The history of stereotyping can be traced back to the antebellum era of the late nineteen hundreds. Stereotypes can be defined as structured sets of beliefs about the characteristics of members of social categories--influence how people attend to, encode, represent, and retrieve information about others, and how they judge and respond to them (Hewstone 9). During the late nineteen hundreds, there were a number of stereotypes that were placed on blacks as a way to help defend slavery. Whites took the characteristics of blacks and their perception of their intellectual and used it as entertainment. Documentary Ethic Notions by Marlon Riggs focuses on the intricate notions of old, black stereotypes of the antebellum era hidden in popular culture today. It is unfortunate that today in society African Americans are faced with the same stereotypes as their ancestors and then some. Popular culture today reflects how the society has greatly improved but regardless of Americans progress, stereotyping of the black culture still exists.
             Riggs, Documentary focused on stereotypes such as the Black Mammy, Zip Coon, Sambo, Brutes and Pick-a-Ninnies. The Black Mammy was the antithesis of white madam. She was strong, asexual, fat, very black, head covered, controlling of own family and glad to serve her master. Zip Koon, was a Negro character of the north that made fun of how blacks wanted to be like the whites. It was a mockery to racial inequality. Riggs described Sambo as carefree and childlike. It justified slavery by portraying blacks to be irresponsible, and having to be taken care of. It was these stereotypes that lead to what African Americans experience as stereotyping in our popular culture.
             Fortunately in today's society, stereotyping has significantly decreased but it still exists is portrayed in ways such as, movies, books, and television, and magazines. The media's representations of black men not only serve the interests ...