Safeguarding and Cinema

I haven’t checked out Seven Seconds yet because what I’ve heard so far makes me feel like I need to seriously mentally prepare for it.

This might be one of those things that I’ll check out in a year or two.

I still haven’t seen Fruitvale Station for similar reasons. As a matter of fact, I have a growing list of films I haven’t seen for similar reasons.

One reason being is that I’m familiar with how the stories end. Law enforcement is going to do what law enforcement does, wash, rinse, repeat.

Whether it’s based in a true story or a fictitious imagining of what actually happens, usually when I find myself considering watching some film, I’m reminded that those very real dynamics that are products of white supremacy are playing out in real life.

I have to admit, sometimes I think to myself “Why would I put myself through watching this on top of that? Is this film even for me? Why do I need to remind myself of things of which I am already intimately aware of?”

Some days are better than others, and sometimes I will watch, but considering the growing list of films that I’ve shelved and haven’t picked up it might be safe to say that I won’t. No disrespect to the filmmakers (as long as the stories aren’t whitewashed), and folks that create, and use film to raise awareness and advocate and bring to the forefront things that would otherwise be swept under the rug, but I legitimately feel this way sometimes.

When I think of how they’re focusing on this brother’s toxicology report instead of the conduct of the officers, in contrast to how white male mass shooters are humanized, or what those “fans” did after the Super Bowl, or #BlackLivesMatter’s reception in contrast to March for our Lives, among other examples, I think to myself:“You know what? Seven Seconds can wait.”

Ubuntu,

From Aspiring Humanitarian, Relando Thompkins-Jones

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