Please comment on the first part of the movie that we watched today. You can also react to the comments by your peers. You should also be starting to work on the second part of the Civil Rights Project.
The first scene in the movie, of the separate water fountains, was to set the scene of the racism that existed at the time of the event in Mississippi. It was surprising and seemed so strange to see something that would be deemed unacceptable and outrageous by most people in America today. The first part of the movie was very interesting because it didn't start with the beginning of the story. The director began the film with the church burning, but there was no explanation as to what it was or why it was burning. Then the film moved on to the scene where the three men are pulled over by the police and shot. The director meant to leave us wondering why this happened and to show that the three men were victimized strictly based on the racism of the KKK members (which it wasn't even made clear they were). The first part of the movie is meant to leave the viewer guessing about the circumstances of the murder, and it immediately leaves you feeling angry toward the attackers of the innocent men. Personally, I wasn't as shocked by the event that occurred in the car as someone who hadn't watched the documentary would be. I think the director wanted to make people feel appalled at the brutality of the police. Seeing them pull over a car that was doing nothing wrong and shoot three innocent men at point blank for associating with black people would be unheard of today, so it really sent a message about the event and how unacceptable it was.
As Heather said, the scene with the two water fountains at the beginning of the movie seemed to be there mainly to give context to the movie and tell the viewer that segregation would be an important part of the movie. The scene with the burning church that followed both represented the title of the movie and seemed as if it was included to represent the violence and destruction that was happening in the South because of racial tensions. The burning church in a way also represents the unstable state Mississippi was in at the time because of the conflict between activists and supporters of segregation. The scene in which the three men were killed wasn't necessary shocking because we had already learned the story. The scene as whole, however, with the men being aggressively pursued and then pulled over on a lonely street during a dark night definitely represented a feeling of anxiety and fear that the men felt at prior to the moment that they were killed. This scene also showed the inability for people to even trust the police in the South as it was so largely segregated and the majority of people either were a part of the KKK, supported it, or did not challenge it. The scenes that followed with the two FBI agents, aside from starting the plot, showed the large amount of racism and segregation that existed in Mississippi at the time. Scenes such as the one with the sheriff where he seemed to not care too much about the case and the scene in the diner when everyone went quiet when the agent sat in the "colored" section showed this racism especially.
The beginning of the movie was mostly to give context for the viewer so they understood what the movie was going to be about. Scenes such as the one in the diner make very clear that racism is going to be a big part of the movie. Also, the plot has been set in motion with the murder of the three men, and a viewer who has not seen the documentary would still be guessing at this point as to what is going on, although there is a clear implication that racism has something to do with the murder. I would like to propose the theory that the burning church at the beginning is a symbol for the turmoil that is occurring in Mississippi during the movie; thus, the title "Mississippi Burning." The director puts it at the beginning to foreshadow the rest of the movie. Coupled with the title, the burning church implies to the viewer that throughout the course of the movie, Mississippi will be breaking down just like the church that is on fire.
So far I think that "Mississippi Burning" is off to an interesting start. I think what stuck out to me the most was the burning church, for several reasons. I agree with Oren that the burning church is a symbol for what was occurring at the time. I would take that one step further, and remind everyone of the article we read in which we heard from the director. One of the main points we was trying to make was that he wanted to reach the audience, an audience that probably didn't know very much about the murder of the three men, or the FBI investigation that followed. The view of the burning church at the beginning of the movie was used to make sure the audience understood what was taking place at the time. The scene was also meant to have a very lasting affect on the audience, because it lasted so long. Starting with a full structure, going all the way to the collapse of the building, the clip was meant to stay in the viewers mind as the movie progressed. The other moment I would like to address in my comment is the scene in the Sheriff's Office, where the two FBI agents are looking to speak with the Sheriff. The first FBI officer politely asks to see the Sheriff, and when told to wait, he waits. The second FBI agent, who is more experienced in dealing with southerners, doesn't ask the Deputy if he could speak with the Sheriff. Instead, he threatens to kick down the door to the Sheriff's office if the Deputy doesn't bring him out. This scene reflects the methods of the two FBI agents (one agent is calm and patient, the other is not taking no for an answer). It also gives the viewer an introduction to what southern culture was at the time. The moment two guys in suits show up, it seems to me like the people in that Southern town could tell from the way these men were dressed that they were from the North.
I really liked the beginning of the movie. I think it set up a good base for the movie, although so far it seems completely factual, so i'm anxious for the parts that "stretch the truth". I like Oren's theory. Had we not learned about it before, I wouldn't know the significance of the burning church; but we learned that the KKK burned the church because then the people that were later killed would come to see it. I think the burning church added a mood for the rest of the movie, but it was also a factual burning that really did start this entire event. Also, the first part of the movie is direct. I think it is important that the director showed so much blood when the driver in the car was killed. It is important to show the gruesomeness because that way the viewers can really get a taste of what it was like in Mississippi at that time period.
