By Arnav Sampigethaya and Eesha Gorti
It’s been almost a month a half since we wrote the first part of this series following the brutal murder of George Floyd by Chauvin. Black lives still matter. Police brutality still exists. While the world has moved on to other issues, it’s important that the discussion and conversation around racism aren’t allowed to die down.
How You Can Help?
1. Sign Petitions:
Contrary to popular opinion, and signing petitions being dubbed as ‘slactivism’ there are a bunch of reasons that contribute to why signing petitions actually help. They tell the media that there is enough attention being given to a situation, to tell its story, which further coerces the decision-maker into being given an excellent and detailed insight into public opinion. They further help spur action and raise money.
2. Listen:
Listen to what the people around you are saying without being defensive, and bringing your prejudice into the picture. It is human nature to revert to a story that’s being told to you with a similar story of yours or to react to an opinion that is different than yours by being defensive. Actively listening to people and activists with an open mind is crucial to progression. Don’t selectively listen to what you preach.
3. Donate:
Find an organisation that lines up with the cause or the aspect of the situation that you support, and donate to them. A donation does not mean a huge chunk of money, but simply what you can give. Good causes to donate to are the families of the victims.
4. Shopping:
Yes, you heard me right. Buying from the right brands, and supporting black-owned or brown-owned businesses helps with the all-round boosting of people of colour in the socio-economic sector of society. Use your privilege to uplift those around you, and research what you’re buying before you buy it. Moving from fast fashion to sustainable fashion (if it’s feasible, of course) and purchasing items you need from small businesses can make a huge difference.
5. Watch Youtube videos:
Some people who I respect and admire endlessly, are the people who are using their platforms and their creativity to contribute to society. Some YouTubers have made hour-long compilations of art and content by people of colour and filled the videos with advertisements. The commission they acquire from these videos then go into supporting different aspects of the movement. You can just mute these videos and have them playing them in the background while you carry on with online classes, and your work. Once you watch these videos, go back to the homepage of Youtube and watch the video again to account for another view. You’re donating while putting in minimal effort.
Speaking of which- help Lebanon by streaming this video right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PZ-boC1BrQ
6. Being conscious :
People outside the black community who are not of African descent should not use racial slurs such as the ‘n-word’. The reason it's okay for African-descent people to use it so casually is that they are trying to redefine the word which was used to oppress them historically. Even if there are no African-descent people around you, using it still reinforces the idea that it's okay to use such a derogatory word in the first place. It is not that hard to stop using it even though it may seem that way.
There were Black Lives Matter protests around the world and a lot of them spread the message they were trying to. Statues of controversial leaders with racist pasts were taken down. The sports world, which is one of the most diverse workplaces in the world, took a stand. The English Premier League had players wear jerseys with Black Lives Matter instead of their names and all players had to kneel after each game was kicked off to show solidarity with the black community. All NBA players have different social messages on their jerseys and have turned out to be one of the most vocal public platforms due to their large African-descent player and fan base percentage. The NBA is entrenched in hip-hop culture and vice-versa many players nowadays are seen making the transition into the rap game like Lonzo Ball and Damian Lillard and rappers trying out for the NBA like J Cole who has a trial coming at the Detroit Pistons [1].
Source- Washington Post
One important way the world has been educated about racial issues is through the art-form of cinema. For years filmmakers have been making their points about racism and social issues through the silver screen. On the forefront of this movement is Shelton Jackson ‘Spike’ Lee, who made his directorial debut in 1986 with the film “She’s Gotta Have It”. Spike is known for his exploration of themes like race relations, colourism within the black community, the role of media in modern society, crime and poverty. He has won several accolades including two Emmys, two Peabody Awards and an Academy Award. We will be covering some of his most important work in this article.
Spike Lee: America’s Race Auteur
Do The Right Thing
'Do The Right Thing’ is a 1989 comedy/satire, directed by and starring Spike Lee, that proved to
Source- NBC
be the most controversial film of that year. This film depicts racial tension through a storyline that has now been embraced as a classic, and a film called time and time again- the greatest of all time.
From being a film that received a spectrum of responses, and severe backlash in what was a dominantly racist society, to being incorporated into the high school curriculum, it’s safe to say that this film has aged well.
Source- HeadStuff
Spike Lee plays the iconic character of ‘Mookie’, a pizza delivery boy that works at Salvatore (Sal) Fragione’s little pizzeria- Sal’s Famous Pizzeria- along with Sal’s two sons - Pino and Vito. While Vito and Mookie are well acquainted, friends even, the same kind of relationship is not shared by the elder brother Pino, and Mookie. The film starts off with several mentions of how its an exceptionally hot day- and Lee uses this as a metaphor. As the heat rises, so do the racial tensions. The one line, that I believe, makes the movie, is when Mookie’s friend, Buggin Out looks at the Wall of Fame in the pizzeria and asks why there aren’t any “brothers on the wall”. He gets aggressive- for good reason- which leads to him being kicked out of the restaurant.
