Courage

"Are we not more that horns and harlequins are we not more than colors and drums....give me courage so I can spread it over my face and mouth."-Sonia Sanchez

The African American and their capabilities are limitless. We have overcome some of the most challenging obstacles and broken barriers that others had not noticed. Even with these accomplishments, to some the African American remains nothing more than a source of laughter. As shown in the 1950’s sitcom Beulah, African Americans were strictly confined to the roles of care giver and dim witted. The show aired from 1950-1953 on the ABC network and starred Ethel Waters (1950-52), Hattie McDaniel (1952), Louise Beavers (1952-53), Amanda Randolph (1953) as Beulah the maid.  

There were only three African Americans in the sitcoms and one was portrayed as a dim-witted woman who couldn't keep her mouth closed, the man was just a worker in the house, and Beulah who was the main character was Beulah who was the problem fixer of her white employers. In the episode shown below, Beulah made an assumption and it led to everyone taking belief in the same idea. There was a lot of confusion about what Beulah thought she knew. In my opinon, the show illustrated African Americans as being nosey, problematic, and nothing more than maids and yard keepers. As an African American woman today and just watching my grandmother in this time, I know she was more than a dim-witted, care giver, or yardkeeper. She exudes a strength that most people (eliminate race) will not possess unless it was given through experience.  

Keep this in mind: WE ARE MORE THAN HORN AND HARLEQUINS, MORE THAN COLOR AND DRUMS!...BREATHE COURAGE SO YOU CAN SPREAD IT OVER YOUR FACE AND MOUTHS.

To all my followers, do me a favor and take a look at this video and give me your thoughts on the portrayal of African Americans in the 1950's! 



Surreal,

Monica