I too like Oren's observations about the Church, the scene sets a melancholy tone to the movie. The scene also showed how that the southerners despised the black people so much they were willing to desecrate holy grounds (From what I understand, the South was and still is extremely religious). The southerners racism was displayed again during the murder scene where police officers pulled two white boys and one black boy over and killed them in cold blood. They justified the murder by stating that the white boys were "Nigga lovers". The older FBI agent also displayed the governments' attitude towards the murder, or "disappearances", which was that they only cared about the white boys. The older FBI agent was heartily singing a KKK anthem and was jesting about racial issues. The younger FBI agent was created to contrast the older agent, he was portrayed as someone who was confused by the segregation laws. We see this when he sits down in the diner with the Black people and all heads turned to face him in anger. He also attempts to question a black boy, but the black boy refused to answer and moves away after seeing the mean looks from the white people. This shows how much the black people fear the white people and that the young agent is the black people's supporter.
Similar to what Oren said, i also believe that the church burning at the beginning of the movie symbolizes the turmoil in Mississippi during the 1960's. The fountain at the beginning of the movie also represents the issue of segregation in Mississippi. Following the murder of the three students, the director sets up multiple points that shows the extreme racism that was present at the time. Multiple examples of the racism includes the dinner scene when Willem Dafoe's character goes so sit at the "blacks only" table and the entire bustling dinner goes silent. Another example is when the two FBI agents talks to the sheriff's assistant, who finds it humorous that the FBI are even bothering investigating the murder. The most obvious form of racism in the movie is the murder itself, the police even assist in the murders by setting up the trap for the three men. The fact that many people in the town planned and executed the murder of three people only because of their beliefs, this event shows how racism was still an enormous problem at the time.
I thought the most shocking part of the movie was when the cops pulled over the three boys they only spoke a few words and then quickly shot them. In many of the stories that we have read or heard about the members of the KKK or other racist organizations tended to beat the people they would eventually kill and not shoot them so simply and quickly. I thought this had a large impact on me because I expected more of a build to their deaths but the sudden pull of the trigger made for a shocking start. I think this was definitely purposeful and meant to show how little many of the white people thought of people assisting in the Civil Rights movement, white or black. I would also fully agree with Edward, this scene was really meant to show the inability to trust the police force in the south. Most people had no idea who belonged to the KKK and the three boys did not see their deaths being so close. I also thought it was really interesting how the director brought in the James Meredith story a little bit and how one of the FBI agents had really seen how much segregation did to the people of the south. Another part that struck me, was when one of the FBI agents talked about how much faith he had in the Sheriff in Mississippi because he himself was a Sheriff in a small town just like it. The two opposites working together on a this case should make a good portrayal of both the more southern approach to segregation and racism and a more modern and empathetic approach to the circumstances the African Americans faced.
As several people before me have noted that, I thought that the burning church served as a good analogy for the Mississippi at the time. This was because there was racism to such a degree that it lead to three men, out of many killed then though, being murdered in cold-blood simply because they supported blacks in their search for rights. The scene right after that when the three men are shot, I found especially shocking as shocking. If someone had not known what was going to happen like I did then it would be a great surprise when with little warning one of the men pulls a gun and shoots the driver with no hesitation. This scene was definitely very deliberate and set the tone for the rest of the movie as we now know that racism is to the point where police are assisting in murder simply because they are helping blacks. We are meant to hate and despise anyone who doesn't want to help the blacks now because of this scene and it also makes anyone who displays racism a now hated character. Finally I can see already how this movie is going to portray the blacks and whites. It shows that the white characters so far are already there to help and will be the ones to actually get something done. This makes them likable unlike the black characters that we have met so far like the ones in the diner. He doesn't want to talk to the FBI agents and is being unhelpful which would lead a viewer to believe that it was the whites who got everything done then while the blacks did nothing.
