Text Review: If Beale Street Could Talk

If Beale Street Could Talk is a film that personalizes the systemic injustice against black men in the United States by law enforcement. For decades black men have been falsely accused of crimes ranging from shoplifting to murder. The system is biased against them and because of it, thousands of innocent black men have been incarcerated. The United States claims to be a place where freedom and trial by jury create equality and opportunity for all. This film exposes just how false that narrative really is in our justice system.

The film follows the story of a young African American male named Fonny. It is a love story about Fonny falling in love with his childhood best friend Tish. Fonny is falsely accused of raping a young woman and the film follows Tish and her family as they try to prove his innocence. It is a heartbreaking film that reminds viewers that every incarcerated person has a story, and for some of them their story is one of falling victim to a system that is against them. It is deeply moving and personal. The film reimagines the stereotyped image of black men as criminals. Fonny is kind, loving, and nurturing. Although the film is fictional, it is inspired by the very real stories of so many black men in America.

If Beale Street Could Talk brings to mind many questions, how can the justice and law enforcement systems in the United States be reformed to exhibit the equality that they claim to stand for? How can the justice system neutralize the power that comes with money in America? Why do racial and economic status continue to win over truth? The United States has a severe problem when it comes to racism in law enforcement, this film made that problem so personal that it is impossible to ignore even if you belong to the group in which the system favors. May we all humble ourselves enough to acknowledge the reality of the injustice that surrounds us and may we be bold enough to fight for it to change.

If Beale Street Could Talk – Old Greenbelt Theatre

References

Jenkins, Barry, Adele Romanski, Sara Murphy, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Colman Domingo, Teyonah Parris, Michael Beach, Aunjanue Ellis, Dave Franco, Pedro Pascal, Emily Rios, Ed Skrein, Finn Wittrock, Brian T. Henry, Regina King, James Laxton, Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders, Nicholas Britell, and James Baldwin. If Beale Street Could Talk. , 2019.

Yo Is This Intersectional?: an exploration column on race, gender, and occupation

Intersectionality is the overlap of cultural or social categorizations such as gender or race and the ways that these identity intersections impact an individual’s interaction with society.

As a woman I believe that I notice sexism in culture and in systems fairly easily. I pick up on circumstances where gender inequality exists because it impacts me personally. However, it is often harder to recognize injustice that does not impact us or even worse, that benefits us. I am a white woman which means I experience the privilege that comes with being white in America. As I dive further into understanding intersectionality, I realize that perhaps the most oppressed group in the United States is women of color. This group faces both racism and sexism. Many nations in the world have systemic injustice related to both of these but today I will focus on the United States. The United States has a history of deeply rooted racism and sexism dating back to before the country was even a country.

Most situations can involve intersectionality so one of the best ways to gain understanding is to compare several different ones. It is often best to begin a search for understanding by asking questions so here are a few that guided my investigation. How does intersectionality impact different people and groups of people in the United States? How and where do sexism and racism overlap? How do they contradict each other? What impact does economic status have on how severely an individual is impacted by racism, sexism, or both? What are the differences in experiencing racism when comparing people of different occupations?

I want to begin by exploring a specific area that impacts me personally. I am a woman in the engineering field, a field that is still largely dominated by men. I remember my very first engineering class in high, school, I walked into the room and immediately noticed I was the only girl there. I had never been more aware of the fact that I was different than I did in that moment. But as I wrote in my diary of systemic injustice, it is also a field dominated by white people. So, to be both black and a woman in the engineering field is to be in the absolute minority.

According to a study conducted by the Society of Women Engineers in collaboration with the National Society of Black Engineers, 20% of engineering graduates are women and only 1 in 5 of those women are women of color. That is a very small percentage. But the question is why is the field so unbalanced? The study discovered one of the major areas was lack of minority female role models in the industry. It is challenging to dream of being someone or doing something when you have no one that looks like you that is already doing it to look up to. In addition, women of color face unequal pay, lack of professional development opportunities, and racial biases/stereotypes in the workplace. (Rincon).

Overall trends - Occupation - nsf.gov - Women, Minorities, and Persons with  Disabilities in Science and Engineering - NCSES - US National Science  Foundation (NSF)

This graph clearly depicts the severe inequality of STEM fields.

The concept of intersectionality is present here because these engineers are not solely identified by their career, gender, or race but rather all three. They are engineers but they are also women and they are also people of color. They may face discrimination due to their gender and race especially in the workplace, but it is also important to note that due to their careers it is most likely true that economically, they experience advantage compared to women of color in other lower paying fields. For example, they can afford to live wherever they may want, they can afford healthcare, and their children probably receive good education.

