For decades, as we know it, African-American women have endured the nature of prejudice and stereotypes that still continue to prevail today. It is important to recognize that in order to alleviate stereotypical insight plaguing the African-American community, we must first accept the mere fact that oppression and racial stereotypes still exist. Dating back to slavery, negative stereotypes and oppression tend to still have an effect on society today, especially through the means of social media platforms. With the continuance of police brutality and the “invisible” acceptance of stereotypes plaguing the African-American community, prejudice today seems to be “accepted” as the truth rather than a “problem." Thanks to social media, or nah? Focusing on African-American women specifically, it is imperative to explore how these stereotypes were formed.
Social media’s portrayal of African-Americans is simple, yet stereotypical. African- Americans tend to be viewed as “great athletes,” which is not an issue; however, when African-Americans are over-represented continuously as these “sports figures” in movies, television commercials, magazine articles and advertisements, and other means of media-use, it makes it look as if African-Americans are only “good” or “worthy” for certain things. Can we all agree that there are other positive, non-stereotypical roles African Americans should be presented with, other than successful athletes? For years, the “athlete” role has been presented to the African-American community, both men and women, but what about doctor roles, engineers of tomorrow or even mathematicians?
Recently, we (society/the world) has been presented with the trailer of a new and upcoming, pioneering film recognizing the lives of three African-American women who should have been recognized years and years ago. This film, entitled "Hidden Figures," features the true, untold story of three spectacular African-American women, Katherine Jackson (played by Taraji P. Henson), Mary Jackson (played by Janelle Monáe), and Dorothy Vaughan (played by Octavia Spencer), who surpassed racism, segregation and sexism during the Civil War era in order to make history for not only African-American women, but African-Americans in general, as well as American society. Their story together displays just how underrated African-American women are.
Today, we do not hear much about African-American women's successes through social media platforms, especially in the field of STEM. Mathematicians Katherine Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan and engineer Mary Jackson worked with NASA during the 1960s, introducing vital mathematical data and flight trajectories, which helped launch astronaut John Glenn into space. Of course these women were underestimated and expected to fail, of course these women were labelled as unintelligent and unworthy, but of course these women surpassed such stereotypical labels and made a name for not only themselves, but also the American people. They were referred as “colored” computers because they were just that dashing.
For black women, Hollywood films are popular for relegating black women to the roles of low-class working women, or overworked slaves, prostitutes, maids or perhaps the “unintelligent” and “ghetto-fied;” however, "Hidden Figures" cancels out any idea of black women serving roles as anything less than what and who they truly are: educated black women. The superb Octavia Spencer, playing the role as Dorothy Vaughan, is known for her A+ roles in previous films, and let's not forget her humorous, yet outstanding role in the film entitled "The Help." One thing no one could ever forget about "The Help" is the fact that honorable African-American women in film played roles as servants and maids. Taraji P. Henson’s role as Katherine Jackson portrays that black women can work with numbers, sequences and formulas and not just serve as a great athlete or musician.
Hmm, that is no coincidence.
"Hidden Figures" is a film that American society has been cringing for, urging for, and just may be what African-American society needs. It exposes stereotypical perceptions of black women and how they are capable and able of achieving greatness.
This film, first appearing in theaters on January 13, 2017, is important for us -- the African-American community as a whole. It is time that the untold story of these African- American women gets exposed, that the contributions of African-American women to the field of STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. "Hidden Figures" is not only a film to expose the truths of honorable black women but also to inspire black women to surpass the racial stereotypes plaguing our society today and to always push further than their expectations. We can excel and not only as athletes and musicians!
