This Unit has welcomed even more dialogue and discourse about perceptions of a Post-Racial America. Many have decided such a concept is false. From Riots to accusations of rape, our topics remain relevant and perhaps correlate even more with today's social media hashtags like #SayHerName or #BlackLivesMatter. We'll conclude this unit with a viewing of the controversial filmmaker, Nate Parker, whose biopic, Birth of a Nation, permanently changed Hollywood films because the original can no longer be discussed in isolation despite the allegations Parker vehemently disputes. And, we must question the timing regarding the publicity of his past, allegations coincidentally affecting the opening weekend of his film.
Then, from Michelle Alexander to Alicia Garza, or Roxanne Gay to Gabrielle Union, the women of this unit have provided deliberate acknowledgement to the roles of women in the BLM Movement and the African American community. Perhaps they've made us aware of perspectives that we likely hadn't previously considered. While I'm still interested in what has resonated with you the most, I'd also like to know how has this Unit enlightened you? Has it changed you? Please share. And, thank you for a thought provoking semester. It has truly been a pleasure!
Due: Fri., 4/28/17 by the beginning of class.
I have truly been enlightened in this unit because I never knew how the BLM movement started and how black women have been the root of this movement. I knew that many black men had been victims of police brutality, but I never really knew how many women were victims as well. My perspective on everything that goes on around me has really changed and I know taking that step out into the real world in a white-dominated field, I have to be aware of how I am perceived as a black woman and what I can do to inspire others that not all black women are what is seen on television or the media. Of course unconscious biases will always be around in the workplace, but I do believe that it can lead to a teaching moment in which I can teach my counterparts that my skin color does not define who I am as an individual. Learning about Gabrielle Union’s past with rape/sexual assault and how she has used it as a teaching mechanism, I realized how strong I was after facing assault in the past. Although it wasn’t to the extent of rape, I was able to learn from the experience and understand how serious it could have been. I have enjoyed this course this semester and I have become more pro-black and that doesn’t mean I’m anti-white.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjPwoiUtsPTAhVI-GMKHQ2vB0IQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fitsyesy%2Fstatus%2F751252713132920837&psig=AFQjCNFaCsa8MLmT5u5wLS0T1WDNJULbBg&ust=1493340523306001
This unit has enlightened me by opening my eyes up to things that already knew about but it gave me a different insight and outlook on the topic. Our readings that we encountered this semester really opened up my eyes to see that things are still relevant today and they are just pushed out the window, like the treatment of blacks people, women, rape, black on black crime and violence with the police. My mom always told me that our generation is doing nothing new. With the clothes, music, our lingo and all. She was write, because just like that we aren't doing nothing new with the riots, protest, violence, crimes, and more. I truly appreciated having this course this semester because it was challenged me to think, the reading have challenged my attention and thinking, and the videos have intrigued me to want to know lie about a topic. It helps out so many things into perspective and to show me that I have a purpose and I have make a change and stand up but be wise. I have to follow my dream, work hard and earn my respect but also remember where I came from and what my rights are. This last unit was kind of the icing on the cake to sum up a bring to a close everything that we have discussed.
ReplyDeletehttp://5pillarsuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/black-lives-matter.jpg
This unit has enlightened me in the sense that I had no idea that QUEER women were the creators of the BLM movement Often times when you hear black lives matter the first thing I think about is Deray McKesson, and not the three women that came up with this. It has opened my eyes to the way that people are trying to profiteer of a movement for us to try to grab the local media's attention to say "hey black lives are being threatened and ended by police brutality". Now everyone is trying to get themselves a piece of the "BLM pie". People have really jumped onto this movement and watered it down from its original intent. And, until this unit I had no clue. This unit has changed the way I view the "faces" of the BLM movement and how they took the reigns away from the three women that created it and profited off of it. And by no means am I discrediting any contributions to our society as a whole that they have made, but how can we give them all these props for something they had no ties to originally.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI5DHebDITU
This unit has enlightened me in several ways, from the Emergency Chapter, to “2 Fists Up”, and of course, the Nate Parker allegations, and Gabrielle Union’s input on it. To begin, the Emergency Chapter was a reading that not only informed me on things I knew nothing about, but touched my heart. Reading about the people in Flint who are going through such a difficult time due to the water crisis, which causes them to be sick and discouraged, makes me even more grateful for the fortunate life that I am blessed to live, because like Marc Lamont Hill said, this can happen to any of us!
ReplyDeleteSpike Lee’s piece, “2 Fists Up”, was definitely an impactful documentary because I honestly had no idea about this situation at the University of Missouri. I’m thankful that my eyes were open to this conflict because I learned that young, Black students today still care about justice, just like the Greensboro 4 did back in 1960. It was gratifying to see Jonathon Butler give up his life to what matters, not only at universities, but across the nation. I enjoyed learning about this powerful group of young, Black students at Mizzou fighting for what they believed was right. It changes me because it makes me appreciate the university I go to, the acceptance I’ve received, even due to my sex and race, in my lifetime, and fight relentlessly for everything I believe in. As a believer of Christ, I believe that the Lord was with them, especially Butler, the entire time because even through the storm, they remained safe, stayed hopeful and persistent, and won in the end. All that is right will always come out in success, and all of their hard work and dedication paid off.
