Nate Parker's Birth of Self Sabotage

Nate Parker’s (previously) highly acclaimed film, "Birth of a Nation" opened over the weekend, however, despite rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival premiere, and an estimated $10 million opening, the film is being called by many a flop after only reaching $7 million at the box office. Being that the film focuses on such an incredible story many are left scratching their heads wondering what went wrong. Well, of course, there is the controversy surrounding previous rape allegations between Parker himself and Jean Celestin, Parker’s “Birth of a Nation” co-writer. As interest and buzz in the film grew, journalist thought it appropriate to revisit the decade-old story, despite both men being acquitted in the court of law. Why the case resurfaced, I do not know. Do I think it was purposely resurfaced to distract from the film’s success? Yes, but that’s just the conspiracy theorist that lives inside my head. Like all of us, Parker likely has a past filled with topics he probably would rather not discuss, but living in the public eye opens one up to public scrutiny and one has to be appropriately prepared to handle such scrutiny. Parker is not.

As Parker made the rounds promoting and discussing his film, predictably the case was continuously mentioned in hopes of being further explored, and probably as a method of frustrating Parker, and it worked; Parker never recovered. In every interview, with every mention of the subject you could see Parker’s blood boiling and anger building. Things especially became tense during his interview with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts when he was probed about the case. When asked whether he felt any remorse for the situation, Parker vehemently refused to address the situation, instead stating that he’d “addressed the situation enough already,” and ultimately wanted to focus on his pending film opening. Understandably, Parker’s anger ultimately got the best of him but it’s not his anger that damaged the momentum of his film, it’s his lack of accountability.

Regardless of his acquittal, something transpired in 1999 between Parker, Celestin and the now deceased woman that undoubtedly scarred all involved for life. In addressing the allegations, I don’t think anyone ever wanted Parker to take full responsibility for what transpired, but undoubtedly there should have been some type of remorse, or at the minimum sympathy, for the situation. Parker’s ultimate and final response to the situation at hand, “I was proven innocent and I’m not going to apologize for that.” So, if viewers were slightly discouraged from seeing his film simply because of his involvement in the case any chance of him winning them over vanished with his stark demeanor, callous attitude, and disinterest in restoring the public’s faith in him as a man.

Watching his previous interviews, it’s clear that Parker has a ‘take it or leave it’ type of attitude that easily limits potential and growth. An attitude that surely hurts him as a film-maker. Earlier this year Parker further alienated potential viewers and audiences with his comments on playing a homosexual character. During the Essence Music Festival, he was quoted saying, “I refuse to allow any piece of work to emasculate me for very specific reasons…That kind of shrinks the pool of available material, but the material that I am blessed to do is material that I can be proud of, that my kids can watch, that my grandmother can watch. And I think that those are the things that over time create legacies.” No, what creates legacies is superb acting and a dedication to the body of art. Parker, like many African American men, has a skewed vision and definition of what masculinity is and means, which only continues to damage African American society. While he may believe he’s taking a stance against Hollywood’s effeminating black men, Parker is pushing the dangers mindset of hyper-masculinity which continues to burden African American males. Furthermore, Parker claims to have taken an interest in Nate Turner’s story as he believes Turner is an important figure who was almost erased from history; what about the stories of Bayard Rustin, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, and other notable black gay men of whose important stories are often overlooked and are being erased?

Self-sabotage aside, there were forces beyond Parker’s control that also contributed to low turnout in theaters. The very weekend of the opening the southeastern coast was wrecked by hurricane Matthew, which devastated Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina. Although there hasn’t the number of theaters in these states featuring the movie has not been disclosed, I am sure this contributed to the lack of viewers. And of course, the movie opened at the beginning of the month where money is often notoriously set aside for rent and bills. However, with Parker’s alienation of women, gay black men, and their respective allies his audience becomes severely limited.