In a predominantly black neighbourhood, there are two businesses which are not. The cold store, owned by a Korean family, and the pizzeria, and we can see how nobody seems to know or get along with the Koreans, but are well acquainted with Sal and his business. A strong piece of
Source- IndieWire
commentary in this film is how each character is odd and sticks out in their own way, and how all of them are basically a family, but sometimes forget and treat each other with indifference. As the plot develops, each of these characters come into play, and the film erupts in racial violence.
You would expect a film like this to be filled with a strong and consistent theme of either unity and brotherhood or undying hatred. But it has neither. Instead, it is weary and boldly highlighting the system of urbanism. The end of the film has a striking impact on its viewers, mainly because it is unexpected and hard-hitting. Lee leaves no comment on what should be thought about the end of the film, but infinite room for thought.
The film ends in statements by Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, making contradictory statements, which is reinforced in Sal’s and Mookie’s conversation of how much money Mookie is owed.
Source- Medium
BlacKkKlansman
BlacKkKlansman is a 2018 American crime film directed by Spike Lee. Ron Stallworth, an African-American police officer from Colorado Springs, CO, successfully manages to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan branch with the help of a Jewish surrogate [2].
Spike Lee won his first competitive Oscar for this film, winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film is an adaptation of Ron Stallworth’s book, Black Klansman. It also received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and 3 others. It stars John David Washington as Stallworth, Adam Driver as Flip Zimmerman, for which he received an Academy Award nomination and Topher Grace as Grand Wizard of the KKK, David Duke.
What BlacKkKlansman covers so well is the perception of black people in rural America which is an issue that plagues the country to this day. By showing the views of the Ku Klux Klan, one of the most horrific organizations in the world, Lee tries to take us inside the minds of the racists and bigots who populate much of rural America. Ron Stallworth
Source- The Harvard Crimson
calls the Ku Klux Klan and shows that it’s so easy to fool these people with the right words and sentiments. They never once question the race of the man they are speaking to solely because of how he pronounces a few words.
The inter-mixing of clips from the modern-day are what make BlacKkKlansman’s message so poignant. We see the Black Lives Matter protests and the police brutality faced even today to mirror the police brutality and assault faced by civil rights leader, Kwame Toure and Patrice Dumas in the film. We see that David Duke still spreads the same hateful messages but now through the enhanced platform of the internet. We see him advocate his support for President Trump which is then followed by a clip of President Trump himself defending the Neo-Nazis and white supremacists in the Charlottesville ‘Unite the Right’ rally who were carrying Swastika and Confederate flags chanting racist and anti-Semitic slogans [3].
It’s also a very entertaining film which balances humour with its powerful messaging quite well to make a visceral experience. Paired with the terrific score by Terence Blanchard, this film is a must-watch for everyone.
Da 5 Bloods
Da 5 Bloods is a 2020 American war drama film directed by Spike Lee. Four African American vets battle the forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide [4].
The film stars Delroy Lindo, Johnathan Majors, Clarke Peters, and many others in this gritty film about the cost of war. While in the foreground the film portrays an adventure through the Vietnamese forest
Source- World Of Reel
with an emphasis on character dynamics and relationships, between the lines you see that’s its actually a film about race relations, the ill-effects of war on the African-American community, the wealth disparity in the African-American community and the intra-race discrimination and bigotry which largely goes unnoticed and unseen by mainstream media [5].
It manages to convey all these messages subtly instead of explicitly interweaving powerful real-life footage and imagery to evoke strong emotions in the viewer. The story is action-packed and dramatic which makes it an incredible watch that leaves you thinking about a lot. Not a single character is painted in a purely good role and each character has their own flaws and nuances which makes it such an interesting watch. We see the role that racism and discrimination has played on each character whether financially, politically or personally.
Making its debut on Netflix on June 12, 2020, the film is easily accessible to everyone at home. It’s an important watch for multiple reasons – it’s a commentary on race through subtext, it’s a commentary on war which is what it explicitly shows and the fantastic story and performances particularly that of Delroy Lindo.
Other Important Films Covering Racism
Hidden Figures
‘Hidden Figures’ is a 2016 biopic, directed by Theodore Melfi, based on a non-fiction book of the same name, written by Allison Schroeder. It follows the story of three women- Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson.
Starring Taraji P Henson as Katherine Johnson, a human-computer, Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan, a gifted technician, and Janelle Monae as Mary Jackson, the first female engineer at NASA, this film paves its way to being a powerful work of counter-history and anti-oppressive.
