Guess Who's coming to Dinner

“Guess Whos coming to Dinner” is a movie that revolves around unreliability and confusion. The movie was made in 1967. All the characters in the movie are seen as stubborn and hardheaded. They all have something to say and think about everything going on, this kept the movie entertaining. The movie's male lead role was a black man, John Prentice, played by Sidney Poitier. The movie's female lead role was a white woman, Joanna Drayton, played by Katherine Houghton. The two characters are the main couple throughout the movie. However, the twist the movie presents is this couple wants to get married. However little do they understand that a white woman and a black man getting married during this time period is a disgrace and is not accepted. 

Joanna Drayton is a white woman who thinks everything is perfect in the world, she sees no issues with anything and makes the best out of everything that comes her way. When I saw the way she acted and viewed everything in life I was like wow that's crazy, that must be super nice to be able to do that. I believe everyone should live their life somewhat similar to how Drayton does. However in reality no one is able to do that because of the world we live in today. John Prentice, a black man, is seen to have no issues, is perceived as the perfect guy, and could be described as “him”.

So, now imagine this couple together during the mid-1900s, they are truly a power couple and they have to take on everyone else in the world who does not think getting married to the opposite race is acceptable. One of the main figures who believes getting married is a disgrace is Drayton's dad.

After watching the film I found the movie's name to be ironic. This is because the movie revolves around a perfect couple who wants to get married but lives in a society where it is seen as a disgrace. The hilarious part I realized was when the producers named the movie as they did because it is supposed to represent a common joke when kids tell their parents if their significant other can come over for dinner to meet the family. But in this case, the significant other is a black flawless man. So when the father of Drayton finally meets the man his daughter wants to marry it is funny because he never thought he would be African American. 

However, in all seriousness, this is still a common issue seen today. Often children get discouraged when wanting to become friends, date, hang out, etc with another race, especially black. This is because African Americans often always get discriminated against by other people. When someone sees their child with a race that is not accepted they are seen as a disgrace. This is a cultural barrier that many people have to face. I even have faced this as a Hispanic, specifically Puerto Rican. This issue can occur with all people. For example, as a Hispanic my family expects me to speak full Spanish, date Latino girls, and become custom to all our traditions. 

This is the bar line many people have to face. This is what the “guess whos coming to dinner” main lesson is. The film is trying to show all of the barriers and hardships people have to deal with regarding this topic. The main couple has yet to realize what they desire is not accepted in society and all of the issues and hardships that are going to come with getting married to opposite races. The film in total was a very nice end-of-the-year film to really tie everything together and show how there are still many issues today that people deal with of all races. It was also nice to see the perspective of both white and black during the movie and see the lead male role being played as a black man described as flawless. 

Klansville USA Today Documentary

 

North Carolina took on the nickname “Klansville, U.S.A'' after a man named Bob Jones revitalized the Ku Klux Klan. Post-American Civil war, confederate soldiers formed the KKK in 1865. They were a violent group that targeted, attacked, or killed African Americans or those who supported them. However, the government overrode the Klan and it began to fall apart in 1871. Through this time period, the KKK did not seem to make much progress. Instead, they gathered in their white costumes, preaching violence and racist ideology against black people.

However, in 1915, the movie, “The Birth of a Nation” was the turning point for the comeback of the Klan. The movie portrayed the KKK as idols who were vital in order to re-establish the South. By 1925, four million Americans took part in the Klan. This movie was admired by many southerners, especially those of low income because they believed that black people were beginning to take over. Therefore, Bob Jones became their voice. 

Bob Jones wanted to stop the progress of the growth of opportunity for African Americans in the south. Jones worked smaller, different jobs with very little education after being emitted from the Navy when he refused to salute an African American officer. He wanted to put a halt to the uprise of African Americans before the change in the south left people like him behind. Being raised in a poor white family and accepting racist beliefs at an early age also expanded his reasons to fight against this progression. By 1963, Jones created what would become the biggest Klan group in America, and he became known as the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan. 

As North Carolina’s government desired to continue the slow progression, there were large amounts of unrest in society. Bob Jones wanted to keep building his Klan, while the government wanted to continue paving the way for African Americans. It became a no-win situation. 

