Perhaps the most significant event that occurred on October 7, 2015 was the exclusive screen of Finding the Gold Within in the W.V.M. Fines Arts Center. This film touched my soul because it revealed the concerns of young, black males at predominately white institutions. Although the students encountered similar problems as students at historically black colleges, their struggles differed due to the fact that racism was one of the greatest obstacles during their college experience. In addition to the discrimination and the racial undertones in the academic institution in which the males attended, the youths had to learn how to balance their internal conflicts as well. One of the greatest conflicts that continue to affect the African American …show more content…
Therefore, a large amount of young people may be able to relate to the theme of the film and the motive behind the creation of it. Regardless of the shaky elements of the film, there was solid storytelling and Finding the Gold Within was able to succeed in delivering a clear message to the audience. Moreover, the documentary also benefited from the use of the young, black males and the various camera techniques. The most profound aspect of the film is the special captured moments in which the young males expressed their true anger towards their situations and society. For example, during the confession of committing a crime, a young male cried a river of tears because he felt as if his situation would never improve due to his social economic status. During his emotional moment, the camera was directed at his face and the audience was able to see witness the true feelings that the young man had towards his life. Although exposing a person’s emotional breakdown on film is questionable and controversial, the scene had a powerful impact on the film and the audience was able to understand the frustrations of the young
What was never presented was the point of view from the African Americans because it was seemingly dismissed. It was eye-opening to read about the experience from an African’s perspective because it brought a whole new light to my understanding of what it meant to be a slave and the struggles black Americans face here in the US, even
The crowd cheered and roared when these words were delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. during his iconic Washington march speech in 1969. This was the time when America found itself torn apart in the racial conflicts. During the Civil Rights Movement, it was evident that not only black Americans but also many white Americans opposed the African American oppression. One such personality was John Howard Griffin, a Texan Journalist who documented his experiment of experiencing life as a ‘negro’ by deliberately turning his skin black through pigmentation and other medical procedures. The product that emerged out of his experiment is a book called Black Like Me.
In Mississippi explores a community in Mississippi called Charleston, which segregates its prom for black and white students, until 2008, when the first integrated one was held. Morgan Freeman, who lives in Charleston, offered to pay for their prom as long as it was integrated. His first offer in 1997 was turned down, but in 2008, it was finally accepted. It is shocking to think that such blatant racism still exists in the twenty-first century, but, unfortunately, it does. From an anthropological perspective, the subject matter of the documentary is a perfect example of structuralism.
I have an innate want to succeed.” Kennedi, who received a scholarship to Howard University, the historically black university in Washington, D.C., describes her first impression of Howard University as a community filled with well-rounded black people, a notion that many others share with her. She also shared her favorite Howard memory: her first week on Howard’s campus when she first heard and sang the words to the Black National Anthem, “lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring,” in unison with hundreds of other Howard University students and staff all while holding up her fist. Although Kennedi’s first impression of Howard University is heart- warming.
The first pain point of privilege is easy for for me to understand. I am an African American who grew up only going to inner-city public schools, until I went to an all-boys Catholic college prep high school. I understand the perception others can have of students and specifically athletes at schools like Duke. The documentary highlights that glorification of hard work runs deep in American culture. While many people thought Laettner came from a family with a lot of money, he was in fact a member of a lower-middle class working family.
When I asked them if their experiences at Proviso East changed the way they viewed other races of people, my father offered some insight into how he viewed the race struggle of the civil rights movement. He said in the moment it affected him, but many of our experiences regardless of what they are in high school do profoundly affect us, but I had a lot of friends of different color.” He told a story his father told him. “ Once my father had gotten a flat tire on Lake Shore Drive. It was a very busy highway type road, with no room to pull off.
His recollections about his experience as a young boy makes the horror real and urgent for the audience: “I remember his bewilderment, I remember his anguish. It all happened so fast.” (paragraph 4) The audience’s inevitable emotional response to these memories is one of deep sadness and empathy. The need for action instead of silence in the face of such horror is made even clearer.