After writing about the Black Panther Party I know how the FBI was involved in the Civil Rights movement and the way that it is portrayed in the movie so far seems in a word, "bogus." The FBI assassinated members of Civil Rights activist groups like the Black Panther Party and seeing them work toward righteousness on account of the dead Civil Rights activists seems extraordinarily fake to me. An ironic scene in the part of the film we watched today shows how bogus the FBI role in the film is based on the information I have shared about how the FBI assassinated Civil Rights activist leaders. The FBI agents walk into the police station and ask for the sheriff and the policemen at the front desk says something along the lines of, “ well if it isn’t the FBI, what does that stand for? The Federal Bureau of Integration.” This is ironic because the FBI from what I have read is not taking the pro Civil Rights or anti Civil Rights side of the case at all, it is only there in Mississippi because the case involves missing people. The film sets the FBI up to be the Sherlock Holmes detective type of film, when historically they were doing the opposite of being detectives out for justice and instead just involved in a “missing persons case.” Similar to what other people have commented on, this scene and the role the FBI plays even this early in the film reflects the director’s and producers’ input on the event’s true historical background. It shows how an untrained audience unlike us could take the film to be the entire truth of the event that happened when it really happened in other ways.
Similar to the other comments, I think that the director does an exceptional job of portraying the racism of the time period and educating viewers of it. The opening scenes, including the segregated drinking fountains and the burning of a church, give several different examples of this racism. I agree with Oren’s comment regarding the ongoing symbolism of the burning church throughout the movie. The scene that includes the police shooting the three men further shows the extreme racism of the time period. The KKK would kill people simply because they were black or because they were white “nigger-lovers,” as said in the movie. I like how the director chooses to place this particular scene in the beginning, so that the focus of the movie can be on the search for the missing bodies and the effect this search had on racism and the people. In the next scene, when the two FBI agents assigned to find the missing bodies are driving to see the Sheriff, one of the FBI agents is singing a racist song in the car. This shows that racism existed almost everywhere, even in the FBI. When these two agents arrive at their destination, the Deputy officer tells them that they will have to wait. Consequently, one of the FBI agents resorts to more brutal yelling and demands to see the sheriff. This scene shows the violent tactics used by some of the FBI, which I read about in one of the articles. The last scene from the portion of the movie that we’ve seen shows the younger FBI agent confronting a black in a diner, wanting to ask him a few questions. Everyone turns their heads in awe to look at this agent. Additionally, the black man will not speak to him. This scene makes it look like it was a sin to speak to a man of the opposite race. My personal reaction to the beginning of the movie is the disbelief that human beings would do the things that they did during this time period. The disbelief is evidence by the fact that it startled me when the police suddenly puts his gun to the head of the civil rights workers and pulls the trigger. Moreover, I give credit to these three civil rights workers, two of them white, for entering racial turmoil and risking their lives in attempt to make a difference. Not many people that I know would do something like that.
The movie started out by showing its audience how in that time period racism was a huge factor in daily life. This was conveyed by showing the two different water fountains placed in a public location. The white man approaches the white fountain and presses the button, able to easily access some water. The colored fountain is already running and looks like it is in a worse condition compared to the white one. A little colored boy approaches it and presses the button. This small, short scene describes and tells the audience how racists those times were. It then shows a scene of a church burning and music plays in the background. The music is suspicious and the scene keeps the audience wondering and confused a bit. It is a very intriguing piece to the film. Skipping to a third scene, we are brought into the night with three boys driving. Two white guys are in the front and a black male is in the rear. They are supposedly chased down by "cops" who seem to just be racists that corner them into the woods and kill the boys. As multiple (three I believe) cars or trucks pull them over, a white guy gets out and several men approach the car. One of the "cops" said "Don't let them see your face." The most striking part of the movie so far was when the other man responded "It won't matter anyway." He then immediately put his gun to the white driver, and killed him. The screen goes dark in the film and a follow up of a few more gun shots is giving the illusion that the other two were also killed by this group. So far, as an audience member, I am left wondering things. I am left wondering about the racism clearly presented in the film. I am wondering about the church burning, and what happened and what its significance is and will be. I am wondering what happened to the boys in the cars, both the ones who (may or may not have all) died and the guys who approached them in the first place. We ended by being greeted by some agents, FBI I believe, that came into the small town. I am wondering about them, how this dynamic between the tough, old man and the smart and intellectual young leader will work together and solve whatever it may be they are looking for. It will be interesting to see how the old man and the younger man express themselves in the film and their different (at least I am assuming they will be) ways of going about the case. Overall, the movie seems like it will be very intriguing and very astonishing in a sense that it is almost impossible to comprehend the craziness that was going on at this time period.
