The Bottom Line
This movie forces viewers to take a critical look at the Black experience throughout American history, the ongoing struggle to overcome oppression and disarm negative stereotypes
Pros
- Reiterates the valuable message that racism, bigotry, intolerance, and stereotyping are unhealthy
- Presents the various and often conflicting viewpoints regarding use of the word
- Highlights generational differences in terms of acceptance of the word
- Maps the unlikely evolution of the term, along with the interracial implications
- Presents the viewpoints of various well-known celebrities and educators
Cons
- If you're offended by the term, the movie forces you to desensitize yourself
- Adopts an in-your-face approach
- Only scratches the surface on psychological explanations for adoption of the term by young Blacks
Description
- Interesting, if not hard to listen to.
- Explores the complex history of the word - its path from racial slur to term of endearment.
- Presents the ongoing double-edged nature of the term.
- Celebrities including Quincy Jones, George Carlin, Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Rock, and Bryan Gumbel.
- Overall, reveals an ever-changing society that is still attempting to make sense of a dark past.
Guide Review - Documentary
Although this documentary was, for me, very hard to watch (I flinch whenever any racial slur is used) I admit that it was somewhat interesting to hear the various perspectives.
It was equally enlightening to hear the perspectives of civil rights activists, who worked so hard to eliminate the word, juxtaposed against those of the current youth generation, who use it in attempt to take away its power to inflict pain.
I must say, however, that it confirmed my sense that today's youth are somewhat misugided and, in essence, shooting themselves in the foot when they use this term in everyday speech. I ask the common question: How can you expect to introduce it into the mainstream - using it in lyrics and in everyday conversation - and at the same time hope to have control over who uses it and when?
The bottom line is, it's still a hurtful word that carries with it, the weight of a long, dark history. When a White person uses it, most people, even the youth who use it as a "term of endearment," are offended. I think young people could stand to learn something from those who fought so hard for civil rights. But that's my opinion. Personally, I'd love to see that word go away. I hate when it's used liberally in movies (You don't really hear the racial slur for Jews in movies used liberally, now do you?)
Nonetheless, if you, like me, are confounded by this word, then I encourage you to watch the documentary and decide for yourself what to think.
It was equally enlightening to hear the perspectives of civil rights activists, who worked so hard to eliminate the word, juxtaposed against those of the current youth generation, who use it in attempt to take away its power to inflict pain.
I must say, however, that it confirmed my sense that today's youth are somewhat misugided and, in essence, shooting themselves in the foot when they use this term in everyday speech. I ask the common question: How can you expect to introduce it into the mainstream - using it in lyrics and in everyday conversation - and at the same time hope to have control over who uses it and when?
The bottom line is, it's still a hurtful word that carries with it, the weight of a long, dark history. When a White person uses it, most people, even the youth who use it as a "term of endearment," are offended. I think young people could stand to learn something from those who fought so hard for civil rights. But that's my opinion. Personally, I'd love to see that word go away. I hate when it's used liberally in movies (You don't really hear the racial slur for Jews in movies used liberally, now do you?)
Nonetheless, if you, like me, are confounded by this word, then I encourage you to watch the documentary and decide for yourself what to think.