Meets Chenille Black Extrovert O Derek example essay topic

The object of this paper is to portray the role of African Americans and Whites in modern contemporary films. It is evident that there has been a great deal of effort in the integration of black people into American society. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has strived to undo the ties of segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans. The NAACP has used several strategies to overturn segregation rules and obtain suffrage for black citizens. With the introduction of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950's, the motto "We shall overcome's erred as inspiration for the fight against segregation. Although much effort has been made to integrate black people into society over the years, there still exists significant segregation with respect to roles in motion pictures and modern film.

However, great advancements have been made in recent years to overcome this struggle to equally include African Americans in the wealth and success of the media culture. With the recent surge of technological advancement and media industry, the black role has simultaneously advanced. The African American history of struggle, misrepresentation, and segregation has been the theme of many modern movies, music, and television shows. African Americans are taking advantage of this opportunity to represent the African American culture, even though it serves to explain their historical oppression and misfortune and not of their success and well-being. They are turning a negative history into a positive career and future. Approximately eighty years ago, it was only a thought that African Americans should indeed make movies and appear in the big screen alongside white actors and actresses.

Today this dream is now reality. The road to making motion pictures with the inclusion of African Americans has been evolutionary on all levels with lots of observable changes. The movie industry has become more willing to produce new themes and films featuring African Americans as stars. The advancement of African Americans in the movie industry has become evident with their recent accolades in film roles and production. The Oscars present a golden statuette to a person in recognition of their achievements in the filmmaking industry.

History was made in 2001 when African Americans won in both the Best Actor and Best Actress categories. This was the first time an African American woman has ever won this category. Also, in 2003, films were produced that included the first performances by African-born actors to receive nominations. Some say that these victories mark the beginning of a new era or more importantly the end of an old, oppressed one.

The Oscars were won purely out of talent and not because of symbolism or pity. The turn of the century seems to have brought along with it the commencement of new opportunities as well as newly defined roles for African American stars. Hollywood's long history of indifference to black talent is clearly over. A prime example of the role of African Americans in the filmmaking industry can be seen in the 1992 movie The Bodyguard starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner.

This movie depicts the talent and brilliance of two great stars. Whitney Houston made her film debut in this movie in which she is a popular and highly admired music / movie superstar. One fan plans her demise and plots to kill her. That is where, Kevin Costner, her bodyguard, step in. They unexpectedly fall in love.

This inter-racial relationship was accepted by the American audience. There were no references to black discrimination or inferiority in this movie. Whitney and Kevin's characters developed a relationship based purely on unconditional love and caring. The idea of inter-racial relationships was never a factor in their love. The color of their skin had nothing to do with the human bond they shared.

Whitney's character, Rachel Marron, was a cocky, extroverted African American woman who was highly successful in her music and movie-making career. Her character was rare because most African American actresses portray the role of unsuccessful, burdened women. Kevin Costner's character, Frank Farmer, was humble and introverted. He lived by himself and was very lonely. His life would be complete if he had companionship and love. When Rachel and Frank went on their first date at a bar, there were both black and white people in attendance.

This shows that there was no segregation of races and inter-racial relationships were not frowned upon. Racial harmony existed in this movie. In 2001 (nine years later), Monster's Ball was produced starring Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton. Unlike, The Bodyguard, this movie had strong racial vibes.

The characters of Billy Bob and Peter Boyle were extremely racist. An example of their ominous hatred for African Americans is the scene when Billy Bob's character, Hank, fired warning shots so that the negro boys would stay off his property. Ironically, at the end of the movie, his character winds up falling in love with Halle Berry's character, Liticia, who is of color and befriends the two negro boys. Halle Berry portrays a young black woman who is taking care of her son after the execution of her husband. She can't afford to keep the house and the car that she once had so she starts depending on Hank to help her out. She doesn't dress glamorously because she can't afford to.

Liticia is an emotional mess and that continues on even when she discovers happiness. Hank is a white man who lives with his father and son. He seems to be careless about his future because he quits his job of a corrections officer and buys a gas station that he does nothing with. He isn't a loving man. In fact, the death of his son was because he told him straight out, "I hate you, I always did". Also, he puts his father into a home because he can't deal with the responsibilities of looking after him.

Neither character is better than the other, but it seems that the director tried to portray Halle as the lower end because of her color. In this movie, there was, in fact, racism. Peter Boyle, played Buck, insulted Liticia when he said that in his days he also wanted a taste of the "nigger juice". Interesting enough, he felt comfortable that that term would be okay and accepting with Liticia. She resented him for it and never saw him again. Since Hank didn't particularly like blacks in the beginning of the film, his love for Halle was purely based on her personality and not of color.

At the end, color was not the issue. The third movie I watched and researched was Save the Last Dance starring Julia Styles and Sean Patrick Thomas. This movie is about a white Midwestern girl who moves to Chicago after the death of her mother. She is an aspiring dancer who now stays with her father in the ghetto. Sara enrolls in an all black school where she faces discrimination.

Julia plays a very strong individual who just doesn't fit into the society she has been put in. Her character tries to adapt to the new reality of her life. It is her new friends that conform her to the new life style. Unlike the other characters in this movie, Derek is at the top of his class at his school.

