Is this a realistic portrayal of the south in the 1990s? - A Time to Kill (1996) Discussion

Actually, we have. But Mississippi is a little different. It's taken them a little longer to get the message.

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But is it really THAT BAD in Mississippi to the point where they would seriously sentence a black man to death for executing his daughter's rapists JUST BECAUSE he's black and no other reason?

I admit I have never lived in the south and only visited short periods of time but I find it hard to believe it's still THAT BAD. Maybe because I don't want to believe it, or perhaps I'm ignorant, but I just couldn't see it being THAT BAD. I mean, who in their right mind couldn't sympathize with Carl Lee? Especially if they have kids? I don't even have kids, but I completely condone EVERYTHING he did!!! When I watch this movie, I do not even take race into account and I find it hard to believe anyone else would considering the horrific things his daughter went through. But like I said, maybe I'm either just naive or ignorant, or both.....

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[–] halonone 14 years ago

No. I have lived in Mississippi my entire life (27 years) until about a month ago, I moved. Is it racist? Yeah. Is it as racist as this movie portrays? No. At least not in any of the towns I've ever lived in.

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[–] rachelpirates 13 years ago

I grew up in the South, and I've been to Mississippi a few times. It is probably the most racist state in the country and it known for taking a long time to accept progress. In small towns racism is always much worse too.

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[–] nammage 7 years ago

Especially since they still have the Battle Flag of the CSA on their state flag. Last state to have it.

-Nam

I am on the road less traveled...

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[–] The-Phantom-2040 13 years ago

I can't really speak for Mississippi, but I have spent quite a few years in northern Texas, and let me tell you--Carl Lee would never have survived to trial.

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Sometimes You Plant Seeds For Trees You Never Sit Under

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[–] joflo11 13 years ago

Another southerner here. This is a good movie but it is a ridiculous take on the modern south. Yes, Mississippi is pretty backwards, but probably 95% of the whites even there would have sided with Carl Lee. But other things bothered me too. For example, the Klan playing an active part? Please. The Klan barely exists anymore. Like they would be protesting outside a courthouse with racists signs in the mid 90s. And here it's a small town in Mississippi which has a large black population and there is not a single black person on the jury. That would have never happened. In the O.J. trial, 9 of the 12 jurors were black and LA has a smaller percentage of blacks than this town would have.

But the most absurd part of the movie was the first 5 minutes. The 2 redneck guys are driving through an all black neighborhood riding up in people's yards, throwing beer bottles at them, yelling racists remarks, etc. Then they stop at a country store where there are several large black men around. They knock stuff off the shelves and tell them to pick it up, call them names, etc and walk out untouched. Like it's the 1920s or something and the blacks are scared to do anything. In reality they would have not lived to rape that girl.

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[–] The-Phantom-2040 13 years ago

Regarding the small town, it was mentioned by the prosecutor that that town had a small black population, as opposed to most other neighboring counties. So that made sense. It was too small (and it was hinted at the entire process too crooked) to likely allow even one black juror.

Regarding the first five minutes--have you been to northern Texas? There's a little town called Denison, not that far from Sherman. There are parts in Denison that, two years ago when I was last there, were like those first five minutes in the movie. Blacks lived in one area, and much of the white population were racist--well, anything I used to describe them would be too profane. Suffice to say many of the whites come from a tiny-tiny town (Pottersville? Potters? Something like that Edit to add: Pottsboro! That's the one) that to the day I was last there was one of "those" towns, where blacks simply did not let themselves be in after dark.

Based on my personal experiences, I can buy much of the movie, as much as I might not want to.

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Sometimes You Plant Seeds For Trees You Never Sit Under

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[–] bfuente1 12 years ago

if the black men/boys touched the hyenas during their "joyride" through black neighborhoods, they would have gone to jail.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] thesnowleopard 12 years ago

I think this movie is well-written and well-acted and I do think it once represented the way large areas of the South were like. And there may be pockets of the South that are still like it. However, I think a big problem with this film is that its small town is supposed to be Everytown, Southern U.S. and it's just not.

