Black History Month 2013 Day 8

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air



Cultural Significance:



Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is first and foremost culturally significant for its theme song. Secondly, it is culturally significant for The Carlton. Anyone that grew up in the 90’s can give you the entire first stanza to the theme song. Plus, it is just pure genius. The Carlton, well Alfonso Ribeiro is awesome.



A couple of tidbits about this show that I found interesting were that the show was created because Will Smith was having problems financially (needed to pay back taxes and such) and so Quincy Jones helped develop the series into what we all know and love it to be. I am never and advocate for being frivolous with money, but in this instance I am a bit happy it happened.

Also, being an Iowa girl I was pleased to find that the University in the series was modeled after Upper Iowa University. The school colors (blue and white) for University Los Angeles and it’s mascot (peacock) were the same as Upper Iowa’s so the producers had to get permission from the University before using them.

This series ran for 148 episodes over 6 seasons and is still in syndication worldwide. The show won multiple awards, including Young Artist and Image Awards, and dealt with relevant issues during its run. It is still referenced culturally and will forever remain a part of our hearts.

Personal Significance:



If you　know　me　even　a　little　bit　you　know　that　I　think　Will　Smith　is　one　of　the　greatest　people　on　God's green earth. I think he is such an amazing person, role model, actor, and (from what I can tell) father. I have watched loads of interviews with him and seen almost his entire body of work. I think the man is for lack of a better phrase ‘super cool.’　

Plus, he raps happy. First Ever Rap Grammy. Miami. Parents Just Don’t Understand. Lost & Found.

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was the first time I had ever seen Will Smith. The show is infectious and it keeps you watching no matter how silly the story lines are. The cast is brilliant. Hilary and Carlton were such great (and ridiculous) characters, but you always loved them. No matter what. Fresh Prince could make you laugh and cry in the same episode and I always knew how much Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil loved Will even though he constantly made them crazy. Watching Jazz get tossed out of the house was always expected, but still never disappointed. I did, however, always feel bad for Geoffrey because they were mean to him. I know he was the butler, but DANG!



Fresh Prince makes me recall my childhood and represents the beginning of my love of Will Smith. However, when watching the show as an adult it still holds up as a great series that dealt with many different kinds of themes. One of the most memorable for me is when Will’s absent father comes to visit and gets his hopes up for doing lots of stuff together and that he will be around again. The emotion that comes always catches me off guard and reminds me that being loved by a parent is needed at any age, but especially for teens.



Take a look back at this wonderful series. You won’t be disappointed.



And for an added bonus, check out this Tumblr with Fresh Prince quotes.

Black History Month 2013 Day 7

Today's feature comes to us courtesy of my good friend Marvin Dangerfield. Check out his thoughts on Imitation of Life.

Imitation of Life (1934/1959 film)

First, let me say that I’ve copied lots of information from Wikipedia and I guess it could have been easy for me to say just go to Wiki and read about this, but since I wanted to add a few words of my own (my 3 cents) in between that of what I copied from Wiki, I will ask for your attention and beg that you read on and then after you’ve digested my 3 cents, then go to Wiki and maybe even youtube and read about and watch the movie. Thank you and now let’s begin.

My 3 cents:

As you can grasp from the title of the film there is some type of soul searching going on here, somebody is living in a lie or a fantasy. Well yes, that is true, but not exactly a Hollywood or Bollywood type fantasy of today, no CGI or special effects going on here, just true to life despair, put on the big screen, not once but twice. The original film was made in the 1930’s (no joke!) and the remake was made in the 1950’s (again no joke). You’re like that is old, how in the heck can this film be relevant today or worthy of discussion?

Well the movie was based on a novel written by Fannie Hurst (a Jewish novelist), so why did I mention Jewish and what does that have to do with the “imitation of Life”. Ok, here we go. The story has too many plots, but several sub plots all wrapped together tightly and the actors and actresses who performed in the film did Academy Award nominee level work.



Plot 1: A White lady and a Black lady become friends back when this was not really cool to do. The Black lady works as a servant, but by choice to help the White lady (strange but true in the movie.) They both have daughters who grow up together in the same house and are like sisters. (strange but true in the movie)

The White lady becomes a movie star, but the Black lady still plays the role of maid, but is a true friend to the white lady and the white lady never treats her bad because she loves her friend.

