First Project

For this project, I wanted to look at the commonalities from stories told in the past to the stories that we tell now. Specifically, stories regarding black people have been watered down to appeal to the white mind. For those who don’t know what the image is meant to represent, it is a silhouette of Chris from Get Out. Chris’ story is the literal interpretation of “Negrophilia” which is the act of possessing black people’s culture. In the film, Chris is treated based off his race, rather than his identity. “I would have voted for Obama if there was a third term” and “Why does he need to show you his I.D? He’s done nothing wrong.” are some examples of what happens when negrophilia rears its ugly head, and boy is it white. Chris just wants to be Chris. He doesn’t need to be Chris, the African American who has an eye for photography or Chris, the cultured black man who has an enriched wealth of knowledge. Equiano and Soyinka’s stories have a similar predicament.

Black people are treated in these narratives to appeal to white people’s sympathy that rides a thin line. What makes a story outright revisionist or makes it completely tone deaf? Should we take the time to identify these issues if their stories are affective? I’m not going to claim to be the gatekeeper of information or the arbiter of slave era narratives. I think it is important that we ask these questions for not only ourselves but as our role of being the dominant people. I do not believe that it is fair that black authors should have to water down history, or their own stories so they can be granted sympathy by the race in power. I find it interesting that Equiano chose the phrase “Interesting Life” when titling his piece. I’m no expert, but I wouldn’t call my life in slavery or being abducted “interesting” I would probable call it terrifying or disgusting. It would probably be somewhere along those lines.

The word “interesting” is something that I’ve had trouble tackling. There are many connotations that come with that word that don’t sit right with me, especially with the subject matter. I would suggest that this is an example of watered down story telling that can draw the reader in. Interesting sounds more inviting than disgusting. The real question is, “Should we keep doing this?”. I would suggest that we proceed with caution. Like I said prior, we are riding a very difficult line. Alas, we are in an age of coded information. Deception can create an affective masterpiece if the steps taken are appropriate. Peele’s Get Out was one of the best films of the decade. He made a horror movie where white people are attempting to steal black bodies by abducting them. It was a clear metaphor of Negrophilia in today’s world with a little extra exaggeration. I didn’t know what to call the theme of the film until I did my own research into the subject. What i found helped me adopt a new outlook on how we tell stories.

Rappers, filmmakers, screenwriters and authors have an ability to reach every inch of the world. They have a responsibility to be careful with what they put out. I’m not going to judge what an author titled his narrative from hundreds of years ago, but I can promote what I can send out to the readers who view this piece. Pay attention! analyze the texts, the films, the songs. What do they mean? we can find hidden messages to help bring out the sympathies of those who need to be sympathetic. I’ve used this technique with conservative metal fans in my circle. I love metal music. System of a Down, Tool, Metallica, etc. Their messaging of anti war, equality and progressivism can help bring those who are in the dark, to the light. These storytellers have a responsibility to tell their stories, and we as people who study these stories have a responsibility to transcribe it.