Film Review: 12 Years A Slave

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From: The Black Star Project, U.S.A. <blackstar1000@ameritech.net>
Subject: RE: 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Date: December 7, 2013 1:30:47 PM CST
To: TRIP REYNOLDS <trip@tripoetry.com>

Mr. Reynolds,

I read the review.

While I believe that some of your assessments of the movie were a little rough (as well as some of your language), most of your assessments of where we are today are 100% on target.

My question to you is one that I ask of every Black person to whom I come into contact – What Now?

Phillip Jackson
The Black Star Project

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Yes, you're absolutely correct that some of my language was not only " . . . a little rough," but intentionally very rough, and for the following reasons:

1. The subject is a movie about niggers - not human beings, but "niggers." The "language and tone" used in my review of "12 Years A Slave" is consistent with Willie Lynch-inspired "best practices" for discussing slaves, and again, slaves have no worth as human beings, because they're niggers.

2. "Nigger" is NOT a good word, it's not a nice word, and it's not a nurturing word; and any references to its use must be conveyed in the same context and with language that holds the same virulent meaning (i.e., shit, fuck, etc.). As with my former slave masters on the R.J. Reynolds Plantation, rest assured, whenever I use the word "nigger" (and it's never been my practice to use it) I hold absolutely no positive regard for anyone I target with its use, because they're not worth it, they're "niggers."

3. When "nigger" and "religion" and "politics" and "money" are used chronologically and in the proper historical context, they cannot be separated from the atrocities and language used against Black people, and my graphic language is in keeping with this social context. The phase, "Don't kill the messenger" applies here, because my review of "12 Years A Slave" is an accurate and factual assessment of the atrocities engineered against Black people by both White people and yes, Black people. Again, don't kill the messenger.

YOUR QUESTION: My question to you is one that I ask of every Black person to whom I come into contact – What Now?
RESPONSE: I sent my review to The Black Star Project because I was disappointed BSP was acting as an advocate to encourage "young men 17 to 21 years" old" to see and discuss the film, particularly when doing so serves absolutely no value, except to reinforce their pre-existing knowledge that they are "niggers," which is clearly documented in "12 Years A Slave." You ask, what now? Okay, I'll toss the gauntlet back to you with the following action plan:

1. Absent from the BSP web site is a policy statement, or a statement of core beliefs. Therefore, the Board of Directors for The Black Star Project could take a leadership role and establish by policy that it will not give any support, referral, or positive recommendation to any media (film, songs, books, etc.), or persons (athletes, musicians, etc.), or organizations that promote the continued use of the word "nigger." Absent from BSP's "mission" is a published "zero tolerance" policy against words that devalue Black people, and especially Black children, who as documented by psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark, are consistently proven to have low self-esteem. BSP's commitment to "Excellence in Education" is not achieved by allowing Black children to be referred to as "niggers." Black children are NOT "niggers." Draw a line in the sand.

2. Given the importance and impact of media upon Black people, BSP.com could take a leadership role and post films, music, and books that reconcile with the "core beliefs" of BSP. Yes, this means being confrontational in some instances. For example, despite the ongoing crisis with the Black family structure, Oprah Winfrey is on record for not supporting marriage, and based on her support of Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and other White men, Oprah Winfrey has never demonstrated any similar "commercial or media" support for Black men. FACT: Things will never "change" Mr. Jackson as long as people who are in a position to create change fail to act as a catalyst. Decades ago I sent Berry Gordy, George Johnson, and John H. Johnson a letter suggesting they consolidate and form a Black-owned version of TimeWarner, Disney, etc. No one responded. Motown is no longer Black owned. To deal with its financial problems, Johnson Publications, although still privately owned, gave a "minority stake" and presence on their board to JPMorgan Chase & Co. Although Johnson Products was bought by White-owned Proctor & Gamble in 2004, Black ownership was reclaimed in 2009. Yes, I'm talking about Black people forming major corporations to develop, sustain, and to realize and control our own potential - because there's absolutely no history or current evidence that White people will actively and consistently support the financial success of Black people or any other minorities. I'm not being a militant, I don't hate White people, I'm just talking common sense. BSP could take a leadership role and act as a catalyst to prompt Oprah, Magic Johnson, Bill Cosby, Berry Gordy and other successful Black individuals and Black owned companies to stop acting like niggers (as trained by Willie Lynch) and actually work together and produce true economic might. Or, let's turn the tables, and BSP could take a leadership role to encourage Black entrepreneurs to purchase White-owned companies. Why not?

