Date of Award
Spring 5-11-2022
Degree Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Professional Writing (MAPW)
Department
English
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Anna Weinstein
Co-Chair
Mitch Olson
Abstract
Representation of African Americans in film and television has made great progress over the years. In the past, many works were created by non-Black filmmakers and showrunners who included Black characters that possessed stereotypical traits. This had led to numerous forms of misrepresentation of African Americans that ultimately perpetuated racial stereotypes and bias in society. Fortunately, the filmmakers and showrunners of today have included nuanced representations of African Americans who face everyday problems that do not only stem from racism and discrimination. This thesis highlights the progression of representation in film and television, stressing the importance of including African American creatives in the filmmaking process in order to portray accurate depictions of Black characters on screen.