African Men. Hollywood Stereotypes. [mamahope.org]
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- Опубліковано 24 кві 2012
- Wouldn't it be better if African men weren't always depicted as warlords or victims?
After viewing Mama Hope's video, "Alex Presents Commando," Gabriel, Benard, Brian and Derrik (the Kenyan men in this video) told us they wanted to make one that pokes fun at the way African men are portrayed in Hollywood films. They said, "If people believed only what they saw in movies, they would think we are all warlords who love violence." They, like Mama Hope, are tired of the over-sensationalized, one-dimensional depictions of African men and the white savior messaging that permeates our media. They wanted to tell their own stories instead, so we handed them the mic and they made this video.
Learn more at: www.mamahope.org
Written by Benard, Brian, Derrick, Gabriel and the Mama Hope Team
Directed and Edited by Joe Sabia
(joesabia.co/)
Executive Produced and Shot by Bryce Yukio Adolphson
(bryceyukioadolphson.com)
Motion Graphics by Jason Chandra
(jasonchandra.com/)
Sound by Equal Sonics
(equalsonics.com/)
Featuring the song "Up Up Up" by Givers
Original Music by Michael Thurber
(michaelt.org/)
This is AWESOME. We want to meet these guys!!
i am gabriel one of the guys who made the video, you can get hold of us via my email ondutokogumbo@gmail.com or facebook ondutokogumbo
Hey Yes Theory! What's up? Love your content!
Me too. They all seem like a nice group of guys. As a man, I'm always ready to meet and connect with other men.
These are hardly the most worrisome or pervasive stereotypes. The stereotype of every African as poor, starving, and unaware of any form of technology or the English language, and the weird tendency a lot of people have to forget how many different nations and cultures exist in the continent, I find more of a problem than these stereotypes that I had no idea anyone thought. English is the first language of everyone in this video, and much but not all of Africa, which should have been mentioned. Where in Africa they are from should also have been mentioned, so that people can stop thinking of Africa as the Dark Continent of which we have no geographical knowledge.
Agreed. I've been reading a lot of history lately - especially the history that we don't usually hear about in American schools - and it's amazing how much science, medicine, engineering, mathematics, architecture, and philosophy happened in ancient Africa. The standard history books basically leave people with the impression that Africa is a big wilderness with a few pockets of primitive people hunting with bow and arrows, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Africa is the home of truly amazing empires with dynasties and urban centers, just like Europe had.
@@akirak1871 Absolutely. Sadly Africa to this day is under the thumb of modern empires, and I don't know how they're going to escape. They're not _primitive_ people as the stereotypes imply, but there are problems in African countries we can only dream of in the West and even much of Latin America. Having internet access is a huge luxury in many parts of Africa, and as a result the people I talk to there are often among the richest in their country, and yet their money could be blown on a couple restaurant trips if they visited a Western country (or just getting to a Western country).
I watched Who Killed Captain Alex, a Ugandan film, and they pretended to drink paint water from when someone painted nearby, because they couldn't access actual water for the scene. And yet they were able to make an entire film (which had to be deleted from his hard drive after distribution so he could make more as he has a hard drive with only a couple GB capacity). By the way, if you're interested in that film, it's a lot of fun, but it's very low-budget and not something to take seriously. I recommend it because it's uplifting to watch something they clearly had so much fun making. And VJ Emmy (sp?) is hilarious.
@@Gaff. Haha yes, I've heard of that movie. It sounds humerous but also an example of people who are truly determined to make a movie but don't have the money and resources that others do.
@@akirak1871 Precisely. It's sad if you think about why it is that way, but the film itself is honestly a great time and the people that made it seem really cool, making something like that with what little they had and having a great sense of humour in interviews.
i mean a lot of people in africa ARE poor and starving, but of course not all people in a fucking continent are poor
that's what the real world needs to know . African where the life is from . proud to be african man
As an American, my impression of Africans is very good. The African immigrants that we get here in the US are very hard working, intelligent, professionals. They are polished and upwardly mobile.
***** My sides just went into orbit.
This video is hilarously spot on. These guys are awesome.
As a Jamaican who grew up in the States I completely identify with this video and love the fact that it's humorous as well. Great work!!
They call it Africa, I call it home.
"We hate smiling. It's stupid."
Loved this! :D
I'm an English teacher in Spain. I show this video to my students all the time.