Plot 2: The Black lady’s daughter is very very very light skinned. She basically she looks white and unless she told someone she was black, they would never guess it. So now we are getting there. Since this little Black girl looks White and grows up like a little white girl, she decides to hide the fact that she is Black and let’s everyone think that she is related to the rich White lady and not the daughter of the Black lady servant. This is the deepest part of the “Imitation of life”, Black girl looks white, has a dark skinned mom, but runs away from her so that no one will know that she is really black and she breaks her moms heart, to the point of illness and and then death of a broken heart.

Plot 3: The White lady’s daughter hardly knew her mommy growing up as she was busy becoming a star, so they have no real mommy daughter connection. The White daughter falls in love with mommy’s BF and stirs up a lot of mess.



Now can you feel me?! A Jewish lady born back in the old old old days comes up with this story of a black girl hiding the fact that she is black, a rich white girl hating mommy for not being there, when she needed her… all this going on back in the 30’s SAY WHAT!? The 30’s then again in the 50’s, when American was basically White washed and Blacks lived with Blacks unless they were servants and nothing bad ever crept into the basic White washed American world.

So, that is why I think this story was historical and should have won more acclaim back in the day, but remember America was White washed back then. If we had made this story in the 60’s or even the 70’s it would have opened many eyes.

Think about the plots and tell me that this is not real, not deep, not something to think about and then think about when the film was made. WOW!! End of my present 3 cents.

I hated Troy Donahue after I saw this movie, but I guess that is a compliment to his acting. He was the BF of the light skinned black girl who pretended to be white. He was a joke and a ‘letter man” and when he found out the truth, he beat the crap out of the girl, that’s why I hated him. All the actors and actresses were great in the movie!!

Well I will say that this was one of the most heart breaking movies, I’ve ever watched and it changed my life completely. I, being of very light skin, remember when I was young wishing I was darker, like my mom and my brothers and sisters and feeling out of place. I kinda understood that the black girl wanted to blend in. But I decided, I’d never try to blend in, I’d always be me and represent my ethnic heritage.

It also opened my eyes to the fact that a black person could love a white person and visa versa, skin color is only that and true love lies within our hearts and minds.

As for the other plot of lack of communication with the mother and daughter, I make every effort to communicate and educate my children as much as possible. Even when I am extremely busy, I will listen to them and make sure they know I love them.

In the movie there is a sad ending, but also a ray of light, in that the black girl decided not to pretend to black anymore and to live her life as a black woman and the little white girl and mom were able to mend bridges and start communicating.

It is such a sad and enlightening movie and story that was written well before its time. Go to wiki and read about this and then go to youtube and watch the movie. (See the embedded video below.)

Peace out!
Marvin

Black History Month 2013 Day 6

Major Payne/Undercover Brother

Cultural Significance:

Again today’s features are films that are not Oscar winners, but they are absolutely amazing.

Major Payne was a film loosely based on the film The Private War of Major Benson starring Charlton Heston. (Which was news to me while I was researching this.) Now this movie was panned by critics, but the thing that made this movie pop out as culturally significant to me is that Major Benson’s character would have fit any actor profile. When you watch this film I feel that it was cast colorlessly. Damon Wayans was obviously the best choice, but only for his comedic qualities. The script relied on funny jokes that had nothing to do with race. Looking back on it now it is a breath of fresh air to know that it was that way, especially in 1995.

Undercover Brother is one of the best spoof films I have ever seen. It makes fun of blaxploitation films from the 70s and spy films (such as James Bond). It also walks a fine line of completely making the viewer guffaw at the ridiculousness of racial inequalities. This movie is brilliant. It makes dumb jokes and pokes a lot of fun, but underneath it all there is a lot of heart and realism. This movie was actually praised by critics for these very things that I have discussed above.

Personal Significance:

These two movies help define two parts of my life. Major Payne was a movie that we used to watch as a family, a lot. It was my first experience with Damon Wayans and my first time seeing Karyn Parsons outside of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It is also one of the most ridiculous/funny films I can remember. It is a movie that my dad can quote front to back along with my brother and I. I will say that is not a cinematic masterpiece, but any comedy fan I have ever met has told me that this movie is hilarious and is up there on their list of favorites.

One of my favorite scenes in the whole movie is when he decides to tell the young ones a bedtime story. It is classic Damon Wayans and an absolutely hilarious way to tell ‘The Little Engine That Could.’



My father is also a retired Marine so this movie was a way for him to connect with his kids through watching something related to the Corps that wasn’t too violent.

