Similarities Between Illusions and Sorry to Bother You

Both the Illusions and Sorry to Bother You explore the critical question of race and
gender. American society has been characterized by a history of oppression and systemic racism.
African Americans have been on the receiving end of racist tendencies. The situation has been
compounded by the issue of gender. The experiences of African American males differ from the
experiences of African American females. The two films help highlight these issues and
challenge society into appreciating equality.
The two films expose the systemic racism that characterizes American society. In the film
Illusions, the racial identity of the heroine Mignon is one of the main centers of attention. The
intersection between race and gender affects Mignon. Mignon is a black female executive. While
she is passing as white, she faces harassment from a newly hired producer (Dash). Mignon is
focused on ensuring that she works hard so that she can become a producer and tell stories of
ordinary people. She feels that the stories of the ordinary minorities are not being told, and it is
her duty to ensure that she tells these stories. However, her experiences are largely shaped by her
gender and her race. The reality of being an African American female is explored through her
experiences. Similarly, Sorry to Bother You is focused on examining racism in America. The
film also explores an intersection between race and gender (Riley). The reality of being African
American and male is examined through the experiences of the protagonist Cassius. Cassius has

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trouble paying his bills, and when he gets a job, he has trouble getting customers. Being African
American affects most aspects of his life.
Another similarity between the two films centers on the firsthand experiences of African
Americans as well as the need for African Americans to act “white”. The film Sorry to Bother
You begins with a “white voice”. The implication is that African Americans are expected to use
the “white voice”, which is also seen as superior (Riley). As the film progresses, Cassius, an
African American man, gets a job as a telemarketer. He has problems making sales until he is
advised to assume a “white voice”. When he switches his voice and persona, he is able to make
increased sales. Evidently, this shows the marginalization in the business world as well as the
need for blacks to drop their authentic selves and instead become white. In Illusions, Mignon
disguises herself as white. As the film progresses, the audience can tell that she is hiding
something, but it remains unclear what she is hiding (Dash). Her true identity is revealed in the
last scene. Her black identity also comes as a surprise because she has a black lover. It is
assumed that whites cannot fall in love with blacks, and this further reveals systemic racism. In
disguising herself as black, Mignon exposes what society expects. She fails to remain authentic
as a result of the oppressive nature of society.
Overall, the two films expose the problems associated with racism and gender. African
Americans in America are forced to assume a white identity for them to succeed. They also face
various problems in their love lives and professional lives. The films call on society to adopt
various changes that will help ensure that the country becomes progressive and equality is
embraced.

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Works Cited
Dash, Julie. Illusions. Black Filmmaker Foundation, 1982.
Riley, Boots. Sorry To Bother You. 2018.