Know Pain

Actually, diminishing trauma is irresponsible

I watched Menace to Society and was practically heartbroken by the end.

The films tells the story of teenagers who spend the summer getting in trouble with the law, brutalised by police, jacking people, jumping others and living because they feel there is nothing to lose. Often films like this get branded as irresponsible as the media feels they ‘glorify gang life’. More than ever I see the lie here. Many times in the film the characters call out police brutality, prejudice and the general theme of hopelessness doesn’t make what they go through seem appealing. Instead it is a view of how the forgotten live and die. It is NOT an aspirational fantasy.

Furthermore it’s clear to see that Black trauma gets diminished. The same people who look down on the story would do anything to not live such a life without choice. It’s hard to convince oppressed people of change when their world has convinced them otherwise.

So don’t be confused as to why we said the shutting down of Blue Story in cinemas was a racist move.