jan 1, 1893 - The Mammy

Description:

The Mammy originated in the South during slavery. She represents the stereotypical roles of economic and working conditions of many black women. The caricature reinforced the stereotype that black women were contented happy slaves. She was made with the purpose to be desexualized as she is always depicted as overweight and unatractive. In an attempt to redeem the relationship between black women and white men within slave society. All black women were vulnerable to being sexually assaulted by white men. The Mammy hides behind a lie that says white men did not find black women sexually attractive. She is referred to as the Mammy or auntie and she belonged to the white family as she cared for white children and neglected her own family. During Jim Crow black women were forced into one job category, a house servant. The Mammy bore little resemblence to real black women but showed how many black women were denied of any other opportunities. Their wages were low because of the number of black women who needed jobs exceeded the number of jobs available

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