12 Years A Slave...400 Years of White Power
Art by: Michael Ray Charles
Who knew?
Who knew that the uncultured, irascible, rabidly racist John Tibeats, the villainous overseer from 12 Years A Slave, would pose one of the most elegantly existential and profoundly provocative questions ever uttered in American movie history?!
As enslaved freeman Solomon Northup (Platt) explains to Master Ford (the "good master") his plan for building a raft to safely transport cotton across the swamps to the marketplace, Tibeats sarcastically, caustically, and condescendingly inserts the knife,
"Are you an engineer, or are you a nigger?!"
Of course, Solomon is impaled upon the horns of a dilemma. As a slave, he certainly can't say that he's an engineer. And, as a former freeman, he won't concede that he's a "nigger." But, Tibeats' intent is crystal clear. He intends to put "Platt" in his place. Tibeats intends to remind "Platt" that he may be a "smart nigger," but he's still a "nigger!" And, no "nigger" is smarter than a white man. Irrespective of Master Ford's sympathetic ear, Tibeats insists upon reinforcing the brutal white power structure which reigned supreme in the South. For him, no level of black intelligence, black ingenuity, or black brilliance, would upset the social order of the day or elevate "Platt" above the status of mere livestock.
Mind you, I absolutely loved this film!!!! But, if there's one downside, it's the temptation for certain folk to learn ALL the wrong lessons...to believe that unless you exhibit the cruelty of Tibeats or Epps, you're not a racist...to believe racism and bigotry is a thing of the past...to believe that institutional or unconscious racism is non-existent...to believe Slavery and its progeny is the sin of their southern forefathers only to be examined in the rear view mirror. Malcolm reminded us that there are different forms of racism, some blatant and others less so. Ultimately, we need to stop castigating the South. "As long as you're south of the Canadian border, you're south!" Malcolm said. So, I'm sure Northup didn't return to a racial utopia when he returned to upstate New York. No racial utopia then...no racial utopia now.
The old folks used to say, "It's in the blood." And, if that's true, the DNA of race discrimination is stubbornly resisting evolutionary extinction. It continues to flow freely, sometimes imperceptibly, in the veins of a few.
For sure, America is a much evolved place in 2013. So, Blacks should not be overly sensitive to legitimate criticisms or walk around with a perpetual "race chip" on their shoulder. But, how often do 21st Century Blacks hear Tibeats' insulting question phrased in more discreet and subtle terms? How often is your authority, expertise, or credentials called into question? How often are you reminded in small ways to "stay in your place," or "don't get big headed." They say, "you got a raise three years ago, boy," or "He's arrogant and aloof"..."She's uppity and ungrateful"..."You may be right, but you're not in charge!!" or, "Why should you gain admission to Harvard over me?" "Who do you think you are?"
Barack Obama: "You lie!" "Are you the POTUS, or are you a nigger?"
Michelle Obama: "Are you the FLOTUS, or are you a nigger?"
Eric Holder: "Are you the U.S. Attorney General, or are you a nigger?"
Susan Rice: "Are you the National Security Advisor, or are you a nigger?"
Oprah Winfrey (in high-end European boutiques): "Are you an international celebrity with more money than God, or are you a nigger?"
Trayvon Martin: "Are you an innocent teenager with ice tea and candy, or are you a nigger?"
Marissa Alexander: "Are you a scared woman defending yourself from an abusive ex-husband, or are you a nigger?"
Dez Bryant: "Are you an impassioned star wide-receiver playing for "America's Team," or are you a nigger?"
Are you a Doctor, or...Are you an Attorney, or...Are you a Professor, or...Are you a Nurse, or...Are you a Millionaire, or...Are you an Artist, or...
"This shit is getting out of hand! This is not my grandpa's America. If we'd known they'd be this much trouble, we'd picked our own damn cotton!!" exclaims a Tea Party Patriot in exasperation.
Yeah, right! LOL In railing against food stamps and social welfare programs, conservatives say, "There is dignity in work." That so? Well, enslaved Africans and their descendants are among the most dignified people in human history. But, plantation owners didn't seem eager to share in that dignity (or the WORK for that matter).
No matter how politically correct the phrasing, whenever Blacks are confronted with Tibeats' profound question, they too are faced with a modern day dilemma. They can answer boldly and be labeled arrogant, uppity, or ungrateful. Or, they can smile, hat in hand, and slink back into their "place" among the "niggers."
Solomon Northup never forgot Tibeats' question. He grappled with it for twelve long years, and he answered it in the end. What say you?
Are you an engineer, or are you a nigger?
Be wise and discerning enough to recognized the question when it's asked! Be courageous and competent enough to answer it boldly!!
...Or, so said the Jack Nicholson character in A Few Good Men.
Well America, TRUTH has been served with all the trimmings. And, we'll see how your taste buds respond to the bitterness. Prepare yourself for the most heartrendingly honest and agonizingly vivid depiction of slavery ever portrayed on the silver screen.