Undercover Brother on the other hand helps me define my college experience. It is a movie that we would all sit around watching together when we were supposed to be studying. (Shh…that’s our secret.) Now, my friends Ferg and Sherm would quote this constantly which would lead to the three of us in hysterics from laughing so hard. Our friend Staci would sit and roll her eyes because she believed the movie to be ridiculous which would lead us to quote it even more. It was such a fun way for us to then lead into more serious discussions about race relations and our thoughts on ‘The Man.’ It will not only make me laugh from the content, but also from the images of friends quoting it in my head.

These two movies will always go down in my personal history book as greatness. If not for amazing social commentary then non-stop laughs. Do yourself a favor and check them both out. You won’t be disappointed.

Black History Month 2013 Day 5

Remember the Titans:



Cultural Significance:

Remember the Titans sprung from the true story about the 1971 T.C. Williams High School football team in Alexandria, VA. Coach Herman Boone was given the job of head coach over a more popular coach from Alexandria, Coach Bill Yoast. The movie loosely follows their rise to State Champions. It is a powerful story that has affected audiences worldwide. It had a worldwide gross of $136.7 million and has a 73% critics approval rating on Rottentomatoes.com and a 91% audience rating.

Most people will call this a fun, inspirational and exciting football film that makes anyone smile when they watch it. Although the film follows the real story loosely and changes details to make the story flow you can still get a feel for the times this community was living in and the struggles that children can go through even when it is something that they may not fully understand. I think it deals with the struggle that children face when influenced by their parents thinking in a way that is organic and natural. It also shows that at our core we are all human beings that have the same emotions as anyone else and I believe this story will transcend the test of time to inspire generations to come.



Personal Significance:

This movie. Well, let me start off by saying that I have probably watched this movie about a hundred times. I’m a sucker for sports films, based on a true story films, and race-relations films. This was a movie that had them all rolled into one. I was in heaven. Plus, it has a killer soundtrack that I have nearly memorized. Plus, it stars Denzel Washington and (Des Moines, IA native) Greg Alan Williams. It can’t get much better than that.

One of the other reasons I love this movie so much is that it really shows how love and friendship is just that: love and friendship. It is simple and it doesn’t need to have all these restrictions surrounding it. Coach Boone was able to take these kids and show them that they were all just people working towards the same goal. He was also able to help them realize that they could be real friends that watch out for each other and love each other.

I have friends from all over the world and I know these lessons to be true. You are my friend because you are nice and I like you. It’s as simple as that.

When I was a student at William Jewell College (WJC) I had the opportunity to meet the real Coach Boone when he gave a lecture at WJC. It was really inspiring to hear from a person who really changed people’s lives with such simple lessons. He is definitely an example I’d like to follow.

Black History Month 2013 Day 4

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner/Guess Who

Cultural Significance:

I believe　that　these　two　films　really　reflected　the　times　in　which　we　were　living　in　when　each　film　was made. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? starred Sidney Poitier and was made in 1967. His fiancé was white and she took him home to meet the family. Guess Who starred Ashton Kutcher and was made in 2005. His fiancé was black and she took him home to meet the family.

1967 was a time when interracial relationships were frowned upon no matter the union, but the content of the film focused on a black man marrying a white woman. The film was set up under the premise that Sidney Poitier was the perfect man for the young woman. He was a doctor, came from a good family, and really loved her; however, he was black. This film was able to take a serious look at an issue that has become more common in recent years and show that love can prevail. Now, it is a Hollywood story and didn’t magically change the world, but it did start these conversations and give interracial couples confidence to be more open regarding their love and relationship.



2005 was a time when interracial relationships were a lot more common, but a black woman with a white man was still pretty uncommon. It is still pretty uncommon. The film was set up on the premise that Ashton Kutcher was not exactly the perfect man for the young lady, but he really, truly loved her. He had recently lost his job and he was always trying to impress her father so a lot of white lies were being told along the way. This film was a comedic way to look at this issue and it has a few uncomfortable scenes that show a few of the differences between cultures. However, it is again a Hollywood story so it was a happy ending story, but it was able to look at this issue from another way while also making people laugh.



Personal Significance:

Well, I will first say that Bernie Mac, rest his soul, has always been one of my favorite actors. He is hilarious and so much fun to watch on screen. Sidney Poitier will always be one of the great actors of the 20th century. Both of these men should be looked at fondly by cinematic history.

