Stereotyping of people of color in media is a phenomenon that has been going on for decades. When stereotypes are used in media, that language generalizes people of color and portrays them negatively. These views will justify oppressive behaviors towards people of color, which becomes an issue of safety and justice. One group that stereotypes within media have negatively impacted is Black women. Examples include the Mammy, Jezebel, and Sapphire, which have roots dating back to slavery. In these three stereotypes, Black women are categorized as loud, strong, angry, and highly sexualized. The stereotypes are obviously not true, but the media is continuously feeding into this “character” that these are the only personalities Black women have. That is why it is essential to understand what the Mammy, Jezebel, and Sapphire stereotypes are and their role in media and Black women’s lives.

A video titled Mammy, Jezebel and Sapphire: Stereotyping Black women in Media by Al Jazeera English goes into detail about the three different stereotypes and their impact on Black Women:

In this video, many esteemed Black female scholars commentate on the stereotypes’ origins and how the Mammy, Jezebel, and Sapphire have changed. For instance, one of the Mammy’s early portrayals is in the movie Gone With the Wind, where Mammy (also the name of the character) is a maid for a white family and puts the family’s needs above her own. She is an older Black woman who is always willing to help her white counterparts selflessly and takes pride in being with the family. Mammy is a problem because it illustrates the racist propaganda that during slavery, Black people wanted to serve and be at the command of White slave masters and their families, furthering the lies of the slave trade.

The other two stereotypes, Jezebel and Sapphire, are still shown in recent media today. As described in the video, the Jezebel is a Black woman who is overly sexualized, who uses her body to influence men. Then the Sapphire is “usually sharp tongue, manipulative woman who emasculates her husband.” She is also considered the “angry Black woman,” and in recent media, the sassy supportive best friend to a White main character.

The portrayal of Black women in this way is damaging and leads to issues of identity and safety. The Jezebel stereotype has led to the hyper-sexualization of Black women and girls, placing them at risk of assault. The Sapphire over exaggerates the emotions and feelings of Black women, making them seem hostile or aggressive. Then, Mammy is slavery propaganda meant to make slavery not seem as bad. More discussions on how media can change positively to showcase people of color are vital to diversity.