I think this documentary was a good representation of helping viewers understand why people would join the Klan in the first place. By no means is this morally justified and I think it is interesting how a movie could spark so much hate that one person would want to revitalize the Klan. However, the south would never be brought back to the racism it held prior to the war. No matter how large the Klan grew, it was not large enough to prevent African Americans from getting what they deserved.

Hazel Scott

Hazel Scott played a significant role in standing up for the justice of African Americans and furthering their progress in justice in America. She was a talented jazz pianist and singer and became a popular performer in America. One of her most remarkable achievements was becoming the first African American woman to host her own TV show. 

She was born in Trinidad on June 11, 1920, and showed early signs of natural talent by three years old, when she could play the piano by ear. Her mom was also a talented pianist and saxophonist who played in all-women bands for a career. Scott and her mother grew very close, and her mother’s connections allowed her to learn from very prominent musicians. Scott was soon accepted into the Juilliard School of Music at 8 years old. This is where her career took off and she began performing professionally. She joined her mom’s jazz band when she was 13 years old and performed on stage as an individual at the Roseland Ballroom at age 15. In 1938, she hosted her own radio show and went on Broadway in a musical. 

In 1939, her career was on a new high. She began to perform at Café Society, New York’s first unsegregated nightclub. Audiences admired Scott’s unique integration of jazz into classical music. Later on, she signed up with a prominent movie studio, RKO. However, she refused to be a singing maid and instead, appeared as herself in five films. Additionally, she demanded the same pay as white people were receiving. Taking a stand against the studio’s racist ideals caused her contract with the studio to eventually dissolve.

However, this did not stop Scott from standing up to discrimination. She was one of the first performers to refuse to play in audiences that were segregated. By 1950, she became the first African-American woman to host her own TV show that aired for 15 minutes, three times per week in New York and eventually expanded nationally. 

However, this was also short-lived. A few months later, Scott was named on Red Channels, where she was accused of supporting Communists and performing for organizations affiliated with Communists during the era of McCarthyism. She decided to testify in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee, however, she was overridden, and “The Hazel Scott Show” was canceled. Shortly after, to escape the political fallout, she moved to Paris in 1957 and began performing in Europe where she appeared in a few French films such as Le Désordre et la Nuit. Later she returned back to the United States and continued to perform in nightclubs from time to time and took part in some television, leading up to her death. She continued to display to the public that she was against McCarthyism and racism. 

Although Scott’s career did not end on the highest note, she was still deemed monumental in the movement of blacks in society. Her short-lived television show developed “a glimmer of hope for African American viewers” during a time of intense racism. She enhanced the representation of African Americans in film and was one who stood up for what she believed in, despite setbacks created by those who did not support her ideals.

University of California Medical School at Davis. v.s. Bakke

Allan Bakke a 35-year-old white male was denied from the University of California Medical School at Davis. Bakke was not only denied once but twice from this school. This medical school reserved 16 singular spots out of 100 for minority groups. The school applied this method to their classes as a solution to longstanding unequal exclusion for minorities of many other races than white. Allan Bakke was denied from this school while unqualified minorities were accepted. Bakke's qualifications were outstanding compared to all of the other minorities accepted over the two-year period that he applied.

Bakke did not believe it was fair for him to be rejected. He believed he was denied because of his race. When Bakke presented in court, he fought that the University of California violated the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause, and violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This case concluded with a common term used often. This term is known as “affirmative action”. Affirmative action is a method used often throughout the university to abolish unlawful discrimination against applicants. This method eliminates prior, present, and future restraints among all applicants. This is usually seen when people are applying for jobs, educational jobs, programs, etc.

Since the school applied an affirmative action policy that resulted in Bakke being denied twice in a row from this medical school, there was a belief it was because of his race. The case concluded in an 8-to-1 decision in favor of Bakke. Allan Bakke's case directly correlates with Brown v the Board's argument. In this case, Brown argued that the buildings and facilities for African American students were inferior to those of white children. Brown ended up winning the case because the Supreme Court favored his argument. In Brown v the Board and California v Bakke, both plaintiffs sued under the same clause.

Both the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 were violated in these cases. In both of these cases, there were similar arguments against the “quota”. Bakke believed since he was white that he was not being accepted to the school, and in Brown, v the Board it was believed since the kids were black they got treated worse. Both of these cases were won in favor of the plaintiffs. This also led to a turning point in Plessy v Fuegson, this case after Brown v the Board was overturned. Allan Bakke knew that the school quota was not equal or justified, this is why he fought in the courts.

