James Baldwin is remembered not only as a literary giant, but a man whose words helped advance the cause for social justice within the United States. Baldwin — who would’ve been 89 this past Friday — was remembered by a number of people for being one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His literature continues to live on however, and his life, memory, and influence, will not soon be forgotten.
Civil Rights
Fannie Lou Hamer Speaks Out on Voting Rights and Police Brutality
Fannie Lou Hamer is often one of the forgotten names of the Civil Rights Movement.
Mrs. Hamer was from the small community of Ruleville, Mississippi, where she spent most of her early life working as a sharecropper. It was at the the age of 37 that she joined SNCC (the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee). Seeing that the only way people of color were ever going to have a voice was through politics, she became an organizer and lead voter registration drives for the people of her community. For this, Fannie Lou Hamer caught hell. Her life was threatened, she was the target of multiple murder attempts, and she suffered brutal beatings at the hands of the local Mississippi police. In the following 7 minute audio clip recorded on June 9th, 1963, Mrs. Hamer speaks of the struggle for the right to vote and the horrific consequences that followed.
This clip is courtesy of the Black Media Archive Podcast
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Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King and His Enduring Legacy 45 Years Later
April 4th, 1968, is a day that many people of an older generation will never forget. Neither should any of us.
For that was the day of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in Memphis,Tennessee. Following his assassination, President Lyndon Johnson announced a day of mourning for the man who was instrumental in the struggle for racial equality in the United States. In the aftermath of King’s death, there was grief, despair, anger, rage, and sadly, riots. Despite this however, King’s legacy in the 45 years proceeding his death, has only become more emblazoned in our national consciousness.
Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the select few African Americans to have their story told and taught on a national level within our school system. The man certainly has earned the recognition to say the least. From attending Morehouse College at 15-years-old, to starting out as a young preacher in Alabama, to leading and organizing the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955-56, King certainly did much in a short period of time. King is perhaps best remembered for the March on Washington, where it was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, in which he gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech in front of more than 200,000 people. If there’s one memory that people have of King, it’s probably that one.
It’s worth noting that in the days before he was assassinated, King had been meeting with Memphis sanitation workers who were fighting for better working conditions. In the five years following his “I Have A Dream” speech, the crowds weren’t as large, but King’s message nevertheless remained influential. His call for nonviolence as a means of protest was widely used by many in regards to the Vietnam War that was raging at the time. King steadfastly opposed the war and at the time of his death, was greatly concerned about the plight of the impoverished in America.
Since Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, America has indeed come a long way. The 1964 Civil Rights Act opened the door for many people of color to greater access to education, job opportunities, and political aspirations. Make no mistake, there is no Barack Obama without Dr. King and the countless others (not just black folks either) who gave their hearts and lives for a free and equal America. Dr. King, Thank You.
From the Black Media Archive Podcast:
Looking at Nina Through A Different Hue
So I heard about this casting snafu a few weeks back, but it wasn’t until a friend enlightened me about it that I began to take notice.
Apparently there is a biopic being done of the late great Nina Simone. Simone was more than just a singer. She was an activist, intellect, and a woman whose words and music influenced millions of people. Her round nose, dark hue, and potent afro, only helped to accentuate the struggle for Civil Rights during the turbulent 1960s.
Now it has come to light that director Cynthia Mort plans on doing a biopic of Nina Simone entitled, “Nina.” It is worth noting that whenever this movie comes out, it will be done without the blessing of the Nina Simone estate. Simone’s daughter lambasted the yet to be released film, but it appears all systems go with the casting of lead actress Zoe Saldana in the role of Simone.
This is where things get tricky. While I certainly appreciate the work of Zoe Saldana, it is worth noting that she looks nothing like Nina Simone. Some of you may say, “Well the actor doesn’t always have to look like the person they’re portraying.” And in many cases you would be right. However, because of who Simone was and the time in which she lived, and because her looks and features were so closely tied to her music and the movements of a nation, the looks of the actress portraying her do matter somewhat.
Now this isn’t to say Zoe Saldana is not permitted to play Nina Simone because of her lighter skin and more European features, I’m just saying there are better choices out there. For one, I think India Arie would be perfect. Not only because she looks more like Simone, but because unlike Saldana, Arie comes from a musical background. This is key in that audiences might be more inclined to believe India Arie as Simone than Saldana.
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| Photo Courtesy of Uptown Magazine |
The casting of Zoe Saldana has made some people just downright mad. There is currently an online petition sponsored by one website that wants Saldana replaced from the film. A number of blogs and movie sites have picked up on this issue. Extensive debates have been taking place on Twitter and Facebook about just who has the right to portray who and the historical significance of this. Even the New York Times devoted an article to the Saldana controversy last week.
I think it is good that this issue of casting is being discussed and that people are taking notice. I also believe we’re treading down a dangerous slope when large swaths of people demand an actor be removed from a film because they don’t believe that the actor looks enough like the person whom they are portraying. Only time will tell if the director made the right decision in casting Saldana as Simone.
One thing people should keep in mind though, is that this is not the first time a black actor has portrayed a black icon of whom they bear little physical resemblance to. In the 1991 made for TV movie “Separate But Equal,” Sidney Poitier portrayed former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Poitier looks nothing like Marshall, but there were no protests or petitions decrying such discrepancies. Perhaps, something to think about.
Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” – Dr. Martin Luther King
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