Blatant Prejudice to Black Panther

Prologue - Harsh Realities and Sugar-Coated Lies

No matter how much people have come out of racist remarks, the western still hides inequality. There is a pinch of racist remarks, ugly events, and skin tone bashing. Particularly toward those who aren’t white (Wilderson III, 2010). In reality, the world is unaware about the origin of black. White. Dark brown. Chocolate brown, tanned skin tones and who arrived first. There is always demography, climatic conditions, and other geographical phenomenon. That connecting the possibilities of a skin tone for a particular climate. But, a lot of people don’t want to read science nor seek reality of the dark and light events that had unfolded. To reach and teach people about the problems of black not being a problem, BLACK CINEMA came to light. This essay will address unaddressed areas from a neutral perspective. But, holding on to the path of verity. For all those people who couldn’t understand human beings as such, cinema will be your beacon light. To fathom poetry in human beings, cruelty done to humanity, and biased nature within us. And to have an idea about evolution of human beings, our origin, and the end (Lott, 1991).

Black Cinema and the Turbulent Past of the United States

Let us start with Spike Lee who fought for the justice of humanity. He was more than a fake savior for a particular color, creed, and race. Throughout the evolution of Hollywood, black people are always treated in a bad way. Making of movies especially during the postindustrial era where movies to showcase sympathy. Rather than humanity and equality. Pseudo freaks began their propaganda through motion pictures, art, and politics. But, they have shades of racism within them without their knowing (Watkins, 1998). Some cunning foxes interpreted Black Cinema. They made moves like “The Brother from another Planet.” To infiltrate the thought of subjugation into non-whites without their knowing. What Spike Lee had done to Black Cinema or Revolutionary cinema one could say is ingenious. The portrayal of Blacks as criminals, drug dealers, immoral people. They are either hopeless fanatics or hard-core lunatics. By this way registering the fact that white should guide them with their life and lifestyle. Black Exploitation cinema came to reinstate the fake fact that Blacks lack knowledge. The reason behind illegal activities, disharmony, and insecurity of the white people. The world could have looked at Afro-Americans in a different way. Since movies connect a society, culture, and soul of a place with the world (Lee & Aftab, 2005). White directors were more into the concept of creating sympathy for Black Americans. Instead of practicing empathy and brotherhood from inside. Spike Lee’s “Do the right thing” and “Jungle Fever” never stirred violence nor attacked whites. But as a film it conveyed the right amount of passion for the events unfolding one after another. Cinema lovers who wants the world to look beautiful will enjoy righteous thoughts. Conveyed without prejudice and judgments in this film through its characters. In the “Jungle Fever” movie, a white skinned Italian secretary falls for a appealing Black guy. Not for his masculinity or chauvinistic presence. But for his passion and strong culture and as an interesting human being. This is what Spike Lee is all about when it comes to mixing genuine sides of his heart to intensifying cinema. The scene where both characters with a different clothing stands apart. The outstanding display of color isn’t an issue at all when two hearts seek love and respect. It forms all base of the movie (Guerrero, 1993).

Class Analysis from Living Areas - Spike Lee’s directorial brilliance

The Italian American girl and Afro American boy fall in love. According to the popular belief, they follow unorthodox roots. Everyone who comes to know about this express their rage. Cut! This is how you sketch and foresee a scene. Without lashing out the upper class and pouring sympathy for the lower class. Here, there is equal amount of reality. To make the audience decrypt the whole scenario in the positive manner the world wants (Collins e.al. 2012). Here, no display superiority of the land nor the other way around. But, the portrayal of rage developing in a physical space. When it sees couple from different surroundings unite. The ignorant view of purity loss to the surrounding. This complexity inside both the Italian and Afro American communities show immaturity. They consider personal boundaries wounded and become angry after the ‘interracial mix-up. Leaving one’s hood is dangerous here. The wrong belief of a black American walking inside a coffee shop as an unorthodox event. Not only by Italian Americans but also by Afro Americans. These separate classes don’t want anything to get mixed up. Since it might end the individualism of the society (or according to them). People who are of their hoods to woo someone from another hood is not a bad event. But it is a fall to people who live within the mirage of class, hood, and physical boundaries. Like a frog inside a well unaware of the beautiful world (Alba & Nee, 2009).

