His father worked as a janitor and mother a governess.
—
Jan Goldsmith,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Sep. 2025
Based on a true story, the plot follows the aristocratic Von Trapp family as former convent novice Maria (played by Julie Andrews), shows up to be governess and changes their lives.
These include typecasting Black women as jezebels, sapphires and mammies; these depictions, combined with the law enforcement they may be exposed to, increase their vulnerability under the law.
—
Kerry Lester Kasper,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
The mammy stereotype, which desexualized both dark skinned enslaved and free women (who were often in domestic roles), made muting Black beauty the norm.
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Share