Why read Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks?

Book cover of Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks: An Interpretive History of Blacks in American Films

Book description

This classic iconic study of black images in American motion pictures has been updated and revised, as Donald Bogle continues to enlighten us with his historical and social reflections on the relationship between African Americans and Hollywood. He notes the remarkable shifts that have come about in the new millennium…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Frederick W. Gooding Jr.

Author

This book is an absolutely indispensable reference – Donald Bogle may well be dubbed the “godfather” of race studies in film as he meticulously chronicled and chartered black images in early film.

The book’s title alone already clues readers into the idea that Bogle will not pull any punches in describing popular black film caricatures that we now regard as problematic today.

From Frederick's list on the impact of movies outside the theater.

Mark Harris

Author

This is a groundbreaking book from 1973 that identified particular stereotypes into which Hollywood has pegged Black characters since the advent of cinema.

It established recurring character types that I expanded upon in my book and tailored to the horror genre. Told in a witty and personal manner, it is undoubtedly one of the classic texts of Black film criticism from one of the most notable figures in the field.

From Mark's list on Black film history.