As a black girl who does not often see people portrayed in a respectful light, watching Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked” brought me to tears with the feeling of acceptance it created.
Black women are highly discriminated against, whether in their workplace or on the street. Seeing powerful, intelligent black women in film has helped me resonate with my culture from a woman’s perspective. Women-led movies such as “The Woman King,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Wicked” are just a fraction of the films that have impacted my perception of my culture.
An annual study by USC Annenberg shows that in 2023, only 12.6% of characters in the top 100 films were black. If more black representation is shown in movies and on television (TV), others may recognize how their harassment affects people. More representation could also create a powerful homage to black women.
“The Woman King,” is a movie that came out in 2022, featuring Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu and Lashana Lynch. In the film, the women are warriors kept from the rest of their village. Davis, who plays Nanisca, shows the hardships and emotions that a woman of color might face. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” a sequel to “Black Panther,” arouses the same sentiments as “The Woman King.” These movies show that if women are being harassed or discriminated against, they can rise to the challenge and find power within themselves to fight for their rights. They are truly inspirational.
Last year, an administrator at Louisville University named Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey committed suicide due to constant harassment and discrimination at Louisville University. When hearing about this, I thought of how black women are portrayed in film, social media and more. Black women are not showcased in the film industry. When they are, the industry puts them in a stereotype, making them seem “ghetto.” It’s important to see real-world issues that occur in urban communities. However, women are belittled in harmful ways, creating negative stereotypes and normalization in the ways people treat black women.
In “Wicked,” you can see a resolution to the discrimination women of color face, which is better than letting these stereotypes progress. In “Wicked,” you can truly see how a black woman may personify themselves as ugly just because of the color of their skin. The self-acceptance portrayed during the movie speaks volumes. It was beautiful.
Black women must be represented in film while continuing to be portrayed attentively, rather than dismissed and stereotyped.