3. Given that Black athletes constitute the largest number of basketball players and football players, and the clear majority of these Black athletes hold million dollar salaries, BSP.com could take a leadership role to prompt Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and other successful and prominent Black athletes like Serena Williams, to form a consortium of sports teams, and yes, work together and produce true economic might for Black people.

4. The Black Star Project could take a leadership role against the continued proliferation of films like "12 Years A Slave" by posting a link to my review in the very next email issue of the Black Star Project. Of course, you should also post a precautionary "warning" that the review includes the use of adult language, like graphically obscene words like "nigger."

5. As you know, there are federal and state-based laws specifically focused to address and/or prevent hate crimes. Therefore, BSP and "other organizations" could take a leadership role to prevent the ongoing production of films like "12 Years A Slave" for functioning to "slander" an entire class of people. FACT: I'm not a nigger; master done freed us, didn't he? Slander is the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation. Oh, it might be difficult to prove, but undoubtably, one of my relatives or one of your relatives was probably on one of those plantations mentioned in "12 Years A Slave," as we have every right to object to our family members being slandered by calling them niggers. Are you a nigger, Mr. Phillip Jackson? If not, then isn't it about time Black people tell Hollywood were it really matters ($$$), that on behalf of all Black people, BSP and "other organizations" could take a leadership role and sue all movie distributors and movie theaters that show films that label everyone that looks like you as a nigger? Yes, we can expect some White attorneys (or the politically correct token negro attorney) to call this litigation a nuisance, but it will get their attention and it might prompt Hollywood (and Black film makers, etc.) to stop making films (and music) where people who look like you are openly called niggers. You cannot legislate behavior, but you can sue for it.

6. Beginning tomorrow, BSP could take a leadership role by sending a daily letter (yes, every day) to President Obama asking him to make a policy statement (a) against the plethora of "nigger slave films" released during his administration, (b) against any continued use of the word "nigger" as a form of mass entertainment, and (c) that he should direct his administration to consider use of the word "nigger" as a hate crime against all Black people in United States of America. QUESTION: President Obama publicly stated "homosexuality" is okay, but will he refuse to denounce the use of the word "nigger" and therefore, validate its use as acceptable? And, If BSP doesn't believe its commitment to "Excellence in Education" is being compromised by allowing Black children to be referred to as "niggers," then why should President Obama or anyone else care?

7. As represented by my attached letter to President Obama, BSP could take a leadership role to prompt individuals and organizations to join me in my efforts to propel President Obama to end this nation's horrendous treatment of sovereign Native American nations (the other "niggers").

8. As a symbolic political gesture (and nothing more), BSP could take a leadership role and ask Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanual and the Chicago City Council to pass a proclamation against the use of ethnic, sexual, religious, and racially derogatory words and images in all print and broadcast media in Chicago.

9. Given the commitment to the eduction of Black children, BSP could take a leadership role of working with various organizations to produce a permanent exhibit at the DuSable Museum of African American History that accurately shows the specific atrocities against Black children, the actual horrors endured by Black children during slavery. The (Black) DuSable Museum has a paltry budget when compared to the (Jewish/White) U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum budget of $55.7 million. As published by the Nation of Islam, "The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews, Volume I and II" details many hardships engineered by White people against Blacks, including children. Perhaps, BSP could work with the Nation of Islam to generate funding to produce such an exhibit. Or, in keeping with the stereotype that Black people love to march, BSP could take a leadership role in creating angst for the continued use of the word "nigger" by establishing the first-annual "I'm a nigger day!" to allow Black people who desire to be referred to as "niggers" an opportunity to be symbolically flogged, whipped, beaten, raped and killed up-and-down Stoney Island, from 71st Street to 79th Street, right past the Nation of Islam, on South Stony Island Avenue. No, I'm not serious, but the sarcasm of this idea is likely to be embraced by far too many "niggers."

10. In addition to being an advocate to encourage "Black young men 17 to 21 years" old" to see and discuss the film "12 Years A Slave," BSP could take a leadership role to encourage White young men 17 to 21 years of age to see and discuss a special screening of "White Man's Burden" a 1995 film starring Harry Belafonte and John Travolta, about racism in an alternative America where Black and White-Americans have reversed cultural roles? That's right, a film where White people are "niggers" to Black people. Fair's fair, right? Who knows, if you ask them, maybe Mr. Belafonte and Mr. Travolta might make a special appearance to discuss the film. The worst they can say is, "No."

Plus, I'm a former resident of Chicago, I know the city very well; and at your discretion, I'll gladly come to Chicago to present my unedited review of "12 Years A Slave."