I’ve always heard the rumors about Nate Parker and his rape allegations, but never looked into the detail of the story. Reading Roxanne Gay’s article about Parker and her strong belief on not supporting his film, “Birth of Nation”, made me think, “Is she right?, Does his past matter?, Does it overshadow the good he’s done in society today?” Then, reading one of my all-time favorite actresses’, Gabrielle Union, intake on his allegations made me think, “Well, maybe we can use what he’s done [or hadn’t done], turn it around, and display a positive message about it. I admired how Gabrielle Union took that role in Birth of a Nation to represent the rape victims in the world. She clarified that she did not agree or support with Parker’s mistake, but she is willing to do something about (i.e. teach her sons the true meaning of consent). I look up to Union because she is a person of her own, meaning she is confident in everything that she does (it shows in her actions, and even through her films). Reading about Nate Parker, learning from Gabrielle Union, and looking into the opinions from Roxanne Gay, really leads me to watch the film, especially because of its rich feedback and how much money it made, but most importantly, its exemplification of such a powerful message.
I am incredibly thankful that I took this course! I've learned so much about my history, the film world, and everything else in between. I definitely feel more knowledgeable from when I first started taking the class and certainly more appreciative of my rich history!
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-Lkry-SF01&hsimp=yhs-SF01&hspart=Lkry&p=gabrielle+union+threat+tweets+about+nate+parker#id=5&vid=e0509b80673713591a680d1acdb09f96&action=click (Gabrielle Union's and Nate Parker's verbal input on what 'Birth of a Nation' meant to them)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6K8gGDZcow (An interview Jonathon Butler and Payton Head had with Anderson Cooper on CNN)
Unit 4 has honestly been the most enlightening unit this semester. From Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, to Marc Lamont Hill’s Emergency chapter, the readings in this section have informed me about issues in the black community that I wasn’t necessarily aware of, such as the Flint water crisis. Although the readings alone were very effective, the films that we were assigned to watch, specifically The 13th, has changed my entire outlook on how America “takes care” of its black citizens. (Source 1) When I first saw the documentary, it looked like a movie that couldn’t be real. But when I realized that this was the reality that we lived in, it somewhat frightened me seeing as how the events that happened in the past are still relevant today, only in a new from. To see how the black community is oppressed by means of imprisonment is in itself a horrible theme to experience. But when I learned how the prison system is a new form of slavery, and how it intentionally targets and profits off of blacks, only then did I wake up to see the corruption and inhumane treatment that many people warn us about. What really caught me by surprise was how past and current leaders of this country aided in the plan of destroying the black community. For example, Regan declared a war on drugs that was supposedly meant to reduce the use of cocaine in America. While most whites used the powdered version of the drug, blacks mainly used crack cocaine, which was in essence the same drug. But if you were caught with crack cocaine versus the powder, you were given far worst punishments, which meant that blacks in general were targeted and incarcerated more than whites. (Source 2) I think this method was purposely enforced to deteriorate the structure within black organizations and the black community in general. This along with Bush’s use of the fear of blacks to get elected, Clinton’s strike policy, and other events show how the leaders of this country have somewhat tried to nullify our worth in this country. As a youth in this generation, I’ve realized how black youth is targeted by the lack of educational opportunities that many privileged whites have. (Source 3) This leads us to unemployment, which leads us to a state of “nowhere-ness”, which then leads us to a life of drugs and criminal acts. This is how we keep being cycled throughout the prison system, and eventually this cycle will lead to the collapse of the black community. “I’m just a young black nigga trynna make it in this world, and this shit blows the hell out of me” (James McNeill).
ReplyDelete(Source 1) http://www.aaihs.org/mass-incarceration-and-its-mystification-a-review-of-the-13th/
(Source 2) http://www.countthecosts.org/blog/new-report-war-drugs-harming-not-protecting-children-and-young-people
(Source 3) http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-edu-black-latino-parent-survey-20160408-snap-htmlstory.html
This unit has definitely enlightened me in several aspects. I would first like to talk about the article dealing with the BLM Movement. I was surprised to find out that the originators of the BLM Movement was three African American. This goes to show that African American women throughout history have always been in the forefront when dealing with civil rights issues within our communities. This article also gave these three brilliant African American women a chance to tell their stories and enlighten myself and some of my fellow classmates.
ReplyDeleteThe release of the film Birth Of a Nation was a flop due to the rap controversy dealing with Nate Parker. I myself was unaware of the situation and had thought that he had recently been charged with this allegation. When researching it myself I realized that this was an incident that had happened many years ago. When you take a look at history, there is always a hidden agenda in place to somehow ruin the image of the African American male. Nate Parker's film was to show the prospective of Nat Turner and the slaves that revolted against their slave masters. The Gabrielle Union article was more on point then the bias Roxanne Gay article. Gabrielle was able to provide her own story and experience while also having Nate Parker’s back due to his rape allegations that was brought against him many years ago. When looking back on this course as a whole, I am happy that I was able to be apart of this learning environment. Me being at an HBCU, I think that courses like this should be a requirement due to the students being able to learn about their own history without it being “white washed”. It has truly been a pleasure and I hate to see this course come to an end.
Unit 4 has been the chapter that seemed more relatable and enlightened us all. This unit has reminded us that nothing has changed, its just reinvented and advertised as to be something that has improved over the years. Today, America has the same problems but has learned to act as if nothing has happened. Starting with Fruitvale Station. This horrific incident is something we see every month and something that still is looked over. Oscar Grant was one of the first but and it shows us that this police brutality isn't at "2016 and 2017" thing, its old with just a new "face" on it.