Awful
@@ms.t4322 you're awful, it's good for them to know
@@ms.t4322 i smell Racism in your response
Great vid, but there's one subject I want to broach, and that's the massive amount of diversity within Africa. There are so many different nations, so many different cultures and languages and histories, it almost doesn't make sense to talk about 'African men'. But I guess you've got to start with broad strokes, and it's probably fair enough to suggest that most westerners (myself included) aren't exactly experts on the intricacies of Africa as a whole.
Your one of the few that tells some truth about what they know not.
It does make sense to talk about African men. We have different cultures and so on but we do share a lot more similarities and our different histories are all linked to each other one way or the other just like we helped each other during colonialism, apartheid and so on.We are Africans and that's how we see ourselves no matter our different countries. Each of Africa's countries borders share the same language and culture of its neighbor so we all connect more than you think.
ninou2040 This video is stupid, at movies they probably just portray the bad that exists in Africa, the bad that is REAL, those war crimes, genocides, children kidnapped and train for becoming soldiers are REAL, it's not just about stereotypes about a huge continent, is about real events, and sometimes even worse as those poor girls in Nigeria nothing ago.
If this video just said "hey, Africa is big and good things can also happen", well ok, we can all agree on that, but the rest...
+Ciscogrande If you from Spain, what makes you an expert to speak for U.K.?
Here is one thing that makes you sound so ignorant and way less informed about Africa. Vast population of Africans are self-employed hence there is no way to actually accurately calculate how much each house hold make to sustain them on average or above average?
Developed nations use the standard basic human needs ( food and housing affordability ) poverty level but not government services that can actually reach all its population. So far if you follow me correctly, you will understand and agree with me that government will never accurately know how much an individual is making if the individuals have making hard cash money or simply barttering their goods. This is exactly the economic structure for the main stream Africans. So how can you or the World Banks accurately calculate the true poverty level that exists in Africa? African populations way above average have village level adequate housing and consume three meals a day just like you in developed nations. People in Africa consume triple time more fresh food than the population of developed nations.
No doubt your knowledge is limited to your continental boundary.
Ciscogrande If your socioeconomic is really that good, you would be smart enough not to politically campare developed nations versus underdeveloped. However, there are political institutions that function totally different in underdeveloped nations as compared to developed nations. To cut the entire debate short Europe is nohing without Africa. Every major processing plant in Europe either get their raw materials FROM Africa or sales to Africa. Your stupid ass left Spain because Spain is considered developning nation to U.K.
Half the food you eat is processed as compared to 99% food consumed by the people in third world you ignorant jerkass motherfucker.
I would gladly hang out with any of these dudes - any day. Thanks Hollywood for the continuous, horrible misrepresentation of these beautiful people.
thanks bro, im gabriel find me and my friends on facebook onduto kogumbo
Could you provide subtitles to other languages? Brazilians don't usually speak English and they see Africa through this same "stereotypical vision". And, by the way, nice video! Very interesting! I'm sharing it!
And in Spanish please
Holy shit, I thought it was weird when I went to Angola as a child and it was one of the most enjoyable and friendly community experience I've ever had, I agree 100% with wishing this is what the so called "African Americans" should be like. Proud to have African friends.
To stop the stereotypes, get the US, UK and French militaries and arms manufacturers out of Africa. Only then, following some 500 years of their malevolent interference, might Africa unlock its potential.
this is the best video i have seen in my whole life thank you so much
Really good video! Made me stop for a few minutes and think about how easy it is to get such limited ideas of people who we don't get to interact with and so don't have an opportunity to learn for ourselves directly. Thank you to the four men in the video!
"We're talking to you, shirtless Matthew McConaughey"
sobbing this is so so so perfect, massive kudos to who ever made this
Using humor and charm is a great way to combat stereotypes. Good job guys!
Africans are very smart and well respected
Where is your statistic faceless bitch, does dudes study medicine. Are they stupid too?
Max Jenz
wtf are you trying to say and who tf are you talking to?
Great video. I have been to 16 sub Saharan African countries and the four men depicted in this video are very much what I observed in my time there. I find it amusing that someone found it necessary to point out the various degrees that the men were working on. I am not saying that it is not admirable that the men working so hard but the men and women I met in my time in Africa where just as likable as the men in the video and they were not in school. They were just normal citizens. Bar tenders, hotel workers, waiters, taxi drivers, grocery store employees etc. No matter where one travels in the world you will find that people are people. Some are hungry and will try and take advantage of others but in my experience the majority are good and decent. Even the hungry ones.