Although I have only seen the first twenty minutes of “Mississippi Burning”, I have already been able to see how the director’s creative license is important in capturing the audience’s attention. Similar to previous comments, the opening scene picturing two water fountains, one for whites and the other for blacks, along with the diner scene that followed are prime examples of how severe the issue of racism was in the United States at the time of the Civil Rights Movement and prior. The opening scene itself struck me as important to laying the groundwork for the rest of the film. Segregation had trickled down into the unimportant aspects of everyday life, such as which drinking fountain one used, but defying these strict rules was also not taken lightly. I believe that in this short amount of time, the producers are able to get their point across that whites were very unaccepting of African Americans. I see this as a method to make whites feel superior and more powerful than blacks in everything that they do. In another respect, although the audience is not given much of a indication of what specifically is causing the burning of the church and the deaths of two white men and one black man, it is understood that racism and segregation are going to be the basic concepts of “Mississippi Burning’s” plot. Knowing the factual events of “Mississippi Burning” as they happened was helpful in understanding the plot thus far. Not knowing what was occurring could make it difficult for someone to follow. I did think that the producers’ decision to begin the movie with the burning of a church and the deaths of three men was peculiar because the audience had no idea why this was happening. Creatively though, it could help keep the viewers interested and entice them to continue watching the film. I also think that it was a wise choice to play the image of the burning church with dramatic music. It helped this moment stand out as being an important event that would lead to the events coming in the movie. So far, I believe that these bold moves taken by the producers and directors of “Mississippi Burning” were essential in grasping the audience’s attention and making them understand the importance of the events that they were about to witness. Overall, the movie has not been too graphic, but seeing the facial expressions of each character helps to understand their viewpoints on segregation. I would have to say that “Mississippi Burning” is intriguing and helpful in understanding our history.
Like everyone else has pointed out, the director effectively provided the reader with the context of the era by showing a black boy drinking at a segregated fountain. Racism was so deep entrenched in daily lives that even public water fountains had to be segregated, despite the additional cost. Interestingly, the scene that followed showed a church burning. Fire form a vivid contrast with water in the previous scene, creating a sense of tension; whereas water symbolized peace, fire inevitably suggested violence and conflicts. The burning of the church was even more disturbing. To me, a beginning implied that drastic changes were to happen during the African Americans' struggle for racial equality. During the first scene, three men were driving in a car. Whereas they were portrayed as innocent citizens who decided to pull over when chased by the police, the police were portrayed as evil criminals who took pleasure in killing the two white "nigger-lovers" and the one black. The scene was disturbing to me, as the police was not obeying the law and resembled terrorists more. It was shocking how people have brutally used terrors to prolong the status quo of racism and it really made me appreciate how much the nation has made over the last few decades. The following introduction of two FBI agents was also interesting. The director juxtaposed an old ex-Mississippi-sheriff with a young and inexperienced FBI agent. Whereas the old man understood the politics and knew the way to proceed, the young boss was much more by the book. The troubles the young FBI agent encountered as he showed blatant contempt of racial inequality epitomized how great the racial tension was in the south. Even in the police department, the local police showed some hostility as the young FBI agent conveyed his desire to strive for racial equality. In addition, in the restaurant, as the young FBI agent sat down in the black only section and attempted to talk to a black person, the fact that all costumers were dumbfounded demonstrated how unimaginable it was for a man to break the racial barrier. Even then, the submissive young black man had great fear and refused to talk to the FBI agent, fearing he would incur trouble for himself. Overall, the movie was heart-wrenching; it was effective in provoking emotions and portraying the blatant racism that once existed.
I would like to build upon what Oren and everyone else has said. As explained, the burning church symbolizes the turmoil in Mississippi during the 1960's. However, I am wondering if it might also represent the inability of the church to protect the innocent and the African Americans. Religion was unable to prevent the evil that unfolds in the next scene. The burning church is a demonstration of religion’s ineffectiveness and its hypocrisy. The killers might very well attend church and be “god worshipping citizens” during the day, but in the darkness, they murder and are immoral. The African Americans can’t be saved by the church. In the scene where the men are killed, there is no God, there are no morals, and evil is omnipresent, because the church has burned, which represents the demise of the House of God. The burning of the church could symbolize the burning of people’s morals, the end of humane behavior. However, if that theory (of the burning church as being a symbol for the powerlessness and failure of religion) seems too extreme, then perhaps the burning church could be thought of as the killers decent into hell. The lighting, the eerie darkness on the road, the brief uttered words, the evil in the policeman’s eyes versus the innocence of the young men set the stage for conflict and the introduction of wickedness. The movie is full of contrasts, which is what racism is, a conflict between Black and white, with one side asserting superiority over the other. The movie intro includes Black versus white, light versus dark, high versus low (the signs over the drinking fountains), good versus evil, shadow versus openness, blinding light of the flashlights versus mellow night light, and ordinary versus terrifying. The lighting, camera angels, music, and camera shots contribute to the story of racism and the evil that the plot conveys.
