HUM3321 Capstone Essay
Racial Stereotypes in “Guess Who”
Over the years, racial stereotypes have evolved from being offensive preconceptions regarding race to be humorous generalizations. They now serve as a source of entertainment in movies, TV shows, and other forms of media. By presenting these stereotypes as entertaining elements in popular media they shed light on real racial problems in our society today in an unaggressive manner. In Guess Who (2005) Percy Jones and Simon Green’s dysfunctional relationship is used to identify the underlying racial tensions between African American’s and Caucasians, including the issues about employment, physical characteristics, and lifestyle choices; Simultaneously, director Kevin Sullivan sends the message that the issues presented in the movie are not specific to one race, but rather to our society as a whole. While most movies before the 1960’s portray the white male in the main position of power, Guess Who goes against this norm by having Percy Jones, a black male in this position of power. This movie appeals to the African American population throughout, an aspect of many Blaxploitation films. According to John Belton in “American Cinema: American Culture,” Blaxploitation films “addressed the concerns of the black community in ways that were undocumented on the American screen” (Belton 356). Guess Who addresses the issue of interracial marriage in this case, while at the same time showing that African American and white families share the same concerns over interracial marriage. These concerns are voiced throughout the movie that people are not always accepting of interracial marriages and some people have no problem voicing their negative opinions. By having the common roles of African American and Caucasians reversed, the directors illustrate these key racial issues and stereotypes. To begin, Simon Green (Ashton Kutcher) plays the part of the small “white boy” who is fearful of meeting his future in-laws and, more specifically,
Over the years, racial stereotypes have evolved from being offensive preconceptions regarding race to be humorous generalizations. They now serve as a source of entertainment in movies, TV shows, and other forms of media. By presenting these stereotypes as entertaining elements in popular media they shed light on real racial problems in our society today in an unaggressive manner. In Guess Who (2005) Percy Jones and Simon Green’s dysfunctional relationship is used to identify the underlying racial tensions between African American’s and Caucasians, including the issues about employment, physical characteristics, and lifestyle choices; Simultaneously, director Kevin Sullivan sends the message that the issues presented in the movie are not specific to one race, but rather to our society as a whole. While most movies before the 1960’s portray the white male in the main position of power, Guess Who goes against this norm by having Percy Jones, a black male in this position of power. This movie appeals to the African American population throughout, an aspect of many Blaxploitation films. According to John Belton in “American Cinema: American Culture,” Blaxploitation films “addressed the concerns of the black community in ways that were undocumented on the American screen” (Belton 356). Guess Who addresses the issue of interracial marriage in this case, while at the same time showing that African American and white families share the same concerns over interracial marriage. These concerns are voiced throughout the movie that people are not always accepting of interracial marriages and some people have no problem voicing their negative opinions. By having the common roles of African American and Caucasians reversed, the directors illustrate these key racial issues and stereotypes. To begin, Simon Green (Ashton Kutcher) plays the part of the small “white boy” who is fearful of meeting his future in-laws and, more specifically,
Cited: Andre, Judith. "Stereotypes: Conceptual and Normative Considerations." Multicultural Film: An Anthology. By Kathryn Cashin and Lauren Martilli. Spring/Summer 2013 ed. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013. 79-83. Print. Belton, John. "The 1960 's: The Counterculture Strikes Back." American Cinema/American Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994. 339-61. Print. Guess Who. Dir. Kevin R. Sullivan. Perf. Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac. Columbia Pictures/Rengency Enterprises, 2005. DVD. Jones, Sharon L. "From Margin to Centre? Images of African American Women in Film." Multicultural Film: An Anthology. By Kathryn Cashin and Lauren Martilli. Spring/Summer 2013 ed. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013. 167-71. Print.