Read an interesting story in the San Francisco Examiner about a book that focuses on sisters on the silver screen. “Divas On Screen: Black Women in American Film” by Vassar professor Mia Mask. Can’t wait to read it. The book focuses on five women who Mask believes have done a great deal to change perceptions about what is beautiful. The women she chose are surprising, at least to me, because with the exception of Dorothy Dandridge and Halle Berry I wouldn’t have thought of them. The other three are Pam Grier, Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.
I must admit that I heart Pam Grier for the tough talking chick she was in those blaxploitation films like “Foxy Brown” and “Coffy” (oh and “Jackie Brown” too). But I do wonder if those kind of roles actually advanced the idea of ‘angry black women’ (especially if you know how her characters took their revenge…). I hardly ever think about Oprah as an actress—force of nature…sure, megabrand….absolutely—but as an actress I’d consider her a dabbler (albeit a good one). Who can forget her role as Sophia in “The Color Purple”? Mask thinks her very appearance in these movies put her on a track to global stardom but I would argue that was due to her prowess as a talk show host more than an actress.
I do think that Goldberg is a good counterpoint to Dandridge and Berry. That because Hollywood had never seen anyone quite like Whoopi and because of that she’s had the talent and the balls to really carve out a unique place for herself. Not that all of her movies were good ones “Jumping Jack Flash” anyone? But beyond the flicks that garnered her critical acclaim, award nominations and that gold statuette called Oscar (”The Color Purple” and “Ghost” respectively) have been some downright entertaining turns that showcased her individual talent. Who doesn’t watch “Sister Act” or “Sister Act 2″ everytime it comes on? I also have an affection for her in “The Associate”. But it’s not her talent alone that has earned her this place, it’s those big box office numbers.
Mask starts with Dandridge and ends with Berry to hammer home the point that we’ve move from the era of the ‘tragic mullato’ to biracial beauty. Yes while that’s true to a certain extent the rise of Viola Davis gives me hope that may not be the end of the story after all.
In the meantime, I’ll be picking up the book and tuning in to NPR to hear Mask’s in-depth discussion about each of her subjects. While I might find this collection of actresses curious I’m still interested in learning how they’re shaping our images on the silver screen.
Who would you have included in this collection?
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