So, the next question this brings me to is how does the intersection of career identity further separate women of color?

In a separate entry to my diary of systemic injustice, I discussed the recent shooting of six Asian American women in Atlanta. Robert Long shot and killed 8 people, 6 of which were Asian-American women. Authorities have not spoken out about whether these crimes were racially motivated however, many other political leaders including both the president and vice president have made statements following the event condemning hate crimes against Asian-Americans. Long had been at a frequent customer at massage parlors and claimed to have a “sexual addiction”. Police say that the shooting was in his mind a way to take out the temptation. Many have spoken out about how these claims are a cop out for what is really a racially motivated hate crime. (Fausset).

Intersectionality of gender, race, and career is again at play here. These women were targets of violence because of both their race and their occupation. The over sexualization and fetishization of women, specifically Asian women, is all too common in the United States. Unlike the engineers discussed before, these women do not experience financial privilege because of their career. These six Asian American women faced discrimination aimed specifically at their occupation, race, and gender.

The last angle that I will explore regarding the intersectionality of women of color and career is in government and politics. We recently experienced a historical moment when Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first female vice president, the first black vice president and the first South Asian vice president. She is an incredible example of someone who despite facing opposition from both racism and sexism, has achieved great success. She now holds a position of power that would have been unimaginable for women a few decades ago. (Facts on Women…).

34.8% of the women in congress are women of color. This number is low and more work needs to be done but it is still impressive considering the history of exclusion in U.S. government. The importance of having women of color in positions of power, specifically as lawmakers, is that as a diverse country, we need diverse opinions making decisions. The more perspectives and backgrounds that are considered when making laws, the better. In addition to this, our children need role models and women like Kamala Harris and the many congresswomen of color are making history by showing girls around the country that they can be and do whatever they dream. In her own words, Harris sums up the importance of breaking barriers for the women who will come after her, “My mother would look at me and she’d say, ‘Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last,’ That’s why breaking those barriers is worth it. As much as anything else, it is also to create that path for those who will come after us.” (Harris). Kamala Harris is a role model for women, for people of color, and for anyone who is doing something that has never been done before. Because of her, little girls everywhere can more easily dream of being politicians.

 

“… you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.” – Kamala Harris

 

We must understand that our identities can not be separated, and they are more powerful in fact when they are together. To be vice president is impressive, but Kamala is more than her job title she is also a black, Asian, and female. These parts of her identity are what make her a person that the American citizens desired in power because she can relate to so many different groups, groups that are often silenced. Because of this, she is able to be successful at her job. The intersectionality of her identities is what makes her so unique.

Race, gender, and career are just a few of the many defining identities that we possess as human beings. We may relate to one person in one of these areas but be entirely different in another. These connections or lack of connections influence the way we view others and the world around us. Through exploring the concept of intersectionality further, I have become more aware of the need to look at all the parts of what makes a person who they are before I can analyze or understand their decisions or circumstances. A person may experience discrimination due to their race, but they may be able to lessen the impact of that discrimination due to their economic status. Or another person, may experience privilege because of their race but may not feel privileged because they were born into a poor family.

When we discuss intersectionality there are so many perspectives to explore that it would be impossible to look from all angles. However, the more we explore the more we find that human life is so complex it is unfair to try to categorize people into one box. To identify myself solely as a woman ignores so many other aspects of who I am. Exploring intersectionality allows us to understand people and circumstances more fully.

We can all benefit from humbling ourselves and understanding that different experiences and perspectives are not what divide us but rather what makes our connections so much more vibrant and beautiful.

 

 

Works Cited

“Facts on Women of Color in Office.” CAWP, 23 Mar. 2021, cawp.rutgers.edu/fact-sheets-women-color.

Fausset, Richard, et al. “Suspect in Atlanta Spa Attacks Is Charged With 8 Counts of Murder.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 18 Mar. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/03/17/us/atlanta-shooting-spa.html.

Rincon, Roberta M, and Nicole Yates. “Women of Color in the Engineering Workplace.” 2018. https://www.nsbe.org/getmedia/b01e0f12-9378-46b0-ad4d-a0f513b947a5/Women-of-Color-Research-2018.aspx

 

Black Panther Context Presentation: A New Type of Role Model

Black Panther made history as being the 33rd film to gross over 1 billion dollars at the global box office (Yamout). It is possibly the first mega budget film directed by a black director and featuring a predominantly black cast. (Smith). While the movie is fictional, and features a fictional African country and superheroes, it confronts many real-world issues regarding race, power, gender, and politics. This film made history with the cultural impact that it created.

