MovieChat Forums > First Sunday (2008) Discussion > This is what's wrong with the black comm...

This is what's wrong with the black community.

posted 16 years ago by bwall001
15 replies | jump to latest

We have two hoods/thugs robbing a church at gunpoint and someway, somehow, they're made out to be good guys while the church going deacon ends up as the villian. And on top of that the rev's daughter looks as if she has the hots for one of them while she probably wouldn't give the young dude in the choir the time of day. He would be too boring. How typical. I don't know about any of you but if somebody held me hostage at gunpoint, I'm not going to bat for them at their trial. I can actually see that happening in real life. For some reason the ex-con, jobless homeboy of the neighborhood gets all the love and the working class good guy gets none.

I feel far to often that too many blacks embrace bad behavior. I'm sorry if I rubbed some the wrong way, but that's how I feel.

[–] LadyDi2U 16 years ago

They were made out to be good guys... as far as a MOVIE goes. It showed the lengths that a person goes to to save whatever... in this case his son from leaving him. This was the movie version which we do realize that it may not go down like that in the real community. As I said in other posts here, forgiveness and salvation were a huge part of the story. Some people may be redeemable if given a second chance which occurs off the big screen as well.

As for the not going to bat for someone who holds you gunpoint, how would you know until given the situation? I think what I said aboves applies to this as well.

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I believe GOD is an entity, not a sex.

[–] bwall001 16 years ago

Let me ask you this. Would YOU go to bat for someone who threatened to blow your head off? The one woman had a child.

[–] LadyDi2U 16 years ago

I grew up with the line 'never say never' and how many times 'never' has changed to 'well...'. I've had worse happen to me and yes, I did forgive then as I may in the future on another incident. It's a whole lot lighter on my spirituality to allow GOD to handle that. Holding anger was a heavy load let me tell you. It's all in how you live, learn and love... in whatever order you like. "Let go and let GOD' is how I move now. But... that could change too depending on the circumstance(s). For the record, no I do not attend "church".

***************************************
I believe GOD is an entity, not a sex.

[–] bwall001 16 years ago

It's not about holding anger as it's more about being held accountable for your actions. I strongly believe that one should have to pay for their crimes. I'm not saying someone can't make up for it, but you hold innocent people at gunpoint, you should do time. People have been put in jail for a lot less.

[–] LadyDi2U 16 years ago

Remember, this was in a church and the "church" view "seemingly" is about redemption, salvation and forgiveness. Maybe another church would have handled it differently, who knows. I saw it as they all survived, maybe a lil scarred but they decided to try to work with instead of against. The whole point was to show that people make mistakes and are held accountable but by GOD not by humans which is why my spirituality is as firm as it is once I totally understood what that meant. Again, this could change if...

***************************************
I believe GOD is an entity, not a sex.

[–] tmbshakaman21 16 years ago

this movie was never about good or bad. like ladydi said its about forgiving, as christ supposedly gives to those who confess to their sins. and in the movie they do try to stress the fact that ice cube is actually a loving father who just made a desperate and bad choice to support his son. but hey, i just saw the movie as a bad attempt to promote the church

d(-_-)b

[–] LadyDi2U 16 years ago

I don't feel they tried to "promote" church so much as bringing to light what could happen in a church being robbed. See in Talbert's interview on the DVD, his background is of the church - backwards down the line and right over to his brother being a pastor, I think he said. It's just one man's perception of how the situation could be handled. It's not the "holy grail" of anything. The bottom line was if they incarcerated the men, would they be helping or hurting the entire situation (i.e Durell who does have redeeming qualities, his son, his son's Mom, his grandmother - who was one of the highest contributors to/for the church, the lil boy LeeJohn took to the bathroom, etc). Check the huge banners that hung over the streets as the film wrapped up.

***************************************
I believe GOD is an entity, not a sex.

[–] disconnexions 16 years ago

I wonder if they forgave the deacon too.

Seriously though, I do see where the OP has issues with the plot. I hadn't thought of it that way, but speaking as a "black nerd" I am well aware of the way we sqaure guys are looked at in our community. I have a brother that gets doted on by my family and never stops selling drugs and going to jail. They will give him anything he wants, but I have to work for everything I've ever had.

http://www.disconnexions.com

[–] LadyDi2U 16 years ago

There's one in every family, but I found out that the one(s) who worked for everything... are the ones who get called when someone gets sick, jailed, etc. I know...

We're also the ones that the whole world knows about because of the shame attached to those who aren't doing as good. Not sure if it's like that for everyone. I can only say how it affected me.

***************************************
I believe GOD is an entity, not a sex.

[–] bwall001 16 years ago

disconnexions,

That's EXACTLY my point. I'm in the same boat. I work an honest job, supports myself and stays out of trouble. On the other hand, there's some in my family that was been in jail(numerous times) and aren't living a good, productive life but they're seen in a better light for some strange reason.

You also bring up a good point. I also wonder did they forgive the deacon? Atleast he didn't hold them hostage at gunpoint.

[–] LadyDi2U 16 years ago

I think they forgave the deacon but excused him right on to another church/career path. (laughs)

***************************************
I believe GOD is an entity, not a sex.

[–] mswoc 15 years ago

its a pretty pathetic movie, even for a lame comedy so its hard to even take it that seriously

but it is entertaining and amusing, especially to see mister foul-mouth F every other word it-was-a-good-day of the '90s attempt a church-message

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] IamGod333 12 years ago

Do not ever apologize for what you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And your observation is totally correct! I loved what you wrote here. You are correct, we never know when we are being offened! We laughed at Martin Lawrences show for years and gave him awards for that cooning. The light skinned black girl was the intelligent one and the dark skineed girl the fool! Black churches are a scam in my opinion. Ok, I should say that not all of them are and most do not intend to be, but they aren't helping blacks do anything but get inspired one day per week, and then it's back to sin. If they really help blacks then why is it that there are Arab,Asian and Indian business all around black communities making money off of us? The black church should be teaching the biblical message of not allowing another to drain the life blood of your people. The arabs own the gas stations, cheap hotels for the Indians, beauty supply and rice joints for the Asians. It's a damn shame. We are lauging our way into extinction with movies like First Sunday!

[–] kairingler 11 years ago

I used to dive a taxi in the late 90's in Pleasantville, New Jersey, 95% black, and I agree I seen countless characters on the streets and met in person,, and in those neighborhoods they were glorified.

are you going to bark all day little doggie,, or are you going to bite