Race Relations on the Silver Screen: “Hollywood's Racial Reckoning and the Conservative Response”

Abstract

This article examines the intersection of race, film, and conservative cultural commentary from 1976 to 2000. It explores how conservative film critics engaged with Black-led films and shifting portrayals of race in American cinema. By analyzing film reviews from major conservative publications—including National Review, Commentary, The American Spectator, Crisis, Human Events, Reason, and Chronicles—this study traces the evolution of conservative responses to Black narratives on screen. The article reveals a shift from indifference and colorblind interpretations in the 1970s and 1980s to increasing discomfort and opposition in the 1990s, as films confronted racial injustices more explicitly. The findings contribute to broader discussions on race, media representation, and political ideology in late 20th-century America.