The first scene in the movie, of the separate water fountains, was to set the scene of the racism that existed at the time of the event in Mississippi. It was surprising and seemed so strange to see something that would be deemed unacceptable and outrageous by most people in America today.
ReplyDeleteThe first part of the movie was very interesting because it didn't start with the beginning of the story. The director began the film with the church burning, but there was no explanation as to what it was or why it was burning. Then the film moved on to the scene where the three men are pulled over by the police and shot. The director meant to leave us wondering why this happened and to show that the three men were victimized strictly based on the racism of the KKK members (which it wasn't even made clear they were). The first part of the movie is meant to leave the viewer guessing about the circumstances of the murder, and it immediately leaves you feeling angry toward the attackers of the innocent men. Personally, I wasn't as shocked by the event that occurred in the car as someone who hadn't watched the documentary would be. I think the director wanted to make people feel appalled at the brutality of the police. Seeing them pull over a car that was doing nothing wrong and shoot three innocent men at point blank for associating with black people would be unheard of today, so it really sent a message about the event and how unacceptable it was.
As Heather said, the scene with the two water fountains at the beginning of the movie seemed to be there mainly to give context to the movie and tell the viewer that segregation would be an important part of the movie. The scene with the burning church that followed both represented the title of the movie and seemed as if it was included to represent the violence and destruction that was happening in the South because of racial tensions. The burning church in a way also represents the unstable state Mississippi was in at the time because of the conflict between activists and supporters of segregation.
ReplyDeleteThe scene in which the three men were killed wasn't necessary shocking because we had already learned the story. The scene as whole, however, with the men being aggressively pursued and then pulled over on a lonely street during a dark night definitely represented a feeling of anxiety and fear that the men felt at prior to the moment that they were killed. This scene also showed the inability for people to even trust the police in the South as it was so largely segregated and the majority of people either were a part of the KKK, supported it, or did not challenge it. The scenes that followed with the two FBI agents, aside from starting the plot, showed the large amount of racism and segregation that existed in Mississippi at the time. Scenes such as the one with the sheriff where he seemed to not care too much about the case and the scene in the diner when everyone went quiet when the agent sat in the "colored" section showed this racism especially.
The beginning of the movie was mostly to give context for the viewer so they understood what the movie was going to be about. Scenes such as the one in the diner make very clear that racism is going to be a big part of the movie. Also, the plot has been set in motion with the murder of the three men, and a viewer who has not seen the documentary would still be guessing at this point as to what is going on, although there is a clear implication that racism has something to do with the murder.
ReplyDeleteI would like to propose the theory that the burning church at the beginning is a symbol for the turmoil that is occurring in Mississippi during the movie; thus, the title "Mississippi Burning." The director puts it at the beginning to foreshadow the rest of the movie. Coupled with the title, the burning church implies to the viewer that throughout the course of the movie, Mississippi will be breaking down just like the church that is on fire.
So far I think that "Mississippi Burning" is off to an interesting start. I think what stuck out to me the most was the burning church, for several reasons. I agree with Oren that the burning church is a symbol for what was occurring at the time. I would take that one step further, and remind everyone of the article we read in which we heard from the director. One of the main points we was trying to make was that he wanted to reach the audience, an audience that probably didn't know very much about the murder of the three men, or the FBI investigation that followed. The view of the burning church at the beginning of the movie was used to make sure the audience understood what was taking place at the time. The scene was also meant to have a very lasting affect on the audience, because it lasted so long. Starting with a full structure, going all the way to the collapse of the building, the clip was meant to stay in the viewers mind as the movie progressed.
ReplyDeleteThe other moment I would like to address in my comment is the scene in the Sheriff's Office, where the two FBI agents are looking to speak with the Sheriff. The first FBI officer politely asks to see the Sheriff, and when told to wait, he waits. The second FBI agent, who is more experienced in dealing with southerners, doesn't ask the Deputy if he could speak with the Sheriff. Instead, he threatens to kick down the door to the Sheriff's office if the Deputy doesn't bring him out. This scene reflects the methods of the two FBI agents (one agent is calm and patient, the other is not taking no for an answer). It also gives the viewer an introduction to what southern culture was at the time. The moment two guys in suits show up, it seems to me like the people in that Southern town could tell from the way these men were dressed that they were from the North.
I really liked the beginning of the movie. I think it set up a good base for the movie, although so far it seems completely factual, so i'm anxious for the parts that "stretch the truth".
ReplyDeleteI like Oren's theory. Had we not learned about it before, I wouldn't know the significance of the burning church; but we learned that the KKK burned the church because then the people that were later killed would come to see it. I think the burning church added a mood for the rest of the movie, but it was also a factual burning that really did start this entire event.
