Is It Right or Wrong to Regard Hollywood as the Judge of Historical Hatred?

The question of whether it is right to regard Hollywood films as an accurate reflection of historical events and the collective psyche of communities is a complex one. When someone views a film, such as 12 Years a Slave, and concludes that it justifies a blanket hatred towards a specific ethnicity, there is a clear misunderstanding. This article aims to dissect this issue and address the underlying concerns with a balanced perspective.

Understanding Misinterpretations

12 Years a Slave is an unflinching portrayal of the horrors of slavery in the United States. The film does not aim to demonize white people; rather, it exposes the brutality and inhumanity of the institution of slavery. The protagonist's escape from slavery is a testament to the existence of compassion and risk-taking among some, but it does not reflect the entirety of white people's actions or intentions during that era.

It is fundamentally unjust and fallacious to decree an entire ethnic group as overwhelmingly evil because of historical atrocities committed by a fraction of its members. This viewpoint is no different from the slave owners' beliefs that black people were inferior, which was a foundational ideology in perpetuating the inhumane treatment of African Americans.

The Power of Emotional Influence

It is wise to be cautious of letting Hollywood narratives dictate one's emotional predisposition toward a subject. Entertainment is crafted to evoke strong feelings and generate profit. This emotional response is beneficial to the creators and businesses behind these films, but not necessarily aligned with promoting positive social change, empathy, or understanding.

Consumers of these products, particularly those who allow feelings of hatred to arise, are unaware of the adverse effects of their own emotions. Hatred can be self-destructive and detrimental to one’s emotional and mental well-being. It is not only unfair to those being targeted but also to the individuals harboring such feelings. Civic-minded individuals should strive to recognize and mitigate the negative impact of such sentiments.

The Right to Feel

People are entitled to their feelings. If a pizza place owner wanted to, they could refuse to serve pizza to white people, but this would be an extreme and irrational approach. Similarly, it is both impractical and unjust to expect individuals to completely disregard their emotions or to ignore their history.

However, it is crucial to maintain a distinction between feeling anger or resentment and acting on these feelings constructively. Just as enslaved people were not homogeneous in their actions, neither were those who perpetuated and benefited from slavery. Acknowledging complexity and nuance is essential for fostering a more informed and compassionate society.

Focused Hatred vs. Systemic Racism

Targeting an entire demographic group based on historical grievances is not the most constructive form of protest or change. Hatred can only lead to self-destructive and divisive outcomes. Instead, the focus should be on systemic and structural racism, which is deeply ingrained in many societies and institutions. This form of racism is the mechanism that perpetuates inequalities and injustices, and addressing it requires a concerted effort from all segments of society.

Dissatisfaction with the status quo or historical injustices should be channelled into productive avenues such as education, activism, and policy changes. If you are a descendant of a slave, feeling angry is understandable. Yet, it is equally important to recognize that historians have documented instances of both good and bad actions among different groups during the era of slavery. Focusing on the positive actions of individuals like the selfless white man who helped Frederick Douglass can provide a more balanced perspective.

Millions of people still endure various forms of contemporary slavery today. Channeling that anger into proactive action, whether through awareness campaigns, policy changes, or supporting organizations working to abolish modern-day slavery, can result in significant positive outcomes.

In conclusion, while it is understandable to feel anger and dissatisfaction with historical injustices, it is critical to avoid allowing those feelings to override rational thought and constructive action. By focusing our energy on systemic racism and structural inequality, we can work towards a more equitable and just society. Love and dialogue may seem challenging in the face of deep-seated resentments, but they are the pathways forward.

Keywords: Hollywood, Slavery, Systemic Racism