Summary

The website content reflects on the systemic racism and disparate treatment of Black individuals in both Hollywood and American society, as illustrated by personal anecdotes and recent events involving Ryan Coogler and Jussie Smollett.

Abstract

The article delves into the portrayal of Black men in media and their treatment in real-life scenarios, drawing from the author's experiences in the Philippines and the United States. It highlights the contrast between the celebrated roles of Black Americans in entertainment, such as Ryan Coogler's success with "Black Panther," and the discrimination they face outside the screen, exemplified by Coogler's wrongful detainment for attempting to withdraw his own money. The piece also touches on the Jussie Smollett case, questioning the fairness of the justice system when compared to lenient sentences given to white offenders. The author underscores the persistent societal fear and prejudice against Black men, which manifests in both the entertainment industry and everyday interactions, suggesting that these issues are deeply rooted and far from resolved.

Opinions

The author expresses that media representation during childhood, which often depicted Black men as villains, influenced real-life perceptions of Black individuals.
There is a noted disparity in the treatment of biracial children in the Philippines, with those of white ancestry receiving preferential treatment over those of Black ancestry.
The author's personal experience working on cruise ships revealed a lack of diversity among crew members and passengers, with few Black Americans present.
The election of a Black president, while a significant moment, did not lead to substantial changes in the treatment of Black Americans in society.
The author is moved by the sacrifices of Black Americans during the civil rights movement and believes their contributions should not be forgotten.
The incident involving Ryan Coogler at Bank of America is seen as a clear case of racial profiling and a reminder of the potential deadly consequences of such bias.
The article criticizes the American justice system for its unequal treatment of Black and White Americans, as evidenced by the Jussie Smollett and Christopher Belter cases.
The author implies that the fear of Black men is irrational and deeply ingrained in American culture, affecting both high-profile individuals and the general Black population.

Black Men in Hollywood and on the Streets of America

Jussie Smollett and Ryan Coogler

Growing up, whenever there was a bad guy in a movie, it would be a Black man, and when you are a kid, you don't know anything. So, what you see on TV and in the movies is what you see in real life.

My generation watched American TV and movies. The Philippines hosted the biggest foreign US military bases until 1991. I didn't only see Americans on TV or in the movies. I see them everywhere.

And in the cities where the US had its military bases, there will be a few children whose fathers were American servicemen. A story on its own.

Even as a child, I saw how different these children were treated. The ones who have white skin are treated better than those who have black skin.

In Filipino movies, the fair ones are the lead actors, and those with dark skin are either the villains or the butt of jokes.

America

When I first stepped foot in America, it was in Alaska. The people I saw from the airport were primarily white. Even when I started working on cruise ships, hardly will you find a Black American as a crew member or as a passenger.

It will take a few more contracts to have a firsthand experience with Black Americans. I was their photographer for their group, and I almost got into trouble because I took their photo even if they didn't make any prior arrangement, but it was all worth it. I wanted to make them feel they were treated the same way on ships, Black or White. Every passenger should have the best time of their lives.

When America elected a Black man as its president, the world erupted. But if you look at America today, it feels it didn't change how society treats Black Americans.

I know I am an outsider. Maybe this is something better left for Americans to discuss, but then again, I grew up knowing the sacrifices of many Black Americans during the 60s, at the height of the civil rights movement.

How can you not be moved by Martin Luther King Jr.? or Rosa Parks?

Ryan Coogler — Director, Black Panther

Yesterday on Twitter, the news was that Ryan Coogler, the director of the Black Panther movie, one of the most successful of the Marvel movie featuring a Black actor, was briefly detained by the police in Atlanta for trying to withdraw his own money at a branch of Bank of America.

And we all know that it could quickly lead to Ryan Coogler being dead. So, you only have to Google how many times a Black man very much alive died in the hands of the police?

Yes, Ryan may not be as well-known as the other Hollywood actors or athletes, and he was wearing a face mask, but he also had his ID, and nothing in his demeanor would suggest that he was a criminal, except that his skin had happened to be black.

While Bank of America has already apologized and that Ryan Coogler is alive and safe. This incident should not have happened, and the only way we can explain it is that people fear whenever they see a Black man in real life.

The bank manager and bank teller believed their lives were in danger in the presence of a Black man trying to withdraw his money, the amount of which is $12,000. Was the amount too considerable for any Black American to have in a bank?

Former "Empire" star Jussie Smollett was sentenced to five months in jail.

Jussie Smollett will spend 150 days in jail after being found guilty of "disorderly conduct."

Whatever his reasons were, what he did was wrong. But how many times have White Americans got away with their crimes? Christopher Belter, a young white man, raped four women, but the judge believed that 'incarceration isn't appropriate,' so he got probation.

The judge in the Jussie Smollett had this to say:

“You’ve turned your life upside down by your misconduct and shenanigans. You’ve destroyed your life as you knew it,” Linn said. “You wanted to get the attention and you were so invested in issues of social justice, and you knew this was a sore spot for everybody in this country… You were throwing a national pity party for yourself.” — Judge Linn.

“If I did this it means I stuck my fist in the fears of Black Americans for over 400 years in this country, and the fears of the LGBT community,” Smollett said. “If anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself, and you must all know that.”

In conclusion, race and justice in America is a convoluted puzzle that will not be resolved in our generation.

Race should never factor in how we should be treated or how we should get justice, but today it still does, and it isn't only in Hollywood or the movies. It happens in real life.