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I wanna do a clubhouse room about Judas & the Black Messiah. Y’all are missing so many things because you’re too busy feigning faux outrage.
Real close friend of mine called me after watching J&TBM yesterday. We’ve worked closely doing theatre work, dramaturgy etc... and she said something so profound that was a bit lost on me because I was so blown away by the performances and cinematography of the film.
She said “I want there to be space for young Black actors to play within their age range. When you use actors that are too old for a non-fictional character, it lowers the stakes.”
Again, having been so moved by the film I asked “how is that? How are the stakes lowered?”
Again, having been so moved by the film I asked “how is that? How are the stakes lowered?”
She had watched the film three times already and did some research.
She informed me that Bill O’ Neal, the FBI informant who aided in the assassination of Fred Hampton was SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD at the time that he infiltrated the Black Panther Party.
She informed me that Bill O’ Neal, the FBI informant who aided in the assassination of Fred Hampton was SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD at the time that he infiltrated the Black Panther Party.
Bill O’ Neal was 17 year old Black child...
in 1960s Chicago...
facing about 7 years in prison.
He was facing a system that had gotten away with the assassination of MLK, Malcolm X and the disposal of countless other Black bodies with absolutely no accountability or justice.
in 1960s Chicago...
facing about 7 years in prison.
He was facing a system that had gotten away with the assassination of MLK, Malcolm X and the disposal of countless other Black bodies with absolutely no accountability or justice.
When you look at Lakeith Stanfield on screen... the fact that his character is a CHILD does not register.
Same for Daniel Kaluyya. Fred Hampton was in his late teens/early 20s when he became familiar with Bill. And was assassinated at 21.
These things are important.
Same for Daniel Kaluyya. Fred Hampton was in his late teens/early 20s when he became familiar with Bill. And was assassinated at 21.
These things are important.
They’re important because they change how we process what Bill O’ Neal did. And WHY he did what he did.
This was a child...
A child facing some very very dangerous things and forced to make some very very hard choices between his own life and the life of others.
This was a child...
A child facing some very very dangerous things and forced to make some very very hard choices between his own life and the life of others.
There is no complete justification for what was done.
But so many people are up in arms that the movie focuses on O’Neal and not Hampton.
But you’re missing that it ALL boils down to the abuse and degradation of Black people.
Everyone was a victim of the system.
But so many people are up in arms that the movie focuses on O’Neal and not Hampton.
But you’re missing that it ALL boils down to the abuse and degradation of Black people.
Everyone was a victim of the system.
The movie was not intended to be a dive into the life of Hampton but that doesn’t make it any less important.
Learning that these historical figures were most under the age of 25 raises the stakes and highlights that these were choices that none of them should have had to make.
Learning that these historical figures were most under the age of 25 raises the stakes and highlights that these were choices that none of them should have had to make.
