Thanks for the comment David. I totally agree with you. I think it is important for films to portray social commentary about the truth. Even if the truth is hard. But most filmmakers don’t make a film just to show an aspect of community just for the sake. There is usually something they are trying to convey. For what it’s worth, I think these filmmakers were trying to portray the aspect of community in NOLA. I don’t think they were trying to show how lazy black people are. 🙂 As I replied to Jeremy above, I saw it that way because of my own experiences. I would guess by the majority of the comments, the filmmakers were successful. I admit that I am a minority dissenter (pun completely intended). But I just wanted to offer my minority opinion to give others a different outlook. In the end, I still believe, this film does not inspire these people to raise themselves out of their conditions. Heck, maybe they don’t want to be raised out of it. That could be the case too.

One last thing about Spike’s movie is that even though he didn’t explore WHY, he did show both sides of the argument. Something to think about. It would be interesting to see how this film would be received if there were one or two voices that spoke to what I’m saying.

As always, thanks for the comment.

Hi Jeremy,

Tanks for your candor. I invite it, so I don’t take your comment personally at all. In fact, you’re absolutely right. As an African American in this country I DO have personal hang-ups. That is inherent in the title of this post. This video bothers me, and it bothered me BECAUSE of my personal hang ups. The thing is, I don’t thing those hang ups are unique to me. As I mentioned in my comment, the well known African American filmmaker Spike Lee definitely had something to say about this topic (Spike has never been one to be silent when something bothers him). My step dad (who grew up in Jamaica and I’m sure saw plenty of stoop sitters there) sad this was a sad commentary. Phil (commenter on this post) had a negative reaction to it too. I don’t think’s it’s a coincidence that the majority of people who have made, for lack of a better word, “negative” comments, have been black people. That says something.

There is another dynamic to confess. Both me and my dad are very blessed. He’s an anesthesiologist. I’m by no means am as well off as he, but I have a roof over my head, clean drinking water, live in a safe neighborhood, and can make a living doing what I love. But, what we both have in common is that we worked our asses off to get that. My mom was a single mom with two boys who drove cross country from Philadelphia to CA and raised us for 8 years on her own before remarrying. I remember having to go with her to her work (she was a nurse) on the night shift and spend the night under her desk because she couldn’t afford a sitter. When I went to college, I was blessed to have my parents pay for my first year, but after that, I got a job and worked diligently to pay for the rest of my college education with no debt. So, part of my “hang up” I guess is that I, and other successful African American friends I have, worked hard to get where we are and have seen struggles to get here.

I too love the portrayal of community in the video. I don’t deny it’s there. I know that it’s a big part of the African American community. I’m sure your experiences cause you to see this video through the rose-colored glasses of your own life. I naturally view it through the glasses of my personal experiences…my personal hang-ups. 🙂

I love the conversation it has created. And I so appreciate your comment.

In that light, I went through and counted 32 white (from my best guess) positive comments to 3 positive black comments. I dont know if that slice is a profile of vimeos usership or not. It did however when combined with your comment show just how many are not aware of the things you stated.

Having lived all over the country and seen this popular pastime in mostly black communities, my eyes are opened to what you are saying.

Thank you for sharing, Ron.

I realize it comes w/ the socio-economic status, but it’s sad. This makes me sad for my people.

If the intent of this is to show people what their life is like in the ghetto, or under the conditions of urban blight then it works. I do NOT think it’s ‘uplifting’, in fact I feel run over. Powerless. Deflated.

The overweight African-American woman on the step reminds me of a ‘Mammy’. The mammy caricature was purposely constructed to imply ugliness. Mammy was portrayed as dark-skinned, often pitch black, in a society that regarded black skin as ugly, tainted. She was obese, sometimes extremely overweight. The attempt was to desexualize mammy. The assumption was this: No reasonable white man would choose a fat, elderly black woman instead of the idealized white woman.

The men are ported the similarly in this film. Jobless, drinking, no ambition, run-down, poor health losers.

I feel like this movie drags our struggling culture backwards. Regresses us. I felt like anyone watching it could assume that 75% or more of the black culture is still doing this. Doing nothing. Sucking up government assistance.

Other than make me aware of this wasteful activity, I’m not sure what the call to action is.

I am provoked to think after seeing this short. Maybe judge. But more so to THINK.

What I found compelling is the comments that the individuals make in the film. The underling message that they all want to be accepted, be part of something, weather that be to have their own space or to be part of the community. It struck me hard that we all want to be loved, maybe I was spurred to think more about because of your comment. I’m reading “The HELP” right now and it has really reminded me that it really was not that long ago when things were quite different. Honestly, it’s quite crazy that it was so recent really.

I’m going to have to go and rent Do the Right Thing … you’ve got my brain thinking for sure and I really appreciate it. Thank you.

Penny

Actually, it very well could have been puertorrican instead of black people. If you go to some neighborhood in New York or Philly you could see the same thing but with puertorrican. Yes, it may invigorate some people’s bigotry, but I thinks it would bother most of us the “right” way. And hopefully, into action.

While I can fully understand the importance of uplifting and inspiring movies, I also think there is an important place and need for truthful social commentary of a situation as it really is.

I saw the movie couple of time. Firstly, is well made. Love the technique. second, is a great social comment of a real situation, idleness of a community. And as such, I think is very inspire. It will inspire people to feel offended by the situation that lead those in the area to idleness and make them take action. It may bring to light a situation that was ignored and make people take action.

He probably could have gone into the causes but he chose to exclude them and portray how the cope with the situation and make the best of it.

That is my two cents.

I don’t want this comment to sound to personal – but maybe you’ve got your own personal hang ups which are causing you to view the short film in a certain light.