My Baby is Black
Encyclopedia
My Baby Is Black is a French
exploitation drama
released in 1961. The film was written and directed by Claude Bernard-Aubert, and was intended to examine society's view on race during the early days of the civil rights
era.
The film is set in Paris
begins with a white college student (Francis) giving birth to a black child. Then the story showcases series of events leading to the baby's birth including, the mothers courtship by a black medical student (Daniel), as well as her facing the horrors of bigotry
as her family and peers turned their backs on her. In addition to the strong focus on the social taboo
of interracial romance and sex, the film also contained scenes of the girl's lover and his struggles with the plague of racism
in their neighborhood.
The film was mostly played in the United States
in drive-in
theaters, it was advertised for its shock value
and soon forgotten . In the early 2007 it was featured on an episode of the Opie and Anthony
show. A selection of dubbed quotes from the film were played and joked about. The shock jocks continue to use sound bites from the film as ongoing gags.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
exploitation drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
released in 1961. The film was written and directed by Claude Bernard-Aubert, and was intended to examine society's view on race during the early days of the civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
era.
The film is set in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
begins with a white college student (Francis) giving birth to a black child. Then the story showcases series of events leading to the baby's birth including, the mothers courtship by a black medical student (Daniel), as well as her facing the horrors of bigotry
Bigotry
A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs...
as her family and peers turned their backs on her. In addition to the strong focus on the social taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
of interracial romance and sex, the film also contained scenes of the girl's lover and his struggles with the plague of racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
in their neighborhood.
The film was mostly played in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in drive-in
Drive-in
A drive-in is a facility such as a bank, restaurant, or movie theater where one can literally drive in with an automobile for service. It is usually distinguished from a drive-through. At a drive-in restaurant, for example, customers park their vehicles and are usually served by staff who walk out...
theaters, it was advertised for its shock value
Shock value
Shock value is the potential of an action , image, text, or other form of communication to provoke a reaction of disgust, shock, anger, fear, or similar negative emotions.-Shock value as humor:...
and soon forgotten . In the early 2007 it was featured on an episode of the Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony are the hosts of The Opie & Anthony Show, a talk radio program airing in the United States and Canada on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Since the merger of the two satellite companies, this is now called Sirius/XM...
show. A selection of dubbed quotes from the film were played and joked about. The shock jocks continue to use sound bites from the film as ongoing gags.