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Presentation on racism

In this video clip, Al Jolson -playing the character of Jack Robin- sings the song "My Mammy" to his mother who is sitting in the audience. It comes at the end of the film The Jazz Singer and is its most famous song. 

Xanadude 192    Al Jolson  "My Mammy"    Licencia YouTube

WHAT NEW THINGS HAVE YOU LEARNT? True-False Question

Question 1

Sound-on-disc played the recorded sound back in synchronization with the film. 

Question 2

They used lip-sync, and we still do today!

Question 3

It was successful commercially largely because of Al Jolson's spoken lines. 

Question 4

It was the first film that didn't use caption cards for the audience to read. 

And some more!

Question 1

Some black actors also used blackface. 

Question 2

The blackface technique only appeared in the twentieth century. 

Question 3

Al Jolson fought against racism. 

Question 4

Black people have not been treated in the same way as white people throughout history in many countries. 

Prepare a presentation: "Racism in films"

We have been discussing the use of blackface in the cinema, so let's do a bit of work on movies which talk about racism against Afro-Americans generally. For example, have you ever seen Mississippi Burning?  In one minute, how many films can you think of that include this theme?

Prepare a short presentation with a partner about racism against black people in the cinema.