James Baldwin and the Meaning of Whiteness
Posted on Feb 19, 2017
The work of James Baldwin, pictured here in 1969, is as relevant today as in his time. The essayist, novelist, poet and social critic died in 1987. (Allan Warren / Wikimedia Commons)(CC-BY-SA)
By Chris Hedges
Raoul Pecks I Am Not Your Negro is one of the finest documentaries I have ever seenI would have stayed in the theater in New York to see the film again if the next showing had not been sold out. The newly released film powerfully illustrates, through James Baldwins prophetic work, that the insanity now gripping the United States is an inevitable consequence of white Americans steadfast failure to confront where they came from, who they are and the lies and myths they use to mask past and present crimes. Baldwins only equal as a 20th century essayist is George Orwell. If you have not read Baldwin you probably do not fully understand America. Especially now.
History is not the past, the film quotes Baldwin as saying. History is the present. We carry our history with us. To think otherwise is criminal.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/james_baldwin_and_the_meaning_of_whiteness_20170219
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)shadowmayor
(1,325 posts)Anything about Mr. Baldwin is compelling, important, American, the list goes on and on.
But simply as documentaries go, this is truly one of the most excellent pieces ever put down on film. Riveting, exhausting, sad, and real - the entire audience was wide-eyed, with their hair blown straight back, mouths agape. It is tremendous!!!!
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)Skittles
(153,298 posts)excellent reviews, and it is playing at my local theater
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)heaven05
(18,124 posts)he has always been a powerful speaker...against the myths of white supremacy and lies of white ameriKKKa that have come to fruition NOW!!!!
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)Jeff Sessions? Bannon and his crew? This is like a warped time machine in my mind.
mnhtnbb
(31,415 posts)He said it was really good.