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So much engagement & questions, thank you all! 
I wanted to spend the most time speaking about Mammy as it's a hot topic right now #AuntJemima
But let me very briefly (1 sentence or 2) tell you about the other three images I'm researching. B4 I tell you about my activism work!
I wanted to spend the most time speaking about Mammy as it's a hot topic right now #AuntJemimaBut let me very briefly (1 sentence or 2) tell you about the other three images I'm researching. B4 I tell you about my activism work!
TW: sensitive content/abuse
The Jezebel Stereotype:
Inspired by name-sake in the biblical Book of Kings, Jezebel became the incarnated persona of Black women. It was a myth which legitimised/justified rape & other violent sexual derivaties.
The Jezebel Stereotype:
Inspired by name-sake in the biblical Book of Kings, Jezebel became the incarnated persona of Black women. It was a myth which legitimised/justified rape & other violent sexual derivaties.
The hyper-sexualisation of Black women by white colonial society, reinforced a racialised binary of womenhood (BW: 'lusty' & 'seductive', WW: 'pious' & 'pure')
This myth supported *false* claims that Black slave women were responsible for the horrific sexual abuse they endured.
This myth supported *false* claims that Black slave women were responsible for the horrific sexual abuse they endured.
I explore the relationship between the hypersexualisation of Black women and the eroticisation of the sugar plantation & how Carib writers are exposing, yet re-writing body & land.
BW, like the sugar plantation, were violently penetrated, forced to reproduce etc.
BW, like the sugar plantation, were violently penetrated, forced to reproduce etc.
The Mandingo Buck:
Like Jezebel, Mandingo was image which hypersexualised Black men often depicted them with an exaggerated phallus. The difference was that Mandingo was an aggressor he was violent.
This stereotype was used to connote primitivism & bestiality.
Like Jezebel, Mandingo was image which hypersexualised Black men often depicted them with an exaggerated phallus. The difference was that Mandingo was an aggressor he was violent.
This stereotype was used to connote primitivism & bestiality.
Placing black men as agressing sexually craven fiends who victimised white women, made it easier to enforce accusations of rape & enforce lynchings.
It was also a response to white male aggression. It deceived others into thinking that black masculinity was the only form of masculinity that is inherently evil.
White male masters were therefore absolved from their treacherous acts of true violence.
White male masters were therefore absolved from their treacherous acts of true violence.
I explore the relationship between the hypersexualisation (& demonisation) of Black men to the eroticisation of the sugarcane in Jamaica by white society during slavery. (Sugarcane as a phallic symbol)
I recommend reading the poetry collection: 'Slave Song' by David Dabydeen
I recommend reading the poetry collection: 'Slave Song' by David Dabydeen
Finally.
The Sambo Stereotype:
Sambo is the male counterpart of Mammy. He is Uncle Tom (or perhaps #UncleBens ?) other words include c**n, or pickaninny (with watermelon
)
The Sambo Stereotype:
Sambo is the male counterpart of Mammy. He is Uncle Tom (or perhaps #UncleBens ?) other words include c**n, or pickaninny (with watermelon
)
White slave owners moulded Black men into this image of a jolly, overgrown child #infantalisation
Sambo was seen as backward, naturally lazy and therefore *reliant* on the white man.
I compare this submissiveness to the controlling of the land (land ownership)
Sambo was seen as backward, naturally lazy and therefore *reliant* on the white man.
I compare this submissiveness to the controlling of the land (land ownership)
