Cry Freedom, Cry

            The movie this week brought us to a new perspective on racial prejudice issue. “Cry Freedom”, a movie that set in the apartheid era of South Africa, was written based on the real-life event black activist Steve Biko.

            Compared to the movie “Mississippi Burning” last week, I found that “Cry Freedom” has less violently aggressive scene. Instead the director used a more settle and less “into your face” way to show the injustices on the land of South Africa. The movie showed the open injustices that the government did towards racial issue. However the main character Steve Biko was portrayed as a smart and visionary leader instead of an aggressive one. For example, he showed his charismatic side even when facing the triad,

 “Judge: Why do you people call yourselves black? You look more brown than black.

Steve Biko: Why do you call yourselves white? You look more pink than white.”

            Also, the documentary movie showed that how relationship and people’s perspectives influences each other. Donald Woods initially was critical in his point of view about Steve Biko’s perspective, thinking that he is a rebellion. But as Donald grew to know about the mission of Biko, friendship slowly develops. As the movie goes towards the death of Steve Biko, Donald picked up the responsibility and mission to unfold the injustices.

            I also found that the underlying scenario of the Whites giving education to some Blacks reflects the fear of the minority towards the majority race in South Africa. In the movie, when Steve Biko was arrested as he went outside his banished zone to give a speech, he asked the officer, “Come on, what are you so afraid of? Once you try you see there's nothing to fear. We're just as weak and human as you are.”

            Although this movie may be less violent than some movie regarding the racism issue, but it does not make the issue any less critical. It is up to us as the new generations on how to change the world into a better place.