Last month (November), Reel Perspectives screened a film at Walnut St. West Library in Philadelphia. The film is Cry Freedom. Denzel Washington’s 4th feature film. To me, this film is an anchor for Denzel’s career. There are very few if any Denzel movies I didn’t enjoy, I really had no idea Washington was this multi-faceted. Goes to show why his career has transcended time and will forever live in the pantheon of American actors and live as a dignitary amongst all African artists on the planet. The lingering thoughts after watching this movie; all that kept coming to mind as the credits rolled down the screen…
Up until watching the movie I hadn’t fully grasped how severe apartheid was, I still haven’t fully grasped it but I’ve become more aware of the hardship and toil it caused amongst all South Africans.1 The film highlighted the struggle of a young man by the name of Stephen Biko. Biko, only in his early 30s was unjustly murdered while being detained for allegedly breaking his government ban and instigating unrest amongst the communities he contacted and poured into.2 He founded the SASO organization, a student organization centered in black consciousness; Not long after Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison. Some will say Mandela and Biko were violent radicals. Attempts to garner the attention of white South Africans fell on deaf ears and so they went inward, Biko’s work was exclusively intellectual. This radical thinking, the idea of a consciousness that is completely independent of white people was something the Afrikaaner’s mind could not fathom nor risk encouraging. Hey Siri play Bob Marley “Guiltiness”. In the film and in numerous literary references I found on the life of Biko, it reads that he wanted white people to understand that black consciousness does not ultimately exclude white people but rather it’s completeness included the care and consideration of all people. Yes, it expressed the separation from whites but rather than for the sake of nationalism, the movement wanted blacks to shine light in their own faces so they could see each other better; independent of white people and proud of their own faces and figures. Biko’s relationship with Donald Woods is proof that the hatred is not for white people but the system in which whites maintained which often than not oppressed and fractured the health of African families.
A new set of policies, a new religion, a new monetary system; None of these will advance change for any nation. Biko and many before him have attempted to change societal structures from the political sector and it doesn’t work. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. We don’t collectively see the connection between the few and the many, above and below, big and the small. In order to make change on a major scale, you have to first make change on the minor scale. The little things we do like judge, like impose, blame, and resent needs to be examined by the individual. Hatred for another because of their pigmentation is the stupidest thing, it’s waisted so much time and energy as it is. Revolution starts in your home, in your kitchen. Furthermore, the lie imposes and the truth invites. Numerous scientists, writers and anthropologists have already popularized the finding of the African genome being present in all living human organisms.3 Your color has absolutely nothing to do with your intellectual capability. I read somewhere that the agricultural revolution was a major turning point in human beings getting sicker, more aggressive and seeking more ways to divide and ration human experience to one’s culture, color, religion, etc.4 Farming was merely an idea, one that would rid most of the world of hunter-gatherers and import the idea of long work hours and ultra processed foods. An interesting find but I brought that up to illustrate that our world, our society is nothing more than a vast community of ideas. These ideas came from God and appointed to individuals here on earth. Black consciousness is an idea; A non violent call to all Africans to really analyze themselves. Find value in you, your mind and what you do have; practically speaking. Be dignified in your work, identify with your nobility and put knowing over belief. Support fellow Africans (black people) that are also doing this inner work. Think not why are they doing that and why not me but rather what can I do that is useful to myself and others and I CAN DO IT. Whatever that IT is, don’t believe but know you absolutely can accomplish great things like those before you. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”- John 14:12.
Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events, poor minds talk about people.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
I grew up in a family of immigrants, people who moved here legally in search of relief and the light at the end of the formidable tunnel of economic and intellectual poverty. My grandmother would later tell me how a lottery ticket would save her life, a story for a different time and format. Not sure who else could relate but I grew up with little but I didn’t really become aware of us being poor until I began my scholastic career. Textbooks outlined historic milestones in time and black people in proportion to their white counterparts were largely insignificant with the exception of hand-picked politicians, activists and corporate moguls. As I mature, it becomes more clear that many Americans have completely skewed and distorted the concept of a united state. Watching documentaries on Africa, it’s common to see Africans living in piss poor conditions. A disorganized state, an underdeveloped state. Out of luck, out of resources and out of hope for industrialization and economic prosperity. This is not the legacy of Africa but rather a result of war, google “maxim gun”.5 Remember, Europeans fled Europe in search of civility, in search of freedom; not the other way around. On the surface, the media portrays Africa as dirty, uncivilized and broken. Africa has as many pitfalls as it does secrets, secrets no amount of money on earth could buy. There are so many books on the great accomplishments of African peoples, if you want to know you have to seek to do so.
As I look at my life, I realize that not having much is not a problem at all but thinking that what you have is not enough is where the issue lies. In some instances it is actually helpful to have exactly what you need and nothing more. You’re not so distracted by the glittery patinas of popular life and the other challenges that an abundance of resources presents. By no means am I saying that having abundance is an issue, what I am saying is that there’s a resourcefulness you must master to live comfortably when you have limited resources. This resourcefulness will serve you and your family for the rest of your life. What a great mind the world would have had if Biko were afforded an abundance of resources and a listening ear. Maybe we’d be able to look at each other with a different level of respect and understanding. I appreciate Biko’s contribution to black consciousness and Washington’s performance in portraying such a man. If you enjoy autobiographical films, check this movie out when you get some time.6
Cited Sources & Links