ethnicnotionsTylerWatkins

In viewing of Ethnic Notions it depicts the ideas of the early 1900's the early slavery days. Throughout this video the main idea is how Africans Americans were portrayed in the past when they were slaves. They were used as a way of comedy which caused many different ideas of slavery. It had people debating whether or not slavery was good for these people. With these characters such as Sambo, and Jim Crow many white Americans saw the bright side of slavery that was depicted, having blacks happy, singing, dancing, and completely at piece at the idea of serving their white masters. With characters like Sambo showing childish ways not wanting to work, and just singing and dancing many Caucasians saw this as humor which then made them believe that this was all slaves, and creating a stereotype of slaves as just enjoying working for their masters since without direction they would be unable to survive if slavery was abolished. Throughout this video there were many characters that made white people believe that this was how all slaves were even if they were never around this culture. The most specific example is of the black nanny. Since she was an overweight, loyal, and independent character she was seen as not being a threat to many white audiences. Since she was so happy and loyal to her white master and his family it was often seen as a positive re-enforcement of slavery. At the time of emancipation these old ideas were adapted as the way f new politics. Many white people felt that these characters were brutes or beasts and therefore not able to survive as free Americans. They were seen as causing chaos and problems as emancipation became an idea, many whites felt they were better of as slaves and that it not only benefited themselves but the slaves as well.
This video gave me a new look into how many whites used to interpret blacks/slaves. They were seen just as a way of comedy that could not be taken serious. With Sambo, Zipcoon, the black nanny, and Jim Crow it is easy to see why many people felt that African Americans were unable to survive without direction and “protection” of their masters. These people only saw happy slaves which many slave owners wanted on their plantations but realized that this would not be beneficial to their operation. Once Thomas Dickson came out with his work in the early 1900’s showing slaves as wild brutes this instilled fear of emancipation to the white culture. It seemed as though they were intimidated by the idea of a new way of life which made many support the idea of slavery and segregation.