Hooks

Question: Can a filmmaker represent Black women as sex workers in a way that is cinematically transformative? If so, what narrative components are necessary for such a re-framing?

First off, I want to be optimistic and I do believe that it is possible, so I am going to say yes to the first question. I think that it is definitely possible in film to show a black women working as a sex worker and show her in a cinematically transformative way.

First, I think what is already lacking for most of these representations is depth of character. Most films portray Black women sex workers in a stereotypical light and fail to show them outside of their actual job. In portraying this role, I think that one must give more information on the character and more circumstance as to why that job choice. In Girl 6, the woman is forced to enter this line of business via phone sex because she is unable to fulfill her dream of becoming an actress. As Hooks praises, Spike Lee was able to transform this character without having her come off as a sexual object only by making her the main character and actually spending time on developing her character.