A very big frustration for me as a reviewer is that thirty or forty years ago when the content of films was a bit more refined, members of ethnic groups were seldom the main focus in the movies. Now, when African Americans and Hispanics are given more prominence on the silver screen, the material has become so raunchy that I seldom am able to recommend a film showcasing them. Believe me, I want to promote filmmakers of every race. America is a vast fabric of interwoven cultures that make our country unique. I enjoy seeing the perspective of others. But that said, crudity and constant foul language do not represent all black people. I saw an African American couple walk out of this film. I could tell that they were offended by the film’s rude and offensive material. (There are over 170 uses of one obscenity, alone.) From discussions with friends, I know different racial groups are frustrated by how they are portrayed in the cinema. Fortunately, there are many classic films that represent the black community. To name a few: “Sounder,” “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,” “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,” “Cabin In the Sky,” “Carmen Jones,” “The Color Purple,” “The Court Martial of Jackie Robinson,” “The Defiant Ones,” “A Dream for Christmas,” “Glory,” “Lean On Me,” “Lilies of the Field,” “The Preacher’s Wife,” and my favorite film from 1998, “Down in the Delta.” But what makes these films remarkable is their ability to thread a common bond throughout humanity. They teach us about one race while encompassing the hopes and dreams of all people. Here’s hoping that someday everyone will be represented in the movies.
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