Author: anderson.3413

Text Review: Atlanta

by

FX’s Atlanta. The show was labeled as ‘Twin Peaks with rappers’, by none other than the creator, Donald Glover. That is as an apt description as I have ever seen. No other show has gripped me with its slow decent into the surreal, while still accurately portraying the struggles of being black in America, and having the whole system being slanted against you.

The show kicks off following Earn, a brilliant but lazy man who is down on his luck. he is struggling to make ends meet when he finds out that his cousin is exploding in popularity in the ATL rap scene, one of the most influential in the genre. Seeing his chance, he goes to his cousin, asking if he can manage him. His cousin, under the rap name ‘Paperboi’, grew up with Earn, and saw through his ruse.

In an attempt to prove his worth as a manager, Earn goes and visits an old friend from college who works at a local radio station. His friend Dave, greets him and is friendly, and starts to reminisce about their college days. Dave then tells a story about how he used the N word in a way to tell off a DJ, and Earn is clearly uncomfortable by this. Dave then rebukes Earns proposal to play Paperboi’s newest single. Dave sees Earn as a token of diversity, rather than a man.

Earn wasn’t planning on failing, so he enlists the help of a nearby janitor to help him into the building, so he can give the tape to Dave’s superior. Earn asks the janitor, who is also black, if Dave ever uses the N word around him. The janitor responds “not if he doesn’t want his ass beat.” Earn realizes that Dave only likes him because he is a nonthreatening black, one who blends in with white culture. Dave doesn’t respect him enough to refrain from using that word, instead feeling comfortable when Earn obviously does not.

Earn eventually succeeds in leapfrogging Dave, paying his superior to play the new single. Overnight Paperboi’s fanbase skyrockets, and they play his song all night long. Paperboi realises than Earn can actually help him overcome the roadblocks that come with being black in America.

Dave does get his comeuppance near the end of the episode. He comes up to the car that Earn and Paperboi are in, proclaiming his love for the new single. Earn wasn’t about to let him off the hook, and asks him to tell the DJ story again, this time infront of Paperboi. Dave nervously leaves out the N Word this time, seeing his missteps at last.

Atlanta only continues to build on this incredible pilot, tackling nuanced issues involving race that many shows just can’t. Donald Glover truly is a master of his craft, and having also dabbled in the music industry, scenes like these truly feel like they are coming from a place of experience, rather than imagination.

Earn enjoying Dave stumble through his retelling of the DJ story, this time in front of Paperboi.

Diary of Systemic Injustices Showcase

by

Housing, food, and water; all of which are recognized as rectitudes by the United Nations’ charter of universal human rights written in the 1940s. Nevertheless, just because they are human rights doesn’t mean that they are accepted universal standards for all people. 

 

On Friday night, in between doing the regular social activities of an Ohio State student I went to the McDonald’s on High Street. After ordering food, I waited by another guy that I assumed was also waiting for food. Making small talk, I soon realized he was not waiting for food, merely escaping the cold of an Ohio fall night. Asking what his number was for food, he said he couldn’t order. Pulling out of his pocket, he showed a handful of change and admitted, “I’m broke.” He was a middle-aged African American living on the streets of Columbus, where he was, “Born and raised.” While I tried to make small talk about sports teams, the sad truth of the man’s situation lingered in my mind.

 

There are multiple factors of systemic injustice that led to this moment. Obviously, there is an element of systemic racial injustice. African Americans, even in 2021, suffer an income gap compared to white and hispanic Americans when participating in the economy, but are additionally more likely to suffer from homelessness. Additionally, the United States suffers from a lack of resources in public housing. While other developed countries throughout the world spend considerable time and resources for public housing, the United States allows public housing to boil down to “the projects.” While massive federal programs like Medicaid and food stamps attempt to help those in need, homeless Americans are often not able to access these resources because of failures in execution of these programs.

 

After my order was ready, I grabbed my food, and went back to the man. I gave him 5 dollars and told him to get some food. He said, “Thanks brother, this goes a long way.” But not long enough. While acts of generosity like mine can make a difference, it isn’t a big enough difference. Systemic injustices can only be solved with the full resources and attention of governments at the local, state, and national level that it deserves.

 

I cannot keep my mind off of the poor man i met in mcdonalds that night. In relation to this week’s reading involving outcast immigrants, a very similar sentiment is felt throughout the homeless population of this country. Up and down High Street, the homeless population of Columbus receive very little attention and help from the city and the university. They are made to feel apart from the “normal” population of the city. As a student of Ohio State, I notice that the same people are almost always on the street week to week. https://www.nbc4i.com/news/investigates/rent-prices-on-the-rise-in-columbus/amp/. Things like rising rent prices are a huge problem in the social injustice of the homeless population.

https://abc6onyourside.com/amp/news/local/columbus-announces-9-million-investment-to-help-those-living-working-in-homeless-shelter

Programs like what is described in the above news article are making strides to assist people like the man I discussed above. My heart goes out to people in the same situation and I hope if I see him again, he will be in a better living situation and in better spirits.