As stated by Jamil Smith in Time magazine, the character of T’Challa represents more than a superhero, he is a black hero. In the media and the world we live in today, there are few black characters portrayed as heroes. (Smith). As someone who is white, I never really considered what it might be like to not see people that look like me in positions of power or as protagonists in films. We all need role models, and this film changed the narrative by providing a black lead who is both strong and in touch with his emotions. The character of T’Challa is relatable and shows kids and adults alike the possibilities of who they can be are endless.

Not only does the film portray a black male lead, but also several female supporting leads who portray strength, independence, and intelligence. The fiercest warriors in the film are women and they fight fearlessly for their country. T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, is the smartest person in the country and is the mastermind behind the technology that protects them and supports them. (Silverstein).

Black Panther made history by proving that a film does not need to have a white, male lead to be successful financially. But the success of the film is so much more than money. When people can see themselves in the characters they see on screen, they feel both empowered and inspired.

 

Works Cited

Silverstein, Melissa. “Wakanda Forever: The Overt Feminism of ‘Black Panther’.” MarketWatch, MarketWatch, 22 Feb. 2018, www.marketwatch.com/story/the-overt-feminism-of-black-panther-2018-02-16.

Smith, Jamil. “How Marvel’s Black Panther Marks a Major Milestone.” Time, Time, time.com/black-panther/.

Yamout, Dania. “The Cultural Impact of ‘Black Panther.’” Medium, Medium, 6 Apr. 2018, medium.com/@DaniaAtHome/the-cultural-impact-of-black-panther-80ad3afdea66#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWakanda%20Forever%E2%80%9D%20a%20rallying%20cry,modern%20day%20American%20hip%2Dhop.

 

Diary of Systemic Injustices Showcase: Columbus City Schools Busing Program

My mother’s cousins all grew up here in the city of Columbus. I first heard about the “busing” system of the 1980s from them as I sat with them around the dining room table listening to their stories from high school. In the late 1970s a supreme court case concluded that the city of Columbus still had segregated schools and that a program was mandatory in which buses would transport kids from predominantly white neighborhoods to predominantly black schools and vice versa. My mother’s cousins were among those sent to a previously predominantly black school.

This week as we discussed place while reading Lisa Ko’s The Leavers, I was reminded of my mother’s cousins’ stories and the history of our very own city less than 40 years ago. Place impacts us more than we may know. It can define and shape our ideas, perspectives, and experiences. The goal of the busing program was to bring diversity to the schools. Yet as Lia Eastep records in her article (link below), this was only semi-successful. Sure, it encouraged students to encounter other students of different races, cultures, and backgrounds, but it also removed them from their homes and friends. Eastep recalls the pride of her home high school that she was able to attend and wondered if she would have felt that same way if she got bused to a high school across the city.

 

Integrated Columbus school class in 1979

https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/2020/12/03/desegregation-columbus-ohio-schools-black-students-stories/3635484001/

www.columbusmonthly.com/lifestyle/20191216/my-memories-of-busing-in-columbus

 

Does simply changing the location of where someone goes to school change the system of segregation? After about 15 years the program was fazed out and the schools went back to being separated by location and neighborhood, both of which were for the most part still segregated. This raises many more questions around whether the problem was neighborhood and the more pressing problem of do all schools receive equal funding and opportunity regardless of the demographic of students? With desegregation the city walks a fine line between finding equality and uprooting cultural neighborhoods, how can that best be done? I personally do not know the answers, but I am grateful to hear from various perspectives to educate myself on a topic that I previously knew very little about.

 

Works Cited

Eastep, Lia. “My Memories of Busing in Columbus.” Columbus Monthly, Columbus Monthly, 16 Dec. 2019, www.columbusmonthly.com/lifestyle/20191216/my-memories-of-busing-in-columbus.

Ko, Lisa. The Leavers. Little, Brown, 2018.

Wagner, Mike. “Stories of Desegregation in Columbus Schools, as Told by Black Residents Who Were There.” The Columbus Dispatch, The Columbus Dispatch, 7 Dec. 2020, www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/2020/12/03/desegregation-columbus-ohio-schools-black-students-stories/3635484001/.