Amazing video, I've never thought of the disconnect between the African men and women that I know and how they're portrayed in hollywood. Quite bizarre.
Just a million views ? this video deserve more views than any realityshows or youtuber video, it's really a nice video with a deep problem brought with laughter. Nice !
This is a great, great video!!! I'm glad you guys took the time to make the point. Well done!
This is adorable and so excellent. "We are talking to you, shirtless Matthew McConnoughy!" Priceless, and direly needed. Thanks for putting it together!
i have an overwhelming need to hug all of you guys.awesome video truly shows us how fucked up our perception of african people is,thank you for opening my eyes i hope i live long enough to get ignorance and hate out of my system.p.s you guys seems extremely fun to be around! :)
thanks alot, reach us on facebook ondutokogumbo i can get hold of my friends too
I've never thought machine guns and Africans were a thing, or any of these stereotypes. But those movies look kind of awesome.
The one where the dude asks "do you believe in God" is Casino Royale in case you were wondering
Fantastic video. You guys are the best.
BRILLIANT! Your good use of humour, and your attitude make this interesting. Great message too :)
Our men are so handsome❤️
love this!
I love how happy they are! Great video!
Definitely a fan of all 'Beware of Images' FBook postings. Mama-Hope is definitely a winner! Keep up the great work, you guys!
Their accents are beautiful. I just like to hear them speak. :3
Who’s here from Shaun?
Comment posted seven months ago and only four likes (me being one of them). I figured there'd be more.
Me
got here 7 years late but its still so resonant. I wonder if you made more videos .My request is for a critique on 'those accents' [Denzel Washington. Will Smith, Forest Whittaker, Jennifer Hudson Morgan Freeman]. And another on why Hollywood doesn't think that Africans can play...Africans on the big screen?!Disgusting racism and deliberate reductionism. This is a wonderful video thanks guys.
Please, gentlemen, keep talking. I could listen to you for a lot longer than two minutes. :)
Great video.
Shaun's video dissing the Amazing Atheist brought me here.
Same.
yep. Hi!
Dey eatin da poopoo
@@Coffeeisnecessarynowpepper y
@@DragonbornCanid Amazing Atheist
Anybody here from Shaun's video about TheAmazingAtheist? TheAmazingAtheist took a screenshot from this video and used it to perpetuate the same hateful stereotypes that these men are speaking out against. It's unreal.
That's why I'm here. TJ is so lazy with his videos.
Like the message! Great video
Beautifully done commentary. Truth to power.
Omfg, aww. This was beautiful.
the laughing at the end was adorable
Thank you for this video !
it would be so cool to see a documentary series about these guys!
We don't all think of you like this.
A friend of mine was telling me about how he's seen some Russian movies and they stereotype americans as fat, war-obsessed and angry. Everyone has their way of viewing other communities, there isn't much any individual can do about when you have massive companies spreading those views
I LOVED this video!!! Africa is one of the warmest, friendliest and community oriented places on the planet. As an American living in East Africa, I experience this daily. I am so glad that someone decided to set the record strait :)
You guys made my year:)
ACTUALLY, i didn't think of african men that way at all and it didn't even cross my mind until they mentioned it. D:
Well done brooke aren't you a saint, I didn't know your view represent the western world as a whole
torbinzix1
lol
torbinzix1
Yes, because that's exactly what she claimed there, right? To represent the western world?
I want to share this video in my class on men and masculinities
+Sugandha Singh You should tbh, I will share this video tmr when I am done with my oral speech.
Great :)
"On men and masculinity" I'm sorry but don't you mean on racism towards the minority in western culture and violence towards MEN in Africa?
Yes. I wanted to present it in a way to show how stereotypically masculinity and race are interlinked in western representations.
I don't want a feminine James Bond.
I made a video similar to this recently. Stereotypes truly are perpetuated through the media and I'm happy this video pointed it out!
What an excellent comeback.
Not the Western World, just America. Here in Europe everyone understands that Africa is just as diverse as any other continent on this planet.
Smoke Few Americans believe these stereotypes either. So please do not judge. Thank you! We are diverse too. My neighbors are from Togo, and they re awesome; my best friends daughter married an African man and he is a wonderful husband and father....I could go on, but just wanted to let you know America is very diverse and tolerant of differences and understands other countries as well. It is our current government that is somewhat bigoted and prejudice and gives the rest of The US of America a bad world view and then people judge us as you are.