Source- Global Genius Society
Each component in this film adds depth and gives more insight into how situations were in the early 1960s. The costume design - the knee length, plaid dresses, matching hats and subtle makeup as well as how they differ from the simple, yet bold, standard white or uniform black dresses that the white women wore, speaks volumes about the societal dynamics. A significant breakthrough point in this storyline is seen, when this fashion barrier is broken and Katherine Johnson, to be Katherine Goble, is gifted a string of pearls, on behalf of the office, in congratulations of her engagement.
Another element that makes this film what it is, is the integration and the incorporation of the racist and sexist background of these times. Even though the office is visibly largely male-dominated, even the few departments headed by women, are led by white women. This issue is tackled once again in two scenarios. One, when Vaughan learns how to operate the IBM, a machine that would come in to replace her job where she not only saves her own position, but gets a promotion, and gets her whole department a job operating the IBM. Two, when Mary Jackson represents herself in court, fighting for the right to be able to attend the classes she needs to, to become an engineer - NASA’s first female engineer- and is granted the permission to do the same.
A remarkable feature of this film is the fact that it never passes an opportunity to show you the theme, and accurately describe the struggle of these women, and how they represent only a speck of the population that was unreasonably oppressed. This shines through when the three women, driving to work, are pulled over, by a white policeman. They tense up and say “No crime in a broken down car,” and “No crime being Negro, either.” This is sadly not only a representation of how things were then but also how we have not made any progress on the front of police brutality. Although this moment passes by with some irony and humour, the viewers can not but see it for what it is- a terrifying and agonizing experience.
Source- Medium
With the forces and the energy that make this film what it is, we are reminded of how these stories are relevant even today. It’s not simply a portrayal of these three stories, but of tens of thousands of other stories that deserve to be told, and given recognition. Whether or not this film makes its way to one of your favourite films, it will hit you like a pile of bricks and strike several different chords in your system. Each time I watch this film, I learn something new from it, and therein lies its beauty.
Zootopia
It’s very important to teach kids from a young age that bigotry and prejudice is extremely harmful to our functioning as a society and to the individual people that it affects and no film does that better than Disney’s 2016 film, Zootopia. While other films exist that touch upon these topics, Zootopia makes it the central theme. Prejudice is harmful and the way it’s portrayed in this film ‘made for children’ has so many layers of nuance [6].
Source- Fanpop
In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy [7]. The thing that makes Zootopia so unique is the way it approaches race. Just like in the actual wilderness, predators make up only around 10% of the population, but in this utopic world predators and prey live in harmony. This is a mirror of the African-American community in the United States who is also portrayed as ‘predators’ by the public and media stereotypically.
When a few predators suddenly start going ‘savage’, we see the prey blame it on a ‘biological component’, an argument made by pseudo-scientists to prove white superiority for years in the real world, but it’s now been proven that no race is biologically superior or inferior. We see so many microaggressions across the city when a mother pulls her child closer as a friendly lion sits on the train, when the fun doughnut-loving receptionist in the police station is demoted so a ‘friendlier face’ can be seen, we see how the media sensationalizes the attacks and villainizes the predator community.
We see how bias and prejudice is planted in the minds of young children and how these beliefs can make them harmful as adults, but we also see the reverse of this happening when a young and insecure fox makes a turnaround in his life in the storyline of Gideon Gray. In the end, we find out that it was the plan of the Assistant Mayor Bellweather who orchestrates this whole scheme to antagonize the predator community stating that since the prey have the majority they would naturally be more protected. We see that the bigotry goes all the way to the top and that even our elected government officials can be prejudiced and corrupt.
That’s what is so impressive about Zootopia it handles such a complex and important topic in such a delicate and simple way that any kid can pick up on the message of the film. Everything is in the subtext, the words race, prejudice and bigotry and never mentioned throughout the film, it’s through the amazing world-building that we get such a nuanced portrayal of racism in a property made for children.
Works Cited
[1] N. Henkel, “Did the Detroit Pistons just offer J. Cole a spot on their roster?,” 3 August 2020. [Online]. Available: https://pistonpowered.com/2020/08/03/detroit-pistons-j-cole/.
[2] “BlacKkKlansman (2018),” IMDb, 10 August 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7349662/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0.
[3] S. Lee, Director, BlacKkKlansman. [Film]. Blumhouse Productions; Monkeypaw Productions; QC Entertainment, 2018.
[4] IMDb, “Da 5 Bloods (2020),” 12 June 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9777644/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0.
[5] S. Lee, Director, Da 5 Bloods. [Film]. 2020.
[6] B. Howard and R. Moore, Directors, Zootopia. [Film]. USA: Disney, 2016.
[7] IMDb, “Zootopia (2016),” 4 March 2016. [Online]. Available: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948356/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0.
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