The quota made by the school was in the belief that it was treating everyone equally but in reality, there was still discrimination behind the scenes. This is exactly how the Brown v Board case was won due to inequality and violation of the 14th amendment quota. Often quotas made to allow equality end in violation of an Amendment which is often seen throughout history. This is an issue. If Bakke did not speak up then there would have been no justice and prevented future incidents like this. This case was a major turning point in history. University of California Medical School at Davis. Vs. Bakke was significant for many future cases brought to our justice system.

Also, this case brought justice to prior cases. This has allowed so many people to be protected just a tiny bit more under our country's laws. This is just the start of many more unlawful acts, but also is one step closer to the end of many more. People often do not realize how every voice matters and everyone who speaks up have power whether you are African American or any race. 

Into the Heat of the Night

Woah, you must watch this movie! I am not a big fan of old movies but Into the Heat of the Night literally was a heated movie. This movie was completely different from all of the other movies we have watched so far this year. The movie is about a murder of a rich white man in Mississippi. A “redneck” Sheriff that goes by Bill Gillespie works with Virgil Tibbs a “northerner”, to solve the mystery of this murder, and who caused the murder. This movie was so intriguing because of the mystery aspect. There were no crazy-loving dramatic scenes or slow romance parts. 

Throughout the movie, there were a few thrilling scenes that had me wondering, what is going to happen next?! My favorite character easily was Sidney Poiter playing Tibbs. It was extremely interesting how the lead role was actually played by a black male. Often especially during this era of time, blacks did not have options like this which would cause many issues with African Americans being portrayed as in “power”.

I personally liked this twist in the movie as well because in all of the other movies often African Americans were seen as slaves, less, or property. To be able to see a black man as in power was very exciting. Also, I found it entertaining how the film producers made the old white man actually take orders and learn from the black man. Often in society and especially during the filming of this movie black people were always seen as the inferior race and less. When I saw this change in roles and the relationship played between both characters put a smile on my face. 

During Into the Heat of the Night, I found it very hysterical how Virgil actually was the first person to be falsely accused and arrested for Philips Colbert's murder, the rich white man. I believe this was done by the film directors purposely because often during this time of the movie and also during modern times, African Americans are always stereotyped in situations like these. Black people are often seen as the assailant, and never the victim. So when Virgil was found as the murderer at first because he had an ample amount of money found in his wallet, I thought it was comedy because of course the film stereotyped African Americans. 

Although I found the movie to be a comedy, there were also many parts that could have been portrayed as negative. For example, just as I was talking about African Americans being stereotyped as assailants, this is still an issue today. Even though this may have been chosen as a joke throughout the film, even the jokes do not benefit blacks because people will still take things like this seriously, and this is an ongoing issue still in today's society. 

The twist in the movie of having Virgil actually being a wealthy paid detective was the best part. Having this black man play the role of a well-known homicide detective was such a great perspective for other African Americans, especially during this time period. This man was accused of being a murderer, but his reputation saved him and his “power” came into the picture. 

Overall this movie was put together very well. I really liked the different relationships portrayed alongside the humor. Into the Heat of the Night was a stepping stone for filmmaking during the late 1900s. Since this movie was made in 1967 in New York, it also had more technology and support for the overall creation which led to many other films along these concepts. Also producing a movie with this perspective in such an enormous popular city like New York, led to many positive stories being shared and positive views of blacks.

Brown v. Board Reax

Brown versus The Board of education was an extremely important stepping stone for America. This major case took place for nearly two years from December 9th, 1952, to May 17th, 1954. This was a huge part of society because this case revolved directly around education. Black students were being put in separate facilities from white students. This separation would have been a great solution if the facilities for both places were actually equal. African Americans then complained because their black children weren't receiving the same education quality as white kids. This led to a constant disadvantage for African American kids which always portrayed them as worthless.

As a result of these unequal facilities, blacks and whites were put into the same educational facilities once more. However white children and their parents would both complain that their children could not function with a different skin race in the same room as them. 

I found it absurd how even these children were falling into the same social norms as their parents. It was shocking to hear how even children were so disgusted to be in the same room as a black child. These kids were literally being raised in a negative environment against black people. So how is racism supported to end or how are blacks supposed to be seen even if the cycle keeps continuing? 