Smoke Nah, it is the western world. Hollywood heavily influences the western world, that means all throughout Europe and Oceania
Hollywood is silly, and any intelligent person does not believe these stereotypes. Hollywood has lost much of the credibility and influence it may have once had. It is nonsense to believe otherwise.
+Julie Ellen Unfortunately, the idiots and easily influenced FAR outnumber the intelligent. All you have to do is watch a Republican debate!
I do not call someone an idiot because they disagree with my views. I look at both sides of any issue and judge things on the individual, not an entire race. You have about an equal mix of racist and non racist people in each party. I would decline to call Ben Carson a racist based on what he has said on the subject. this is the problem with society today, we have far too much hatred to be able to come together. People forget our own president is just as white as he is black and was raised by white people. He has failed to bring people together as he promised. Not that it was an easy promise, but he has failed nontheless. I had hopes he would unite.
We should make one about Latino women, might come as a shock but I really don't have Jennifer Lopez butt.
too bad for you...
Well, I was trying to be nice to one of the most uneducated and ignorants societies in the world, the american and european one. But since you've lost status for good and to the point of no return, I guess It doesn't matter eep thinking that :) Ckisses from the BRICS have a nice day
american ok. european uneducated and ignorant?? you probably never went there nor personaly know anyone from there...
so who is making uneducated judgments now?
ahahah!! Get out of your box and looked it on from outside and you will see what she talking about maybe.
LOOOOLL. what a shitty preformated answer that doesn't mean nor explain anything...
and i see what she is talking about i just don't agree with what she said about europe... Europe is the most educated and knowledgeable societe in this world.
My all time favorite video hands down
Amazing! Congratulations!
These guys are so cute. :3
What makes people think that just because a large group of an ethnicity does something commonly they have to classify as ALL. Please don't speak for me and tell me that just because I am mexican I am all bout sex. I am actually not my name Is jasmine mejia and I believe everyone is equal. I am 21 about to be 22 and am not pregnant or have a lot of babies. I am not very book smart yes, but I have alot of common sense that can be used to get my way. I am very sweet but like most ethnicities I can get angry sometime! Please if you are different than your sterotype introduce yourself and let prove to everyone that you are different than your average ethnicity that comes with a sterotype!!
so good!!
I love this video...good job!!!
Would have been fantastic if there was a women, unless one :)
the men have to express themselves too my dear
klds in african could have eaten those machine guns
Racist bitch
Fuck outta here
That's actually *cough, cough* kinda funny.
Oh shit, the Africans are coming! Get in the fallout shelter kids!
Kids in Africa also eat proper food and come from rich families.
durp hurp shut up it’s not even funny
I was not expecting that rugby bit at the end. Awesome!
Great video really got my attention
"We are more than a stereotype! Let's change the perception!" *shows Africans playing sports*
And then asks us for a donation to "rescue" them.
@@kalankithaseena6498 Have u ever asked yourselves if those tiny donations ever get to us? Your own people will say Africans need donations and when they get it, hoard and steal it for themselves.
Oh and we Africans also donate money to ourselves. You are not the only ones.
their smiles are so contagious
Awww, it's sad that this video even had to be made, but it's fabulous---hilarious and straight to the point. Good work gentleman!
Pretty funny video! Nice work guys!
This is probably the greatest video on youtube right now:))
Absolutely fantastic!
Thank you Nicholas Drushella, Rotary Class XV Peace Fellow at the University of Queensland, for drawing our attention to this video during your excellent presentation at yesterday's Peace Fellow Seminar.
Thank You! I really liked it and agree with you 100%!!
Great video, keep spreading the message.
Totally agree, without subtitle, I dont understand
This is wonderful, thank you. :)
good work guys.
This is awesome!
Great job guys :)
what a loving response. this is how the best teachers teach.
Beautiful, funny smart men in a well produced piece. What could be better?
great guys...i just love this video
Wonderful, i got so happy seeing this! :)
Awesomely said!!!
These guys were great!!! Had me chuckling the whole time lol
fantastic Mama Hope!!! fantastic!!!
great video
!
Loved this
awesome :) regards from Argentina. Great video.
Really charming video. I wish I had friends like these guys.
Hi! my serious congratulations for this excellent movie!
This is an incredible video.
Awesome video.
Awesome vid
Awesome video
awesome vid!!!! :D
Love this!
This is lovely.
Nice one guys
Great Video 😁👍
awesome!