The Cinematic Representation of Black Motherhood and of the Welfare Queen Stereotype in 1970s America

Abstract

Since the beginning of the implementation of a welfare state in the United States of America, there have been several opinions on whether these programs were really helping the poor. In the Seventies, one category stood out among all recipients and became known under the label welfare queen. This trope aimed at depicting mothers - mostly African Americans - as scammers of the system, collecting multiple checks and having no intention of giving up the benefits of their status. The construction of this image is based on racial and gender biases and continues to orient the public debate on the function of the welfare state. During this decade, Blaxploitation films contributed to accentuating stereotypes of African Americans, depicting them as violent and promiscuous. Nevertheless, there were also different kinds of works which gave the audience a more realistic representation of said minority by considering a broader range of aspects. The aim of this work is to discuss films, documentaries and TV series that go beyond the trope of the welfare queen and broadening the perspective on African American mothers in the Seventies.