It shows another example of the racism that prevailed in this country and to see that Ms. Baker was pardoned 60 years later is a crying shame.
What's that trite little saying? "Those who forget history are destined to repeat it."
Let's not close our eyes and pretend things like this never happened. Yes, we have a man of color in the White House. But just listen to his detractors. Look at the jokes and parodies of him and his wife bandied about. And you're reminded that 60 years ago isn't so very long in the past and we perhaps haven't come as long a way as folks like to say.
You're right. This movie depicts the degradation and inhumanity suffered by African-Americans a mere 3-4 generations ago and the systematic support of it. The movie is supposed to incense. It's also supposed to inform and to remind. To urge people not to forget. To make sure that it doesn't happen again. In the same way the movies about another 60 yr old event - The Holocaust - continue to be made.
How many times do you want to see the overt racism and injustices that we endured as African-Americans in the early 1900's???
You know, it's 2011. If you don't want to watch a movie about racism and injustice, you don't have to.
If you can't walk and talk/text at the same time, do the rest of us a favor and get out of the way.
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vprincejr
12 years ago
Believe you me I am well aware of the racial injustices that we endured because I lived it. What I do not understand is the outward acceptance of this movie by filmwatchers.
This movie if nothing else left me very sad as to see these types of movies being applauded over and over again.
I betcha Jews have problems seeing Holocaust movies and to be quite honest there are not many of these movies that are shown as opposed to the myriad of movies showing African-Americans being depicted in negative stereotypical ways.
We need to rise up from these depictions but unfortunately there are still negative images that we still today portray and can't seem to distance ourselves from....pants worn below the butt, ebonics...should I go on?
Even our President is still receiving racist comments that should not be accepted or allowed. I hear newscasters call him "Obama", but you hear "former President Clinton or Bush and so on".
When does it end? How much do we accept?
We need to start seeing African-Americans portrayed in positive ways!
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12 years ago
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vprincejr
12 years ago
I'm 53 and yes....it's very important for our youth to see all that we endured in the history of the United States, but what is the good thing about this movie? That she was pardoned for killing her abuser 60 years later???? I think not. It's an absolute shame that it took that long for her to receive this decision. This shows the injustices that we continue to face as African-Americans. Her being pardoned 60 years later makes the subject matter of the movie even less redeeming.
Give me something with a great lesson behind it...there's no lesson to be learned from this movie. Do you have any positive lessons to be learned from this movie?
DO TELL!!!
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12 years ago
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Law-N-Order
12 years ago
I'd never heard of Lena Baker before this movie..so FOR ME..I am HAPPY it was made.
No, it is not something positive,,but it is a story about the injustice of yet another black woman in the south !
Not to mention... allowing those who didn't know, to NOW KNOW who the first woman ( black ) was who was put to death in Georgia !
REALLY..I mean..REALLY ?!..
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marbleann
10 years ago
I agree with Law-n-Order I never heard of this woman before. So yes I was happy it was made. And we should never sweep incidents like these under the carpet. There should be more movies like this because sure are not learning about it anywhere else. This is a woman who was executed because some coot made her into a sexual slave and she killed him. Her name should be known to all. Maybe when this country wakes up about not just past injustices but current our justice system will before to straighten itself out.
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