The Movie Django

Gary L. Willis AFRS 55T (T&emailprotected30) Dr. T. Hasan Johnson 02. 23. 13 Extra Credit The Movie Django unchain The objective of this paper is to study some of the results of the discussion-panels analysis of certain aspects of this moving picture that relate to the Hip-Hop culture. On Thursday, February 21, 2013, I attend a panel discussion hosted by the Africana Studies Department of Fresno State University. It was conducted at the African American Museum, Fresno California. Its part was to evaluate this movies effect on us (basically Black-Americans), by analyzing elements of this movie.This movie presents Black maleness and femininity during the 1860s slavery era of America using characters that portray slaves as childish and stupid (the Betina or DArtagnan), violent (the Mandingo or Django), hypersexual (Sheba) and cowardly (all the black male slaves). These slavery created representations of Black masculinity (the Buck) and femininity (the Jezebel/Mulattoe) ar relevant to Hip-Hop because they be the predominate characters being proffered as entertainment in the overwhelming legal age of Hip-Hop videos.The stereotypical persona of The Buck in the videos is the Gangsta/Thug and The Jezebel/Mulattoe is the Bitch/Ho both are slavery created stereotypes. The Jezebel/Mulatto (Bitch/Ho) The Buck (Gangsta/Thug) Another aspect of this movie relevant to Hip-hop culture is the word ringtail, used incessantly in the movie, just as, its morphed version, common racoon is used incessantly by Hip-Hoppers, in communion and in their videos.Since language is one of the seven essential element of all cultures, the usage of the word nigga was discussed by the panel and audience and as a result of this discussion, we agreed thatwithout the use of the word ringtail, Django Unchained would not be authentic because, in this movie, nigger is a descriptive term, used to call property, e. g. a slave or slaveswith no malice intended. Here are two examples, horse or h orses and house or housesergo, nigger or niggers.The only character that uses nigger other than as a description of property is Stephen (the Uncle Tom played by Samuel L. Jackson). He used the word nigger to take down his fellow black slaves. As with the movies use of nigger, the alike can be said about(predicate) Hip-Hop videos, they would lose its authenticity without the use of the word Nigga because Nigga in Hip-hop is a descriptive turn, but unlike nigger it versatility. For example, it can be used describe a affinity and its meaning changes depending on who is saying it and to whom.For example, in the movie when a Slave-master says My nigger, it does not have the same meaning as a Gangsta/thug or Jezebel/Mulattoe in a Hip-Hop video saying, My Nigga. The Slave-masters are describing their property, while the Hip-Hoppers are describing their relationships. During the audience participation portion of this discussion, a young black- man in the audience (Christopher Jackson) d escribed how much the movie upset him.He also shared with us, the extent to which it made him sack up how horrible slavery was and how much suffering his ancestors had to endure so that he can enjoy the civic rights he has today. He said, Now I truly appreciate my ancestors and men like Martin and Malcolm, who made the net sacrifice so that I can enjoy the freedom I have today. Personal Reflections If the motives for making Django Unchained are to spend a penny us aware of how much our ancestors suffered under the yoke of slavery and to make us cherish our freedom then, Christopher Jacksons words are a testament to this movies success in both endeavorsIn conclusionI, along with many participants in this discussion, enjoyed Django Unchained and hope that there will be more movies made that expose the horrors of slavery, and that, also promote validatory images of black men and women. 1 . This paper was submitted as extra credit for AFRS 27, 55T and 144 2 . Heretofore, us, we, and our refers to Black-Americans 3 . Donald Bogle, Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies & Bucks