Innsmouth Free Press http://www.innsmouthfreepress.com

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[–] nammage 7 years ago

I'm also a Southerner and I would have to disagree about your comment on the Klan. I didn't grow up in my home town in Suwannee County, Florida (which basically only has one city of about 6,500 and another small town of 700 and the rest handful of unincorporated towns throughout with less than a couple hundred people). I grew up (at the time) in another small town in Orange County, Florida. I lived in my hometown from 1996-1998, and the KKK was in the local Thanksgiving parade every year I was there. And in Orange County, when i lived there from 1981-1996 and 1998-2012 (moved back to my hometown in 2012) the town I lived in also had the KKK in it every year. While the town in Orange County I grew up in had about 6,500 people in it as well during much of the 1980s to mid 1990s, they are now a city of 45,000. I doubt they allow the KKK in their parades anymore but my point is the Klan has always been around. Their numbers may have diminished since the 1970s but they're still around and their stronghold has always been the South.

-Nam

I am on the road less traveled...

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[–] nammage 7 years ago

Yeah, one of my problems with this film, black Sheriff or not, he wouldn't have made it out of the Court room after he shot three white men. Especially a white police officer.

-Nam

I am on the road less traveled...

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[–] cosmic_quest 13 years ago

A couple of years ago I remember reading about a barber shop in the South that only served white people so yes, I do think this is a realistic portrayal of some areas of the South.

"I always pretend to root for Gryffindors but, secretly, I love my Slytherin boys."~ Karen, W&G

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[–] joflo11 13 years ago

Well, here's something else to think about. If the town has such a small black population. So much so that not one black would on the jury. And if it is such a racist town, then why was the sheriff, an ELECTED official, black????

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[–] nammage 7 years ago

He played in the NFL. If he was an asian wearing a tutu while singing opera... probably could get elected Sheriff if he played in the NFL. Football, God, Country -- usually how it goes in many parts of the South. I remember church was moved to Wednesday because there was a huge game in town on Sunday because there was a tornado coming the following day. They didn't move the game, they moved the day of worshipping Jesus.

I couldn't believe it.

-Nam

I am on the road less traveled...

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[–] Irish_Mist 12 years ago

"A couple of years ago I remember reading about a barber shop in the South that only served white people so yes, I do think this is a realistic portrayal of some areas of the South."

Hmmm... I wonder how long it took the ACLU and the Justice Department to stop that one? How archaic and sad.

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[–] chrisl84notpia 13 years ago

Keep in mind that this film was based on a Grisham novel based in a mid-80's Mississippi small town.

I realize that in the film they modernized it a bit to the 90's as I see some of the people talking on cellphones and modern make of cars but the theme of the book is pretty much the same.

so I guess the answer is no?

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[–] nammage 7 years ago

Cell phones existed in 1984. Of course, I think it cost round $4,000 or something. Doubtful anyone had one in Mississippi. ;-)

-Nam

I am on the road less traveled...

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[–] bfuente1 13 years ago

no. they have a/c units in mississippi in the 90's

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[–] wesperkins 7 years ago

no. they have a/c units in mississippi in the 90's

Lmao I also thought this watching the movie. There is hardly any AC that works in the movie. It gets hot down here and I promise we almost all have air conditioning and don't sweat all the time like portrayed in the movie. I think it's to make Matthew look super sexy with always having a sweat sheen on him, but in reality we use our AC. And no it's not as bad as the movie made it done here as far as the racism goes. Sure there are pockets but the klan doesn't march at trials of black men, and it's very rare for either side to go around beating other races up. The media would have you believe that's an everyday occurrence, but except for a few hot button issues, we all actually get along most of the time.

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[–] lilkunta3 13 years ago

shaun
In the rural parts of Mississipps yes, sadly.
In many small pieces of differnet states there is still horrible racism.

Here are soe examples, buthtese arent murder cases
Look @ North Carolina, 1984: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darryl_Hunt Darryl Hunt isconvicted of rape. After serving 19.5 years DNA exonerates him.
Look @ Tulia Texas in 1999 :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulia,_Texas#1999_drug_arrests
Look @ Hearne, Texas in 2000 :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Violet

Look @ Jena,Louisiana, which was in Fall 2006: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jena_Six

So NO the south hasnt gotten past "this stuff". But things are better.

