Movie Analysis: Examining Racism, Identity, and Social Commentary

This document presents an analysis of a movie centered around James Baldwin's perspective on race and civil rights in America. The analysis delves into the film's core message, which conveys a strong political and social commentary on racism. It highlights Baldwin's use of his unfinished novel, interviews, and the stories of his friends—Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, and Malcolm X—to explore the historical and ongoing impact of racial discrimination. The analysis examines Baldwin's key statements, such as "History is not the past. It is the present" and "White is a metaphor for power," to understand his critique of American society and white supremacy. The report also discusses the director's approach in re-examining racism, drawing parallels between past and present events. The overall takeaway emphasizes the persistent racial tensions and the need for societal reevaluation of economic, political, and historical issues.

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Movie Analysis
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Who is James Baldwin?
James Baldwin was a notable American writer and activist. He was a prominent figure in
the social movement of the African Americans. He was also deeply involved in the Civil Rights
Movement and Gay Liberation Movement. The radical advocate of human rights and anti-
racism, Baldwin worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Malcom X and Medgar Evers.
What is he trying to do in this film?
The central message of the movie was to convey a strong political and social message
about racism and civil rights in America. The film is majorly built around Baldwin’s last and
unfinished novel Remember This House and choicest clips from Baldwin’s interview in The Dick
Cavett Show. The focus of the documentary, however, did not stick to his biographical
development, rather did to his social commentary, criticism and vision for the reality of the
African Americans since the time of the Great Depression.
Who are the three friends whom he wants to tell the story of race in America through?
The movie is narrated from Baldwin’s viewpoint of the murders of his three close friends
and comrades—Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers and Malcom X. These are the three
notable activist figures that Baldwin wants to tell the story of race in America through.
Why are those three men so significant (including James Baldwin)?
Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X and Medgar Evers were pioneers of the Black
Liberation and Civil Rights Movement in America. On the other hand, James Baldwin, the
prominent writer, thinker and activist, was a staunch critic of the racism prevalent in the

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American society. These four men have one thing in common—their persistent dissent against
racism and white supremacy. All of them took canonical roles in the Civil Rights Movement,
voicing their concerns for the continuous oppression on the people of color, and leading the
community to earn their due rights in the process.
"History is not the past. It is the present."
By this statement, James Baldwin makes a conscious approach to reinforce the aspect of
identity politics into his critique of the American society. He believes that it is necessary to
constantly reevaluate our social, political, economic and individual progress to make amends
with the past mistakes, and that is what establishes our identity, not who we were or what we
have gone through in the past. Director Raoul Peck, in his Oscar nominated documentary,
adheres to this methodology as well, as he undertakes the task of re-examining the menace of
racism and identity politics in the contemporary society. To this end, he uses recent clippings and
news of black oppression, political conflicts and emancipation, such as police repression in Los
Angeles and Ferguson, Barack Obama’s election as the President etc. to compare the two
timelines. Thus, the movie makes the audience consciously rethink race, oppression and
discrimination.
"White is a metaphor for power."
By this statement, Baldwin refers to white supremacy, which does not only indicate racial
segregation and oppression, but also the disparity in wealth and social status between the African
Americans and average white Americans. He observes that racism is just a part of the social
conflict, while the real issues were embedded in economic and civil rights. The rich became
richer and poor poorer, and nothing changed over the years. Thus, in a white supremacy, power

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is translated through the perpetual reproduction of social class. He simply describes Chase
Manhattan Bank as
"White people invented the negro."
In the documentary, Baldwin asks the average white American man “Why was it
necessary to have a nigger in the first place?” He points out the inherent
hypocrisy present in the existing class culture, stating that the people of color
do not endorse the ‘nigger’, and if someone think them as a nigger, that means
they need to sustain the social stigma, consciously or unconsciously, to maintain
the status quo. Racial segregation and class conflict are carefully maintained to
retain power within the majority. And this is why they are essentially social
constructs.
What’s the overall takeaway message from the film?
Both Baldwin and Peck make a conscious effort to revisit race and identity in this movie.
They both argue, in their respective timeframe, that racial tension is still persistent in the society.
And in the process of rejecting it, society must reevaluate its economic, political and historical
ongoings.