By Sanjea Taylor, Contributing Writer
The month of February isn’t just any other month, it’s the time to celebrate Black history, honor Black trailblazers, and reflect on the ongoing journey for equal rights. Thankfully, present-day filmmakers are using their art to shine a spotlight on the struggles and triumphs of Black people in order to keep the movement alive.
With the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement ever-growing and many people becoming more aware of the level of injustice and racism affecting people of color, it’s not hard to see that the world has not fully changed, and according to that, many Black people are making their voices heard, even those in Hollywood.
The topic of racism has not left many people’s minds in today’s society, and we are now in a time where Black storytellers are rising in Hollywood, using their craft to tell their story and critiques the world’s views on this issue.
One film that does this perfectly is The Hate U Give directed by George Tillman Jr. The film follows Starr Carter, a Black prep school student who is living in two worlds, the first one at her home, in a predominantly Black neighborhood, and the other at her predominantly white prep school.
Throughout the movie, Starr’s views on these two worlds later change after witnessing the fatal shooting of her friend at the hands of the police. This piece was a very powerful piece as we live in a time where police brutality has become a sad reality, affecting communities, groups and mostly families.
Tazmyn Sawyer, a sophomore majoring in business administration, was able to share her views on this film and how it impacted her.
“The Hate U Give is a film that addresses racism, police brutality, and systemic injustice, while also focusing on the personal and emotional journey of its protagonist,” said Sawyer.
“The movie feels incredibly relevant today because it highlights issues such as racial profiling, the tension between Black identity and the pressures of living in predominantly white spaces, and the impact of witnessing police violence,” shared Sawyer.
Despite its release date, The Hate U Give still has an impact on many people of color and still stands out when the discussion of racism is brought up.
“It stands out because it combines a personal story with social commentary on race. Starr is caught between two worlds. This is central to the story, illustrating the constant act that many Black people face in different environments that often view them differently,” stated Sawyer as she shared why she thinks this movie stands out to many people.
Another notable film that critiques the way people of color are unjustly treated and viewed in the world today is the Netflix limited series, When They See Us, created by Ava Duvernay. Thismini-series is based on the true story of the Central Park Five, five Black and Latino teenagers who were accused of molesting a Caucasian woman in 1989.
This movie demonstrates how the media portrayed these teenagers due to negative stereotypes that resulted in their wrongful imprisonment.
“When They See Us remains highly relevant today because it sheds light on the racial injustices faced by Black individuals, particularly in the criminal justice system,” said Sawyer. “The story of the Central Park Five resonates with ongoing issues of racial profiling and wrongful convictions, which continue to affect communities.”
This series stands out so well because it dives into the emotional and psychological toll racial discrimination took on these teens, allowing viewers to put themselves into the history and visualize themselves in this position, allowing them to see that racial stereotyping and bias can truly destroy innocent individuals’ lives.
“The portrayal of the young men’s trauma and the deep flaws in the justice system forces the audience to question their own assumptions about race and fairness,” said Sawyer “It influences how we perceive racism today by showing the enduring consequences of unjust practices and pushing for a social awakening.”
Both films encourage audiences to learn, reflect, and advocate for change in the ongoing struggle for racial equality because of their powerful message and ability to explore these social issues. We are getting closer to making the world a safer place for everyone the more these concerns are discussed, the more the filmmakers use their platform to highlight these social problems.
