The Importance of August 28th

Hello again world and welcome back to my blog. On what should have been the opening dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial on August 28, 2011, today's entry will be about the significance of the day August 28th itself in American and thus worldwide history. On that particular calendar day, three key events would shape the American Civil Rights Movement, a struggle where the youth and visionaries of that generation would change the navigational course of traditional "decency", equality and freedom. In chasing that tide of directive change, the courage of that generation- and those before them who had to suffer worse indignities- is very profound, as I surely cannot accurately fathom the level of disrespect and inhumanity they faced on a normal basis. With this in mind it could be argued that August 28th be viewed as a Civil Rights Memorial Day of sorts, as events on that day through the years would galvanize then stregnthen participation in both the movement and its following legacy.

August 28, 1955- the Murder of Emmett Till


A little over three months before Rosa Parks' defiant standing up through sitting in the whites only section of the bus in December 1955, fourteen year old Chicago native Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi for the "crime" of whistling at a white woman. Taken late at night from the home of the relatives with whom he was staying, Till- in the last moments of life and first moments after death- would endure ghastly mutilation to his body by egotistical murderers who not only took his life but sought to take his humanity and manhood through such disfigurement. The latter goal would not be achieved, as Till's mother displayed his body and story in an effort to show how badly America needed to change in its race relations. Though it would be a few months before more Americans would begin to heed and spread this message- as Till's murderers would later confess to their crime as unrepentant free men- Emmett Till would become a cataclysmic symbol for such truth, justice, and sadly enough, growth.

August 28, 1963- Martin Luther King, Jr., Shares his Dream


Eight years into the Civil Rights Movement, the March On Washington for Jobs and Freedom was held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Using the march's platform for civic and economic growth as well as for its push towards legislation for voting rights, one of its prime leaders would vividly announce the intended goals and aspirations the movement itself aimed to achieve for present and future societies. In his riveting "I Have A Dream" speech, Martin Luther King, Jr., uses allegorical references from literature, religion and politics to speak of a possible society that overcomes bitter prejudices to engage with diverse cultures in achieving equal harmony. What strikes me most about the speech is King's near clairvoyant delivery; in switching from the written text to literally freestyling, he confidently uses his preaching gifts to have the crowd further envision his idealistic agenda as he speaks it. As with its brilliant orator, the "I Have A Dream" speech has its invaluable place in history -in its case as a spoken blueprint for modern tolerance and togetherness.

August 28, 2008- Barack Obama Accepts the Democratic Nomination for U.S. President


Fifty-three years to the day after Emmett Till's murder, forty-five years to the day of Martin Luther King, Jr., delivering his "I Have A Dream" speech, U.S. Senator Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination for the Presidency of the United States. Obama, a humble yet charismatic politician from Illinois, had began to captivate Americans and their potential votes through speaking about a committal to progressive change towards a better quality of life. He would also captivate through his keen sense of history, as other memorable dates and scenes in this country coincided within his journey to the White House. This certain August 28th event marks an event of change in America itself, as it shows a culmination- not the total culmination as there is more work to do, but a culmination- of evidence of efforts towards relativity through diversity.

The heroic life, work, and legacy of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., would cause fellow Americans to memorialize him in the nation's capital. Although the dedication of his memorial did not happen on the forty-eighth anniversary of one of his greatest moments as was originally planned, keep in mind that the three previously described events on August 28th would help to transform ideas, thoughts, and possibilities for future generations. As I stated above, the Civil Rights Movement caused great changes that greatly accelerated our cultural and even spiritual growth, and today it reminds us to always work towards the best ideals for ourselves, our people and our societies.

Well, I think that's about it for now folks. Thanks for taking the time to read this blog, and let me know what you think about this and other entries. Until next time, peace out.

