Dehumanization

In Sandra Golden's Black and on Welfare: What You Don't Know About Single

Parent Women, we see her primary argument about how the women feeling dehumanized after leaving the welfare office. She supports her position by arguing that many young Black females carry the assumed burden of being uneducated, unskilled, and unmotivated because they receive public assistance. The assumption leads to breeds of racial and discrimination towards them. I strongly agree with her argument because in today's society, media women on welfare are labeled as the ignorant, ghetto women in the hood. Being on welfare is actually labeled as a joke in today's comedy.

While reflecting on todays and past Black movies, I began to wonder how many Black women are portrayed in movies and sitcoms labeled as being on welfare. The following: Precious, American Violet, Losing Isaiah, Blue Chips, Meet the Browns, and Notorious. I can surely go on and on.

I have always wondered, “Why is it such a hot topic for Black women to be on welfare in box office movies”? Why did actress/comedian Mo’Nique have to be a ghetto, abusive, poor mother in order to win an Oscar? On the other hand of what Golden has stated, Yes, I understand many young Black women may be illiterate and need government assistance, but do we have to bring the negative reality to the movie screens to represent Black women? Many women do, “Sit back and wait for the check” or “Have government cheese”, but I just hate seeing that side of a Black women being portrayed in movies.

The number one movie that sticks out in all of our heads is, “Precious”. If you did not understand or could not vision what life on welfare was like, that movie was an excellent example. From the financial assistance to the free baby’s formula, you saw it all. I just hope one day, I can see a Black woman win an Oscar for being a successful, independent, and smart woman that she is!