Also, the first part of the movie is direct. I think it is important that the director showed so much blood when the driver in the car was killed. It is important to show the gruesomeness because that way the viewers can really get a taste of what it was like in Mississippi at that time period.
I too like Oren's observations about the Church, the scene sets a melancholy tone to the movie. The scene also showed how that the southerners despised the black people so much they were willing to desecrate holy grounds (From what I understand, the South was and still is extremely religious).
ReplyDeleteThe southerners racism was displayed again during the murder scene where police officers pulled two white boys and one black boy over and killed them in cold blood. They justified the murder by stating that the white boys were "Nigga lovers".
The older FBI agent also displayed the governments' attitude towards the murder, or "disappearances", which was that they only cared about the white boys. The older FBI agent was heartily singing a KKK anthem and was jesting about racial issues.
The younger FBI agent was created to contrast the older agent, he was portrayed as someone who was confused by the segregation laws. We see this when he sits down in the diner with the Black people and all heads turned to face him in anger. He also attempts to question a black boy, but the black boy refused to answer and moves away after seeing the mean looks from the white people. This shows how much the black people fear the white people and that the young agent is the black people's supporter.
Similar to what Oren said, i also believe that the church burning at the beginning of the movie symbolizes the turmoil in Mississippi during the 1960's. The fountain at the beginning of the movie also represents the issue of segregation in Mississippi. Following the murder of the three students, the director sets up multiple points that shows the extreme racism that was present at the time. Multiple examples of the racism includes the dinner scene when Willem Dafoe's character goes so sit at the "blacks only" table and the entire bustling dinner goes silent. Another example is when the two FBI agents talks to the sheriff's assistant, who finds it humorous that the FBI are even bothering investigating the murder. The most obvious form of racism in the movie is the murder itself, the police even assist in the murders by setting up the trap for the three men. The fact that many people in the town planned and executed the murder of three people only because of their beliefs, this event shows how racism was still an enormous problem at the time.
ReplyDeleteI thought the most shocking part of the movie was when the cops pulled over the three boys they only spoke a few words and then quickly shot them. In many of the stories that we have read or heard about the members of the KKK or other racist organizations tended to beat the people they would eventually kill and not shoot them so simply and quickly. I thought this had a large impact on me because I expected more of a build to their deaths but the sudden pull of the trigger made for a shocking start. I think this was definitely purposeful and meant to show how little many of the white people thought of people assisting in the Civil Rights movement, white or black. I would also fully agree with Edward, this scene was really meant to show the inability to trust the police force in the south. Most people had no idea who belonged to the KKK and the three boys did not see their deaths being so close. I also thought it was really interesting how the director brought in the James Meredith story a little bit and how one of the FBI agents had really seen how much segregation did to the people of the south. Another part that struck me, was when one of the FBI agents talked about how much faith he had in the Sheriff in Mississippi because he himself was a Sheriff in a small town just like it. The two opposites working together on a this case should make a good portrayal of both the more southern approach to segregation and racism and a more modern and empathetic approach to the circumstances the African Americans faced.
ReplyDeleteAs several people before me have noted that, I thought that the burning church served as a good analogy for the Mississippi at the time. This was because there was racism to such a degree that it lead to three men, out of many killed then though, being murdered in cold-blood simply because they supported blacks in their search for rights. The scene right after that when the three men are shot, I found especially shocking as shocking. If someone had not known what was going to happen like I did then it would be a great surprise when with little warning one of the men pulls a gun and shoots the driver with no hesitation. This scene was definitely very deliberate and set the tone for the rest of the movie as we now know that racism is to the point where police are assisting in murder simply because they are helping blacks. We are meant to hate and despise anyone who doesn't want to help the blacks now because of this scene and it also makes anyone who displays racism a now hated character. Finally I can see already how this movie is going to portray the blacks and whites. It shows that the white characters so far are already there to help and will be the ones to actually get something done. This makes them likable unlike the black characters that we have met so far like the ones in the diner. He doesn't want to talk to the FBI agents and is being unhelpful which would lead a viewer to believe that it was the whites who got everything done then while the blacks did nothing.