What Now? I truly didn't plan to be so verbose, but you asked for feedback, and it's not my nature to be ambiguous, so I've provided ten-(10) detailed suggestions of what BSP could do. Clearly, social and political change does not solely rest on the shoulders of BSP, because we all have a role to play. For me, I'm often told that my opinions and strategies to achieve "equitable" treatment for "all" people are too severe, too abrupt, too confrontational. I'm told we must be patient, yada, yada, yada. I consistently anchor my assessment of the "Black social condition" on evidence, on the validity and veracity of data; and even common sense has a certain empirical nature, which brings me to the following conclusion, Mr. Jackson: change does not have to take time! As with life and death, change can be immediate. As a human resource director, I enjoy working with all kinds of people, but it's a shame the majority of people in the ruling class (White people) have never practiced the egalitarian concepts they preach. Plus, for Black people, there was a time when some social organizations threw caution to the wind, "drew a line in the sand," and aggressively worked as a catalyst for change. Those days are gone. The question is, does the BSP really want to change that? I hope so. I also hope your current and potential partners join you in taking a leadership role to produce positive, immediate change. I sincerely wish you success with your efforts!

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I did not receive a response from Mr. Jackson. Again, there was a time when some social organizations (NAACP, Urban League, Black Panthers, etc.) threw caution to the wind, "drew a line in the sand," and aggressively worked as a catalyst for change. Those days are gone.

Finally, when it comes to critical recognition as represented by the Academy Awards®, how does "Hollywood" judge the cinematic impact of ethnic and cultural atrocities? Does the holocaust ($321.2 million for "Schindler's List") have better "box office" than slavery ($140,160,000 for "12 Years A Slave")? Answer: Yes, it does! Do Jews ("Schindler's List") tell a better story about their "hardships" than Blacks ("12 Years A Slave")? Answer: Yes! Artistically (production values, performances, etc.) "Schindler's List" won seven Academy Awards® demonstrating it is profoundly better than "12 Years A Slave," which won only three. However, director Bernardo Bertolucci's 1987 cultural and political masterpiece "The Last Emperor," about Puyi, the last Emperor of China, set the cinematic bar higher by winning nine Academy Adwards®! Should there be a cultural or political comparison? Frankly, no, because these are films, and although some educational and entertainment value is provided, ultimately, the primary function of these "products" is to make money, and not to change the cultural or political landscape! Despite the efforts of Phillip Jackson, his Black Star Project and the work of similar organizations, and except for a few tokens, the ongoing decline in the social, political, and economic success of Black people continues; and the plight of Black people primarily exists as nothing more than fodder for films like "12 Years A Slave."

Academy Award® Category	Schindler's List Award Receipent	Schindler's List (1993)	12 Years A Slave Award Receipent	12 Years A Slave (2013)	The Last Emperor Award Receipent	The Last Emperor (1987)
Best Picture	Steven Spielberg Geral R. Molen Branko Lustig	Won	Brad Pitt Dede Gardner Jeremy Kleiner Steve McQueen Anthony Katagas	Won	Jeremy Thomas	Won
Best Director	Steven Spielberg	Won	Steve McQueen	Nominated	Bernardo Bertolucci	Won
Best Adapted Screenplay	Steven Zailian	Won	John Ridley	Won	Mark Peploe Bernardo Bertolucci	Won
Best Original Score	John Williams	Won			Ryuichi Sakamoto David Byrne Cong Su	Won
Best Film Editing	Michael Kahn	Won	Joe Walker	Nominated	Gabriella Cristiani	Won
Best Cinematography	Janusz Kaminski	Won			Vittorio Storaro	Won
Best Art Direction	Ewa Braun Allan Starski	Won			Ferdinando Scarfiotti Bruno Cesari Osvaldo Desideri	Won
Best Actor	Liam Neeson	Nominated	Chiwetel Ejiofor	Nominated
Best Supporting Actor	Ralph Fiennes	Nominated	Michael Fassbender	Nominated
Best Supporting Actress			Lupita Nyong'o	Won
Best Sound	Andy Nelson Steve Pederson Scott Millan Ron Judkins	Nominated			Bill Rowe Ivan Sharrock	Won
Best Makeup and Hairstyling	Cristina Smith Matthew Mungle Judy Alexander Cory	Nominated
Best Costume Design	Anna B. Sheppard	Nominated	Patricia Norris	Nominated	James Acheson	Won
Best Production Design			Production Design, Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration, Alice Baker	Nominated
TOTAL NOMINATIONS vs. AWARDS RECEIVED		12 nominations 7 Awards (58.33%)		9 nominations 3 Awards (33.33%)		9 nominations 9 Awards (100%)