I: Yes it is a terrible situation; a
true reflection of what has happened to the native peoples of the Americas and
the Caribbean. I keep thinking about the sick history that this country and
western society celebrates and perpetuates. Take Columbus for example. It is a
well-known fact and recorded by noted historians that Columbus brutalized and
enslaved the Arawaks, Lucayans and Tainos. His treatment of these people was so
bloody and unspeakably cruel that it is said that “Columbus
makes a modern villain like Saddam Hussein look like a pale codfish.” Yet our
society continues to celebrate these heroes. I mean the Bahamas government
still has a statue of the man in front of government house as a symbol of
authority.
Myself: Yes. I’ve always wanted to blow up that statue. But for
my own skin’s sake I will seek more legal ways to do so.
I: Count me in.
Myself: What dark subjects we are
covering this early morning. So what is your next question?
I: How does national history play a role
in shaping national identity? What is an example for the United States?
Myself:
I’ma just pull a page from the Communication
Between Cultures text to answer this one. It’s found on page 162. If I
understand the question correctly, we see that the United States came out of
Europe bringing with them European philosophy and science that was birthed out
of the culture of Greece and Medieval Islam. Our Western legal system comes
from Rome and our religion of Christianity came from Jerusalem or rather Israel/Palestine
depending on your view.
I:
how about national history playing a role in shaping the national identity of
the Bahamas.
Myself:
Well we were colonized by the British but we have been heavily influenced by
American culture; that’s why we drive on the left side of the street in left
hand drive cars. This fact about the Bahamas’ “road culture and laws” may be
humorous, but it is something to consider as an example of how time and strong cultural
influences could really form the way we behave and our identities.
I’ve mentioned this before, but a large part of Bahamian
identity is “Junkanoo.” It came about
when the slave owners decided to give the slaves a holiday around Christmas to
do as they like. Slaves then took this opportunity to celebrate their African
culture by dressing in tribal wear made out of scrap material, hence “Junk-Kanoo.”
I cannot remember where the “Kanoo” came from but I want to say is that it has
something to do with sound. Over time Junkanoo turned into the festival and
celebration it is today. In Junkanoo we have a saying which is “I come to get
me!” This means that the person has come to express their true selves through
the art form. This makes a lot of sense when you realize that this very
expression is birth from a people who were enslaved and not allowed to live or
express who they truly were; a people who had no freedom.
I:
Wow. Thank you for that bit of insight into how history has shaped Bahamian
culture. Though I have been a part of Junkanoo for a number of years working in
the Junkanoo shack (building) and photographing the performances, I still
desire and look for the opportunity to “get me” by participating as one of the
performers on Bay Street. I feel that it is a part of my identity as a Bahamian
that I need to explore and experience.
Moving on to the last
question, we see that in one of our earlier readings that Fitzgerald, M. R. (2010) discusses Clark’s (1969) four
stages of minority representation in the media. How applicable are those stages
in the media today?
Myself: Very applicable. Though it was
nearly 10 years ago, I could still remember when I came to a deeper realization
of the role of minorities in media. It was when I saw the film 300. The first
time that I saw this film in theatres I was blown away by how great and
original it was. I was also inspired to get back into shape being impressed by
the physiques of the Spartan heroes in the story. However, after a conversation
about the film with a close friend, my eyes were opened to realize how
minorities were being portrayed in what I now consider a very racist film.
Whites were seen as the heroes while blacks, Arabians and Asians were portrayed
as monstrous villains. Clarks four stages of minority representation are:
“Non-recognition: A given minority
group is not acknowledged by the dominant media to even exist.
Ridicule: Certain minority characters
are portrayed as stupid, silly, lazy, irrational, or simply laughable.
Regulation: Certain minority
characters are presented as enforcers or administrators of the dominant group’s
norms
Respect. The minority group in
question is portrayed no differently than any other group. Interracial
relationships would also not appear extraordinary.”
In watching
this film, I felt that the racial characters were portrayed as silly, laughable
and stupid in their appearance and actions; in this regard I believe that would
be place into the ridicule category. The film even upheld the old saying in
Hollywood (drama, action and horror films) “the black man dies first” when
Leonidas kicked the black Persian messenger into the pit. Though the white
heroic Spartans were outnumbered and lost the battle, the film portrayed them
as intelligent, good natured, strong and beautiful, while other people groups
and the Persians were portrayed as monstrous, stupid, irrational and sinister.
When minorities are portrayed as such this enforces to the “dominant race” that
their success and dominion over other races is acceptable, necessary and
inevitable. This is poisonous propaganda to the masses.
I: Yes, coming
to the realization that 300 portrayed minorities in this way really troubled me
as well. But this was something I knew for a long time to exist in Hollywood. Braveheart
is one of my favorite films, but I still recall myself thinking that “this is
an all white cast; an all white period film.” I could think up may other films
like it but for the life of me I could recall any all black period films that I
have ever see.
Myself: Man….black
people cannot time travel in film any further than slavery.
I: Ha! It would seem so. I remember that after
I came to this realization, I said to myself that I will be the film maker to
make such a film.
Myself: So
how’s that going?
I: I’m
working on it.
Myself: Even
as the article states, we see that many other minorities especially Native
Americans suffer the same fate in media. It’s very hard to imagine any film
with a Native American in it that does not have anything to do with the Wild
West or the period of Columbus. Otherwise they are none existent; in fact we as
black people tend to forget that they are our brother and sisters in suffering
under the same system that has oppressed us. This tends to happen because they
have been place in the non-recognition category in media for a long time. “Out
of sight, out of mind”
I: True. But
I like what has been occurring in recent years concerning minorities in our
society. I think there is an outcry going up from the younger generations that
media is not portraying the world and reality that we all live in. I go to a
multicultural school where people from different backgrounds and cultures
intermingle. Though people from these different cultural backgrounds hang out
more in their separate cultural/racial groups, there is still a significant
number of people who hang out and enjoy the company of friends from various
cultures. The generation from the mid 30s on down are much more open to
interacting with people from various cultures and I believe that they are
interested in seeing various cultures in media hence the hashtag #oscarssowhite
which speaks out against the Hollywood film academy and the constant promotion
and awarding of white actors and films.
Myself: Is
there such a thing as white films?
I: Not
exactly.
Myself: I
see your point, but the world still has a long way to go in concerns with
minorities being portrayed in the media. Black men are still being portrayed as
thugs and villains, Native Americans, Indians, Asians and other minorities are
almost non-existent in the conversation of race. History is still being “white
washed by Hollywood” and the elitists still control the media. But I do have
hope in the circumstances that we have today to rectify these issues. The Internet
has been one of the biggest platforms to leveling the playing field where
racial minorities are able to have a voice. Social media has provided a space
where we can create educational and creative programming that move minorities
from the non recognition and ridicule stage, to the respect stage where we can
truly express and show who we are as a people. I have hope in this future and I
work towards establishing it.
I: Well said Myself. I am total with you
in taking up that cause. I thank you for taking time out from your nights rest
to be a part of this conversation.
Myself: Hold
the phone. I know I was supposed to ask you something from the jump. Why are
you dressed like that?
I: It’s an
interview.
Myself: No.
It’s 2 o’ clock in the morning. Anyway I hope you got what you needed because
I’m going to bed.
I: Sounds
great! I’m right with you!
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