Representations of the African Diaspora in Three Films

Abstract

This thesis will examine how the African diaspora has been depicted in filmic text, from directors representing distinctly different loci of the diaspora, in Brazil, Nigeria and the United States. Film is one of many modes of expression for a culture that is based on representations. "For many people, media representations maybe their first and often only source of information about, or reference for people outside of their social and cultural circles, "(James, etc., 354) The scope of this thesis will specifically examine diasporic representation in The Journey by Chineze Anyaene, a Nigerian director of 'Nollywood', Walter Salles' "City of God" and John Singleton's "Higher Learning". Although each of these films can be categorized in different genres, come from different cultural and directorial traditions/styles they each relate in that they depict in some way the blanketed experience of systematic racism that members of the Africa diaspora are often subjected to.