It was very interesting to hear many different perspectives and concepts from each of the speakers throughout the trial. One specific point of view I really liked was about economics. This case and economics directly correlate. A point made was how much money would be saved economically. If America has to continue to build separate schools, buildings, classrooms, etc, then we are going to go broke. This was an extremely well-made point, which led to the question of what about all the jobs then? The jobs would not change. The same amount of people will be employed, however, the overall concept will just divide kids up into equal amounts per school and facility. 

At the end of the day, this case was ruled unconstitutional even if segregated schools were separate but “equal”. It was crazy to think how at a time there were literally completely separate schools and buildings. This was a major issue in society especially at that time because African Americans no matter what could not be seen as equal. Since these kids never got the same equal education as the white kids this prevented them from growing. 

Another point made by a student presenting was how many black and white women created many important items we used to this day. For example, some things mentioned were traffic lights, frozen trucks, and cutting equipment. These African Americans created and improved all of these things with minimum education. What could these blacks do with the same level of education as whites? Do you think the whites were scared blacks would gain too much power? 

If this case never occurred things would be extremely different right now. Since the Browns won the case in a unanimous 9-0 decision this was huge. This signed the official end of legalized racial segregation in the schools of the United States. This overruled the “separate but equal” principle that was put forth in the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case. To further explain what occurred in this other case, my previous blogs cover all the material. Click this link to compare the Plessy v. Furgeson case to the Brown v. Board case. 

Reconstruction Era

The Reconstruction Act of 1867 cut the South into five military districts that were controlled by the army. During this time Andrew Johnson was president. The President granted many pardons to Confederate leaders. The Reconstruction Era expanded many franchises, evolved the relationship between states and the federal government, and underlined key differences between economic and political democracy. This time period allowed for the United States to be unified as a nation, and led to other states making constitutions, and evolving into the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. 

During the Reconstruction Era, African Americans thrived. Black people were finally able to be considered human, citizens, and “African Americans”. These newly freed slaves were becoming people once more. Black people felt as if they were released from a death collar around their necks. Dark-skinned people were able to grow, advance, and thrive more than they have ever before with their new “citizenship”. 

There were many factors, people, and other concepts that still tried to put African Americans back into their cages. However black people did not let these factors collide with their goals and progress as new citizens. It took extremely long for the idea of returning to the old south to fade away to a minimum. A huge part of blacks gaining citizenship was because of “scalawags”. Scalawags were known as white Southerners who joined the Republican Party and promoted Reconstruction. 

Since African Americans had much more privileges than before, this also led to many upcoming issues regarding congress. The number of black MEN(women had little say still) in congress amplified throughout the Reconstruction era. The first black male in congress was Hiram Rhodes Revels. He was elected in 1870 and won 81 to 15 in the Mississippi legislature. It was a shock finding this out because Mississippi is known to be very Southern. With more and more African Americans in more powerful positions, this was seen as a safeguard and shield for black people. Blacks seemed to be able to get their voice, ideas, and concepts heard more thoroughly with their own kind of representatives in congress. 

Although African Americans now had much more power, there were many factors that were against blacks still. Many people wanted blacks to crawl back into their holes and be sacred once more. As a result of blacks sticking up for themselves, this gave motive to the Ku Klux Klan(KKK). The KKK was designed by mainly southerners to repress all African Americans. The KKK as in result would haze, assault, murder, rape, blackmail, tar/feather, and public harassment. Often the klan would try to intimidate powerful black politicians, businessmen, etc so they could give up their power to racist whites.

Over a long period of time, the South eventually got what it wanted again. The South wanted to revert to their old ways, with more control and power. The South was able to subdue African Americans out of power like in congress and voting by threatening them at the polls so they could not vote for non-KKK members. 

Throughout this time African Americans took advantage of every opportunity given. Blacks did not wait for the KKK to attack them, they acted swiftly and accordingly. They were able to open churches, businesses, farms, stores, etc. A huge stepping stone for African Americans was the opening of colleges eventually. This rise led to many great advancements in the future. This led to the foundation of concepts like HBCUs, UNCF, and NAACP. These three organizations are covered earlier in my blogs as well for further information click this.