There is still time for Parker and “Birth of a Nation” to recover. The first step is to remove Parker as the face and spokesperson for promotion. While ultimately difficult to do being that Parker has placed himself in such a vital position for the movie (As the writer, director, and star) but if he allows one of his more (dare I say) likable costars on the press trail interest in the movie may begin to grow again. If audiences are continually put off by his character as a person then they are likely not to support him. After all, Parker does not have the luxury (whiteness) of his peers who have faced similar scrutiny for past transgressions, i.e. Woody Allen and Mel Gibson. If Parker does choose to fall into the background and allow viewers to enjoy his movie for the masterpiece it may be, Parker may want to try some sensitivity training, as he speaks louder for his works than his works do for themselves. In the meantime, hopefully, interest in Nate Turner’s story will overshadow Nate Parker’s and his legacy will prevail at the box office.

Luke Cage: The Unlikely, Uncanny, Cultural Icon

It has been twelve years since Marvel  last produced a superhero interpretation featuring an African American lead, and with the arrival of Luke Cage many of us can stop holding our breaths and rejoice ‘it’s about time.’ Starring Mike Coulter, Luke Cage arrives on Netflix as the premier superhero for hire and in an age of Black Lives Matter protest and rampant police brutality throughout the nation Luke Cage definitely resonates a lot with today’s modern issues. Yet, undeniably the hero has always signified the struggles persons of color, particularly men, have faced living in America throughout the years.

            First created and introduced by Marvel in 1972 during the Blaxploitation era, the initial character of Luke Cage was at first a stereotypical, comic relief character. Today (thankfully) that isn’t so much the case. One thing that sets Luke apart from other heroes is the origin of his powers. The backdrop to his origin is that Luke, real name Carl Lucas, is sent to prison after being framed for possessing drugs. This parallels with real life events and the corrupt American  justice system which disproportionately gives harsher sentences to African Americans for crimes than it does white peers who commit the same offenses. There are some who would argue against this but look at the case of Brock Turner as compared to that of Cory Batey.

It is in prison that Luke selected by a scientist to be used for experimentation. This too parallels the troubles African Americans have faced throughout the years as it is an allusion to the Tuskegee syphilis experiments that were enacted on African American men who were tricked into believing they were receiving health care when indeed they were being injected with the disease. In the comics, Luke is enlisted as a volunteer, for money purposes, yet is never disclosed the true intent of the experiment. Due to interference from a sadistic guard, who enjoys torturing Luke, the experiment goes awry and Luke gains his enhanced strength and unbreakable skin allowing him to escape prison and return home to Harlem where he would eventually become the hero Power Man.

As a hero, Luke is definitely unconventional. Drifting from the Marvel moniker “with great power comes great responsibility,” Luke adopts the identity Power Man and becomes a hero for hire. This may seem outrageous in comparison to his heroic peers, but unlike those same peers, because Cage doesn’t traditionally “look” like a hero no one will take him serious as a one. This addresses the real life struggles countless African Americans have faced throughout the years; being just as qualified to perform a job duty, yet being overlooked simply because of skin color. Cage, however, does not let this deter him, and in the comics purposely creates a flashy outlandish costume to distinguish himself and draw attention to himself as a new bonafide hero to whoever can afford him. He in turns uses his powers for good, but more importantly maintains a way to support himself in a world not very supportive of black men.

Ultimately the greatest cultural significance of Luke Cage is his super durable and impenetrable skin. In an age of Black Lives Matter and rampant police brutality throughout the country, it’s no secret how handy having bulletproof skin can be, especially for a black man living in America. As Marvels first mainstream televised black superhero, Luke Cage proudly (and effortlessly) pays homage to the many lives lost to police brutality from the recent killing of Keith L. Scott to Trayvon Marton, who inspires the hero’s live version signature hoodie. While Marvel’s previously explored heroes are no strangers to taking on crime filled cities and corrupt police officers and politicians, Luke Cage is the first to do so while alluding to real-world scenarios and issues helping to solidify the character’s cultural appeal and impact.

