African American Stereotypes: The Mammy

One of the three most popular stereotypes attached to African American women is the Mammy.

The Mammy character is usually overweight, dark-skinned and desexualized. This character came about during slavery times. The image of a smiling, satisfied, dusky slave woman helped to promote the concept that slavery was not inhumane and was delightful for some. She worked inside the home and lived for her white family. Sometimes she would act as a whet nurse, nursing her master's children so that the slave master's wives could avoid hurt to their contain breasts.

In a time when black skin was viewed as extremely repugnant, the lighter skinned slaves were sometimes desired by their slave masters. Therefore, a tremendous, shadowy, masculine slave woman was less of a threat to a wife. The wife could feel confident with the understanding that her husband would never cheat on her with such an unattractive being.

The mammy character can be seen in some of the images we are familiar with. Perhaps the most well-known mammy figure is Aunt Jemima on the syrup bottles. Then there's the housekeeper lady on the Tom and Jerry cartoons, the pudgy dark woman in a housekeeper's uniform. Also, Nell Carter's character on "Gimme a crash" or Florida Evans from "helpful Times."

This particular stereotype is irascible to gloomy women today because it causes people to consider of African American women as things-- immense paunchy blobs lacking femininity and any sex appeal. What man would desire thisall Most dusky women have extra pain finding someone to marry and this particular stereotype does not assist this spot.