This past weekend, rapper snoop dogg stated in a video post that he had no plans to watch the Roots remake, further, he was asking fans to boycott the remake from the 1977 original hit series written by Alex Haley. “I’m sick of this shit. How the f— are they going to put Roots on, on Memorial Day?” They gone just keep beating that shit into our heads about how they did us, huh?” He went on to say “I ain’t watching that shit, and I advise you motherf—ers as real n— like myself; f— them television shows,” Snoop said. “Let’s create our own shit based on today, how we live and how we inspire people today. Black is what’s real. F— that old shit.”While Snoop may have a point and a Pulitzer Prize winning original series like the original should never have been remade out of pure respect to the late Haley is remotely possible that a segment or even a large portion of blacks could actually BENEFIT from the history lesson and the movies? Like today’s generation who probably learned very little about slavery in our struggling public educational system or many successful blacks who have been accused of making money, leaving the black community behind and rest assured that they have arrived until THEY become the victims of racism? Which one is it or is it both scenarios? We’re wondering what you think, feel free to comment.
Slave Movies: Setting Blacks Back or a Needed "Reminder" to Move Ahead?
You know I have always thought about the fact that (they)Produce Movies and TV shows depicting what happened in slavery and (WE) are the only ones who pay to see it.
So here is my take: They make a movie about Slavery and we pay to see how they Beat our behinds and the movie makes us Mad while watching it. And then they make money off of a movie about our past at the Box Office.
Like the Django flick or 12 years a Slave. There are no movies about Jews getting their butts kick by Hitler at the theater for Jews of today to go see.
I am down with Snoop, but my take is YES we should know our History but I will not pay (THEM) to tell it to me in a movie or Book that has a single point of view! HIS-Story
….but how else will we learn it. I don’t see anything wrong with paying to get an education about my history if my children are not going to be taught about it in the school system. Yes, it makes me mad to see that but it also makes me mad to see 500 black kids lined up around the block to get a pair of Jordans, with the risk of getting killed for them?
Imagine if we placed as much value on our history as we do a pair of sneakers. Where would we be as a race? We are the only culture that GIVES our rich and creative culture away then complains about it when other races use it. All of this comes from not having a TRUE appreciation for our history, ancestors or even grandparents.
Keep making the movies… maybe we will get pissed off enough to make some changes. I’m not sure if Snoop realizes it but it pissed him off enough to ask us to step up to the plate… THAT’S THE IDEA… and the winner is! Thanks Mitch..
Why are we the only group who wants to run from our history? Other ethnic groups use their historical strife 1) as a teachable moment for each generation so they will never forget 2) to let the “oppressor” know they won’t forget 3 ) as an inspiration to strengthen the determination to prove that those who endured that harsh subhuman life didn’t do it in vain. Our Jewish brothers & sisters (former slaves) will remind you of the Holocaust and teach their children about the atrocities of that event to “never let it happen again nor ever to forget”. They use their history as slaves to inspire their children to work with their minds vs their hands hence lawyers/doctors/accountants (excuse the stereotype) .
Yes, we were physical slaves (some are still mental slaves) but ‘Roots’ is a story that each generation should see but with an explanation of why it’s important to succeed. Why we continuously prove that we are not what some perceived us to be. I’m glad that Will is getting an oportunity to expand the on the story and make it real for this generation. We won’t forget and we won’t let others forget. Education is the key!
Now if we can just get rid of the “slave mentality” that glorifies the worst in us versus the best in us…
I watched “Roots” with my 9 year old baby girl. I don’t care what any celebrity says. There will always be some black folks who are going to say “we need to forget the past and the slavery stuff”. I really enjoyed answering the questions my daughter asked as we watched the presentation. Watching Roots can’t be any worse than some of the other things(music included) that she is “subjected” to on a daily basis.