ReplyDeleteThe next part of the unit that stood out to me was the allegations against Nate Parker when he was a college student.This was something I have never came across and I was very surprised. Gabrielle Union was shamed for "bringing to the light" right before the Birth of a Nation premiere at the film festival. Roxanne Gay also commented on the situation and totally went against supporting Nate Parker in any kind of way. She didn't understand how this was overlooked and how he didn't get convicted for the rape of a white girl at Penn State. Gabrielle Union also didn't understand but she took the stance for the victim because she could relate. The crime of rape between a black man and a white woman has been seen the same as before in society. Whether the black man did it or not, he was be convicted but nowadays I feel there is a new approach. In my opinion, blacks need money to equal up to the whites. Black money power can get you out of almost anything and that to me was the case with this Nate Parker incident. This unit enlightened me on this approach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNjPvyEoGXU
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ReplyDeleteUnit four further enforced and strengthened my knowledge of the racial caste system that is present in America. The excerpt from Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, informed me of the evolution of the racial caste system that formed with the initial Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Both the excerpt and Ava Duvernay’s The 13th, linked the puzzle pieces together. I knew of the systemic racism and oppression of Black people, but it was not until this unit that I saw it all linked together. This realization put Black American oppression into perspective for me. I began understanding how it was all interconnected.
ReplyDeleteThis unit also extended my knowledge of the Black Lives Matter movement. I knew it was created by queer women, but to hear about the movement from them directly was surreal. This movement has become such a powerhouse, commanding attention and forcing pressing issues to be addressed. Hearing that the creators are upset with how their movement has been co-opted by both men and non-queer people was so disappointing. I never thought about how the creators might have felt about the shift in focus. I can’t imagine how it must feel to create a movement with specific intentions and watch it transform into a discriminative space. A separate hashtag needed to be created to give Black women to proper acknowledgement they deserve. This put the fragmentation of the Black community into perspective.
I think often forget about the Rodney King case being the first documented case of police brutality caught on camera. It went “viral” in the only way something could go viral in 1991, through television programming and newspapers. I also did not know much about Oscar Grant until I watched Fruitvale Station. When he was killed by the police officer, it was too caught on camera. Even back in 2009, cases of police brutality were being documented on mobile phones. It was a matter of time before a movement arose out of the sharing of police brutality footage.
This unit enlightened me by connecting separate dynamics of post-slavery American and bringing it into one cohesive picture. Black lives have been racially caste for the past four centuries and until we dismantle this system, it will continue to evolve, adapt, and slowly eliminate us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwQgHj8r4UU
I have attached a video of Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie speaking of her experiences as a Nigerian immigrant who traveled to America and discovered race. She was not impacted by race in Nigeria because the majority of Nigerians were Black, but upon arriving in America, she was assigned a race. She expresses that Black Lives Matter is doing something important and that it is a necessity. As an author and feminist she continues to strive for equality and justice for Black people, especially Black women.
ReplyDeleteThis unit was extremely enlightening. It discussed issues that are rarely talked about. It poked at the current ways of thinking and challenges us all to think deeper in the systematic ways that this world works. When the variety pieces were discussed in class, it allowed me to think more deeply about situations, such as the Nate Parker rape allegations. It was interesting because when I first heard of the allegations, I immediately saw the roar of social media push through. It was something I always struggled with what I really thought about it because I was also confused on the timing of this allegation against Nate Parker. I remembered in seeing him flourish in Beyond the Lights and wondered why none of this came out then. This unit made me think that we can all be too quick to judge a situation before gathering information of what's really going on. It's something that also hits home for me because I feel the way the media covered the Baltimore Riots was incorrect and it seemed as if that situation was judged by outsiders too quickly as well. This unit helped me confirm my belief that we should not take everything we see in social media as the full truth. I feel like it can be a mechanism to confuse us and pit us against each other. We should think for ourselves and challenge those accusations before forming a life changing opinion on them. We have to stay strong and love each other. https://tracygesare.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/e0260-social-media1.jpg http://q.likesuccess.com/80/3958339-don-t-believe-everything-you-hear.jpg
This chapter has really enlightened me and changed my view on a lot for things that go on in society. This unit helped me realized how there is so much racism and colorism in this world and that it is still a major problem. Watching Fruitvale Station for the second time made me realize the problem that America has with serving Justice to the people who deserve it rather than to the people who do not. The scene where Oscar is shot and how the mother of his child is left to take care of their daughter is a major image in what has happened in these past few months with the unnecessary killings of these black men with families. We discussed the phrase "it takes a village", we used this to specify the community helping with the raising of these children who have had their fathers killed or were taken away from. There is so much injustice in this society. I really liked the "2 Fists Up" segment that we had to watch, this segment touched my heart the most because my god brother was a football player at The University of Missouri while these racial actions were going on. We knew about the team deciding to take action and forfeiting a game because the African American student population was not being heard. He would tell us about all the racial comments and how people would treat the students around campus. I like how the students took the initiative and they started certain organizations to get their point across, one student decided to risk his life and go on a hunger strike; that stood out the most because he rather not live until his voice is heard. I do think that more students should have took action in the movements and it shouldn't have taken a little amount f students to help them realize that they have a problem on campus that needs to be resolved. Especially if they were like my god brother and the school was paying for them to come there, why would you want to stay somewhere if people are going to disrespect you. The readings with Gabrielle Union and Roxane Gay were interesting because I never knew the story of Nate Parker and the rape allegations that he was accused of; they actually had people not watching the films because of the things that they said in their readings. "Rape is a wound that throbs long after it heals", she said that this happening to her was etched into her history, people who go through this basically live with this fear of that happening until the day that they die. We specified the subject "white privilege" because his roommate was white and he was not accused, he does not have to walk around or be known for being accused of rape, but Nate does. You just have to keep your eyes open and we have to make sure that African Americans continue to build and love one another, the world is against us and we have to stay woke and make sure that we do not take disrespect from another race. We've been going through these problems for years its just now everyone decides to pay attention. Did we start paying attention too late? The hashtag can tell us more about an event than the news can, that's how powerful they are.
