The Problem with Aunt Jemina and Uncle Ben: A Critical Look at Black Stereotypes in Literature View Digital Media

Workshop Presentation
Nadine C Hall  

Literary racial stereotypes found in early American history had a significant role in shaping attitudes toward African Americans. The roots of racism lie in the stereotypes we hold about different groups. The perceived racist trope behaviors of African Americans are fueled by writers who maintained that status quo. Writers have a role to play in ensuring that the worlds they create are true representations of the broad spectrum of personalities, identities, and cultures of African American communities. To reduce the pernicious effects of writing in stereotypes, it’s important to first understand how these literary stereotypes work and just how pervasive they are. This workshop identifies historical racial stereotypes of African Americans and demonstrates that many of these distorted images still exist in society today. Additionally, strategies for intervention and the implications of this exploration into racial stereotypes are presented.