Current Forum: Session 4: Ideology and Race	Read 9 times 	
Date: 04-Feb-2001 22:12:06	
Author: FIELD, KATHRYN L. <klf7188@garnet.acns.fsu.edu>	
Subject: Imitation of Life 	
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       In the film, Imitation of Life, Laura and Annie are initially seen as equals--in class--both struggling financially on their own, without the support of husbands. However, Laura makes early assumptions in respect to Annie’s race. Assuming that Annie is Sarah Jane’s “mammy,” Laura already assumes the role of the superior. While Laura chooses to pursue her dream career of acting, Annie settles with the more racially accepted role: that of cleaning and taking care of children, including Laura’s child, Susie and her own “white-skinned” child, Sarah Jane. Laura, even though she shows compassion by taking Annie and Sarah Jane in her home, she takes advantage of Annie’s kindness by passing her off as her “maid.” 
       Laura seems to have a double standard in her mixed treatment of Annie and Sarah Jane. On one hand, she treats them as family but on the other hand, as a second-class family member. As soon as Laura’s own class and power is elevated due to her Broadway success, Annie and Sarah Jane are now responsible for taking care of Laura’s family and home. Even though Laura claims to Sarah Jane, “I have always treated you as one of my own.” Laura then 
turns around and expects Sarah Jane to wait on her and her guests. As depicted in the final moments of Annie’s life, Laura realizes that she doesn’t really know much about Annie and Sarah Jane’s personal lives, including Annie’s involvement in her church.          
       There is also much confusion with Sarah Jane’s skin color. She appears “white” but is treated in society as being “black.” Sarah Jane is constantly comparing herself with Susie. As Kathryn and George pointed out in their PowerPoint presentation, the film even depicts such differences as Susie in white “virginal” attire and Sarah Jane in a bright orange dress emphasizing her “non-whiteness” and her sexuality. 
       In the cinematic creation of Imitation of Life, techniques such as camera angles and lighting add to the differences in portraying race. Often the “black” characters Annie and Sarah Jane are depicted with high angle shots portraying them as inferior to their “white” counterparts. One example of this is seen when Sarah Jane is beaten by her “white” boyfriend when he discovers that Sarah Jane is really “black.” In a dark alley, she is lying in a mud puddle. The viewer looks down upon her helpless figure and feels distant and unsympathetic because the viewer is not on Sarah Jane’s level. We, as the viewer, cannot feel what she is feeling because the point of view is of the “white” boyfriend. This point of view is depicted throughout the film--it is Laura’s story of finding success and happiness. While the narrative follows Annie and Sarah Jane’s problematic situations of living during the difficult times of the 1950s and 60s, they are not the main focus of the film. 
       Imitation of Life seems to gloss over the issue of race and never really offers a solution. This is especially seen in the ending, the only feeling depicted is of Sarah Jane’s feelings towards the loss of her mother. She longs for forgiveness for denying her mother and her “black” skin color. What does this tell us? We never get to see the outcome of Sarah Jane’s change of heart.