ReplyDeleteAfter writing about the Black Panther Party I know how the FBI was involved in the Civil Rights movement and the way that it is portrayed in the movie so far seems in a word, "bogus." The FBI assassinated members of Civil Rights activist groups like the Black Panther Party and seeing them work toward righteousness on account of the dead Civil Rights activists seems extraordinarily fake to me. An ironic scene in the part of the film we watched today shows how bogus the FBI role in the film is based on the information I have shared about how the FBI assassinated Civil Rights activist leaders. The FBI agents walk into the police station and ask for the sheriff and the policemen at the front desk says something along the lines of, “ well if it isn’t the FBI, what does that stand for? The Federal Bureau of Integration.” This is ironic because the FBI from what I have read is not taking the pro Civil Rights or anti Civil Rights side of the case at all, it is only there in Mississippi because the case involves missing people. The film sets the FBI up to be the Sherlock Holmes detective type of film, when historically they were doing the opposite of being detectives out for justice and instead just involved in a “missing persons case.” Similar to what other people have commented on, this scene and the role the FBI plays even this early in the film reflects the director’s and producers’ input on the event’s true historical background. It shows how an untrained audience unlike us could take the film to be the entire truth of the event that happened when it really happened in other ways.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to the other comments, I think that the director does an exceptional job of portraying the racism of the time period and educating viewers of it. The opening scenes, including the segregated drinking fountains and the burning of a church, give several different examples of this racism. I agree with Oren’s comment regarding the ongoing symbolism of the burning church throughout the movie. The scene that includes the police shooting the three men further shows the extreme racism of the time period. The KKK would kill people simply because they were black or because they were white “nigger-lovers,” as said in the movie. I like how the director chooses to place this particular scene in the beginning, so that the focus of the movie can be on the search for the missing bodies and the effect this search had on racism and the people. In the next scene, when the two FBI agents assigned to find the missing bodies are driving to see the Sheriff, one of the FBI agents is singing a racist song in the car. This shows that racism existed almost everywhere, even in the FBI. When these two agents arrive at their destination, the Deputy officer tells them that they will have to wait. Consequently, one of the FBI agents resorts to more brutal yelling and demands to see the sheriff. This scene shows the violent tactics used by some of the FBI, which I read about in one of the articles. The last scene from the portion of the movie that we’ve seen shows the younger FBI agent confronting a black in a diner, wanting to ask him a few questions. Everyone turns their heads in awe to look at this agent. Additionally, the black man will not speak to him. This scene makes it look like it was a sin to speak to a man of the opposite race. My personal reaction to the beginning of the movie is the disbelief that human beings would do the things that they did during this time period. The disbelief is evidence by the fact that it startled me when the police suddenly puts his gun to the head of the civil rights workers and pulls the trigger. Moreover, I give credit to these three civil rights workers, two of them white, for entering racial turmoil and risking their lives in attempt to make a difference. Not many people that I know would do something like that.
ReplyDeleteThe movie started out by showing its audience how in that time period racism was a huge factor in daily life. This was conveyed by showing the two different water fountains placed in a public location. The white man approaches the white fountain and presses the button, able to easily access some water. The colored fountain is already running and looks like it is in a worse condition compared to the white one. A little colored boy approaches it and presses the button. This small, short scene describes and tells the audience how racists those times were. It then shows a scene of a church burning and music plays in the background. The music is suspicious and the scene keeps the audience wondering and confused a bit. It is a very intriguing piece to the film. Skipping to a third scene, we are brought into the night with three boys driving. Two white guys are in the front and a black male is in the rear. They are supposedly chased down by "cops" who seem to just be racists that corner them into the woods and kill the boys. As multiple (three I believe) cars or trucks pull them over, a white guy gets out and several men approach the car. One of the "cops" said "Don't let them see your face." The most striking part of the movie so far was when the other man responded "It won't matter anyway." He then immediately put his gun to the white driver, and killed him. The screen goes dark in the film and a follow up of a few more gun shots is giving the illusion that the other two were also killed by this group. So far, as an audience member, I am left wondering things. I am left wondering about the racism clearly presented in the film. I am wondering about the church burning, and what happened and what its significance is and will be. I am wondering what happened to the boys in the cars, both the ones who (may or may not have all) died and the guys who approached them in the first place. We ended by being greeted by some agents, FBI I believe, that came into the small town. I am wondering about them, how this dynamic between the tough, old man and the smart and intellectual young leader will work together and solve whatever it may be they are looking for. It will be interesting to see how the old man and the younger man express themselves in the film and their different (at least I am assuming they will be) ways of going about the case. Overall, the movie seems like it will be very intriguing and very astonishing in a sense that it is almost impossible to comprehend the craziness that was going on at this time period.