"The Great Debaters" is all about civil rights and social justice being denied to the black people. Today, we refer to blacks as African Americans. This movie is about the black civil rights leaders as great debaters during their youth in the late 1930's.
I wept throughout the entire showing of this movie. I hated what my white people did to the American Negro. I felt dirty and uncomfortable because earlier I was making fun of a telephone representative from the deep south talking with a black accent that I had difficulty understanding.
Though I am white, I identified on a gut level with the black characters in this movie because I am gay. The movie churned up feelings deep inside of me that go way back to my youth. Today, gay people are suffering the same kind of civil rights denial that was done -- and still is being done but to a lesser degree -- to African Americans.
Remember all the cruel jokes about black civil rights leaders: "What do white washing machines have in common with white southern states? Black agitators." Ha! Ha! This joke is not funny. Neither are the anti-gay jokes being mouthed by bigots today.
The African Americans were actually fortunate because they couldn't hide what made them different. There are not that many very light skin African Americans that can pass for being white. Martin Luther King, Jr. consider the fact that a black person cannot hide in a "black closet" a strength rather than a weakness. He convinced his people that "Black is beautiful"!
Most of my friends, whom I grew up with, were macho and could hide in the "Gay Closet." Because I never was super macho, everybody knew I must be gay. I was a borderline "Bird Cage" star. This proved to be my strength instead of my weakness. It made me an outspoken advocate for "Gay Pride." Also, I love getting attention. If I cannot get attention playing football, I can with my writing talent and being campy.
I will not spoil the end of this movie for you. However, I was joyful and tremendously sad at the same time during the ending of the film. I did not know whether to laugh or cry. I actually stood up in the theater and joyfully cheered the great debaters on.
After the movie, I called a Puerto Rican friend to tell him about my emotional roller coaster experience in seeing this outstanding movie. I couldn't talk to him. I wanted to apologize as to how some of my bigoted former friends treated Puerto Ricans as well as the black people. I sobbed out-of-control over the phone. I told him that I am not only crying for the African Americans and Puerto Ricans, but also for the gay people who are now being singled out for prejudice and segregation in Puerto Rico.
It seems like the vast majority of the straight people are against gay people as the vastmajority of Americans were against the African Americans. This anti-gay straight majority wants us to remain silent. Disappear in one enormous Puerto Rican anti-gay closet.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said "Black Is Beautiful." So is being gay or a Puerto Rican! If you don't agree with me, see the movie "The Great Debaters." It may make you think more about your democracy and to speak up loud and clear for your civil rights!
I wept throughout the entire showing of this movie. I hated what my white people did to the American Negro. I felt dirty and uncomfortable because earlier I was making fun of a telephone representative from the deep south talking with a black accent that I had difficulty understanding.
Though I am white, I identified on a gut level with the black characters in this movie because I am gay. The movie churned up feelings deep inside of me that go way back to my youth. Today, gay people are suffering the same kind of civil rights denial that was done -- and still is being done but to a lesser degree -- to African Americans.
Remember all the cruel jokes about black civil rights leaders: "What do white washing machines have in common with white southern states? Black agitators." Ha! Ha! This joke is not funny. Neither are the anti-gay jokes being mouthed by bigots today.
The African Americans were actually fortunate because they couldn't hide what made them different. There are not that many very light skin African Americans that can pass for being white. Martin Luther King, Jr. consider the fact that a black person cannot hide in a "black closet" a strength rather than a weakness. He convinced his people that "Black is beautiful"!
Most of my friends, whom I grew up with, were macho and could hide in the "Gay Closet." Because I never was super macho, everybody knew I must be gay. I was a borderline "Bird Cage" star. This proved to be my strength instead of my weakness. It made me an outspoken advocate for "Gay Pride." Also, I love getting attention. If I cannot get attention playing football, I can with my writing talent and being campy.
I will not spoil the end of this movie for you. However, I was joyful and tremendously sad at the same time during the ending of the film. I did not know whether to laugh or cry. I actually stood up in the theater and joyfully cheered the great debaters on.
After the movie, I called a Puerto Rican friend to tell him about my emotional roller coaster experience in seeing this outstanding movie. I couldn't talk to him. I wanted to apologize as to how some of my bigoted former friends treated Puerto Ricans as well as the black people. I sobbed out-of-control over the phone. I told him that I am not only crying for the African Americans and Puerto Ricans, but also for the gay people who are now being singled out for prejudice and segregation in Puerto Rico.
It seems like the vast majority of the straight people are against gay people as the vastmajority of Americans were against the African Americans. This anti-gay straight majority wants us to remain silent. Disappear in one enormous Puerto Rican anti-gay closet.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said "Black Is Beautiful." So is being gay or a Puerto Rican! If you don't agree with me, see the movie "The Great Debaters." It may make you think more about your democracy and to speak up loud and clear for your civil rights!
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