An Analysis of Slavery in Ethnic Notions, Southpark and Race: The Power of an Illusion

Introduction

Ethnic Notions argues that African Americans were portrayed on television and in theater acts in the most convenient way to those in power. This is shown when slavery was in full bloom and the majority of America was for slavery; African Americans were portrayed as simple people, or in the movies the most common was the big black woman servant. She was often very loving to the family she was serving and seemed very content with her life. Then, when slavery started to become an issue, slaves were portrayed in a drastically different manner (Riggs, 1986).

The Evolution of Stereotypes

Once people started to develop a negative view of slavery, slaves were portrayed as people reverting to a certain savagery, suggesting they needed the “white man” to help them. This portrayal was a means to keep African American slaves at the social level that those in power wanted. It was a perfect cycle: they were portrayed in such a manner so the American population saw them that way, and then, in turn, believed them to act in that manner. This manipulation of perception effectively maintained racial hierarchies.

Race: The Power of an Illusion

The documentary "Race: The Power of an Illusion" (Adelman, 2003) tackles these ideas in a different yet similar manner. It begins by posing the question of what race is and what separates the races. Normally, people may think of race as something biological, yet that could not be further from the truth. Race is a social construct that has persisted since the time of slavery to further the interests of white males. It is an illusion, a societal fabrication. The documentary highlights one of the most commonly “known” stereotypes about race: that black athletes have an advantage over white athletes. The belief was that blacks must have something different in their bodies to give them a physical edge. Obviously, these claims are false and grounded in fictional science, but they were used as a rationale to explain why black athletes were outperforming white athletes during the eugenics age. Although race may not be “real” in biological terms, as there are such small differences among people of different skin colors, race is real in terms of how we view a person.

The Persistence of Racial Constructs

Race is very much real in how we view a person. This could even be seen back in the slave age as Thomas Jefferson wrote that black people were savages, while calling Indian people brave warriors because they were closer to being white (Jefferson, 1785). This idea that “race” can classify a person has continued and still lives in modern-day stereotypes. This social construct has influenced perceptions and interactions, often reinforcing harmful prejudices.

Modern Reflections in Media

When asked to watch a television show, my immediate thought went to South Park and the "World War Zimmerman" episode. In the episode, Eric Cartman tries to befriend Token, the token black character, because of the George Zimmerman verdict. Cartman believed that black riots would destroy the world and was trying to stop them through Token. Now, obviously, this kind of social commentary is satire, but the underlying idea that black people are savages still resonates as it did in Ethnic Notions and Race: The Power of an Illusion. Even after hundreds of years, people still harbor the idea that society—specifically white people—should fear black people (Parker & Stone, 2013).

South Park as a Social Commentary

South Park, as a whole, offers a balanced class portrayal: Token, the black character, is rich, while Kenny is the poor white character, and the main characters—Cartman, Stan, and Kyle—are all white males of the same social standing. It is similarly balanced in terms of gender, featuring Wendy, a strong female character who often opposes Cartman and even beats him up. Overall, the show dives into social issues to highlight and sometimes satirize what we as a country feel. This could be the black riots I mentioned before or how they poked fun at how many people are afraid of transgender people. While Ethnic Notions and Race: The Power of an Illusion directly tell the story of race, South Park does so indirectly. In South Park, race, gender, and class all work together, when needed, to highlight an issue in our country or around the world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the portrayal of African Americans and racial constructs in media have evolved over time but continue to reflect deep-seated societal biases. Through documentaries like "Race: The Power of an Illusion" and satirical shows like South Park, the conversation about race is kept alive, challenging viewers to reconsider their perceptions and the societal narratives that shape them.

References

Adelman, L. (Producer). (2003). Race: The Power of an Illusion [Documentary]. PBS.

Jefferson, T. (1785). Notes on the State of Virginia.

Parker, T., & Stone, M. (Creators). (2013). South Park [Television series]. Comedy Central.

Riggs, M. (Director). (1986). Ethnic Notions [Documentary]. California Newsreel.