The Top Five Spike Lee Movies

Hello again world and welcome back to my blog. Today's entry is a retrospective of classic American cinema, as we count down the top five movies of filmmaker Spike Lee. As the prime years of his career range from the late 1980's to the 1990's, Lee (seen in the above photo as his Air Jordan saavy alter-ego Mars Blackmon) told stories of the modern black community, accurately depicting its views and opinions concerning racism, sexuality and class. His unique brand of realism would both counter the imaginary, superheroic "blaxploitation" era of a decade before, as well as usher in a cadre of black filmmakers who would be inspired to tell stories from their own specific point of view (i.e. John Singleton, Lee Daniels, and even Tyler Perry). Here are my top five Spike Lee movies, films that I think display his genius at mixing cultural, diasporic values with biting political commentary.

5. He Got Game (1998)



As we all know Spike to stay front row center at any given Knicks game, in "He Got Game" he uses the love of basketball to propel dissonance in the relationship between an estranged father and son.

4. School Daze (1988)



The satirical title for this film is accurately appropriate; it simultaneously praises and criticizes HBCUs while exploring deeper levels of difference in the black community regarding class, education and skin color.

3. Get On the Bus (1996)



Set against the backdrop of the Million Man March, "Get on the Bus" is a movie that I venture to say is truly specific to the black male audience. To attend the march, a small group of black men ride a charter bus cross-country from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., in hopes of finding solidarity within their race and communities. As we watch the group's pilgrimage unfold, we observe every possible interpretation and relationship of the black man, ranging from old to young, father to son, convict to lawman, even homosexual to homophobic. Though their individual personalities and lifestyles do provide division, it is at a cost that the group ultimately achieves the solidarity they journeyed for.

2. Do the Right Thing (1989)



Hailed by many to be Spike's greatest film if not his best known, "Do the Right Thing" parallels the hottest day of the year with rising, explosive anger towards gentrification in a black neighborhood. It could be said that most of the characters in fact do not do the right thing; they talk at each other rather than to each other, and each side wants the other to accommodate their culture while not being willing to do so themselves. The arguing and frustration catapult the film's most memorable scenes, such as when the comedically defiant Buggin' Out and friends have a dispute with a white neighbor over scuffed Air Jordans, or when the movie's breakout character Radio Raheem has a semi-hostile interaction with Korean store owners while trying to buy batteries for his boombox. The ending of "Do the Right Thing" is intentionally ambiguous, I think because Spike wanted the audience to draw their own conclusions about what was right or wrong, racist or defensive.

1. Malcolm X (1992)



Through this telling of Malcolm's epic story, the combination of Spike's direct narrative with Denzel Washington's commanding performance accomplishes the impossible; it makes an already iconic figure more grandiose in legacy but also more relatable to a new generation. "Malcolm X" was a total labor of love for Spike, as he had to fight to direct, produce and finance the film to be as accurate to his vision as possible. The film brilliantly evaluates Malcolm's constant and truthful spiritual evolution by breaking his life up into four parts that intermingle when necessary to show genuine feeling or thought behind certain events. His fiery yet elegant persona is perfectly embodied by Denzel in what is one of the greatest acting performances I've ever seen.

In recent years, Spike's range has expanded through directing both stirring, thought provoking documentaries (4 Little Girls, When the Levees Broke) and feature films that have his core audience relate to non-black, outlaw type characters (25th Hour, Inside Man). While some of this latter signature-styled films (She Hate Me, Miracle at St. Anna) have been more serious in subject matter but less playful in depiction, they nevertheless showcase his continued ability to tell stories accurate to black American society both historical and current. I hope that he will continue in this style in his upcoming remake of the Korean film "Oldboy", as some of the principles of that story can be amended towards his point of view. Though some of his releases have been initially recieved as controversial and insulting, Spike Lee used his movies to help the advance for "culture clash" in modern American society, as he pushes his audience into observing then relating to other races and cultures more in a common ground.

Well, that's about it for now folks. Thanks for taking the time to read to blog, and let me know what you think about this and other entries. Until next time, peace out.