Black Women in Cinema

The last time I saw a black woman in a leading role was long ago. That movie was The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker in the lead role and Oprah Winfrey as his on-screen wife. She was a woman who did not take anything from anyone. If you stepped out of line, she would probably bite your head off. That is what many people expect to find nowadays, women who can successfully show a powerful presence. Unfortunately, the movie still tries to show the time of the 60's as accurate as possible. Oprah still shows her character as submissive to her husband and a loving housewife, and a caring mother to her kids. That can change once she starts talking smack with her family and drinking and smoking without a care in the world. It is a breath of fresh air, even if she doesn't breathe much fresh air in the movie.