*The first season of Luke Cage premiered on Netflix September 30, ’16 and within the first weekend caused the streaming service to crash.*

Dear Tim Burton, Your Racism is Showing

On September 28, 2016, director Tim Burton confirmed what many have thought for years. Yes, he's racist, and what's sadder (than being racist) is he just might not even be aware of it. During an interview with Bustle, the filmmaker, when asked about the rampant lack of diversity in his films, and particularly his latest film Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, Burton had this to say,

"Nowadays, people are talking about it more...things either call for things, or they don’t. I remember back when I was a child watching The Brady Bunch and they started to get all politically correct. Like, OK, let’s have an Asian child and a black. I used to get more offended by that than just..."

It's not hard to read between the lines of his implied meaning. Otherwise, why would including different races on a fictional TV show bother a person? Unless, of course, it bothered his perfect bubble of a ‘White Only’ atmosphere that Burton lived in so comfortably. Seemingly aware of his leaking racism he tries to defend his statement, referencing his adoration of Blaxploitation  films.

"I grew up watching blaxploitation movies, right? And I said, that’s great. I didn’t go like, OK, there should be more white people in these movies."

In case you aren't aware films in this category are named for the number of movies that were made during this era that featured African Americans in leading roles. However, these films were often very stereotypical and painted POC in a negative light. So the reason there weren't "more white people" in such films is because the films were being made through a stereotypical lens. When have movies ever been made to stereotype whites? Even, just even, if Burton had a Freudian slip, reviewing his film catalog  only reinforce his lack of inclusion and diversity. In fact, whenever a POC has been featured in (or voiced) a role he or she is either limited to being a villain or incompetent at his job.

I half expect a statement in the near future of how Burton has a host of 'black friends and family members' and while that may be true, please know that you are still a racist. I know racist is a strong word to cast on a person but even if one isn't publicly stating dehumanizing things about a particular race or group, actions always speak louder.

All About Pretty Boys

Growing up gay always comes with a set of unique problems, especially in small towns like Ashford, North Carolina. Homophobia and harassment at the hands of parents, peers, teachers, and residents were only tips of icebergs, and for years Jeffrey Booth encountered and endured such issues alone until it took an irreparable toll on him; his life. Pretty Boys is the beginning to a series of books chronicling the lives of four ordinary young high school boys whose worlds are disrupted after the death of their respective friend, classmate, lover, and neighbor, whose death begins a tumultuous search for the truth about his passing and the events that led to it. Considered a local tragedy, the only thing that is certain to almost everyone in town is Jeffrey’s sexuality brought on his circumstances.

             A coming of age novel, Pretty Boys focuses on many of the issues individuals in the gay community face daily at the hands of strangers, friends and family alike and the consequences they can produce. Issues of bullying, homophobia, violence, coming out, and learning self-acceptance and love are prevalent throughout the novel as the four protagonists each deal with their grief and the growth that follows. Soon they are faced with making the decision whether to allow Jeffrey to become a cautionary tale for the small quiet town, or to allow his passing to actually stand for something.

Pretty Boys features a variety of distinct characters who showcase the range within LGBT communities and the differences we each encounter growing up and dealing with our own sexuality. Terry the town’s newest resident, August the ostentatious socialite, Darrin the most popular kid in his class, and Demi the breakout star of the basketball team each are at different stages of realizing their sexuality. For some of us, we realize and embrace our uniqueness early in life, while others may take years to realize and accept. Ultimately there is a character for every reader, gay or straight, to relate to as the characters embark on their individual and collective journeys.

          Pretty Boys was originally featured on www.wattpad.com to help garner attention and an audience, but upon completion was removed for sales and distribution. The novel was self-published through www.lulu.com, and is also featured on Amazon.com and on Amazon kindle.

