Hollywood's View of Racism in Twentieth Century America: A Critial Analysis

Abstract

The following analyses of the films Rosewood, Ghosts o f Mississippi, and Mississippi Burning begins with an account of the historical record upon which the “true stories” were based. Much of my research is from secondary sources; however, many of the authors of the sources had access to original documents or had the opportunity to interview people who were directly involved in the real events that were portrayed in the films. In each case, the report about the historical event is followed by an interpretation of the film with regards to the historical record. The focus of the analyses is to judge how- well each of the three films “carries forth the larger ‘meaning’ of the historical characters [and events] that they represent” (Toplin 9) and uses its visceral impact to leave audiences with insight into the historical roots of the racial problems American society is still grappling with.