ReplyDelete(Source 1) http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/09/us/jonathan-butler-hunger-strike-missouri-profile/
(Source 2) https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-09-29/race-and-homicide-in-america-by-the-numbers
Unit IV has enlightened me in many different ways. When we think of the movements that have spawned the changes in the lives of black people we often only think about the men of the movements. We often think about Dr. King, Malcolm X, and other men on the front lines of change for black people. We may hear about a few black women here and there. We never really think about how black women are often the ones really doing so much more and holding down the front lines just as much as men. Unit IV really enlightened me to how the movements are often lead by women and carried fourth even more by women. I have so much more respect for women and leaders in the fight for racial equality for black people. I am changed and have a greater understanding of how black women had stood and will always stand up for the rights of black people in the forefront. Unit IV has given me a totally new perspective in the fight for racial equality. Thank you for a great semester and for changing my views of how the fight for racial equality will always matter to black people. http://blog.thehungersite.com/cs-black-leaders/
ReplyDeletehttp://blacklivesmatter.com/
http://www.assatashakur.org/
This unit enlightened me thoroughly because it educated me about of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Before being introduced to this unit, I was not aware of how the Black Lives Matter Movement came about. The fact the BLM Movement was founded by African American women is so inspirational. The BLM Movement is one of the most instrumental and powerful movements of all times. BLM represents that despite the injustices done to blacks or colored people because of their skin color or the stereotypes placed upon them, we can all stand up for the rights that we believe in such as equality in all aspects of life. The presence of three black women (Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, Patrisse Cullors) establishing such a power movement that affects millions of people with its message of redemption and equality is a great motivator to me. In that, I will strive to make social change to help all achieve success. In this, I will encourage underrepresented people to strive for success despite the odds of being judged or persecuted through education.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.duchessinternationalmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/BLM-founders_0.jpg
http://crooksandliars.com/files/stockphotos/black-lives-matter_2.jpg
https://image.spreadshirtmedia.com/image-server/v1/compositions/1005888870/views/1,width=300,height=300,version=1473664654/black-lives-matter-men-s-premium-t-shirt.jpg
This unit has enlightened me on a few things. Well, in terms of BLM, I knew it was started by three women following the acquittal of George Zimmerman after he fatally shot 17 yr old Trayvon Martin. It was weird to think about because even with Rodney King, the acquittal of the officers was the reason for the uprising an the riots, not the actual event of the death. Now we are starting to protest after the actual incident because it is wrong to kill. I didn't know about the three ladies and their names, but in relation to BLM, I always read about Cherelle Brown. She's very heavily involved in the movement and she is the first to respond when something happens. When Keith Lamont Scott was killed in Charlotte, she went down with milk to help heal the pepper spray wounds, and she was the one organizing the bail bondmen to help get the protesters out of jail. She's where I learned the most about the movement. With the hostages we discussed, we were talking about the other races trying to make a counter to BLM. There was #AllLivesMatter, #BlueLivesMatter, and #BrownLivesMatter. I always saw the "say her name" hashtag on social media, but I always thought it was just for Sandra Bland. It was amazing to watch the Ted Talks episode and see how many females that have been killed by police that we don't know and probably won't ever know because the movement has shed a light on black men.
ReplyDeleteIn relation to the LA riots, this has been something I am OBSESSED with! Ever since I saw the first documentary about the 90's and the LA riots, I have really been interested in this topic. Also, in my history class, we discussed the Korean-Black divide and how so many Korean businesses were destroyed in the riots some of them with intention. Rodney King's beating video was hard to watch, as this was my first time watching it with the sound on. The comments in the back show that this is just a regular day, with regular people in a regular neighborhood. After you hear someone being criminalized, which was the case with both Rodney King and Oscar Grant, it is hard to remember they are human with real lives some with real families and children. The saddest part of Fruitvale Stain for me wasn't the fact that he was shot, it was the end scene with his girlfriend having to explain to her daughter what happened to her father. This kind of stuff hits home because we as a country, especially with black people, tend to criminalize the people that end up dead. They say "if he was doing the right thing it wouldn't have happened".
This brings me to the last point of white rape. We talked about Nate Parker's rape allegations and how black men are always brought to the forefront for rape, especially when a white female is involved. This goes all the way back to unit one in the original "Birth of a Nation", where the white girl committed suicide because she didn't want to get rape by the "scary black man". We listed celebrities, both black and white, male and female, who have faced rape allegations, which really surprised me. If you have the money and the lawyers you might get your record expunged, but your reputation will be tarnished. It makes you think, if this can happen to a celebrity, someone with all the resources to beat the case, what hope do we have for the average black boy/man that gets accused of rape just because the woman feels like it, and their life is ruined forever? Overall I really enjoyed this class. It really furthered my critical thinking and made me see the bigger picture of the world we live in.