Breaking the Bond

The bond between a father and a child is a bond that is difficult to understand. Whereas a mother has 9 months to bond with a child and build a connection from conception, fathers must work a little harder at it. It is like a stranger meeting someone else’s child for the first time and accepting the responsibility to be their provider. The intent is there, but the bond must be forged. It is a difficult bond to understand and one that must be built over time with hard work and dedication. This was the case with Danny and Jason.

Danny had great dreams for Jason from the moment his son was born, and there was hardly ever an occasion where you would see one without the other. He planned to instill in him all the things a man should be and teach him important lessons such as never pick a battle but never run from a fight, treat women with respect but never be their doormat, repay all his debts, never make a promise he couldn’t keep and above all else be a man of his word. Unfortunately for Danny, the dreams of the father are often unrealized by the child. His son, Jason, was a quiet and meek child. Short and thin in stature, he couldn’t catch a ball when it was thrown to him and had horrible hand-to-eye coordination. When he was ten, where most boys his age were outside running and tackling each other in a game of football, Jason spent his time indoors drawing, coloring, and keeping to himself. The only friends he cared to have were his two younger sisters.

Danny tried his best to be understanding of his son but at times it became frustrating seeing his son not fit in with the other boys around the neighborhood. He reached the height of his frustration one summer day when he convinced Jason to go outside with him to throw a baseball back and forth. Every ball he threw Jason missed or let slip away in such a way that to Danny it seemed like Jason wasn’t even trying.

“Come on Jason concentrate!” Danny yelled sternly.

“I’m trying!” Jason shouted back on the verge of tears.

“Stop that crying boy!” Danny snapped. “Now we gonna stay out here until you catch at least one ball.” Angrily, Danny pulled back, tightening his grip on the ball and releasing it nearly full forcefully striking Jason in the chin. No sooner than he released the ball did Danny realize what he had done and rushed to comfort his son. Quickly rushing him into the house and examining the bruise. After that day he never asked Jason to play baseball again.

The next time Danny’s anger caught him off guard and caused him to hurt his son occurred when Jason was twelve. Coming home from work he found Jason playing dress-up with the girls, wearing clip-on earrings and makeup smeared across his face. It was all fun for Jason, making it harder for him to understand when Danny whopped him uncontrollably. After that night Jason made sure to never let his father catch him playing dress-up ever again.

When Jason was fifteen he had a best friend by the name of Glover, whom he did everything with. Danny was ecstatic to see his son bond with another male and have a genuine friend. He encouraged the two to always be together until one night when Glover was sleeping over and Danny caught the two closely sleeping together in the same bed. Danny kicked Glover out of the house, telling him never to come back, and once again whopped Jason. Jason swore to never spend the night with another male ever again.

Once Jason turned eighteen, he moved out of his parent’s house and went away to school. When he was twenty-two he moved back home, worked to save up money, and buy his own house. At twenty-five, he met a girl, dated her for six months, and by twenty-six he was married with his first child on the way.

Danny couldn’t be more proud of Jason, never knowing that his son dressed in women’s clothing and slept with men at night but lacked the courage to tell his father. To this day Jason still cannot catch a baseball.

Oops...I Did it Again: Anger, Resentment and a Harmless Post

Recently I began getting more involved in participating in Google+ communities, and so far it has been an enjoyable experience. There are some truly unique and brilliant minds in these communities, but as always where there's good bad is never far to follow.

After viewing the image to the left, in one community, I decided to like and share, and chaos ensued.

Whoa, what had I started? All of this over a Malcolm X quote (addressing Blacks nonetheless). It was then that I noticed that I'd shared the image in a "Thinkers" group, instead of the African American group I intended to. The irony was funny, but since the message was received negatively, by most, I thought it important to stand by the post and it's message.

Firstly, the post/quote was specifically addressing Blacks/African-Americans/P.O.C so for anyone nonP.O.C. to be offended would be ridiculous. The post was never intended to place blame on any one group, but simply to point out the power of self-awareness.
There, of course, were those who neglected the message altogether and decided to play the blame game when it came to the responsibility of slavery.

