Today Straight Outta Compton was released and of course I'd spend the typical outrageous ticket price to see it. It was totally worth it! I had so many reasons to go see the movie. Black film, black actors, a city I am familiar with, a place like home, because it is literally right next door, a look into reality and life as I knew it, a reflection of REAL rap music, a movie that would make history, a movie that is my culture, a movie that I've literally waited a full year to see.
There was an amazing turn out at LA LIVE in Downtown Los Angeles. Showings for the film were down to 3 as all of the others were sold out. Lines waiting to enter the theater started an hour before showtime and movie goers happily awaited to enter although there was assigned seating. And there was police. I was pissed off. Why did they feel it necessary to have extra security for the release of this film?
Talk about fucked up.
They were standing guard as though we were wild animals and unable to control ourselves. As though we would see the movie and flip out. As though we'd be on our own Fuck the Police tip after seeing the movie. I'm not sure if they expected a riot or what, but it ticked me off because it was just so stereotypical. I mean, hello, blacks and Mexicans aren't the ones shooting up theaters, so why should you extend security for a film that is big to both cultures, but especially black culture? This just shows the injustice and racial profiling we are dealing with. And oh the irony of it being depicted in the very film we all were waiting in line to see.
The film was beyond fabulous. You get a look into the history and making of N.W.A., you get a sense of the type of people that are in the music industry, you see the way injustices were handled and so much more. I honestly felt a sense of motivation to not take no for an answer and achieve the things that I really wanted. I felt a sense of unity as I and fellow movie-goers laughed, cried and sang together. It made me feel like anyone who saw the movie may have felt the need to unit, stand-up to injustices and go for their goals. All positives.
I'm glad that those who went out and saw the film were able to show them how wrong they were for the unneeded extra security. There's LAPD there to "greet" us in and out and a diverse crowd that is bonding over great music and political history and injustices.
Yes I'm feeling some type of way about this, because even now there still hasn't been any reports of any incidents by people of color. No issues or attacked on police officers by movie-goers. I get it. It's better to be safe than sorry, but hell, I believe we all take those precautions prior to leaving our houses each day and yet police are still attacking the innocent. Something has got to give and it cannot always be an innocent life.
*Portions of this article are from a Tumblr blog post written by the author.
There was an amazing turn out at LA LIVE in Downtown Los Angeles. Showings for the film were down to 3 as all of the others were sold out. Lines waiting to enter the theater started an hour before showtime and movie goers happily awaited to enter although there was assigned seating. And there was police. I was pissed off. Why did they feel it necessary to have extra security for the release of this film?
Talk about fucked up.
They were standing guard as though we were wild animals and unable to control ourselves. As though we would see the movie and flip out. As though we'd be on our own Fuck the Police tip after seeing the movie. I'm not sure if they expected a riot or what, but it ticked me off because it was just so stereotypical. I mean, hello, blacks and Mexicans aren't the ones shooting up theaters, so why should you extend security for a film that is big to both cultures, but especially black culture? This just shows the injustice and racial profiling we are dealing with. And oh the irony of it being depicted in the very film we all were waiting in line to see.
The film was beyond fabulous. You get a look into the history and making of N.W.A., you get a sense of the type of people that are in the music industry, you see the way injustices were handled and so much more. I honestly felt a sense of motivation to not take no for an answer and achieve the things that I really wanted. I felt a sense of unity as I and fellow movie-goers laughed, cried and sang together. It made me feel like anyone who saw the movie may have felt the need to unit, stand-up to injustices and go for their goals. All positives.
I'm glad that those who went out and saw the film were able to show them how wrong they were for the unneeded extra security. There's LAPD there to "greet" us in and out and a diverse crowd that is bonding over great music and political history and injustices.
Yes I'm feeling some type of way about this, because even now there still hasn't been any reports of any incidents by people of color. No issues or attacked on police officers by movie-goers. I get it. It's better to be safe than sorry, but hell, I believe we all take those precautions prior to leaving our houses each day and yet police are still attacking the innocent. Something has got to give and it cannot always be an innocent life.
*Portions of this article are from a Tumblr blog post written by the author.
WRITTEN BY: VIOLA CONSTANCE | @Voila_its_Viola
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