Hayden Gainey

Film Midterm Questions

Question #1

Whiteness is seen as the normal or standard set of cultural norms. Others such as
minority groups are gauged off this scale of whiteness. This set of norms often
marginalizes and in some ways depicts these groups as less American then their
normal white counterparts. This is where we get descriptors such as MexicanAmerican and African-American instead of just Americans. The divide here is that
those of an ethnic background or even those with a differing skin tone are viewed as
less than a full on red blooded American. The movies we viewed in class Dear White
People and Cesar Chavez work to disturb the upkeep and perpetuation of this
Whiteness
In Dear White People, there is a large focus on what defines you and who are you.
The film doesnt have this overarching theme of white racism is bad and this is what
is keeping the character down which is common amongst this genre of film. We see
several characters trying to find out who they are and how they fit in given these
set of normalized cultural molds that are whiteness. Lionel Higgins one of the first
characters we met is a gay black student who is unsure of where he fits in at this
prestigious Ivy League university. At first Lionel has a hard time fitting in to any
group, the black community at Winchester, Struggles with his gay Identity, and
most obviously the stereotypical frat boys on campus. In each of Lionels struggles
we see that he is conflicting with how he is versus how the world see him and the
mold of whiteness or what it means to be a black male. On one side you have this
Ivy League stereotype where he has to become whitewashed, highly academic
and success oriented. The other side he has to try and fit the role of the strong
black male which conflicts heavily with his sexual orientation. In the end we see that
Lionel helps breakdown not only this maintence of whiteness equaling the norm but
also breakdown what it means to be black. Lionel becomes who exactly Lionel is not
a poster boy for the white normalization nor the African-American student. He
breaks down the stereotypes and becomes an individual.
Sam the outspoken activist is a very unique character in terms of breaking down
both sides of the barrier. She breaks down the barrier of normalized whiteness by
being and overly aggressive social justice warrior. She host a radio show called Dear
White People in which she outlines some of the things white people do that are
racist or contribute to the normalization of whiteness. In her book, shown through
some scenes in the movie about how whites treat people of color, contribute to this
normalization of whiteness. She is instrumental in organizing a rally at Winchester
regarding racism. During the film she dates a fellow student who is white. After the
breaking point she realizes that people are more than just Black and White. With her
almost militant view regarding Blackness, she realizes that people are people. There
is a normalization of whiteness but the way to combat that is not the normalization
of blackness it is to view people as people.

Troy was a unique character in that he was not responsible for a breakdown of
whiteness. His character could have been a catalyst for change but instead he just
goes with the normalization of whiteness and tries to be as white as possible to fit in
a graduate to become a successful lawyer. He doesnt go against the grain and do
what he wants like the other characters do. We see his character on the brink of this
change but he succums to the pressures of his father and fitting in. At the end of
the film we that people that new his struggle and what he choose view him as fake.
This make sense as these other characters have found not only a way against the
grain of white normalization but also they have found themselves.
Caesar Chavez is a very interesting film in regards to breaking down the
normalization of whiteness. It has a certain aspect to it that Dear White People
doesnt. The breakdown of classifying Americans versus Mexican-American and
Puerto Rican-Americans. Not only were both farm owners and policy makers giving
room for these groups to be attacked (physically and fiscally) but also viewed as
less American. In turn they were often viewed as less human. The film mentions it a
few times but this occurred during the Red Scare, so the labor union was attacked
from another direction being viewed as communist furthering the view that these
peoples were less American and undeserving of certain rights and privileges.
Chavez brought the fight to the forefront of people minds in the media and as the
media coverage progressed we see a change from the these people should just be
happy to a view of these people are being treated unfairly. The breakdown of
normalized whiteness in Cesar Chavez occurs at its peak with people start to
understand the situation and what this workers are really going up against. Given
the time period there were obviously had be brought that were not changing their
minds about race. Given that Chavez created such a successful counter-culture and
changed the hearts and minds of America he was successful in breaking down a
form of the normalization of whiteness.
Overall both of these movies are full of great examples of people breaking the wall
of what is considered normal. They broke down some this concept of whiteness
being considered normal in unique ways. Not by directly challenge them in the case
of Dear White People, and in the case of Cesar Chavez they did exactly that
challenge the concept of what in normal head on via legislation and policy. Two
movies that provide evidence and work to bring down the wall of not only the
normalization of whiteness but also the way we view other cultures with American.