Donald Bogle Comes to Uconn

by Surah

Donald Bogle comes to Uconn

Professor Donald Bogle, who currently teaches at the University of Pennsylvania as well as New York University, came to the University of Connecticut on February 24, 2011 to present on the history of African Americans in film.

First to the stage at the Dodd Center was Professor Ron Taylor who graciously introduced Bogle and informed the audience about his many accolades and accomplishments.

Donald Bogle has written six books about African Americans in film and television. His most recent release, Primetime Blues: African Americans on Network Television describes Black’s experiences in film on a smaller stage. Bogle’s literature strives to inform others about the history of film with a focus on African Americans.

As a university instructor he sees the students of today as accrediting the beginning of Black film to more recent directors when in fact, advances in film by African Americans were made before the 1980’s. In an article by Black Voices, Bogle contends, “We have a whole generation of people in film school, African Americans, who see film mainly in a sense with what they know of Spike Lee from the 80s.” Bogle pinpoints filmmaker Oscar Micheaux as the pioneering figure for African Americans interested in film.

Bogle’s presentation began with a brief history about Micheaux’s relatively unknown accomplishments. He highlights the difficulties that Micheaux faced when trying to produce a film. This independent filmmaker was in charge of financing, casting, producing and distributing the film. His determination to produce films such as “Underworld” which was performed by an all Black cast, displayed his determination and talent.

According to Bogle, other Hollywood movies that were disseminated portrayed Blacks in a very different light. Bogle’s main contention was that the current race relations directly related to how African Americans were portrayed in film and on TV. He begins by listing the various stereotypical images of blacks such as coons, mammies, Uncle Toms and jezebels, which came to life on the big screen.

Bogle argued that these portrayals satiated the audience in terms of how they wanted to view African Americans. During the 1950’s when Sydney Portier was being featured in Hollywood films, he was depicted as an African American who was happy to be subservient to his Caucasian counterpart.

The discussion surrounding African American’s roles in film then centered around depictions of Black women. Bogle pointed out to his audience that the few glamorous Black women who were in film all resembled each other. Actresses such as Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge, and more recently Halle Berry and Beyonce Knowles, have Anglo features such as light skin, straight noses and straight hair. He pointed out the stark contrast between these figures and the darker skinned, larger, kinky-haired Mammy figures such Hattie McDaniels.

His presentation allowed for an in-depth look at how Blacks are portrayed in films. While Bogle mostly focused on the historical moments for African Americans in film, he also highlighted racial trends and made connections to current societal issues. Bogle’s pictures presented the audience with an insider’s look at the construction of racial identity through film. Ultimately, his presentation provided the audience with unconventional teachings and lessons that his own students are privy to on a daily basis.