I know this is the first black musical and it provided a vehicle for black actors that didn't have to play maids or janitors but I found it difficult to watch because of how blacks were portrayed. I know it's 1929 and it's somewhat better than most of the stereotypes that would be presented for the next 30 years but I get a little upset at the critical and viewer reviews that call this 'honest'. It may be gritty and not sugar coated but to call it honest is denying the racism present. Some of it is subtle and some may be attributed to the poverty and how downgraded blacks were at the time but one obvious example is when Zeke got a crazy lustful look in his eyes and walked with his arms out toward the girl playing the piano, wanting to grab her. This plays into the stereotype that blacks were sexual fanatics who couldn't control their base, animal feelings.
Besides the fact that the cast was listed last in the opening credits, you can see how this was packaged for white audiences who wanted a peek into black life, and who wanted to hear some singing but who would be outraged if they didn't see the stereotypes they were taught. The revival meeting scene played to this and was a little lurid, and hinted at stereotypical animal sexuality lying just underneath.
By the way, I'm white, in case readers might want to call me 'sensitive' (which by the way, is another way of denying racism).
That being said, I guess we have to treat it like The Little Rascals. It has many racist elements but it's still historically important and entertaining. Ms. McKinney has a vehicle to show off her acting and singing which she wasn't able to afterwards to this degree and the other actors who were not professional did a good job acting and we have a story about a good man who is nearly ruined by a bad woman but it all comes out well in the end. And that could happen to anyone.
Besides the fact that the cast was listed last in the opening credits, you can see how this was packaged for white audiences who wanted a peek into black life, and who wanted to hear some singing but who would be outraged if they didn't see the stereotypes they were taught. The revival meeting scene played to this and was a little lurid, and hinted at stereotypical animal sexuality lying just underneath.
By the way, I'm white, in case readers might want to call me 'sensitive' (which by the way, is another way of denying racism).
That being said, I guess we have to treat it like The Little Rascals. It has many racist elements but it's still historically important and entertaining. Ms. McKinney has a vehicle to show off her acting and singing which she wasn't able to afterwards to this degree and the other actors who were not professional did a good job acting and we have a story about a good man who is nearly ruined by a bad woman but it all comes out well in the end. And that could happen to anyone.