Myth of the Black Woman

From Women Make Movies

Directed by Ayana O’Shun

95 minutes / Color
French; English / English subtitles
Release: 2022
Copyright: 2022

THE MYTH OF THE BLACK WOMAN, winner of the Magnus-Isacsson Award for Best Film at the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), is a powerful feature-length documentary that examines how deeply rooted stereotypes have shaped the perception — and lived experiences — of Black women for centuries. From the hypersexualized Jezebel to the self-sacrificing Nurse and the caricatured “sassy” or “angry” woman, these images were constructed long ago and continue to influence culture, policy, and personal relationships today. Through the voices of 21 Black women — artists, intellectuals, activists, and experts across generations — the film reveals the emotional, professional, and psychological toll of navigating a world built on misrepresentation. Their stories are interwoven with never-before-seen archival material spanning from the 1800s to the present, exposing how these myths were born during slavery and colonialism, then perpetuated through media, science, and popular culture. Both an act of resistance and reclamation, THE MYTH OF THE BLACK WOMAN challenges audiences to confront the origins of these stereotypes while celebrating the complexity, strength, and diversity of Black womanhood today. Urgent, revelatory, and deeply human, the film reframes history and invites a collective reimagining of representation, identity, and power.

Reviews

"O'Shun dismantles the prejudices that have shaped and continue to color the image of the black woman." Sarah Rennie, The Gleaner

"O'Shun meticulously examines the impacts of these stereotypes on Black women and the biases they often face in their lives." Reza Sameni, York University

Citation

Coming soon.

Cataloging

A MARC record for this title is not available yet.

Keywords
Black Identity,Black Women,Black History,racism,Feminism,African American,stereotypes,activism,slavery,race,gender,Jezebel,hypersexual,hypersexualized,caricature,social psychology,psychology,media,media literacy,representation,misrepresentation,popular culture,colonialism,self esteem; "Myth of the Black Woman"; Women Make Movies
Clips
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Credits

Director/Writer: Ayana O'Shun
Editor: Aline-Sitoé N'Diaye, Natalie Lamoureux
Music: Dominique Fils-Aimé
Cinematography (Image): Bruno Philip, Isabelle Stachtchenko

Selected Accolades

  • Magnus-Isacsson Award for Best Film at the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM)
    Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montréal (RIDM), 2022
    Reelworld Film Festival de Toronto, 2022
    Festival International Panafricain de Cannes, 2022
    Festival International Écrans Noirs de Yaoundé, 2022
    New York African Diaspora Film Festival, 2022
    Hamilton Black Film Festival, 2023