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ETHIC NOTIONS- racial stereotypes “Ethnic Notions” is Marlon Riggs’ Emmy-winning documentary movie which pushes viewers to follow the traces of American history, showing the racial stereotypes and myths that have been influencing whites’ perception of African-Americans. The documentary is based on several visual images of blacks that shape feelings about race. This movie interweaves mistral shows, advertisements and other types of entertainment to show hideously caricatured blacks with curly hair, big lips and bulging eyes, attending to whites with a great servitude. In the antebellum period African-Americans were presented as submissive and happy creatures. Jim Crow, Sambo, Zip Coon, Pickanninny, Mammy- they all become American definition of a Black. The Jim Crow and the Sambo were both presented as childish, innocent laughing creature