Whipped By Slave Depictions?

Following the recent trend of remakes and reboots, Alex Haley's genealogical tale "Roots" is the latest film to be rejuvenated after nearly 40 years. This decision has evoked a range of reactions. While some praise the willingness to tell a story that time and society threaten to obscure, there are others who have had more than their fill of slave narratives. Snoop Dogg identified with the latter, expressing his disapproval in an NSFW video rant. He said he'd prefer to see more positive depictions of Africans and their descendants. This, in turn, elicited a passionate rebuttal from Roland Martin, who chastised Snoop for his use of the "n-word" and his lack of involvement in uplifting black movies.

Just like any polarizing topic, it's important to focus on what's actually being said (as opposed to trying to argue against what isn't). When you make false comparisons or attribute statements and sentiments to people who never uttered them, you make the conversation more complex than necessary.

Can we stay on topic please?!

What did Snoop actually say? In a nutshell, he complained that movies about the Black American experience seem to only involve slavery, and that few movies highlight successes since then or attempt to explore the African origins of the people who eventually became slaves. Considering the ongoing struggle for equality today, he doesn't feel that slave movies contribute to morale. Is this true, or are there an abundance of movies about African kingdoms and successful Black Americans that people are conveniently ignoring?

On the other hand, it is also important to remember that history is not taught the same across the board. History books are constantly being revised (for better and worse) and there are MANY people who are clueless about what has actually happened in the past. Some of these people are responsible for educating the next generation.

Are there too many movies about slaves? Is Black America tired of having the same (partial) narrative shoved in their faces?

What if it's an exaggeration and there really aren't THAT many movies? Isn't it necessary to keep that facet of history in current conversation so that it isn't forgotten? 

Also, is it necessary to have a long list of positive contributions under your belt in order to express your disapproval?

Think before you answer.

So many questions ... and you have the answers.

#BreakBreadBro

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