http://blacklivesmatter.com
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/
DeleteThis unit changed my viewpoint of the Black Lives Matter movement in that it offered a deeper reasoning provided by the movement's founders. I've been enlightened during the past few days in this unit for a few different reasons. During the time of the original introduction of Nate Parker's "Birth Of A Nation" and the controversy of rape allegations that accompanied it, it was easy to get caught up in the negativity that the media boosted. Thinking back on that time, I can remember being unsure of whether or not my support of the film would be the same, given the allegations. The simple fact that I took the time during this unit to go back and research the information surrounding that case to develop my own opinion, shows me my true growth, not just in this unit, but during this class as a whole. I took the time to consider Gabrielle Union's opinion on Nate Parker's rape case, speaking as a rape victim herself. Even though I may not exactly agree with Ms. Union's authority to speak on her opinion of Mr. Parker, I was still able to take it into consideration. I feel that the public allowed the negative news coverage to effect their overall perception of the film, before considering the body of work.This class has made me stop and consider everything before making a decision on my stance. This unit challenged my thinking overall, in the same respect that the previous unit did. I'm grateful for that.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/21/opinion/sunday/nate-parker-and-the-limits-of-empathy.html?_r=0
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sil-lai-abrams/i-cannot-take-gabrielle-u_b_11839316.html
As this semester comes to an end, I can honestly say I have thoroughly enjoyed this class. We have been able to see how black culture is typically negatively portrayed in films. What has resonated with me the most this semester is how filmmakers such as Ava DuVernay make it their mission to desensitize society from the early stigmas placed on blacks through movies and television shows. In Unit Four, what has enlightened and resonated with me was the different reactions to Nate Parker’s rape trial. Nate Parker was accused of raping a woman while he was a student-athlete at Penn State but he was acquitted. Although the trial was publicly available on Wikipedia and other outlets, it conveniently made headlines right before the release of his highly-anticipated film Birth of a Nation. Parker’s Birth of a Nation was created to completely revamp the original racist version of Birth of a Nation and provide a positive, historical message. However, the pivotal remake lost money and support simply because of rape charges—that he was not found guilty on. I was able to see how a black man can spend time and money producing a film that educates people on black history but will not experience the true success of his film because of his past. However, a white actor, Casey Affleck, was tried and convicted for rape but was still able to win an Oscar for “Manchester by the Sea” years later. Celebrities such as Gabrielle Union expressed their disgust as a woman and sexual assault victim in regard to supporting the film, however, still disregarded the fact that Nate Parker was not convicted of rape. This has changed my perspective because I now see the importance of researching the people behind the scenes before supporting a movie. However, in the same breath, I charge myself and those around me to not have double-standards when deciding who to and not to support. One should not go to a movie produced by a Caucasian serial killer but refuse to go to a movie produced by a black man who was tried for armed robbery. We must not be so quick to not support the work of blacks but put our black dollars in the hands of whites who are not worthy either.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.esquire.com/style/news/a49130/luke-cage-costume-designer-interview/?zoomable Attached is a photo of Luke Cage. My favorite unit was Unit Three, when we watched and discussed an episode of Luke Cage. During this unit, I concluded that not all superheroes wear capes. Some superheroes wear hoodies with bullet holes! Sometimes, superheroes are like Ava DuVernay and stand behind scripts and cameras with a mission to educate and positively promote blacks. Black people are breaking barriers left and right and we must not discredit but uplift each other at all times. If we won’t encourage our own, who will?
This unit has shifted my paradigm and allowed me to observe from a different perspective. I already had some prior information about BLM before the unit but I also made some I have connected the parallels between todays BLM movement and to the past Civil Rights movement and noticed the vast similarities that keep us chained together. In 2017, we are still fighting the some of the same injustices that we were faced with in the 1960's. This thought resonated with me and left me frustrated. Furthermore, I also learned a lot from the rape allegations of Nate Parker. Being a young black male my mother told me before high school about the topic #whiterape and how it happens to black male athletes often. It wasn't farfetched to believe the same tactics would be used on guy like Nate Parker. I was glad to her the comeback story of Gabrielle Union and respected the way she handled it all with Nate Parker. The allegations never really steered me away from watching the movie because i felt regardless of what happened the movie was still delivering a positive message that needs to be heard. This unit changed me the most by giving me a new thought process, almost like a pre analyzation before i actually digest information.
ReplyDeletehttp://people.com/movies/a-complete-timeline-of-the-nate-parker-rape-allegations-and-the-production-of-birth-of-a-nation/
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/28/us/black-lives-matter-evolution/
In this unit, I have enjoyed learning about the different acts of injustice placed on blacks. We have thoroughly view different material that showcase this viewpoint. The 13th by Ava DuVernay displayed mass incarceration, especially in the black community, in the United States. With this documentary we see that mass incarceration is basically the new slavery and that is the way our society can keep black citizens from participating in civic duties. Ava DuVernay does an astonishing job of portraying this concept in our society. Another injustice scenario we talked about that was intriguing to me was the unfairness of police brutality. The film that corresponded with this was Fruitvale Station. This was the story of Oscar Grant who was shot and killed by a BART cop on New Year's Day. This story alone showed how an innocent black male lost his lifer due to a cop using his "power". This unit has made me more aware that as a young African American male, you have to be on the right side of justice as much as possible and even then you still have to be careful. This issue has really made me aware of how our society is and has made me question what I can do to help solve this issue.
ReplyDeleteSources: The 13th by Ava DuVernay (Netflix)
Fruitvale Station (Netflix)
This movie was super powerful for me as well. It literally brought tears to my eyes the first time I watched it. Oscar Grant is the perfect example of how being cooperating doesn't always guarantee life. I agree, this unit was the most powerful unit to me. It has also made me more aware/WOKE and it has made me want to exercise may agency in a more impactful way!!!
