Sounder Lobby Card 3 (1972)

In this promotional material, Nathan Lee and his son depict the present, future, and the consistency of poverty and harsh conditions affecting a black farming family in the rural South. As an exhibition of life after the abolition of slavery, the image shows the necessity of physically expressed love and respect between generations. Nathan Lee and David Lee are affectionate with one another, embracing after experiencing the hardship of Nathan Lee’s imprisonment. This performance of masculinity as intimate, loving, and respectful is uncommon in many films released during the time of Sounder.  

In Framing Blackness, Guerrero would argue that Sounder shows a shift in Hollywood depiction of black masculinity. He explains, “mainstream commercial cinema’s representation of African American changes significantly (...) with older stereotypes and subordinates of black jettisoned in favor of more (…) multi-dimensional black characters” (Guerrero 70). David Lee is multi-dimensional, managing family life with caution as well as generosity. In a notable scene, Nathan Lee says to his son, “I bet you a tired little boy ain’t you David Lee?” “Yes, sir,” David Lee responds. Nathan Lee goes onto joke about their trusted hound dog, “You oughta be tired too, Sounder. ‘Cause that coon sure whipped the hell outta you tonight.” David Lee retorts, “He beat you too Daddy and you had a big shootin’ rifle.” With a stern face and a low voice Nathan Lee says to his son, “You don’t make funny with your Daddy like that, boy.” David Lee must display respect, and therefore masculinity, by granting his father the dominant role that is not allocated in social spheres outside of the household. In other settings, Nathan Lee is only seen as a poor black man, a suspect and a nuisance, but in his home he takes on the role of the dominant male.   

Guerrero, Ed. Framing Blackness: The African American Image in Film. Philadelphia:Temple UP, 1993. Print.