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Page 4»SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT December, 1987
What About Cry Fl*G0doiIl:Propoganda or Reality?
by M. Joette Harland
There are two things that
irritate me about producer
Richard Attenborough’s
movie “Cry Freedom.” One is
that there is not much
publicity for it. In such a
serious movie where a very
serious issue—Apartheid, is
addressed expertly, not many
people know about the movie.
I asked a guy who was in
Atlanta for the Thanksgiving
holidays if he had seen “Cry
Freedom” and he asked
“What’s that, a song?” But,
later, as I was talking to the
same person about movies,
“Fatal Attraction” was recog
nized more.
“Cry Freedom” has the
ability to enrage a large
number of people to an over
whelming (and rightfully so)
degree. It could cause an
unbelievable obsession and
determination to do some
thing about apartheid. Why
is it, then, that it is not publi
cized enough for people to see
and know about it? Over the
past few weekends, movies
like “Nuts” were sold out, and
news coverage of “Fatal
Attraction” has even
included a news extra to find
out why people are so
attracted to “Fatal Attrac
tion.” Soon, due to the wide
press coverage on it, almost
everyone will have heard of
“Fatal Attraction,” seen it, or
made plans to see it. Yet,
what will become of “Cry
Freedom,” which addresses a
much more serious issue?
How many people will it
reach? Unfortunately, it is
only showing at one theater
in Atlanta (Lefont Tara
Theater). Everyone cannot go
to see it at a “theater near
you” (as the popular slogan
goes). Why? I still ask.
During a discussion of
“Cry Freedom” with a More
house student, I asked the
same question. Why? His
reply was “You know why.
The impact it would have on
the people would be too
great.” He’s right. It would
stir up an enormous commo
tion. With the newfound
knowledge of apartheid,
many people would refuse to
stand for these absurdities in
South Africa. Knowing this,
my guess is that the same
people who decide what
movie goes where, etc., have
already realized this. Some
rule or decision has caused
someone to have a “legit”
reason to have it shown at
only one theater out of many
in this city. Therefore, there
can only be limited viewing
of the film.
The other thing that irri
tates me is that not enough
AUC students, Blacks, and
Black families are seeing this
movie. This is something we
need to see, it addresses
something we need to
change, and the movie
contains things we need to
know, or do we know enough
already?
I conducted a survey on
race relations wherein
blacks, whites, and others
were surveyed. The answer to
the question, “How familiar
are you with the issue of
apartheid in South Africa?”
garnered the common
response, “A little familiar.”
Many surveyed could not
determine whether or not
they thought the living condi
tions in South Africa are fair
or unfair. Nor could many of
those surveyed suggest a
solution to the problem there
because they did not know
enough about apartheid.
There is no way to write or
talk about the movie in
enough detail to achieve the
effect one would get by
viewing it. But in brief, “Cry
Freedom” is a movie which is
demonstrative of apartheid
in South Africa. All of the
incidents in the movie are
based on real occurrences.
The movie shows apartheid
and its effect on the people
through the life of Steve Biko,
an intelligent, rising leader
who died in 1977. It shows
how white journalist Donald
Woods comes to know and
love Biko, and how after
Biko’s death, he left South
Africa with his family to
publish a book about Biko’s
life.
Some have questioned and
criticized the co-starring role
a white man plays in the
movie. His role is focused on
as much as Biko’s is. One of
my views on this is that there
is an advantage to the way in
which the producer portrays
the friendship between Biko
and Woods. It helps to
present the movie in a non
threatening way to Whites.
This is important because
instead of creating a defen
sive response in Whites who
see the movie, it poses the
issue in a way they can relate
to as well as we Blacks are
able to. We have lived these
hardships. But like Woods,
who experienced a life of
comfort, many Whites do not
know what we are about.
Many go by what has been
told to them. When asked,
“As a child, how were you
taught to view blacks?” The
answer a white man gave to
this question was that he was
taught that blacks were dirty
and smelly and that he
should stay away from them.
But as he grew older, and had
exposure to blacks, including
a black roommate he once
had, he learned differently.
By walking with Woods
through the realization that
his conceptions of Biko’s
philosophies were miscon
strued, white viewers, who
may have had the same
initial attitudes as Woods,
come to see what he saw. It
gives them the opportunity to
see an issue through the eyes
of someone they can relate to.
(continued on pg. 8)
And They Shall Hear Our Cry
by M. Joette Harland
So we were INFURIATED as
we watched
Brutalities, injustices, and
discrimination
to our very own brothers and
sisters.
We were FRUSTRATED to
see
The biggest hopes and
dreams of equality
Killed over and over again.
We were APPALLED to see
Police officials, judges, and
others in power
Plot to weaken a people
whose skin is dark.
We were PAINED and we
cried as we watched
700 innocent school children
die and many injured
Because they wanted to be
free citizens
In their own land.
But crying for freedom will
not relieve the
Agony of day to day living in
South Africa.
Crying will not unfold the
wrinkles of strife,
The signs of helplessness,
and the expression of
oppression
From the old woman’s face.
We, the inhabitants of this
country that is more free,
We, the persons who are at
an advantage to be “free”
African-Americans.
We, who have more rights
than they
MUST do something
so DEMANDING
so INSISTENT
so POWERFUL
That our oppressors will
have no choice to yield their
unfeeling hearts, hateful
souls, and deaf ears to HEAR
our Cry for Freedom.
OTM'MM'WWCMSWOs MOI
OPENS NOVEMBER 6TH IN SELECT CITIES
AND NOVEMBER 2QTH NATIONWIDE.
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ml 9
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