The stereotype of black families: mothering between control and care

Abstract

This article discusses mothering in Black family dynamics based on the analysis of an episode of the American sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. The reflection focuses on stereotypes and controlling images that contribute to the (re)production of racial inequalities, rendering Black families vulnerable and reinforcing the position of the dominant group. Such stereotypes associate these families with violence, precariousness, and, above all, drug addiction. It is argued that these representations materialize in institutional and emotional practices, configuring a self-fulfilling prophecy that individualizes and blames the victims. The article also analyzes the characters’ strategies in the face of these representations, which range from autonomous enunciation to assimilation and conformity, considering the ambiguities involved in such responses. Finally, it highlights parallels between the U.S. context portrayed in the sitcom and the Brazilian reality, emphasizing the role of audiovisual production in both maintaining and challenging these representations.