MovieChat Forums > Mahogany (1976) Discussion > Terrible mixed message to black audience...

Terrible mixed message to black audiences

posted 9 years ago by !!!deleted!!! (49761343)
5 replies | jump to latest

One of the reasons why I find this movie hysterical is that on one hand, it's a movie telling blacks that it was okay to dream big but on the other hand telling them that it was wrong if those dreams involved working in any industry that was either mainstream or creative--in other words, industries that were predominantly white. If you do that, you're being "too ambitious", selling out or risking being exploited by devious white people who will never respect you or see you as an equal. Before you think this is an exaggeration, just know that growing up in the '70s and '80s, I always heard subtle hints being dropped here and there that if you were black, you shouldn't consider working in certain fields, because "only white people do that."

This is the message behind Mahogany. It's really a propaganda piece warning blacks at the time who might've had dreams of making it big in the mainstream to not pursue their dreams. What it was telling them was that their success would be hollow or they would be taken advantage of or disrespected by whites. It was also telling them that they probably weren't as good as they thought they were and were just being "ambitious" and overestimating their abilities (Note how the movie insisted on emphasizing what a terrible fashion designer Mahogany really was).

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[–] Tickerage 9 years ago

Like anything else, the story is open to interpretation. I wouldn't say the film is propaganda or that it has a bad message for the African American community. Brian ultimately becomes a successful politician. And is there anybody white, black, Asian, or Hispanic who wouldn't rather be fabulous Tracy with her beauty, taste, and talent than one of the fat white models or the awful Miss Evans?

I think you may be looking for something that isn't there. Mahogany is not a message film. It is basically a romance. No African American speaking role is portrayed badly here. African Americans are simply portrayed as intelligent people living their lives. Tracy is no victim. The 'success means nothing without someone to share it with' and other themes espoused by Brian have as much to do with his character as anything else. He was a bit self-important and he wanted Tracy for himself so somewhat resented her own ambitions.

Finally, Brian's thesis about white people taking advantage of Tracy in the fashion industry could be applied to anybody, black or white. The rich Italian who ultimately backs her was, in fact, interested in her sexually. But race doesn't really play a factor as much as being young and beautiful but with no real connections or money. That's kind of a universal thing. Ultimately anyone who is ambitious will have to be a sell out to make money to some extent because you're putting your talents on the market for someone else.

At least there will be plenty implied.

[–] beachgirlk 8 years ago

"Note how the movie insisted on emphasizing what a terrible fashion designer Mahogany really was."

I don’t think the movie portrayed her as a terrible fashion designer at all. You may not like the fashions as shown, but her fashion show was a tremendous success in the film. The fashions themselves were “designed” by Diana Ross as part of her contract, so if the fashions are poor, it was not in the script, but due to one of Miss Ross’s contract stipulations.

Secondly, the movie in no way has a message that blacks should not participate in fields that have been traditionally dominated by whites. That is ludicrous. The message is more about love and respect, and looking out for others’ needs, instead of only focusing on oneself. The world of fashion is about appearance and ego, especially when compared with real people who are hungry, cold, and marginalized. Brian was just as guilty though, since he put the needs for his career always before hers, and expected Tracy to always put HIS needs before her own.

It is basically a rags-to-riches love story, and was fashioned quite blatantly as a follow-up for Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams after Lady Sings the Blues. I do not think Berry Gordy had your notion of a propaganda piece in mind, although due to your experiences growing up, you may see or hear things that others simply do not.

[–] ellennyc-1 8 years ago

"...although due to your experiences growing up, you may see or hear things that others simply do not."

Exactly, lol. Well said.

[–] Lovetvshows 8 years ago

I do not see this movie as a propaganda piece. I see it as a woman who is over her head when it came to a career choice. She didn't have the talent nor the ambition to make it as a big international fashion designer that is why she went back to her home town and ended up with her ex-boyfriend again. The jet set lifestyle was just too much for her.

[–] agentbach 8 years ago

I think the whole "stand by your man" aspect was awful. These two were always butting heads and their relationship is constantly on again off again because of her career. I mean why does he need her? He just wants her by his side just for the sake of having her by his side. Why should she have to feel guilt and give up her career just to please him and be seen as nothing more than his girlfriend or wife? In the end she went back to him but for how long?