Educators can help students recognize the value of the motion picture as a social influence by exposing them to film stereotyping and the effect of this distortion on society. A historical study of the film image of the Negro will show him emerging from a humorous, fearful, "perverted" character in early films to "an unfortunate member of society" in post-World War II films to a "selfless and well-groomed- type of saint in present-day films. At least two obstacles may obstruct a study of Negro stereotypes--the difficulty of interpreting the Negro and the prejudices of the audience. Nevertheless, the students should be led to see that the responsibility for screen images, distorted or accurate, and thus the responsibility for the educating power of the motion picture lies as much with the audience as with the film producer. (SW)