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Since the beginning of time, varying images of African-Americans in popular culture have been at odds with how African-Americans see themselves. The way in which White Americans perceive African-Americans is vastly different from the authentic actions and lives of African-Americans.

In the film "Ethnic Notions" by Marlon Riggs, we are taken on a tour of the images that have perpetuated and promoted stereotypes and prejudice. These caricatures and characters served as proof positive that Blacks were happy and content in their current conditions, and not oppressed. It was a form of propaganda used to ease the conscience of White America.

The images of the Mammy, the Tragic Mulatto, the Coon, the Tom and the Buck were designed to represent African-Americans. The Mammy was the congenial, straight-to-the point, mother figure. Her greatest joy in life was serving her mistress. The Mammy was portrayed as being asexual so that would not a pose a threat to her oppressors and so that White America would not consider her attractive. The Mammies world revolved around "her" White family and she was very loyal and devoted to them. The Uncle Tom was the Mammies counterpart. The Tom was also a faithful and loyal servant. Tom was often rendered as an older man to further show his dependence on his master. The Mammy and Tom were probably the most used images to show that Blacks were content in their roles as slaves.

The Tragic Mulatto character was one whose life was ruined because she was partially black. In most stories, everything is perfect until she discovers that she has one drop of "black blood". The Coon and the Buck were a bit different, while they were grossly misrepresented images; they served different purposes. The Coon and Buck showed that left to their own devices African-Americans were lazy and dangerous. The Coon was probably the worse of these depictions. The Coon was lazy and silly, he frightened easily and he had absolutely no ambition: though the Coon did not like his status, he was too lazy to do anything to change it. The Buck or Brute character represented African-American men as savage. The Buck, if left to his own devices was dangerous; he would attack and rape every White woman he could find. His depiction was used to justify the notion that African-Americans deserved to be locked up and controlled.

The images listed above were far from accurate depictions of African-Americans. African-Americans were certainly not happy being slaves and being oppressed. Neither