I Am Not Your Negro Trailer (James Baldwin Documentary)

[FruitOfTheVale]

After watching the film, Baldwin proudly admitted that he wasn't a panther, part of the NAACP, church, etc. - he never aligned himself with any party but, a good portion of his career as a writer were based off his relationship with Malcom, Martin and Medgar. He separated himself from these men but also benefited from their outspokenness by being able to look like the "good nikka" in front of cacs. He loved white people and beyond black celebs I don't think he had any regular black friends.

Baldwin moved to France in his 20's cuz he said, if he stayed in the states he woulda been dead or in jail. While over there, did he help any Africans? He continued to give his critique of the black American struggle while living comfortably in his French mansion.

I can't take anything away from his writing cuz dude is eloquent as hell but, this film made me look at him in a different light.

Baldwin himself said as much in the film, he recognized that he was not meant to be on the frontlines of the civil rights movement and instead took it upon himself to document it. One must remember that this is before the internet and social media... there were very few comparable BLACK commentators/writers and none with the access that he had to Medgar, Malcolm and Martin. If he had been more involved in the movement he would have definitely been a higher profile target for the FBI/CIA and his writings might have been banned or even destroyed.

 

[Nero Christ]

hopefully this gets released on blu ray cuz I would definitely pick it up

 

[Bootzilla]

Just saw this on Sunday in Harlem. ...the showings in Soho i was going to checkout were all sold out

Spoiler

that conversation James had with the CAC who was trying to defend racism on the tv show.....the way James broke down institutionalized racism, the CAC was left looking "i guess he's right..." the theater(which was half filled with white people)...burst into applause at that moment


seeing the dead bodies of all our heroes made it hit especially hard for me. it brings that realness, physicality of those that have been robbed from us.

this should be required watching for everyone, young and old. the perspective of the struggle for civil rights from someone as eloquent a speaker as James Baldwin, who knew Malcom, Martin, and Medgar personally...it's American history that's being ignored

Baldwin was a great thinker, but he damn sure wasn't done freedom fighter. He was very eloquent in his ability to analyze and explain the race problem in America

also peep how the cacs then have the same excuses. Though tariq can't compare to james Baldwin one of the thoughts in my mind was that cac had almost the same exspressions and denials devils don't change.
Also one thing i found funny in imo was that during that c00ning firm other movies scene this mixed couple walked out then came back assuming around 10 minutes later then during the lyching pictures they ergently left again i found that interesting

 

[re'up]

"They people who say they care about the problems...they don't care, they care about their safety, and their profits"

So many quotes in this, really appreciate Baldwin's honesty, and rawness, his ability to voice his deepest insecurities and flaws, and for us to see ourselves in him, whether emotionally or politically. Loved Baldwin's novels, I've only read two. Very eloquent, and timely documentary.

I loved the reality tv show bit, how on point that was even decades ago.

 

[Sane]

May have to check this out

 

[SuikodenII]

This movie is making cacs at metacritic and imdb FURIOUS...

I HAVE to see this, it must be the truth

 

[Drew Wonder]

Movie was incredible, highly recommended. Like others have mentioned, Baldwin wasn't a revolutionary but he was definitely a visionary

 

[Leviathan]

very good

 

[Black Lightning]

"You cannot lynch me and keep me in ghettos without becoming something monstrous yourselves. And, furthermore, you give me a terrifying advantage. You never had to look at me. I had to look at you. I know more about you than you know about me. Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."

 

[TheGodling]

Saw it today, really powerful movie. Although the movie basically follows Baldwin's unfinished writings, the most interesting parts are when we actually get to see Baldwin speak and drop untold gems. The talk show interview where he shuts down the philosophy professor is powerful as hell. The professor comes up with a seemingly good point on how people can be connected by their interests/beliefs/intelligence so there's no need to connect oneself to race, than Baldwin efficiently explains how that would be true if only society didn't create that separation itself and a black person cannot not be connected to his being black because of how society treats him.

Basically a lot of the movie revolves around that issue, that many white people cannot understand, and often do not wish to understand, what it is like to be black in America. To me this brings a lot of light to a very important but often ignored issue, that a lot of white people do not in fact hate black people, but they simply are clueless to their struggles and much rather pretend they don't exist because the reality is too harsh for them.

 

[klutch2381]

Man, if he would would've gotten to finish that book on Malcolm, Martin and Medgar.

He's one of my personal GOAT's. I need to read the Fire Next Time and stop playing, though.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The torrent is finally out

Movie was painfully underwhelming for all the press it got

 

[kingdarius]

^cac

 

[Exit9NJturnpike]

Really incredible. It's on Amazon Prime too

 

[invalid]

After watching the film, Baldwin proudly admitted that he wasn't a panther, part of the NAACP, church, etc. - he never aligned himself with any party but, a good portion of his career as a writer were based off his relationship with Malcom, Martin and Medgar. He separated himself from these men but also benefited from their outspokenness by being able to look like the "good nikka" in front of cacs. He loved white people and beyond black celebs I don't think he had any regular black friends.

Baldwin moved to France in his 20's cuz he said, if he stayed in the states he woulda been dead or in jail. While over there, did he help any Africans? He continued to give his critique of the black American struggle while living comfortably in his French mansion.

I can't take anything away from his writing cuz dude is eloquent as hell but, this film made me look at him in a different light.

This thread is old as hell but I wanted to make the comment that I don't think there was much Baldwin could have done because of his orientation. Much like other gay black men during the civil rights movement, he would have been sidelined. Look at Bayard Rustin.

I think in the film he also offers a explanation as to your critique. In calling himself a "witness", he needed the ability to move around freely which required a certain detachment.