Those Who Don't Know Their History...

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Recently a redux of the infamous Mini-Series Roots was broadcast on multiply channels.  The book and the movie were based on the research and writing by novelist Alex Haley.  Rap Artist Snoop Dogg however took to the airwaves and social media to call for a boycott of this and all other films where persons of color are only portrayed as slaves, maids or positions of servitude.I am the first to agree that the "whitewashing" that goes on in Hollywood is like a stain on a white shirt however until more high profile celebrities take the plunge and use their money and resources to produce, star and direct movies then we are like Oliver Twist begging for more and getting nothing.  I watched the new version and a few of the interviews of those who were a part of the production and the one thing that stuck out to me as an explanation of why they were involved, because this generation would not be able to relate to the original and this generation or "millennials" have absolutely no concept of what the slave trade was, what the Middle Passage is and how as a people we were stripped of everything, our name, religion, culture, identity and status until there was nothing left.  We all at some point in our lives have heard the wonderful stories of Harriet Tubman who conducted the Underground Railroad to free slaves, or maybe Nat Turner who attempted an uprising to free slaves and all the stories of the Civil Rights Movement.  But what does a 19 or 20 year old know about Dredd Scott or Christian Barnard – who conducted the first heart transplant but died of a car crash because they would not admit him in a white hospital.  Nothing, these things are not taught in most Public Schools and  very few young people are interested if its in a book – many blacks lost their lives because they dared to learn to read and write and now many blacks don't even care if they can read or write.  There is a phrase "those who don't know their history are destined to repeat it:"  I always find it interesting how almost all other cultures gladly and proudly pass down their history the good and the bad making sure that the next generation does not take for granted all they have achieved.  Should there be more movies with black and brown people yes of course will boycotting one movie make that happen no, but it might get the right people talking.   

Just recently I was having a conversation with my mother about what her life was like as a child, I was surprised to learn that she didn't start school until she moved to Richmond at age 7 she was the oldest child in the second grade or that she would have to walk almost a mile to get water at least three times a day.  But the story that surprised me the most...how she would have to pay her fare to ride the city bus then get off and get back on using the backdoor so she would not have to pass by white passengers all I could think of was how by the time I was old enough to ride the city bus alone I could sit where ever I wanted and yet I still went to the back. 

Every generation owes a debt to be better than the generation before it unfortunately that message has gotten lost so inevitably they will be destined to repeat it, we no longer appreciate NON VIOLENT protests, they live a life of selfish entitlement and care more about the hat on their head than the knowledge in it. 

So yes those who do not know their history are destined to repeat it and that is not Hollywood's fault.