The time has come to honor the first African-American to win an Academy Award–Hattie McDaniel. The United State Postal Service has decided to put her mug on the face of a new stamp. I know that I have derided the role of Mammies in our culture, but as the Postal Service states on its website:
Although McDaniel was often heavily criticized for playing maids and other stereotypical roles, she worked behind the scenes to battle racism and discrimination. McDaniel is remembered for saying, “I’d rather play a maid than be one,” and although she encountered racism in Hollywood, she and several other black actors worked to change the film industry from within during the 1940’s.
Although McDaniel was often heavily criticized for playing maids and other stereotypical roles, she worked behind the scenes to battle racism and discrimination. McDaniel is remembered for saying, “I’d rather play a maid than be one,” and although she encountered racism in Hollywood, she and several other black actors worked to change the film industry from within during the 1940’s.
Can Hattie’s philosophy be applied to the caricatures of today? Can an actor or rapper say, “I’d rather play a thug than be one”?
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