DeleteI have learned so much in this unit! What really resonated with me the most was The New Jim Crow and The 13th. Previously I've known about mass incarceration only general knowledge... but The 13th by Ava DuVernay just blew me away. Learning about how the prison system is set up and how 97% of people in jail never get a trial and how presidents would use run-off racism and criminalization was all new to me. ALEC was especially scaring and I was surprised that I knew nothing about them. The New Jim Crow was so shocking to me. The concept that as a criminal, you have less rights as a black man at the height of Jim Crow. That shocked me and always resonated with me. Overall this unit has changed me A LOT! I am much more knowledgeable on the subjects of mass incarceration and things on that spectrum. I enjoyed this class so much just talking about issues I have never talked about in a class setting before was so amazing to me! I enjoyed each and every unit. Just learning about our culture and history while being about to learn about the history of film and black filmmakers, which I didn't know much on was very enlightening! Learning about these things have really expanded my thinking about race as well as film! I'm so happy that I took this class and will be forever grateful!
ReplyDeleteSources: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
The 13th by Ava DuVernay
Being raised by women, this unit included a lot of perspectives from the female view and that was important to me. To see how people were more appealing to a more famous person story over a lesser known person with the same struggle pointed out to me what is really wrong with society. Since this class came right after my Hip Hop discourse class, the culmination of the cirriculum guides helped me become more "woke" when it comes to different issues amognst my race. I learned that African Americans bounce back like no other no matter the tragedy and that added more to my self confidence knowing nothing can stop me after realizing what the ones before me went through for me to be here. This class was more of a reality check, to stop giving in to the media and go off of you and what your people are known for.
ReplyDeleteThe readings and videos we analyzed in this unit truly solidified my previous presumptions of the current system we live in. I already had a general idea of how mass incarceration was the modern day Jim Crow and how black bodies were still considered nobodies in our new day and age. And thanks to Michelle Alexander's brilliant research on the prison systems and Ava DuVernay's wonderfully put together documentary, I know for sure now that I'm not crazy! People are quick to dismiss these types of theories because there's this illusion of progress. I believe that individual progress does not equate to the progress of an unit, in terms of systemic racism. If dismantling the system is the way to go, it will be executed as an unit. Some call it progress; I call it a cycle. My mother always used to tell me, "The white man has always been 2 steps ahead of the black man. Every time the black man starts to understands the rules, the white man changes the game." And the research proves this as true. On a lighter note, this unit has also enlightened me on how much of a backbone black women have to been to fighting for the cause. I started to see this in unit II when I was first introduced to Mamie Till and was inspired by her influence. Moving on to our viewings on the herstory of BLM and the protests at the University of Missouri, I began to see the trend of black women being leaders in our movements and how, although we may be overlooked most times, we're always there when the going gets tough. I'm leaving this unit, as well as this class, feeling empowered, 10x more radical, and definitely more educated on the stats. Thank you for such a riveting semester!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYIz9NOqRI0
A post-racial America is a concept that does not exist. Yes, we have come a long way from where we began. We’ve had a black president. We have blacks in positions of authority. We can see ourselves on television. We have integrated schools and black and whites can exist in many places together. But, this does not mean that we live in a post racial America. We do not live in a place where black lives are valued. There are many opportunities, biases and disadvantages that we still face. Most of the time when we think of black lives not being valued we think of the males, but being a black woman in the technology field I think about how we are not valued at the same rate as males, probably even more. As a woman in tech, majoring in computer science, in a white dominated world I am what we call a “double minority”. Being a black makes me a minority, but also being a woman makes me a double minority because both categories of people are extremely lacking in the tech industry. This really is a shame because women have played some of the most vital roles in history. Even though there are few of, in the computer science department at North Carolina A&T outperform the males on countless occasions. We are at the top of our classes. Angelica Willis, honors convocation speaker and the first Stanford University Epicenter University Innovation Fellow from North Carolina A&T is part of the computer science department.
ReplyDeleteBefore beginning this unit I wouldn’t say that I wasn’t aware of the important role of women in society, but I couldn’t name as many of them as I can now. That has truly resonated with me. We are the backbone of this country. Black women were at the front of the movement from Rosa Parks to Mamie Till to Angela Davis to Nina Simone to Shirley Chisholm. The creators of Black Lives Matter are woman: Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors. When we think about the lack of respect of black bodies we often times think of Mike Brown, Philando Castile or Eric Garner, but no one thinks of Sandra Bland or Rekia Boyd. Even the most of Concerned Student 1950 at Mizzou in Spike Lee’s “2 Fists Up” consisted of females. This unit has enlightened me by making me realize that although there are barriers set up for us to fail, with hard work and dedication I can excel just like those that came before me.
Quotes by Shirley Chisholm that speak to me:
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http://www.picturequotes.me/quote_pictures/shirley_chisholm_quote_tremendous_amounts_of_talent_are_lost_to_our_society_just_because_that_talent_wears_a_skirt_5547.jpg
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I originally took this class just to fulfill my honor’s upper level seminar requirement. I had no free electives left. But, I do not regret taking the class. It has forced me to think about and see things in a way that I would have never before. I learned a lot and I will continue to use what I have learned for years to come. This class has impacted the way I see the world.
