In the documentary “i am not your negro” the narrorator walks us threw the inner social lives of prominent black advocates and the deep seated rascim they fought against. This film takes the viewer through the history as it was to be played out via tv interviews and news articles of racial injustice. I found one particular scene of the documentary quite fitting for today’s day and the chaos that has been unfolding. When Lorraine Hansberry is speaking with Robbert F. Kennedy, he refuses to make a statement to the american people that she proposed having the president walk to school with a black girl to show the people in america that spitting on the child’s face would be the same as spitting on america
.After kennedys refusal they show the murder of a women in bermingham, where a cop is kneeling on her neck… this imagine draws strong if not eerie parallels to George Floyd and todays current black lives matter movement. Everything about that picture of our history is our today. The victim, the criminal, and the bystanders who claim innocence. History truly does repeat itself for those who don’t understand it. And to add, those who fight for change do not bring new ideas to the table either, in fact all these people are merely taking what already exists and retrofitting it for the times they live in. take for example one of the greatest speakers of all time Martin luther king Jr. The film shows that he was vastly different from other intellectuals such as Malcolm X because King believed in a Christian way of turning the other cheek and passive resistance, but while king’s words are profound they are seated in the history that came before him. Marcus Aurelius, a quite famous stoic philosopher wrote… “The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.” It doesn’t take much to see the parallels of what history has said and what today’s leaders such as the king promoted, but no matter the speech no greater evidence gives proof to this idea than the unmerciful, unfortunate and unforgiving test of time that all of humanity eventually must answer to.
The Marcus Aurelius quote is actually a good one. Never heard of it until now but it definitely makes me think about how I can apply that concept personally in any aspect.
The film explores the experiences of African Americans in political, economic and segregation difficulties. I like that it includes actual images of Baldwin in his television appearances. And as you mention, it proposes reflections on the current situation of violence that is perpetuated in the United States.