MovieChat Forums > Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006) Discussion > Jim Jones and the racial issues

Jim Jones and the racial issues

posted 8 years ago by kbelacqua
1 reply | jump to latest

Basically all I know about the People's Temple comes from this movie. I'm interested in Jones' views on racial equality. Do you think he actually believed in it - at least in the beginning? Or did he just use it as a means to gain more followers? The movie shows many elderly black women joing the cult in the 60s and mentions that people were encouraged to give to the cult all their savings and move onto the farm. It was said that Jones was aware of the discrimination from a young age and it affected him. But wouldn't an oppressed older lady, presumably very religious, be an ideal target for such a manipulator?

Personally, I found his stand on the issue admirable but then I started having second thoughts.

[–] echoesofglory-389-573897 8 years ago

The leadership, at least in Jonestown was predominantly white, so I don't think the ideas of racial equality were completely honest. Personally I think Jim Jones used whatever concept would work for him to get power over other people, but I'm sure he did accept people regardless of color, he did adopt non-white children, if he was a racist that would have been tough for him.