Yes, Africans sold/traded Africans into slavery, but of course, they were not aware of the cruelty that awaited on the west of the ocean; however, this does negate the fact that Africans were also kidnapped by Europeans and placed into slavery. Furthermore, the effects of the institution of slavery are still present in today's society seen through the American legal and political systems. If anger towards a group could be excited by a simple picture or quote then it is time to address those linger feelings and label it appropriately as the racism that it is. It may be alarming at first, but relax plenty of racists are not aware of their racism.

The humour of the situation aside I was left wondering why does Slavery make some White people so angry? Not uncomfortable, but angry. Although a common misconception, the African-American community is not looking for a pity party from any group. What we desire is for (White) America to finally and collectively acknowledge that Slavery still plays a part in the mechanics of American racism. Maybe then America as a whole could finally work together and build a truly united country. I know,  it seems like a long shot but hey I'm an optimist.

Until addressed, White anger will continue to be a prominent issue of (Colored) America and unbridled anger represents a danger to us all.

Google so Racist?

What's the difference between being labeled an African-American and Black? Is there a difference? Will there ever be? These questions and more were brought up during a facebook discussion centered around the search engine Google and its implied distinction between the two terms. Close your eyes and imagine three black teenagers. Their activities and actions are completely up to you. So, what do you see? More importantly, how do you see them? According to the search engine, Google, it is not positively. When 'three black teenagers' is searched through Google images what appears is a yet another example of the discrimination person's of color (POC) face as compared to White counterparts. Whereas searching 'three black teenagers' pulls primarily negative, and somewhat stereotypical images, searching for images of 'three white teenagers,'  presents that there is a stark contrast to how Google sees the two groups.
Strangely, searching Google for images of three black teenagers pulls a majority of mugshots. In the above photo, a snippet of the collective images presented, only one is a staged model, unlike in comparison to the images presented when 'three white teenagers' is searched. A snippet of 'three white teenagers' search results shows a majority of staged models, smiling, hugging, and laughing; nothing remotely negative. Why the different imagery?

As the discussion continued there were, of course, those who came to the defense of Google. One facebook user wrote, "use the proper term and you'll get the proper results."  It seems when 'three African American teenagers' is searched the images are more positive, and by positive I mean the photos are of staged models. Let's be very clear, regardless of referring to the teens as Black or African-American, there is no difference or distinction, and to present two clearly different portraits for one race is racist on Google's part.

My mission became clear, obviously more had to be done besides a Facebook discussion and the first step was to call bring the discrepancy to Google's attention. I reached out on the company's official Facebook page but have yet to receive a response.

With no help from Google, I decided that the best place to find the answers to my questions was the company website. So I asked, "how does google determine what image to pull up?" It's an interesting, and short video. but here's a brief synopsis:
Google searches over 60 Trillion individual pages, where after going from page to page, they sort the material by content and "other factors' and keep it all inside The Index. Using programs and formulas to deliver the "best results possible" and algorithms to "better understand" what the user means, these clues helps to pull "relevant documents" from The Index. Google uses over 200 factors to rank the results, which are delivered in a variety of formats. Maintaining that the company fights spam 24/7 to "keep results relevant" if any spam is found manual action is taken. "And that's how search works." To watch the video visit: https://www.google.com/insidesearch/howsearchworks/thestory/

So out of 60 Trillion pages of material the best, relevant results of 'three black teenagers' are a plethora of mugshots? Not to mention there's even a noose if you scroll down past the third row of images, but that's an even bigger issue. Confused? Angered? Me too.
Google has been given the chance to respond and has yet to do so. It's time for our voices to be heard. In the past few days, the conversation has moved from Facebook to different platforms with even a youtube video being made on the topic. Google has still yet to respond, but to be honest we don't need one. What we need is for them to correct this error and acknowledge they made it, but at the end of the day you have to determine for yourself if Google is racist.