Blog 2

In Reid's first chapter, the most meaningful concept I learned about in the history of Black cinema was the argument of the term womanist analysis.  Reid and writer, Alice Walker, argue that this term refers to a feminist movement that is interested in race, class, gender and sexual social justice.  Womanism is basically just feminism for women of color.  African American cultural traditions and a commitment to the survival of people, male or female.  Womanist analysis also focuses on women's cultures and its less constrained position on sexuality and curtailing the negative stereotypes associated with feminism and whiteness.  I found all of this meaningful because not only was it difficult for Black people to succeed as actors and/or directors, but now, Black women are being stereotyped and told what they should do, look like, etc.  We tend to think that once Black people have one success in cinema, they will always have success; however, that is far from the truth, and this concept of womanist analysis helps show the other difficulties they had to deal with.  Although it was not easy for them to succeed in cinema, it was possible, and that is shown through the success of William Foster and Oscar Micheaux.