These movies are great. They touched my soul in different ways, but in ways that I could understand. I truly believe that love is love and so when I see people struggling over relationships based on things like skin color I can’t fully understand it. I have liked lots of people from all kinds of backgrounds, but it has always been on whether they are nice to me (and if they have cute shoes). LOL. Seriously though, these films are important to me because they put out a positive message of love, but it also shows some of the things that people struggle with when having interracial relationships.

Take some time and watch both of these films. I think you can enjoy both.

Black History Month 2013 Day 3

The Jeffersons & Good Times

Today's post is by my good friend Adam Ragan. He helped me out by discussing some of his favorite shows and films. Enjoy!

Ain’t we lucky we moved on up?



In the 1970s, there were two American sitcoms which occupied two extremes of the socioeconomic continuum. On the one end was Good Times, showcasing a family struggling to get by in project housing in Chicago and on the other end was The Jeffersons, showcasing a family who rose from poverty to the upper middle-class. What unites these shows, apart from their concurrent airdates and Norman Lear, is how they addressed through comedy the economic conditions of black families in the 1970s.



The theme songs of each show set the framework for how the shows characters were faring economically. The Jeffersons set the case that the characters had struggled for a long time but when given the opportunity to succeed or fail in business, they burst through the glass ceiling and “moved on up” to a high rise apartment, complete with a maid. Good Times’s theme operated under a tongue-in-cheek irony that, although the characters were standing in “chow lines” and getting “hastled’n hustled,” the love between the family members was the sole reason that poverty couldn’t, and wouldn’t, exact its toll in tearing the family down.

What makes these shows impactful is that, while dealing with serious topics relevant to life in the 1970s, they never lost sight of their comedic natures. It’s well known that Esther Rolle wanted to make sure the serious nature of black poverty was never overshadowed by the comedy on Good Times; yet, in watching Rolle’s performance, it’s clear that she knew how to charm and disarm through comedy even the most ardent disbeliever who might challenge the abhorrent living conditions of project housing. Marla Gibbs on The Jeffersons knew that some in the black community might challenge the notion that a black family would hire a black maid; thus, in her first appearance on the show she flawlessly delivered the line, “how come we overcame and nobody told me?!”

Beyond the comedy, there is yet another commonality binding these two programmes together: each dealt with black masculinity in up-front and vocal fashion. In the case of Good Times, John Amos’s James was a strong brother, hell-bent on taking care of his family and raising upstanding children. This stood in stark contrast to the white-majority notion that black men living in project housing were derelicts who cared little for their families and deserved their lowly socioeconomic status. Long before we as a culture had the “hand-up, not hand-out” slogan, Amos’s James was living the creed, always working to support his family. In the case of The Jeffersons, Sherman Hemsley shattered the myth that a wealthy black man might behave any differently from a wealthy white man; George Jefferson was just as entitled and removed from the yoke of poverty as any wealthy white man. Hemsley was able to show that there was no difference between white masculinity and black masculinity; it is the character of the man who occupies the body that determines the worth, not the skin colour of the man.



The Jeffersons continued that theme in the character of Tom Willis, a white man married to a black woman. This was the first such portrayal on television and Franklin Cover played the role wonderfully, often fending off racist zingers from Jefferson as much as other whites. I mention this often over-looked aspect because it had such a defining mark on me as a child watching reruns. I never understood why people couldn’t accept that Mr Willis fell in love with Mrs Willis and married her. He was white, she was black; so what? Even at an early age, I never understood why some whites and some blacks felt the races had no business falling in love. Love happens, deal with it!

These two shows have earned a place in our culture. Beyond discussing the times from which they come, they entertained then as much as they entertain now. The cast members from these shows occupy some of the top spots in television-honours lists. The characters they played are some of the most often quoted and referenced in pop-culture. The shows still air in syndication. And, perhaps more importantly, they still make us laugh forty years on. I thought I should include links to two of my favourite episodes, as well as the theme songs. Go ahead, sing along; I know you want to! Ain’t we lucky we can move on up with these shows?

Black History Month 2013 Day 2

Family Matters



Cultural Significance:

This TV series didn't win any prestigious awards, but it did win over the hearts and minds of many families in the 90’s.

