I am desperately nostalgic for the moment I grew up in, when almost nobody cared much about race, and almost everybody believed not caring was the outcome we ought to aim at. It was easy to make friends of any race, and nobody had to be too careful about it, or walk on egg shells over it. This was genuinely a happy way to live.
Some people believe that moment was a mass cultural self deception, plastering over deep and meaningful divisions and resentments. Evidence they marshall for that thesis includes the Rodney King riots or the OJ trial. But these events had very little impact on me and my friendships. They didn't actually serve to divide reasonable people along racial lines to the extent the media class would have us believe--certainly not to the extent the elites have successfully divided us since.
I don't want to be divided this way anymore. I don't want racial neuroticism saturating every public event and television commercial. I don't want to be bombarded with racialist propaganda at every turn. I want my friendly, innocent, neighborly culture back.
Yes times a million to all of this. One of the most demoralizing features of our moment is the sense on both Right and Left that people have given up on even the feasibility of that race-neutral arrangement. But we had it! I know we did, and it wasn't a dream--it was the American project working. And it was beautiful. I just don't buy the "we have to give it up because circumstances/imperfections" message we're getting from all corners. This movie kind of confirmed me in that actually.
I had a great time. I loved the affection this film has for ordinary people.
I wish it had spent a little more energy demonstrating (1) why these ideas are false, and (2) the negative consequences of adopting them.
How many young people have grown up thinking they are guilty of systemic oppression? What does that do to your mental health? How does that affect your capacity for ambition and grit?
That would have been worth some additional exploration.
Yes and the evidence I site often are the many sitcoms thru the 70’s and 80’s where we all were able to laugh at one another’s unique “racial” and “cultural” differences. Sanford and Son, Good Times, All In The Family, el al. It allowed us to broach uncomfortable questions. It showed us that those differences were inconsequential. What showed thru was the characters humanity. And humanity is what we all have in common. This showed us that we are Much more alike than superficial characteristics would have us believe. But the left must latch onto those characteristics to keep us off balance and fearful of one another. When we act from fear we do not make very good choices.
Aside from LITERALLY dei-ing of second hand cringe embarrassment, it was great. My teens laughed and on the way home talked about how the “real people” in the movie were the only ones who weren’t racist. And, yes, it is about class, something that truly comes out through the cringe. The only parts that were comfortable to watch were the conversation with the working class people. They were just real.
Like Tolstoy discovered in “A Confession”, the simple working people showed him the path to Jesus. It’s a short read 100 pages or so but an incredible message. It’s like Tolstoy discover MAGA people and they revealed Christ to him in their simple and direct lives.
“In the material way, we are what our ancestors (and thoughts of race) have made us, and there we remain until we are born again as individuals.
There we remain until the morning breaks and the light of the Divine Law of Love shines upon us.
With dazzled eyes, just awakening to the great glory and power that is ours, we climb down from the lap of mother earth and all that she has given us, and "mount up with wings as eagles" to our rightful place as sons and daughters of God.”
I am desperately nostalgic for the moment I grew up in, when almost nobody cared much about race, and almost everybody believed not caring was the outcome we ought to aim at. It was easy to make friends of any race, and nobody had to be too careful about it, or walk on egg shells over it. This was genuinely a happy way to live.
Some people believe that moment was a mass cultural self deception, plastering over deep and meaningful divisions and resentments. Evidence they marshall for that thesis includes the Rodney King riots or the OJ trial. But these events had very little impact on me and my friendships. They didn't actually serve to divide reasonable people along racial lines to the extent the media class would have us believe--certainly not to the extent the elites have successfully divided us since.
I don't want to be divided this way anymore. I don't want racial neuroticism saturating every public event and television commercial. I don't want to be bombarded with racialist propaganda at every turn. I want my friendly, innocent, neighborly culture back.
Yes times a million to all of this. One of the most demoralizing features of our moment is the sense on both Right and Left that people have given up on even the feasibility of that race-neutral arrangement. But we had it! I know we did, and it wasn't a dream--it was the American project working. And it was beautiful. I just don't buy the "we have to give it up because circumstances/imperfections" message we're getting from all corners. This movie kind of confirmed me in that actually.
Worth the cost of admission, then. We have our tickets for tomorrow evening.
Lmk what you think
I had a great time. I loved the affection this film has for ordinary people.
I wish it had spent a little more energy demonstrating (1) why these ideas are false, and (2) the negative consequences of adopting them.
How many young people have grown up thinking they are guilty of systemic oppression? What does that do to your mental health? How does that affect your capacity for ambition and grit?
That would have been worth some additional exploration.
Yes and the evidence I site often are the many sitcoms thru the 70’s and 80’s where we all were able to laugh at one another’s unique “racial” and “cultural” differences. Sanford and Son, Good Times, All In The Family, el al. It allowed us to broach uncomfortable questions. It showed us that those differences were inconsequential. What showed thru was the characters humanity. And humanity is what we all have in common. This showed us that we are Much more alike than superficial characteristics would have us believe. But the left must latch onto those characteristics to keep us off balance and fearful of one another. When we act from fear we do not make very good choices.
Have tickets for Saturday and our whole family is going. Taking our teenagers. Quite excited to see it (and your analysis here is beautiful).
Can't wait to hear what you think!
Aside from LITERALLY dei-ing of second hand cringe embarrassment, it was great. My teens laughed and on the way home talked about how the “real people” in the movie were the only ones who weren’t racist. And, yes, it is about class, something that truly comes out through the cringe. The only parts that were comfortable to watch were the conversation with the working class people. They were just real.
Like Tolstoy discovered in “A Confession”, the simple working people showed him the path to Jesus. It’s a short read 100 pages or so but an incredible message. It’s like Tolstoy discover MAGA people and they revealed Christ to him in their simple and direct lives.
One thousand percent. One of the most striking testimonials from that era.
When watching the guilty white woman dinner, who else thought of this 1983 “Saturday Night Live” skit, starring Eddie Murphy and Stevie Wonder?
https://www.tiktok.com/@retro__dump/video/7253652515072298282?lang=en
Oof haha. Too on point!
“In the material way, we are what our ancestors (and thoughts of race) have made us, and there we remain until we are born again as individuals.
There we remain until the morning breaks and the light of the Divine Law of Love shines upon us.
With dazzled eyes, just awakening to the great glory and power that is ours, we climb down from the lap of mother earth and all that she has given us, and "mount up with wings as eagles" to our rightful place as sons and daughters of God.”
- Lucy Mallory (1843 - 1920)