This unit has helped to open my eyes about how I identify with racial issues and also ways in which I can solve them. I think that from this unit I have gained new knowledge about how the many different voices that are a part of the movement and that some of those voices have been neglected. As Alicia Garza stated in her address about the Black Lives Matter Movement, there is not a lot of focus put on the women and the LGBTQ community within the movement and there should be because those two groups go through just as much as the young black boys and older black men being harassed, beaten, and killed. I like that this unit brought the message of inclusion because before I was not thinking of the many groups within the black community who face discrimination not only because they are black, but because of they are viewed as different and/or having a different sexual orientation. They need to have their voices heard and they deserve the same recognition as anyone else because their lives matter too.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing this unit has opened my eyes to is the overwhelming belief that we live in a post-racial society, which is not true. There has been a veil placed over people’s eyes and it has made them blind to seeing that race is still very much an issue. Although we have had a black president, we went through the Civil Rights Movement, and the end of segregation was made, that did not guarantee the end of racism. I think that those who choose to view this society as post-racial are people who are deliberately not addressing the issue because they want the issue to magically go away but it won’t. With all the man stereotypes, misconstrued perceptions, and just flat out hate, racism will always be prevalent. I think that this unit has taught me that I have to fight to work harder to ensure that the kids of this generation and the ones after are not presented with this sugar-coated information in an effort to make them think life is good for them and then they be shocked by the truth later on down the road. I have to work to address these issues and start to deprogram their minds as I have begun to do with my own so they can see what is really going on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-ejkdjfftw
The readings in Unit IV have helped me become more knowledgeable about different aspects of the BLM movement and the illusion of post racial America. The BLM movement was created by three black women after the outcome of the Trayvon Martin trial. Their reason for starting the movement was great but progress was slowed due to their work being adapted and used in many other places. Different variations of "#______LivesMatter" began popping up everywhere and although most of them might not have been created with malicious intent, they still took away from the original #BLM movement. However, #AllLivesMatter was created to take visibility away from the #BlackLivesMatter movement. It was a direct attempt to silence people. How can we say this is a post-racial society when people refuse to acknowledge the true meaning behind he #BLM movement?
ReplyDeleteThis unit has definitely enlightened me on just how many celebrities have had traumatic experiences before their fame. As we discussed in class, as a society, we think of celebrities as superheroes in a way. We expect them to be indestructible and to rarely have feelings as any "normal" person would, and that needs to stop.
ReplyDeleteWhat resonated with me the most in this unit, is the whole topic of rape and the controversy surrounding Nate Parker and his rape allegations. Gabrielle Union's piece was my favorite because her views on the situation are similar to mine. There are people in this world who are extremely talented at what they do, but at the same time, they may or may not have done some things that I think are unacceptable. Gabrielle Union did not actually accuse Nate Parker of rape because she was not physically present during the situation; however, she does acknowledge the fact that it is not IMPOSSIBLE for the young woman to have been telling the truth given the fact that so many women who are raped rarely speak out about it (and the fact that she was raped herself).
https://www.youtube.com/watchv?=F5JPuWYqWQ4
I feel the exact same way. When I hear allegations of a woman being raped, I do not automatically point fingers at the alleged rapist and accuse him or her of anything because I have no way of knowing the actual truth. BUT, as a society, we absolutely cannot take rape allegations lightly because those who are telling the truth need as much emotional support as they can get. This unit has not changed me much. It has allowed men to become more sympathetic towards those who experience things that I never want to.
This was definitely my favorite class of the semester.
Throughout this unit i have learned so much and it was not only informing it was also very disturbing. From the mass incarcerations, to the rape allegations, to black people being treated unfairly. This unit brought up issues that were very relevant back that but also still relevant in the world today. Something that stood out to me most was the Nate Parker allegations mainly because i have a friend that is going through a similar situation. He has rape allegations against him right before the peak of his career and unfortunately it was by a white girl in a all white neighborhood and university. After reading Nate Parkers story my mind changed a little because i was like hey maybe there still is a chance for my friend because Nate Parker received another chance. Something that i thought was very mature was how Gabrielle Union tells how she was raped and she still takes the role as a rape victim in a huge film to inform women, black women especially to use this voice that they were given. Something that disturbed me was finding out about how many people in jail that don't get their trials seen which was 97%. That was very disturbing because i feel like everyone should have a chance to defend themselves and at least speak on their actions. Another thing that i thought was well explained throughout this unit was how the LGBTQ never really gets much attention and doesnt really have a say in decisions being made which isn't fair because they are people just like everyone else and they deserve to have a say in what does on in this world. This unit has taught me a lot about myself, my culture and the world that i thought i knew so well.
ReplyDelete/Users/ashleyhughes/Desktop/4da266c3278ef3a8f3d5fa6e9cc788c6.jpg
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Throughout this semester i have learned that i need to be woke because a lot of things have meanings from colors, gestures, and facial features that give important hints and glues as to what is going on in the world today.
I thank you so much for this fun yet informing school semester i have learned so much from you and i will make sure i take that with me throughout the remainder of this journey that i call life. I appreciate everything you taught me.
https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/522486/barack-obama-on-criticism-and-fervor/
DeleteThe most important aspect of this unit, as well as this class, that has resonated with me the most is the idea that people (including myself) will assume that Black people are presumed guilty until proven innocent and then even after their innocence is still questioned. The conversation that Gabby Union and her son's had about having to be better and more careful when dealing with White people (White women in particular), is a conversation that I feel is pertinent to have with all Black children, especially males. This unit in particular, challenged my own ways of thinking.
ReplyDeleteWe began this course by watching the original 1915 version of Birth Of A Nation, which left most of the class shocked due to it's overt racism. Almost a full century later, Nate Parker's own Birth Of A Nation has changed the conversation and how the film titled is viewed. The conversation surrounding those movies will never be the same, however after the media attempted to attack Parker's character by labeling him a "rapist" (#WhiteRape), the irony and symbolism surrounding his version almost be irrelevant. Nate Parker's exercised his agency to help change the rhetoric and idea that we in fact live in a post racial society.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWin4d0YnDo
“It’s that time of year again, when we hear Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speeches in 10 second clips, the same clips that get recycled on an annual basis now — radical proclamations that have been reduced over the years to mere platitudes. His booming voice declares that he’s been to the mountaintop and has glimpsed the promised land. He has a dream, he says, and his voice soars.”