Family Matters was a spin-off of the show Perfect Strangers. It focused on a middle-class family from Chicago and then, halfway through the first season, a neighbor kid named Steve Urkel literally stole show. His popularity carried the series to a nine season run. His one liners and quirky personality will forever be ingrained into every child of the 90’s. The phrase ‘Did I do that?’ will never be able to be said without a nasally impersonation of the show’s break-out star.

It is the third longest running TV show starring a predominantly black cast only behind The Jeffersons and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. It ran from 1989 to 1998 with 215 episodes. It was part of the extremely popular TGIF line-up on ABC. Friday nights were never the same once the Winslow's entered your living room.



Personal Significance:

Today’s choice may surprise a lot of you. For those of you that know my brother and I well, you will be far from surprised. First and foremost, Urkel rules. I know that Family Matters was not an amazing show, but it was an amazing show for families to watch together. I've caught a few episodes in recent years and I realize that it will never be on top of any critics Ten Best list, but I will always have fond memories of this show.

When I was a kid I never wanted to do anything but watch TGIF on ABC every Friday night. Those shows were always the start of my weekend. I remember it being a time for us to watch TV together as a family. I also remember it being a time for my brother to perfect his impression of Steve Urkel as often as possible.

The thing that made TGIF special was that it was programming that was just showing families. I don’t remember there being much focus on the Winslows being a black family in Chicago. I just remember them being a family in Chicago. Family Matters dealt with the ups and downs of families and opened the door to other shows with predominantly black casts to premier on TGIF. Sister, Sister and Hangin with Mr. Cooper were able to grow because of the success of Family Matters.

I’m thankful that ABC took a chance on a series that was a very tiny spin-off of Perfect Strangers. Urkel will always have a special place in my heart and I hope to share the fun of this silly show with my nieces in years to come.

Black History Month 2013 Day 1

This year I decided to take a look at some of my favorite films and television shows starring black actors. I have also asked　a few friends, Adam Ragan, Marvin Dangerfield, & Staci Robinson, to write up a few as well. These choices may not all be blockbuster releases, well-known, or critically acclaimed, but they have shaped our lives in one way or another. This is　not　to　say,　however,　that　these　are　the　only　films　or　television　programs　with　black　actors　that　have cultural significance or influence, but in the short 28 days allowed for Black History Month these are the ones we wanted to share with you. These choices are not only important to Black History, but American History in general. Do you agree? What would be on your list? Take a look and follow along for Black History Month 2013.

Before we start, I would like to thank the exceptionally talented Asheley Brown for contributing her genius to this year’s banner. Love you so much lady!

'Boyz N The Hood' (1991)

Cultural Significance:

John Singleton wrote and directed this 1991 feature film about childhood friends in South Central Los Angeles. It stars Cuba Gooding Jr in his breakout role along with Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, and (one of my main men) Ice Cube. The story follows a group of friends through the ups and downs of life in South Central.

This movie has significance in Black History and Cinematic History for a couple of reasons. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. This made John Singleton the youngest person to ever be nominated for Best Director, as well as the first African-American nominated for this award.

It had a budget of $6.5 million and grossed $57.5 million. It was also screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. In 2002 this film was deemed ‘culturally significant’ by the Library of Congress and in turn was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

The film is still referenced in rap music and had its 20th anniversary DVD release in 2011. Rotten Tomatoes, a movie review website, has given it a 96% rating and IMDB rates the film at 7.7 out of 10. Needless to say, the film still holds a lot of significance in popular culture.

Personal Significance:

Now, this movie has a really funny memory for me. Why, you ask? It is most definitely not a comedy, but the way I first watched it is very humorous. My parents used to tape movies off HBO and put all the titles down on a list. I would read through the list and find movies I thought were interesting, but needless to say in the mid-90s I was much too young to watch most of them. My parents would always say no when I said I wanted to watch Boyz ‘N’ The Hood, and the only reason I can think of that I wanted to watch it was because I thought the title was cool. So, one night when my grandma was babysitting us I got her to let us watch it. She said, “Are you sure you can watch this?” I said, “Of course! Mom and Dad let us watch it all the time.” As we get into the movie my grandma asks again (this time with more doubt in her voice) and I give the same answer (with more elation obviously). We finished it up and I went to bed. As you may guess, my parents were none too pleased, but that film has stuck with me forever. I never really thought about the violence, but I will always remember Cuba Gooding Jr’s impactful performance as Tre Styles.

If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend it for the strong performances and the powerful story. If you have seen it I recommend revisiting this fantastic film.

Sources:
Wikipedia
IMDB