“It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child.” ~ Navin from the film “The Jerk”

I was somewhat frustrated with this week’s reading. That is why I thought I would reference The Jerk because I think I was being one when I answered the forum questions and the it sums up the portrayal of AfAms in many films…also how viewers and consumers see AfAms in film and real life.

I though I would get more about the student portrayals in film besides talking about the stereotypes especially in regards to student characters. There some discussion of the student-hero in suburban films but in some urban film student-saviors tend to be Black…Finding Forester, Half Nelson and appear in urban films. I feel like I am all over the place with the content. I think there are more arguments and observations that can be made about the films but the authors just scratch the surface.

There needs to be a whole conversation on Lean On Me…I believe the authors simplify or don’t understand some of the cultural dynamics that occur in the film…