This film is a dramatic adaptation of the 1853 historical autobiography Twelve Years a Slave written by Solomon Northup. Directed by Steve McQueen and screen-written by John Ridley, the film magnificently describes the turbulent trials of Northup, a free Black citizen of New York, who was kidnapped in the shadow of the nation's capital, sold into slavery and transported to Louisiana to live in perpetual torment for 12 horrific years.
The book itself is masterfully written in an elevated prose reminiscent of Dubois' The Souls of Black Folk. In the age of tweeting and texting, 12 Years stands as a 19th Century triumph of linguistic dexterity putting the average American college graduate of today to shame. In describing a particularly barbaric slaver, Northrup pens:
"Yet to speak truthfully of Edwin Epps would be to say -- he is a man in whose heart the quality of kindness or of justice is not found. A rough, rude energy united with an uncultivated mind and an avaricious spirit, are his prominent characteristics. He is known as a "nigger breaker," distinguished for his faculty of subduing the spirit of the slave, and priding himself upon his reputation in this respect, as a jockey boasts of his skill in managing a refractory horse. He looked upon the colored man, not as a human being, responsible to his Creator for the small talent entrusted to him, but as a "chattel personal," as mere live property, no better, except in value, than his mule or dog...He could have stood unmoved and seen the tongues of his poor slaves torn out by the roots -- he could have seen them burned to ashes over a slow fire, or gnawed to death by dogs, if it only brought him profit. Such a hard, cruel, unjust man is Edwin Epps...Ten years I toiled for that man without reward. Ten years of my incessant labor has contributed to increase the bulk of his possessions. Ten years I was compelled to address him with down-cast eyes and uncovered head -- in the attitude and language of a slave. I am indebted to him for nothing, save undeserved abuse and stripes."
After reading the book, I was skeptical the filmmakers could muster the courage to give cinematic clarity to the unmitigated inhumanity blanketing the pages of Northrup's masterpiece. Well, congratulations, Messrs. McQueen and Ridley! You have accomplished a monumental feat in visual storytelling...as convincingly as 12 years of captivity and debasement at the hands of the brutish, the beastly, and the ignorant could be told in the span of two hours.
Chiwetel Ujiofor delivers a tour de force performance as Solomon Northup. Michael Fassbender and Sarah Paulson are also magnificent as the villainous Master and Mistress Epps. But, who can remain unmoved by the unrelenting torment, treachery and turmoil heaped upon poor Patsy played by Lupita Nyong? The youth and innocence of Patsy stole our hearts...leaving us in tears at her unfathomable plight. Our hearts having been stolen, perhaps Nyong's spellbinding performance will steal the Oscar.
Morgan Freeman stated that he was reluctant to see the film because, "I don't want my anger quotient exacerbated..." In a backhanded compliment, another reviewer referred to 12 Years as, "the film for folks too smart for The Butler." Due respect to those distinguished gentlemen, but I think their statements are both flippant and misguided!!
Mark Twain once said, "A man need be reminded much more often than he need be instructed." Accordingly, this film serves as a vividly brilliant reminder! It gazes into our brutal past equipping us with insight through hindsight. That insight clears our vision to see seeds of ignorance and intolerance sprouting in our very midst. If that insight makes movie goers "too smart," then thank goodness! You see, Mr. Freeman, I'm much more concerned with the "intelligence quotient" than the "anger quotient." In fact, intelligence is often an antidote for anger. (Take a hint Tea Party.)
As the hauntingly evocative soundtrack continues to echo in my head, thoughts drift back to Patsy....that tragic soul exemplifying the fate of so many enslaved African women...last seen staring despairingly as her former comrade strides toward freedom...and she remains mired in thralldom not so far from New Orleans' frolicking French Quarter.
In my actively optimistic imagination, Patsy finally escapes the cruel clutches of slavery, secures her "freedom papers" and finds her way to a stage in the French Quarter... telling her story through Salvant's song... and renaming it, "Patsy's Theme."
...and at a table in the corner of that dimly lit groggery sits Solomon Northup, eyes transfixed and heart overflowing...he proudly and loudly proclaims "Now, THAT is the TRUTH...the whole TRUTH...and nothing but the TRUTH!"
Every now and then simple arithmetic just won't do!! Complex lives...complicated people...compound problems...we need complete solutions, right? Well, it's time for some higher learning.
Maybe we all can't master Trigonometry, Calculus, or Physics. But, Algebra...you can do dis, yeah!!
Isn't it funny that you're sometimes strangely stricken with an old memory...a place...a person...a situation...a song. The Universe has its way of communicating the essentials of life. I awakened this morning with a song on my mind...humming and singing the words I could remember (out of tune, of course). LOL
In my humble opinion, whether you are religious, non-religious, or merely spiritual, LOVE is really what makes life worth living. Allow it to embody your essence and move you to care more deeply for others. If that makes you different, so be it. Nod your head to that distant drumbeat and shake a leg to a remote rhythm.
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." Friedrich Nietzche
The juxtaposition of the royal birth in Britain and the royal persecution of Trayvon Martin in Florida is somewhat dizzying.
