popped up that made us go awwww. But they are far and few between. The author's observation prompted another-one that reveals the same played out themes in black movies. We've got Tyler Perry. And there are plenty of people who are thankful that he's got Black Hollywood on 'lock.' But there is an obvious void in black cinema. One that even small-time indie filmmakers have a hard time filling. And even though action thrillers featuring talented black actors are on the rise (like 2010's "Takers"), filmmakers of color still seem stuck presenting the same kinds of movie roles over and over...

"Hip Hop Violence"

Most people cringe when considering the linking of these two phrases. But let's face it; violent films help to sell hip-hop music. And filmmakers use hip-hop to help sell their movies. Films like "Boyz n the Hood" and "Menace II Society" were groundbreaking in that the world finally got to see what the black experience was like in communities filled with extreme violence. An entire string of copycat movies followed. But as far as most can tell, hip-hop was about more than just street life. There has to be more to connect this music to urban communities than drug dealers exacting revenge on one another. Look up the term 'hip hop films' on Wikipedia, and you'll find over 80 entries. But take a closer look, and you'll find few that aren't slapstick parodies, "I-can-dance-better-than-you" stories, or documentaries. Very few feature "ordinary" people with hip-hop as a relevant backdrop.

The Über-Powerful Black Couple

Yes, the world is full black executives. Yes, wealthy black people do exist. But in the world of cinema, it seems that characters usually fall into one extreme or the next. Society is filled with black citizens "hanging out somewhere in the middle." In fact, it seems that there is an entire population of people who have not been represented in cinema.

Black people are more than just friendly sidekicks for characters of other races. What about the single, working (middle class) women attempting to navigate through life? Many of their experiences are certainly worthy of seeing on screen. But these experiences are often played out with characters of other races. As crazy as it sounds, showcasing only super-successful, high-rise living, champagne sipping beautiful people only feeds into the belief that this lifestyle is the only one worth having.

Crazy Money Heists

With the "get money" mentality already rampant in the black community, it is no wonder why movie houses are filled with far-fetched stories about how to obtain the next "big score." Mainstream cinema has explored this concept for decades. But in the black community, this topic is just too unrealistic to saturate the market as it has. Certainly, movies are supposed to provide an escape from real life. In this regard, these goofy comedies do their job. But there are other more realistic ways to evoke chuckles and provide a temporary escape.

The Void...

Missing are the depictions of real-life that big films tend to overlook. Movies like "Hav Plenty" and "I'm Through With White Girls", and "It's a Good Day to Be Black and Sexy" have been buried in the jumble of easily accessible gunshots and guffaws presented to black audiences. Where are the stories about the woman who works for the cell phone company? And what about films that pick up where other films leave off? For example, it would be interesting to see exactly what kind of experience the black man has in attempting to get a job (and not just because he has recently been released from jail.) Better yet, how about a movie that showcases his life on the job -and the nuances associated with that event? Black people don't always have to be thuggin', gangbanging aspiring rappers trying to make good in the hood. But they don't always have to be Cliff and Claire Huxtable, either. There is a happy medium. It just seems that no one is interested in filming it. Don't be mistaken; there are plenty of good black movies that cover various aspects of life as a person of color. It's just a shame that these films are often the exception, rather than the norm.

SOURCES:

www.imdb.com
www.madamenoire.com
www.netflix.com