[Carmela]

After reading the responses to this question I felt moved to toss in my two cents. First, I observed a stance of challenge to the question from white readers. Basically, those who responded tried to avoid answering the question all together. I also observed that the films used to challenge the question were repeated by two different people, more or less. If there are so many films that negate this question, why do you have so few films to choose from in supporting your argument? I hardly think Gone with the Wind is the best example of a film that depicts the struggle of blacks, especially since the movie and the book were about a white woman.

In a country where the number of films released is staggering each year (not even considering the TV), you only hear about the black struggle in February – Black History Month. And I am still waiting to hear much more about Native American, Hispanic American and other groups’ struggles. It is easy to see there is a larger number of films depicting European struggles, not just Jewish ones. I don’t feel there is anything wrong with depicting the Holocaust, but other struggles should be recognized. That doesn’t take anything away from anyone else’s experience. Just know that the question was valid and deserves and answer.

My answer is that fear is at the base of avoiding the Native American, African, Asian and Hispanic holocausts. Each of these groups have suffered at the hand of ‘majority’ America at one time or another. The excuse that it was long ago is easy to say, and it doesn’t require an apology, much less acceptance of responsibility. The “Blame the victim” mindset is prevalent in this area of U.S. History, and in many other areas of American society. If we blame the victim, it really doesn’t affect us, so it didn’t happen – at least not like it has been depicted by the group in question. Think of it like a rape. It was the woman’s fault, so the guy gets a smack on the hand and the woman has to live with a lifetime of horrible memories that will become a legacy of issues she will more than likely pass on to her children.

User Detail :  

Name : Carmela, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, City : Atlanta, State : GA, Country : United States, Occupation : College Administrator, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Carmela]

Honey, I don’t think all black people have the same opinion on the O.J. case, so please don’t refer to blacks in such a general, sweeping statement. I am black. I am not ‘happy’ that O.J. did not go to jail for murder. I have no respect for the man, for reasons that have not much at all to do with the murder case. People who look like me have been targeted by the justice system, and that is why so many black men are in jail. I think blacks are glad to see a person who was not proven guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt NOT go to jail, for a change. Just because I think you are guilty is no reason for you to go to jail. All the jurors were not black, but they all agreed. That is how the justice system is supposed to work. I don’t know if O.J. really did it or not, but I do know that the justice system doesn’t generally work right for blacks. In this society, black men are eight times more likely to be convicted of a crime than whites. Also, blacks are generally sentenced to longer sentences than whites.

But my point is that some blacks were happy he got off because they couldn’t prove he was guilty, and lots of times that is not enough to keep a black man out of jail. Justice was served. The law did its part. I feel that some whites are mad because they think he should have gone to jail. But the fact remains that he was not found guilty of a crime. I guess we are happy because justice was served for a black man, and that doesn’t often happen in this country (see hangings, draggings and shootings because someone thought a black man was guilty. There are many books, photos and statistics on these topics, past and present). Also, I might add that blacks are not happy that two people died, at least not the blacks I know.

User Detail :  

Name : Carmela, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, City : Atlanta, State : GA, Country : United States, Occupation : College Administrator, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

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