Urban Spaces in the Postindustrial Era (1960-1990) and Hollywood

How much influence Hollywood had over Urban Spaces was immaculate. A single line expression won't solve the whole issue. This nonlinear essay will summon Spike Lee if certain areas need a clear explanation. For now, let us dive into culture and cities and how colors and cinematography made use of them. For handling a negative and problematic society (Lloyd, 2010). The above knowledge might be of late 80’s were hip-hop culture paved its way in. We must know “Bifurcation” in this context to track down the real warriors in the game of new age cinema. High end, high quality on production and high paid actors stood on the majority crew or queue. While the remaining stood on the realism side which had less spent on production. They gave much importance given to theme than the story itself. “Blaxploitation” is the Hollywood crew which utilized Blacks for their advantage. Hollywood was falling into bankruptcy. Here they go! Black women and ghetto life emerged after 1960’s failed attempt to showcase black as dark people. The most brutal part of humanity destruction starts from destroying the dreams. Especially a culture that is trying to lift itself up. A lot of hackneyed movies showed Blacks dreaming of whites ruling them. Commercialization of ghetto images happened in large scales in these films (Koven, 2010). Blacks are second graded by themselves. According to the purist pseudo-vision of white film directors. Black’s creative control happened due to films stay on high production (Rothman, 1997). it all starts in the way they refer the fellow human beings with colors and themselves as a normal society. This is where racism sprouts its ugly saplings of inhumanity. A similar style of cinema known as smart cinema utilized and treated Black as a joke material. It objectified their presence and there was even a category called black jokes. That trolled the very nature of Black Americans in a comical and offending manner. Some examples of “smart cinema” are still evident starting from Storytelling (2001). Happiness and Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995), and of LaBute in Your Friends. And, Neighbors and In the Company of Men (1997). Alexander Payne’s ‘blank’ political satires Election (1999) and Citizen Ruth (1996). Hal Hartley's postmodern screwball comedies. The Unbelievable Truth (1990), Trust (1991) and Henry Fool (1998). The issue with new smart cinema is it fails experiment on narrative techniques and style. The way of presenting, screenplay sense and making complete critique. Lashing out the bourgeois community and bourgeois realism. Of course! It not a healthy sign (Perkins, 2013).

How Urban Spaces have evolved with the characters of Hollywood?

There was financial crisis after 1960 due to industrial revolts and postindustrial dilemma. The dilemma and tremors in Hollywood during the postindustrial era had vital components. The geographical dynamics, division, split, useless envy and overridden history. Made no room for examination. The so called industrial crisis stirred independent production and package deals (Schatz, 1983). So, there came the division between high end production departments ruling Manhattan's areas. Here the volume of shooting was high with a rich tone and outlook. Hollywood expanded its wings and flew away from its boundaries. To rural areas or one referred to as the American West. Finally, the surrounding rusty belts which are the postindustrial towns. The first half scenes of Rocky shows the postindustrial confusion. Deserted streets in disbelief where Rocky Balboa is training. Now, Rocky Balboa’s character is not motivating enough to expand on a deeper note. Since the film has confusing remarks and portrayal of Afro Americans. In ways that are comfortable for certain whites (Baker, 2013). Like the Black American lover wooing the Italian latte in “Jungle fever.” Before, we saw the characters and geographical conflicts arising between those parties. We must see two other movies with strong characters. “Precious” is one great movie to include. Since it has a lot to say about the postindustrial effects and urban space changes. There is some kind of association to these kinds of movies too (Stevens, 2009). This Black American Melodrama is set in Harlem. It is even today considered as a bad neighborhood. Especially, the eastern region that is what Google algorithms offer us. When Harlem is the keyword. Heightening of emotions is the core of Melodrama. It is an intense genre for a specific crowd. To suit the taste of exaggerated characters and overriding feelings. It might fall under the radar of Excess category. But it is no way like pornography and some cheap scary horror movies. Melodrama even though excess has a wide range of intense audience. They rely more on such movies and view themselves from those character’s perspective. The viewing of “The Body Spectacle” from three perceptions and perspectives. First, pornography connecting audience with the excess of orgasms. Sensuality due to body movements. Second connecting with the excess of fear. Creepy body movements, inducing a tingling and goose bumps sensation all over. The last seems to emit fumes of salt water from volcanic eyes. It erupts and grips the audience in a drenched state. Here, “Precious” is one movie which is full of stereotypical dialogues and scenes. And even racist comments about face structures (Lehman, 2013). “Bloated” was the word used by famous journals. The injustice addressing of the movie's central character. To be honest, a few of ‘THEM’ enjoyed the movie to the core. And though that is how Harlem worked. Overcrowded schools. Underpaid staffs, disinterested pupil, slum background, and the dark side of black people. But to many the movie is more than a melodrama since it talks about the underlying poverty in the story. It explains how sick life becomes when papa and mama are not earning enough. Educated in good schools to teach their kids about life, existence, and even racism. But, how much ridiculous it might sound, the film should have portrayed about poverty. But it was about body shaming and prejudice. This controversial movie would have become a hit if they had written in a serious sense. With a normal tone of Harlem instead the ugly and bitter side of it. But Harlem has two tones to it. One is the cult following international iconic symbolism of black culture. The Black Renaissance era remembrance gives the nostalgic reference (Huggins & Rampersad, 1971). But, in the final part of the movie, “Precious," the inhabitants are elements of stereotypes. They were typical ghetto people who lack harmony. They disobey rules or follow them like fools. Showing ignorance as the common link between them. Portrayal of the biggest working class or blue collar people with unhealthy body. Like the movie’s central character. They are selling drugs on streets. Calling their hoods with numbers. Negative display of people involving in crime and fraudulent activities like stealing. Now, let us move into another Black American movie which has a lot do with urban space changes. “The Boyz in the hood.” The continuous attempt of the Ronald Reagan’s government to suppress black. To evacuate them from the inner city. That is the underlying politics areas in the movie (Singleton, 1990). It is the mind-set of certain whites to separate black men, women, and child. They hate their children interacting and engaging in public events. The fake statements on accounts of refurbishment is wolf's work. The Gov. state it as a renewal process. They assure repair of old buildings and creation of heaven. Inside their urban spaces - Gentrification, yes! The government tries to instigate certain people and support them in misleading ways. Long term oppression might trigger their inner desire to live in a rich surrounding. Here, fake leaders bring misery to their own hood. They fall into traps. These are of the colony culprits. Land is their identity and strength. And without that piece of invaluable terra, there nothing. That has more history than money. The treatment of Blacks will further become super dark. The protagonist’s father understands this basic political idea. He prevents the government from taking any further action. Often, these kinds of people earn hatred. Since more people are shallow observers and temporary solution givers. The latter’s decision might sugar-coat the lies in a convincing manner. They convince. They give comfort. They continue to enslave blacks. Under the white government who have lands blacks will fall apart. They will only make the situation worse for all non-whites. The one who believes change happens when Blacks fight for their real freedom and glory. They use their willpower and land. It is often given a name in their hoods too. If this happens, the government under the whites will make fruitful policies to the poor. Like trying to bring them up the chart. Only for the sake of numerical data. To shut the gob of various humanitarian organizations. They stir neighbourhoods and instigate ego in closer neighbourhoods. They would even convince WHO. To advice people about their sanitation, cleanliness, and environmental awareness (Go, 2005). Through these schemes and programs the ropes of inequality will strangle blacks. The chains of inhumanity and enslavement for a period of 5 or more years. If this shouldn’t happen, their hood must have their name. They must be the owners. And, they shouldn’t sell even an inch of their land to the dominant society. Unless otherwise there is good and only good for them. Wait! That isn’t happening right away and so no trial and error for god’s sake. Their land; their rights. Let us view the characters Tre and Rick from a hawk-eye perspective. Tre has a father and goes to college, symbolizing the fulfilment of the American dream. Whereas Rick has no father and he gets murdered in the course of the events. This ensures the importance of having a guiding light or an inspirational father-figure. To guide their daughters and sons into colleges and education while achieving dreams. When law comes into the hands of the oppressed people they use it to eradicate class differences. And fulfil the dream of their great leader Dr Martin Luther king. Where he would see every black children seeing whites as a fellow human being. While, every white father loves seeing his kid being moral and growing strong. Without giving importance to the foggy reality of creed, gang, and color (Dyson, 1992).