Imagine Michelle Obama giving birth to a little Black boy while President Obama is serving in the White House. Certainly, the young Obama would begin with many more privileges than the typical American child, Black or White. But, would young Obama be on schedule to inherit over a billion dollars as Kate and William's baby is predicted to inherit? Would he be immediately regarded as "His Royal Highness?" And, would he (the Black child of the President) be able to look forward to walking the streets of America without immediately raising suspicion of criminal intent? The answers to these questions are undoubtedly, No.
I understand, Britain is a constitutional monarchy and British royalty serve a merely ceremonial or symbolic role. But, to the degree that national symbols are important in affecting societal norms, enhancing national or group pride, and highlighting things upon which the nation places great value, the world-wide attention paid to the "royal baby" speaks volumes about how Britain feels about its young boys. And, the symbolism of the Zimmerman verdict speaks volumes about the value placed on young Black boys in America.
All little British boys can see themselves valued as little "Princes," while little Black boys in America are encouraged to see themselves as "Paupers," "Prisoners," and "Pariahs" worthy of only suspicion and never receiving the benefit of the doubt. You see, in spite of all the privileges that accrue to being the son of a U.S. President, young Obama would lack the one privilege capable of protecting him on a dark street in Florida...white skin privilege.
So, forgive me if I'm seen meandering down the street with an unsteady gait. I'm not drunk, high on drugs or aimlessly looking for a place to burglarize. No, I'm just trying to regain my sense of equilibrium after witnessing America's bewilderingly disparate treatment of it's own young, Black Prince (Trayvon) vis-a-vis its reverence for the British "royal baby."
Mind you, on that fateful night in Florida, Trayvon was as innocent as a newborn baby!
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Thomas Jefferson
On the night of February 26, 2012, the blood of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman spilled in the streets of Sanford, Florida. While Zimmerman left the scene sporting only butterfly bandages, Trayvon spilled so much blood that he died tragically on that rain drenched street. Jefferson's "Tree of Liberty," parched from lack of nourishment, drank its fill that night!! But, in this real life Jeffersonian tragedy, who plays the role of Patriot and who plays the role of Tyrant?
Having some experience with it, I know that the criminal justice system is not necessarily equipped to provide the MORAL justice we seek. Why? Because the "system" often employs people ill-equipped to participate in it, and the laws supporting the "system" are often horrifically flawed. State laws such as Florida's "Stand Your Ground" are often vile, ideologically motivated, and ill-advised. Prosecutors and/or defense attorneys are sometimes incompetent or inadequately resourced. Judges and/or jurors often harbor secret biases or prejudices. These biases are exacerbated by imbalanced jury pools heavily weighted against minority inclusion. Lack of minority inclusion is accomplished by insane drug laws which permanently strip minorities of the right to vote or serve on juries.
So, is it really surprising that Zimmerman was found "not guilty" by a nearly all-white, all-female jury incapable of relating to the plight of a Black teenage male, dressed in customary teenage clothing, innocently walking home from the store with tea and Skittles (while talking to his girlfriend on the phone) in a predominantly white neighborhood? Not really. The script was written, the scene was set, the lines were rehearsed, the actors were in place, and the die was cast long before the verdict was rendered. Final Scene: The victim, Trayon Martin, transformed into the scary, vicious, monstrous perpetuator.
Michael Vick kills dogs and gets jail time...Plaxico Burress accidentally shoots himself in the leg and gets jail time...Marissa Alexander, a Black Florida woman who fired a warning shot into the ceiling while being threatened by her husband, gets 20 years in prison...while George Zimmerman takes the life of an innocent teen, walks free and is returned the gun with which he does the dirty deed. The dutiful neighborhood watchman...free to racially profile, stalk and perhaps kill again!
But, the story shouldn't end there. An epilogue is still to be written. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, "The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice." He lived in a time when "southern justice" was criminal in its treatment of Black people. Obviously, King was speaking not about mere criminal justice, but moral justice. In a twisted and perverse way, the verdict delivered by the jury in the State of Florida vs. George Zimmerman may serve a higher purpose...the purpose of bending the arc of the moral universe more quickly toward true justice...a battle lost on the road to ultimate victory.
Zimmerman may have been judged criminally "NOT GUILTY," but he is morally RESPONSIBLE for the death of Trayvon Benjamin Martin!!
The Zimmerman verdict highlights a moral gap in America's views on race, class, culture, public policy, and criminal justice. I'm hopeful that it will serve to accelerate the closing of those moral gaps in our society. And while George Zimmerman and the other Tyrants of "gun culture" stand their ground inside "Castles of Paranoia," Trayvon Martin will take his rightful place alongside the many Patriots whose blood have nourished the roots and splattered the leaves of that precious "Tree of Liberty."
We should follow the dignified and elegant example of Trayvon's parents while heeding the President's call for calm reflection. Still, how much more "Stange Fruit" must the "Tree of Liberty" be forced to bear?