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have only seen the first twenty minutes of “Mississippi Burning”, I have already been able to see how the director’s creative license is important in capturing the audience’s attention. Similar to previous comments, the opening scene picturing two water fountains, one for whites and the other for blacks, along with the diner scene that followed are prime examples of how severe the issue of racism was in the United States at the time of the Civil Rights Movement and prior. The opening scene itself struck me as important to laying the groundwork for the rest of the film. Segregation had trickled down into the unimportant aspects of everyday life, such as which drinking fountain one used, but defying these strict rules was also not taken lightly. I believe that in this short amount of time, the producers are able to get their point across that whites were very unaccepting of African Americans. I see this as a method to make whites feel superior and more powerful than blacks in everything that they do. In another respect, although the audience is not given much of a indication of what specifically is causing the burning of the church and the deaths of two white men and one black man, it is understood that racism and segregation are going to be the basic concepts of “Mississippi Burning’s” plot. Knowing the factual events of “Mississippi Burning” as they happened was helpful in understanding the plot thus far. Not knowing what was occurring could make it difficult for someone to follow. I did think that the producers’ decision to begin the movie with the burning of a church and the deaths of three men was peculiar because the audience had no idea why this was happening. Creatively though, it could help keep the viewers interested and entice them to continue watching the film. I also think that it was a wise choice to play the image of the burning church with dramatic music. It helped this moment stand out as being an important event that would lead to the events coming in the movie. So far, I believe that these bold moves taken by the producers and directors of “Mississippi Burning” were essential in grasping the audience’s attention and making them understand the importance of the events that they were about to witness. Overall, the movie has not been too graphic, but seeing the facial expressions of each character helps to understand their viewpoints on segregation. I would have to say that “Mississippi Burning” is intriguing and helpful in understanding our history.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else has pointed out, the director effectively provided the reader with the context of the era by showing a black boy drinking at a segregated fountain. Racism was so deep entrenched in daily lives that even public water fountains had to be segregated, despite the additional cost. Interestingly, the scene that followed showed a church burning. Fire form a vivid contrast with water in the previous scene, creating a sense of tension; whereas water symbolized peace, fire inevitably suggested violence and conflicts. The burning of the church was even more disturbing. To me, a beginning implied that drastic changes were to happen during the African Americans' struggle for racial equality. During the first scene, three men were driving in a car. Whereas they were portrayed as innocent citizens who decided to pull over when chased by the police, the police were portrayed as evil criminals who took pleasure in killing the two white "nigger-lovers" and the one black. The scene was disturbing to me, as the police was not obeying the law and resembled terrorists more. It was shocking how people have brutally used terrors to prolong the status quo of racism and it really made me appreciate how much the nation has made over the last few decades. The following introduction of two FBI agents was also interesting. The director juxtaposed an old ex-Mississippi-sheriff with a young and inexperienced FBI agent. Whereas the old man understood the politics and knew the way to proceed, the young boss was much more by the book. The troubles the young FBI agent encountered as he showed blatant contempt of racial inequality epitomized how great the racial tension was in the south. Even in the police department, the local police showed some hostility as the young FBI agent conveyed his desire to strive for racial equality. In addition, in the restaurant, as the young FBI agent sat down in the black only section and attempted to talk to a black person, the fact that all costumers were dumbfounded demonstrated how unimaginable it was for a man to break the racial barrier. Even then, the submissive young black man had great fear and refused to talk to the FBI agent, fearing he would incur trouble for himself. Overall, the movie was heart-wrenching; it was effective in provoking emotions and portraying the blatant racism that once existed.
ReplyDeleteI would like to build upon what Oren and everyone else has said. As explained, the burning church symbolizes the turmoil in Mississippi during the 1960's. However, I am wondering if it might also represent the inability of the church to protect the innocent and the African Americans. Religion was unable to prevent the evil that unfolds in the next scene. The burning church is a demonstration of religion’s ineffectiveness and its hypocrisy. The killers might very well attend church and be “god worshipping citizens” during the day, but in the darkness, they murder and are immoral. The African Americans can’t be saved by the church. In the scene where the men are killed, there is no God, there are no morals, and evil is omnipresent, because the church has burned, which represents the demise of the House of God. The burning of the church could symbolize the burning of people’s morals, the end of humane behavior. However, if that theory (of the burning church as being a symbol for the powerlessness and failure of religion) seems too extreme, then perhaps the burning church could be thought of as the killers decent into hell. The lighting, the eerie darkness on the road, the brief uttered words, the evil in the policeman’s eyes versus the innocence of the young men set the stage for conflict and the introduction of wickedness. The movie is full of contrasts, which is what racism is, a conflict between Black and white, with one side asserting superiority over the other. The movie intro includes Black versus white, light versus dark, high versus low (the signs over the drinking fountains), good versus evil, shadow versus openness, blinding light of the flashlights versus mellow night light, and ordinary versus terrifying. The lighting, camera angels, music, and camera shots contribute to the story of racism and the evil that the plot conveys.
ReplyDelete