The Steady Pace of Black Cinema

From unrealistic nihilism to smart cinema, everything targeted black. From an underestimating point of view and showed oppression in art. Also, considering the cinematic portions (Sasser, 2008). Many white directors were pseudo architects of black-white brotherhood. The intervention of cinema with good narrative and experimentation had happened. They never helped the oppressive black people. Misguiding of the blacks, treatment as leaders but deep inside Blaxploitation was happening. “The Brothers from Another Planet” and pictures like “Precious’ focused about blacks. But never solved quenched their thirst for equality. White directors never ever accepted the fact that whites were a reason too (Sayles, 2003). Spike Lee’s work is the main attention of this essay since he is like a catalyst in the positive cinema world. Where rebirth of original cinema with a broad mind had happened and will happen forever. After Blaxploitation, movies that talks about land rights were not appreciated and awarded. Movies like “City of God” showed the dark side of a land. Here, people are always into fights. They are unstable and weak. They rely on drugs, sell drugs, weed drenched in guns, gun culture and other ugly shades. It is not the case and is no way empowering too (Augustine, 2008). Things are falling into place. And the aftermath of cinemas like “Jungle Fever” help audience get a normal assessment. It might be about a particular society and its opposite society too. Films without prejudice are happening and Black Cinema is evolving day by day. Like Martin Luther King had thought, education and awareness is helping out people. Cinema as an art form is now understood by many as a cultural goodwill ambassador. Due to its positive vibes unlike old times where prejudice was prestige in Hollywood. It is not that Black Cinema has evolved to its fullest potential. But movies like the “Black Panther” are possible because of some good white hearts too. Skin and Cinema is the best love story in recent times. And, “Wakanda” although an imagination fulfill the equality goals of the United Nation. “Make a little space. For a better place.” (Jackson, 1992).

References

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