One of the most impactful films we watched in class was the video of Michelle Alexander’s lecture on her book, The New Jim Crow. I’ve heard bits about the book beforehand but watching the award winning author speak on it was truly eye-opening and the information she gave was phenomenal. The topic of her book and in turn the lecture was on the issue of mass incarceration within the U.S. and also how the “War on Drugs” is what made poor communities with people of color the main victims of mass incarceration. She discussed how some poor communities are seen as violent and sketchy because of their high levels of chronic joblessness. Her main point was making listeners aware of how even though we claim to be in an “era of colorblindness,” there
Steele begins addressing the issue by saying that “ By making black the color of preference, these mandates have re-burdened society with the very marriage of color and preference( in reverse) that we set out to eradicate.” In essence Shelby states that by allowing blacks to get a free privilege that whites do not have, the same issue that people were attempting to eradicate had just been reversed except this time in favor of African Americans. Shelby further explains that “ In integrated situations where blacks must compete with whites who may be better prepared, these explanations may quickly wear thin and expose the individual to racial as well as personal self doubt.” By using the example of college Shelby shows people that just because something is free does not mean it is beneficial in fact it may have the opposite effect it set out to achieve. At this point the audience has been made aware of a problem on several occasion and at this point in time Shelby begins to elaborate on the issue creating more intricate situations in which the free privilege will affect African Americans in the future.
At some point of your life you meet very special people that carry very similar interests. This creates bonds that can be a very powerful and important part of your life. Some may say that bonds are created between a series of negative events that leads up to friendship. However, this is not true because in The Way, the main characters come together to walk the same path. Each character motivates each other to achieve the overall reason of why they wanted to walk The Camino De Santiago.
In the film Extreme Measures someone can find ideas of Secular Ethics throughout the film involving Utilitarianism and its basic tenets along with Kantian analysis. The basic tenets of Utilitarianism include the principle of utility, Hedonism, and the viewpoint of a disinterested and benevolent spectator. While the tenets of Kantian Ethics, which include good will, the formula of universal law, the formula of the end itself, and the categorical imperative. These basic ideas setup arguments for and against the Utilitarian ideas set up by doctor Myrick. In the film doctor Myrick makes the claim that it is worth the deaths of unwilling subjects in order to help/save the lives of millions.
Black women are treated less than because of their ascribed traits, their gender and race, and are often dehumanized and belittled throughout the movie. They are treated like slaves and are seen as easily disposable. There are several moments throughout the film that show the racial, gender, and class inequalities. These moments also show exploitation and opportunity hoarding. The Help also explains historical context of the inequality that occurred during that time period.
According to Price, Price, and McKenry (2010) the intragroup diversity among African Americans is growing, in that there are more African Americans among the middle and upper class now than ever before in United States history. This change in socioeconomic status has had a major impact for many African Americans, in which the increasing diversity has created significant social and economic tensions within their ethnic community (Price et al., 2010). Jumping the Broom has illustrated this recent phenomenon by showing viewers just how much the changing socioeconomic status can impact family relationships and the family system. The stressors associated with division of class between the Taylor and Watson families are particularly salient throughout the duration of the film. Viewers are shown many of these correlated stressors, and how they can cause major ramifications in the lives of today’s
On October 21, 2015, I watched the 1992 film, Like Water for Chocolate, in my Spanish 7 class. The film is based on the 1989 novel Como agua para chocolate by Laura Esquivel. I was amazed at the many different family traditions represented in the film. The one which I found most fascinating and horrifying at the same time, had to be the belief that the youngest daughter, Tita, could not marry, as it is her duty to care for her mother until her death. I could not believe that this tradition would be enforced when it was first mentioned.
John Nash’s emotions are expressed through various cinematography. The opening scene of the film shows shifting camera movement and this is done through physical displacement of the camera. The movements of the camera show John Nash is not confident in himself due to his schizophrenia. Different colours throughout the film express different emotions.