Baby Boy: All the Stereotypes in One Movie

With black films perpetuating stereotypes about black men, we don’t even need to think about what the news media is doing. For example, the 2001 film Baby Boy brought the hood back to life. I love John Singleton, but he definitely gives life to negative hood stereotypes. The men in this movie embody all the stereotypes about black men.

First we have Jody, the black man child. He practically lives off the women in his life. He lives with his momma (AJ Johnson) and drives his girlfriend’s (Tariji P. Henson) car. He spends his days selling dresses in beauty salons and cheating with his girlfriend’s co-workers.  Jody’s stereotypes: irresponsible, lazy, womanizer

Next we have Jody’s best friend Pete, the gangster who is trying to change his ways, but keeps getting pulled back. He lives with his girlfriend and her mother. He is unemployed and desperate. Unfortunately, his past renders him unemployable, so he spends his days playing dominoes. He is a former criminal looking for redemption, but his lack of skills and the general lack of opportunity push him back into his old ways. Pete’s stereotypes: criminal, thug, derelict

Melvin is Jody’s momma’s live-in boyfriend. He is an obviously institutionalized ex-con. He has two strikes on him already and has to control his anger to keep from going back for good. He and Jody are constantly at each other’s throats, and Melvin’s anger gets the best of him. Although Melvin lives with Jody’s momma, he tries to get his life together. Melvin’s stereotypes: Convict, violence prone, brute

Lastly we have Rodney, Jody’s girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend. Rodney, who was recently released from prison, is associated with the gang life in South Central LA. So he spends his free days smoking with his loved ones and terrorizing his ex-girlfriend. He is just an all around bad guy. Rodney’s stereotypes: gang banger, abuser, shiftless

Black media it is time for you to stop adding fuel to the stereotypes we are trying to escape!

If you need a reminder about the film check out the trailer!

Boyz ‘N The Hood – They Aren’t All Violent

Boyz ‘N the Hood is possibly one of the most infamous movies about black men and boys. It is a coming of age tale about 4 boys – Trey, Ricky, Doughboy, and Lil Chris – growing up in “gang infested” South Central Los Angeles, California. We all know the story. Trey is the only one with a stable father figure so he manages to live “above the influence,” but his friends all meet tragic ends. Ricky – murdered, Doughboy – incarcerated, and Lil Chris – paralyzed from the waist down. Here is the trailer to jog your memory.

Many would say they all look like violent criminals, but I think there is something deeper. Trey was not a criminal, Rickey only wanted to play football, and Doughboy was responding appropriately to what he was met with. None of these boys wanted to have negative life experiences, and it is safe to say that they would have led different lives if their circumstances were different.

These young men were prematurely written off. Crips and bloods are killing each other left and right, plus they are black men in America, so they must be involved in some way, right? Not necessarily. They weren’t all violent but they got the same treatment.

The public does not give young black men the benefit of the doubt. “They’re all criminals.” “All of them get drunk and high.” “We should just let them kill each other off.” You don’t think  they know how people feel about them? They know, but what are they to do? No one advocates for them because deep down everyone feels the same way.

It just goes on and on you know? Either they don’t know, don’t show or don’t care about what’s going on in the hood.

-Doughboy