There has been varying reviews from many perspectives. There have been even more controversies surrounding the rape charges against Parker in college and another student. The rape has been a source of much tension enveloping Nate Parker's controversial film.
I neither want to go into the rape allegations or cinematography of the film. There are those with much more expertise than me to opine on those things. However, I want to focus on something that I am a follower of and also have some academic background. And that would be Christian theology.
Let's face it. Blacks in the US, and in general, are some of the most religious people throughout the world. It doesn't matter what the faith is whether Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, or African Traditional Religion Blacks tend to be strong adherents to religions and denominations and all too often become dogmatic adherents in my humble opinion.
Blacks tend to be so supportive of our various religious faiths whether we are Christians, Catholics, 7 Day Adventist, Muslim, Buddhists, etc. However, as a group we have to ask ourselves are our religious faiths being used to make us capitulate to power or on the other hand empower ourselves?Actually after seeing the movie what the movie showed was the synthesis of African Spirituality and Biblical advocacy inspiring justice and revolution in scriptures that merged to form a new expression of Radical Black Christianity. Blacks formed their own Churches that got involved with insurrections, fighting against slavery, and helped them empower our community. It showed how Blacks "stole away" to have their own services where they could be truly free Spiritually which also lead to the desire for physical freedom.
That was the brilliance of the film. No film has ever explored that before on this scale. If it gets a discussion on Blacks questioning their religious faith and a revisiting a more progressive community oriented Christianity I'm good with it. It will be making a great contribution to Black religious thought.
As a slavery period film it wasn't heads above shoulders above the rest. However, Christianity has become a major enterprise in the US too often encouraging people to capitulate to power in present times.
Therefore, I appreciate his angle to shed some light on the new religious expression Blacks created in this country with synthesized theology inspired by African cosmology and scriptures reflecting social righteousness gleaned from the Bible. This I think is one of the most unique things to cogitate over in reference with this film.
I'll be bringing my daughter to this one to have a theological discussion of the historical role of mainstream churches in contrast to progressive churches in this country. In this regard I find the film has significant value
Today we see evangelicals supporting Donald Trump after all the sexaully abusive conversations and allegations of sexual impropriety he's been involved with. It is a discussion Blacks should be having given the political and social issues we have today.What I am alluding to in imagery and social contract is the fact the mainstream church by in large in this country has been a buttress of white power and privilege. The film raises how the purpose of using Christianity was to placate us and make us accept our enslaved positions in society. However, we created a new interpretation of Christianity based on African inspired Spirit possession and communal love and Biblical themes on fighting injustice.
And I must state for the record is one thing the critical reviewers didn't understand about the film was the horrific nature and trauma of rape. Rape really called chattel slavery into question as an unGodly institution to Christianized slaves since the Bible rails against it so strongly.
I am sure rape next to lynching and murder was what motivated Black people and men to fight slavery with everything they had (some reviewers ironically actually castigated Nat Parker for using rape as an impetus for Rebellion and Revolution). But imagine living in a society where your mother, wife, and sisters could be forced upon at any time? Aw hell naw that system to our ancestors I'm sure couldn't be tolerated any longer.
I think one of the reasons a large slice of the Black community hates slave movies is because they have to recall the savage rapes our ancestors had to endure. It is traumatizing to say the least. It is ironic how rape has become a big issue around this film from all sides.
Some are calling birth of a nation a flop. However Birth of a Nation made a lot more the 1st week than "12 Years a Slave." 12 Years a Slave went on to make 56 million internationally. All things considered it made a lot of money.
The value of the flim is really the question of how religion is being used in our community. Religion can be a tool of enslavement or empowerment and this movie drives that point home like no other major motion picture before it.
About the Publisher of Kamau's Qu!ps
Kamau's Qu!ps is Published by Kamau Austin. Austin is a popular Blogger with over 11,000 connections in social media. Austin is an author, writer, and Internet Marketing Professional helping small businesses grow more profitable businesses online.If you need web design, blogging, search engine or social media promotion contact him at Search Engine Plan
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