He is very smart and knows a lot about everything. Although he has criminal records, he is the most bright out of all his friends and is the man of his house. He applies to Georgetown to be a doctor and is accepted. I think this role gave young black people hope and determination. Even though this was a movie, a lot about it was based on reality and that gives some faith to what is outside of the theatres. Both characters are successful in the end.

Derek is on his way to be a doctor and Sara was accepted to Julliard where she will be a dancer. Just because these two live in racial harmony, it doesn't mean all the world will be joy us. We have changes a lot since the beginning of time, but unfortunately, not enough for things to be totally equal. Finally, I took a trip to the movies to view Guess Who. After researching about this movie and the movie similar to it, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, there are arguments that they aren't alike at all and that they are not the same movie. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner made in 1967 was one of the first films to openly express racial relations between characters.

While, Guess Who definitely doesn't ignore the issue of race, it is more comedic. What was more controversial forty years ago, is not of today. However, it is impossible to discuss this movie and not talk about race. The films foundation is based on a bias that does still exist today with in inter racial relationships. A more likely comparison to the 2005 movie would be Meet the Parents. Theresa, played by Zoe Saldana is a young black woman who is engaged to Simon, a white former CEO of his company.

Zoe is so in love and confident in herself and her family. She is family oriented and thinks love has no color. Simon is very successful and financially stable. His credit report is, as Percy says, "a thing of beauty". All four of the movies I have researched, The Bodyguard, Save the Last Dance, Guess Who and Monster's Ball influenced me to not look at a one's color but at their heart.

Judging people by race only creates drama. While some black characters had troubles, none has life altering problems that are usually stereotypical of them in movies. In fact, three out of the four movies had successful black characters. Of course there are tons of movies where black characters are the bad guys or the poor roles, but these films go to show that African American roles can be just as victorious as any other race or ethnicity. Don't let the endings fool you. Three out of four movies have in fact happy endings but lets not rule out that there are some people in this world today that are and always will be against inter racial marriages and relationships.

For myself, I live by the saying that love has no color. Movie Notes Monsters Ball - Marc Foster, 2001 Billy Bob- Hank Halle- Liticia Peter Boyle- Buck. Diddy- Lawrence Heath Ledger- Sonny Takes place in Georgia Liticia's husband is executed. Why?

Says he's a "bad man"o Son is obese. o Losing the house, beaten up car, no other family life. o Hank and Sonny, corrections officers. Father / Son. Buck, Hanks father. Both racist - fires warning shots from his rifle to scare little black boys away. o Walks Lawrence to his death of electrocution. o Sonny kills himself Liticia works at local diner.

Son gets killed. Hank helps. Drives her to hospital. Feelings there? o Offers to drive and pick her up from work Has sex with hero Gives her Sonny's old car. o Liticia meets Buck- "nigger juice"- chases her away Hank puts father in home Liticia gets evicted-moves in with Hank. o Finds drawings from Lawrence in Sonny's room. o "It's gonna be ok"- happy ending? The Bodyguard- Mick Jackson, 1992 Kevin Costner- Frank Farmer Whitney- Rachel Tomas Aran a- Portman Old bodyguard- Tony Whitney's son- FlectherWhitney's sister- Nikki o Frank assigned to work for Whitneyo Whitney- singer, very cocky. o Whitney- not so good actress o Notes- someone is jealous of Whitneyo Crush on Frank? o Sister- living in the shadows-jealous- less attractive o Educates black driver about security, teaches him to drive righto Whitney asks Farmer on date Killer-white? o Go to bar- country music- Franks "kind of place"o Black / white people both at bar No racism o Sleeps with her than says it's a mistake Portman- white Whitney meets Farmers dad- no talk about color Saves fletcher o Sister- killer? o Fletcher has friends over... black an white Farmer takes bullet for Whitney- lives- happy ending Save the Last Dance- Thomas Carter, 2001 Julia Styles- Sara Sean Patrick Thomas- Derek Kerry Washington- ChenilleFredro Starr- Malakai Terry Kinney- Roy Johnson Sara- Ballerina- Mom dies trying to make show at Julliardo Chicago Dad lives in old, grimy apartment in black neighborhood School- mostly black, stares as she walks through hallway so Meets Chenille- black extrovert o Derek- thinks he's better than Sarao Steps- club Sara wants to impress Derek... says she can dance, can " to Crush? o Nikki- Derek Ex- says racial things about Sarao Derek / Sara- fall in love Chenille says racial things to Sara- not mean. o Malakai says racial things to Sarao Train- white lady stares at them- sara and Derek purposely make a scene for a reaction Sara ends it with Derek o Sara makes Julliardo Happy ending with Sara and Derek Guess Who- Kevin Rodney Sullivan- 2005 Ashton Kutcher- Simon Bernie Mac- Percy Zoe Saldana- Theresa Judith Scott- Marilyn Simon -white, Theresa- black, engage do Cranford- NJ- meet the parent so Don't know that Simon is white Confuse black taxi driver and simon Shocked- Percy doesn't like him Theresa tries to talk to the mom about ito Percy shares bed with Simon Racial statement so Percy and Simon drive women away Help each other-begin a relationship Happy ending.