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[–] Banjaxed08 13 years ago

I am in my early 20s and have lived in Mississippi most of my life. First of all, let me just say that the MS Gulf Coast (especially the small coastal towns close to New Orleans) could NOT be any more different than the rest of the state. The whole culture is different, there is more diversity (racial, religious, and diversity simply among peoples' geographical origins, thanks to the Navy and Air Force bases present), there are lots of casinos, etc...
I do not think that A Time to Kill is in any way a fair representation of the South as a whole, or of Mississippi as a whole. There is going to be racism everywhere, in every part of the world, sadly... But I do think that MS has come further than most people want to give it credit for. Once again, I am not saying it is racism-free, BUT, the small redneck towns in the central to northern part of the state are totally different than the coastal towns. I agree with what a previous poster said about the KKK protesting outside of the court- that would NEVER happen- and if it did, I don't know of any whites, hispanics, Asians, or blacks that wouldn't put a stop to it.

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[–] lilkunta3 13 years ago

I agree with what a previous poster said about the KKK protesting outside of the court- that would NEVER happen- and if it did, I don't know of any whites, hispanics, Asians, or blacks that wouldn't put a stop to it.
banj
The KKK did march to the courthose ON DR KING HOLIDAY in Denver, Memphis,. Freedom of speech & assembly allows them too. They got the proper permit & insurance, they picked the day first, so they were allowed. Anglos Hisp, Asiana AfrAm cant do anything but counter march. The KKK is permitted.
Denver 92: http://articles.latimes.com/1992-01-21/news/mn-709_1_klan-rally
Memphis 98: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402EED91238F93AA25752C 0A96E958260&pagewanted=all
Newport Tenn 02: http://www.earthfirstjournal.org/article.php?id=126
Of course the whole state of Mississippi isnt like Canton, just like the whole South isnt like Canton.
But defninitely this is still happening in different towns/cities in the South.

I posted links above about the Jena 6, about Hearne & Tulia TX, about NC. Thes events were in 84, 96, 06. So yeah it still happens.

& NOT JUST IN THE SOUTH. Cali is west. Look @ the movie Crash.
Look what is happening in Richmond and Oakland Cali to not just afrAm but Hispanics as well. Remember in SanFran that BART cop shot an unarmed man.
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[–] mjm2299 13 years ago

The first 25 years of my life I lived in Chicago, and the last 28 I have lived in Mississippi.
There are small towns in the south AND the north that are Somewhat like the movie.
Think about it, are New York's all mobsters as portrayed in the Sapranos? NO
It's a movie. As far as the KKK they do still exist. When the Presidential Debates were held in
Oxford, home of The University of Mississippi, the klan wanted to come and protest. They were told they would have to get a permit as according to the law. Did they show up, NO
Are we backwards, yes, in some ways. But so are some rural place in the west, east and north.
Are we color blind, NO but neither is any where else! This was a good book and a good movie.
Don't read anything else into it.

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[–] kaybelle 13 years ago

I'm from Georgia and lived here my whole life and I can't comment on Mississippi but here I haven't seen racism like in this film. I have heard some racist jokes but nothing as bad as in this film. Don't get me wrong, I've seen some rednecks but nothing as those 2 guys who raped that girl. But I'm 23 so I probably haven't seen what is all around but I haven't seen anything that bad. But like the poster said I think there are racists everywhere, not just in the south. But like I said, I have never been to Mississippi so I can't comment on that state.

Jesus Christ is

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[–] scannon-9 12 years ago

No. Like another poster said, the first few minutes are ridiculous. That stuff simply does not happen. Maybe in 1950, but not now. Blacks aren't scared of whites anymore. And those haircuts! Gross!

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[–] Gem883 11 years ago

I agree completely... Sadly, this kind of thing does happen everywhere. I lived in NY my entire life (on Long Island) and just recently moved to NC. It may not be the deep south here but there is a LOT less racism where I live now then on LI. I grew up in an all white neighborhood and the majority of the town was so racist. Adults, kids, you name it. I was lucky enough to have parents that didn't condone racial slurs and judging people by their color. But I was one of the few.

I love this movie. It may not be 100% accurate from any standpoint but it does open your eyes a little. At least it did for me.

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[–] Fifballer 11 years ago

Yes. Although racism is all over the USA, the South remains the racist capital of the nation.

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