Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks: An Interpretive History of Blacks in American Films New

Since the previous edition of Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks (2001), the relationship between African American performers and Hollywood has developed further, calling for another examination. Every year since 2001, at least one African American performer has been Oscar-nominated; some years, there have been two or three. And even as some black directors delve into African American history—Steve McQueen (12 Years of Slave) or Lee Daniels (The Butler), for example—others like F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job) and Tim Story (Fantastic Four) are becoming mainstream in their interests, making films that do not involve African American themes.

In this updated edition, the discussion of the controversial films Monster's Ball and Training Day, which saw Oscars going to Halle Berry and Denzel Washington, is continued in-depth and with particular detail. Bogle further examines the particular dilemma of African American women in Hollywood, discussing a huge array of actresses, including Oscar winners Lupita Nyong’o, Octavia Spencer, and Jennifer Hudson and Oscar nominee Viola Davis.