New Movie Alert "Dear White People"

The year 2013 appears to be a promising year for black cinema with the release of "The Best Man 2", Forest Whittaker's "The Butler" and  "Black Nativity". All of which appear to bring back that element that has been missing from black film in general especially since the success of Tyler Perry films. 

This year has also had a considerable number of black documentaries that have made it to at least select theaters. Some noteworthy documentaries include "Free Angela & All Political Prisoners" and Terence Nance's "An OverSimplification Of Her Beauty". (oversimplification.mvmt.com) The two contrast greatly, one explores the sacrifices African Americans have made to be treated as not merly citizens of this country but human beings. The other, a real life glance into the lives of educated African Americans in this "post racial" state.

It is sad to note however that in an America that claims to be so forward thinking, there are few films that make it to the big screen that accurately depict black life in America. Thus I introduce to you the film that had finally recently began production, "Dear White People". 

A year ago this month, writer, director and producer Justin Simien along with his production staff and crew released the concept trailer for a new movie called "Dear White People". The film follows co-ed Sam White as she goes on to expose the racial problem at her institution of choice Manchester University, a PWI (Predominantly White Institution). She does such by means of her universitybased radio   show in which she weaves an open letter to White people in general about their racist tendencies. She begins with "Dear White People, the number of black friends required to not seem racist has moved up to two", she further comments not to ask to touch black hair as it is not a petting Zoo. The film also explores interracial relationships and the concept of who and what determines what "blackness" is. 

The making of this film has come a long way to gain both artistic and financial backing. Check out the Trailer ( http://youtu.be/watjO62NrVg)   and support this film by making sure it come to a theater near you. 

Zoe Saldana and the Nina Simone biopic disaster

Since the announcement ofa biopic on the life of pianist, singer and civil rights activist, Nina Simone,fans have been buzzing in anticipation of having the story of the late greatartist told. To the dismay of many however, actress Zoe Saldana has been chosento portray the blues icon.

Saldanais most known for her roles in science fiction movies like Avatar and the latest version of Star Trek, which has a sequel premiering this summer. While bothmovies required the 34 year old actress to learn a different language and toportray as an alien species, they did not prepare her for the backlash she hasbeen receiving for the role of portraying a real American icon.

Muchof the criticism derives from critics’ opinion that the young actress bearslittle resemblance to Nina Simone. “Musician India.Arie said "they shouldhave chosen someone who looks like Nina Simone," and an online petitionfor a boycott of the film attracted more than 10,000 signatures.” (Lawless) Manyargue that because Saldana bears little resemblance to Simone in both skin andhair texture, she will not be able to tell the story of Simone in a realistic sense. 

TheAP reports that Saldana feels very strongly that she is the right actress toplay Nina Simone. “The Nina Simone story needed to be told, and I'm reallyblessed that I did it,” said Saldana, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican andDominican descent.” (Lawless) Nina Simone, along with her amazing talents has amusician, had a major influence on the civil rights movement with songs, “Young,Gifted & Black”, and “Mississippi Goddam”.

“Justlike everybody else I feel very strongly about Nina Simone, and that (this) wasa story that needed to be told.” (Zoe Saldana) Saldana feels that her talent asan actress and the importance of telling Nina Simone’s story on screen areworth the controversy that she has thus endured since taking the role. 

Lawless, Jill. "Zoe Saldana: Nina Simone Controversy Wont Deter Me From Telling Story." The Huffington Post 15 May 2013: 5.

Django; loss of black solidarity and the "nigger"

Quentin Tarantino's latest film "Django Unchained" is not for the squeamish at heart. While the film tackles issues of race relations and the brutality of slavery in the South two years before the Civil War, what is most interesting is the relationships between the black characters.

Through a series of brutal torturings of human bodies, the slave masters often pit the slaves against one another. So when Django and his German born partner devise a plan to rescue Django's wife, the black slave overseer played by an older Samuel l. Jackson, finds it fit to tell his beloved slave master candie, played by Leonardo dicaprio. Instead of helping a fellow slave to freedom, he seeks to keep everyone in the same place or below him.

The western drama paints a very graphic portrayal of slave life in the south. While each slave is of an equally low status, when one slave rises to a somewhat higher status the others despise him as he rubs it in his face. When Django appears before other slaves as a freeman, instead of sympathing with them he treats them as if he is ten levels above them. Django even goes so far as to refer to other slaves as property. Similar to modern times when a black person rises to even a shred of success others who are seemingly below him show qualities of "haters". In contrast those who do rise above often forget where they came from and begin acting like the same ones that oppressed them.

The use of the word "Nigger" and it's slang counterpart "nigga" has been up for discussion a thousand times but viewing this film resonated a new meaning to the word. Words like "nigger", "boy", and "jimmy" were used interchangeably as a sign of ones unintelligent property or slave. The slaves weren't viewed as people but as a good that was bought and sold and if a certain slave were to get out of line they were either tortured or fed to dogs.

The movie does little to justify the historical era of the institution of slavery. The film more so drones on over three hours as an old western with disrespect for human life with all the bloodshed. It isn't until the end of the film that there appears to be a sense of comradely among African Americans. By that time everything is torched and all the major characters have died a bloody death. If there is anything to be learned here, it is that Hollywood never gets the black story right be it of slavery or modern day life of the black experience In America.