ReplyDelete-Michelle Alexander
Every time I read this I ponder upon the thought of yes we have made much progress in America regarding race, but why are we stuck on Dr. King’s mountaintop? Why haven’t we reached the promise land yet? With this, I have awakened and discovered that we are not in a “Post-Racial Era” here in America. When we look at the various stories, viewpoints, as well as opinions told and visualized through Ava DuVernay’s film The 13th, it is revealed that the same cycle of discrimination and hatred our ancestors and earlier family generations endured is right here in our faces, but only with a different body. I have been motivated as a black woman to ensure that I am making progress somewhere every chance I am afforded to break this cycle. This motivation was given to me from Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi. Their call to action did just what they intended and so much more. Their awareness displayed how the world must start a bubble up movement rather than the trickle down affect. These three wonderful black women exhibited that no matter the progress that they have made, they are not superheroes, but they are human and there are and will continue to be times where stepping back is a demand. I feel that I have been changed by viewing how our society is obsessed with black death so much to the point that blacks are killing each other more and more everyday simply over a lack of understanding, pure ignorance, and the inadequacy to communicate. I feel this is the evidence of hegemony. A conditioning cycle that we seem to not broke in full, but only imply dents. I do agree that instead of the torches being passed, we must be the ones to light the fire in some way in our own communities across the globe. Without the lighting of the fire we will continue to be buried under disparities such as rape accusations, poverty from climate changes, death, and just being looked at as a danger to others only because my skin is of color. This class has truly woken me all the way up. I can personally say that KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. With this power I was blessed with I plan to light my fire and pass this enriched knowledge to others. I want to see that promise land for myself.
http://www.blacklifematters.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om2hx6Xm2JE
https://vimeo.com/13776644
I believe that it wasn't just this unit that has resonated with me, but this class as a whole. Listening and discussing different perspectives on the topics that were discuss has really been an eye opener for me. Although, this was a film class this class has gotten me to critically think about the many different situations that black folks go through everyday. This class has enlighten and inspired me to make a change; to be that difference in the world. Because of this class and also my other class I'm more open and willing to speak out against the whiteness in America, and by doing that I use my social media as a platform. I also knew what i wanted to do once I graduated from here but I believe this class and the topics of this class has made want to become a teacher even more. I want to change minds and inspire and start a conversation. I really appreciate Dr. Jackson's perspective and this class experience is an experience that is going to resonate with me through the rest of my life.
ReplyDeleteThis unit, as well as this course, has altered my perspective a great deal. Especially the idea that mass incarceration is a new form of slavery. I never thought about this as a problem. But after seeing 13th, my views changed a lot. It is crazy to associate poor with most likely becoming a criminal but that is sadly how it will be. I actually now believe the saying "money brings you power", because it really does. I've learned so much in this course that has impacted my attitude towards the world. This includes the early film life, the work of ava duVernay, work of the famous Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, and the auto biography of Assata Shakur. They've all taught me that through strength you can make a difference and also that through film and your voice you can motivate others around you to also fight for whats right. This course was my call to action.
ReplyDelete.
ReplyDeleteThis unit has enlightened me in so many ways make me think about all black people and what they facing everyday just because the fact that they are black, also what inspire me knowing that the Queer Women are the creating of BLM Movement.this unit clearly showed me the power of a black women and hoe strong, creative they are such as Michelle Alexander, Alicia Garza, Roxanne Gay and Gabrielle Union and most the time they never get the credit for the amazing work that they do and we know why they don't . another thing that stood out for me that is how is or how is the black man is always behind the while man I think in my opinion in most cases in because the poor and this thing should not be a reason to make people in levels. also this unit make me see how the black women play an important role in our community and how they are strong and step up and talk about issues that apply them such as a rape victim and we know that not an essay thing to talk about it again once it happened .not just this unit but all this curse opened my eyes and my mine to what we really facing as black people for long long time ago until TODAY I have learn a lot from a heroes/leader like MLK jr and Malcom X and all the filmmakers that use all what they could to sent us that message about what happening to the black people.so we have to stand up together and making sure we helping each other no matter what and counties what the people before us did for us .
ReplyDeletehttp://blacklivesmatter.com
This unit further shed light on the black women in the shadows. So often we birth the platforms that are used to defend and protect black men. Often we are overshadowed. Often we are overlooked. Often others are given the credit for the work that we do, and I think that more than anything has resonated deeply with me. To think that three non hetero-normative black women could conceptualize something as beautiful, political, and direct as BLM only to have their integrity called into question on the basis of their sexual orientation. To think that black women at Mizzou were the foundation of Concerned Student 1950 only for the notion to exist that the football team was directly responsible for the President stepping down. I understand the value of black men in our movements. We as Black Women have always understood the value of black men's lives which is why we are often at the forefront of the fight for their freedom. I say their freedom because often our liberation goes unacknowledged. I think many times as Black women we have to choose our allegiance. We have to either choose to be committed to the black cause or we have to be committed to the cause of womanhood. Some of us choose that both matter equally and we cannot separate either. Gabrielle Union and Alicia Garza exemplify that. For me I've struggled with it. There is so much misogyny within Black liberalization ideologies. There is so much racism in white feminist politics. It often seems that there is no safe place for us. I've decided to embody a safe place. I need to become the platform where I as a black woman am perfectly sound in being black and being woman because these are not mutually exclusive.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/5mBnM2EUp0Q