The introduction of Bell Hook's Black Looks as a whole resonated with me the most in Unit 1. Black Looks brings up issues that are still current in the African American community. In terms of African identity being lost due to colonization, the results are within each generation of Black Americans. Specifically in America Blacks have become victims of being defined by those who benefit from white supremacy. Many films that have recently been released have casts that define racially diverse as maximally having one African American. The one African American in these casts play stereotypical roles that have been present for decades, such as the "Black Jezebel", "Mandigo", "The Angry Black Woman", "Mammy", and "Sambo".
Pitch Perfect has Esther Dean who is a famous songwriter and singer playing the part a lesbian "Black Jezebel" for the comical relief of others.
The position of African Americans has always been in relation to whites and their benefit whether it be comical or having the white major characters play messianic positions.
Sandra Bullock plays the character of Leigh Anne Tuohy who "saves" a homeless young African American boy, Michael Oher, who to her benefit is a star at football.
African Americans careers as actors are constantly being compared to the status quo or how close they are physically, mentally, and emotionally to European standards. Thus came the "Token Black Guy (Girl)" http://crustula.com/2012/02/07/the-10-best-token-black-guys-in-movie-history/
bell hooks ironically is not the physically stereotypical political figure for the voice of Blacks. She has a lighter complexion, with curly hair, and a soothing voice of an older woman. Yet her words are prevalent to Black experiences in 2015. She is the perfect example that African Americans are not stereotypical and can be knowledgeable about the culture and vital study of the children of the African diaspora.
