Steps towards justice

In the exploration of racial injustices through these works , Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” and Desmond Cole’s “Negro Frolics” stand as powerful examples that depict the disadvantages of black folks in our society and show us how difficult their life is. This struggle is often looked over by white people due to the lack of knowledge and never being put in these types of positions. This essay aims to depict how these two narratives shed light on the nature of racism, ultimately emphasising the need for systemic change and social justice for the Afro American population.

“Get Out” and “Negro Frolics” explore the subject of institutional and systematic racism and how it affects Black people and communities on a daily basis. In the movie “Get Out,” a dark story about White characters taking use of Black bodies for their personal gain is used to depict institutional racism. This storyline reflects both historical and modern instances of appropriation and exploitation “You’re so much stronger than all of the other ones. I mean, physically.” -Walter (Peele). Rosa’s brother says this, making black people sound like machines and tools almost dehumanising them. There also includes a scene revolving around black people’s experience with the police. After doing no wrong at all Chris is asked to present his ID to the sergeant. Rosa then gets to his defense as she senses systematic racism being done to her boyfriend Chris .Comparably, “Negro Frolics” by Desmond Cole highlights discriminatory laws and practices that disproportionately impact Black Canadians in fields including work, and law enforcement. It also exposes institutional racism in Canada. The frequent raids on John’s (a black man) art gallery by Toronto police without any justification or warrant serve as a visual representation of the city’s institutionalised racism. After their raid, John lost his art gallery and his dream. His skin tone alone was exploited to incite suspicion of an unfounded crime.In our society, these issues occur daily. Systematic racism is very present and seen through many aspects of our system like the judicial system, police brutality, job opportunities and a ton of other factors. Black males living in Toronto are 3 times more likely to be stopped and asked for identification by police. Racialized Canadians earn 81 cents for every dollar a white person does (Government of Canada, 2020).Together, “Get Out” and “Negro Frolics” illustrate the impact of institutional and systematic racism, to viewers and readers to confront these injustices and work towards systematic progress.

 “Get Out” and “Negro Frolics” are similar in that they both talk about white supremacist practices. But in this case we get from the white person’s side(Rosa’s family) and the black side(Desmond Cole). The Armitage family’s references to Black bodies as superior, that being the reason they want to plant their brains inside them. Along with that, the scene of the slave auction when white people were bidding for Chris. These examples show white supremacist and depict how white’s use black people to their benefit in any way they can.“Get Out” exposes the idea of white superiority and the exploitation of Black culture. “White supremacy designates black people as less than full human beings, as disposable labour, as chattel placed on earth for the benefit of white people”(Cole,8). Desmond Cole’s piece discusses how Black culture is appropriated for commercial gain and how the black and indigenous population have been taken advantage of due to European imperialism. Seeing how these 2 sides fight against eachother is quite interesting as we observe the white people’s intentions through “Get out” and the black populations response in “Negro Frolics”.

In conclusion both these works depict modern and recurring issues related to black people’s lives. Through “Get Out” and “Negro Frolics,” we’re confronted with stories of resilience when faced with racism. Peele’s movie and Cole’s analysis show us the harsh realities of white supremacy and systemic racism and how truly difficult it really is to live as a black man in the western world. From the  auction scene in “Get Out” to the  police raids in “Negro Frolics,” the struggles are highlighted and pure injustice is saw by the audience. But in these stories, there’s also a call to action,a call to break down the  systems chaining down black folks and work towards a more just world. 

References:

Government of Canada. (2020, October 16). Facts and figures. Www.canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/federal-anti-racism-secretariat/facts-figures.html

Cole, D. (2022, August 2). The Skin We’re In. Anchor Canada. http://books.google.ie/books?id=1hN7EAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+skin+we%27re+in&hl=&cd=1&source=gbs_api

Peele, J. (2017) Get Out, Blumhouse Productions

One thought on “Steps towards justice

  1. You’ve provided a good summary of key events from “Get Out” and “Negro Frolics,” showing a basic understanding of the texts. To deepen your analysis, consider exploring the symbolism and thematic elements in greater detail, such as the significance of the “sunken place” in “Get Out” and how it relates to Cole’s experiences. Discuss the implications of Cole’s and Peele’s works on our understanding of race relations in contemporary society.

    You’ve effectively used quotes from both “Get Out” and “Negro Frolics” to support your points. When quoting or paraphrasing, make sure to analyze and explain how the evidence supports your thesis, rather than just presenting the quote. Remember to integrate MLA in-text citations directly after the quotes you use to ensure proper academic practice.

    Your thesis statement could be more clearly articulated.  Ensure that your thesis directly addresses how these works convey the relationship Black men have to society, as well as what they teach us about the history of racism in both countries. Try to integrate a more explicit argument that threads through your entire essay, connecting the examples you’ve chosen from both works to your central claim.

    Your writing is generally clear, but watch out for run-on sentences that could hinder readability.  Proofread for minor grammatical errors and ensure that your sentences are concise and to the point.  

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