22FA_MFS260A-African American Cinema

 Director Barry Jenkins depicts James Baldwin’s vision in his adaptation of the author’s 1974 book, “If Beale Street Could Talk”. For Baldwin, the book was a symbol of our shared experience in the United States. Baldwin interrogated and challenged the words he spoke and wrote, issues like racism, injustice and so on. Throughout the movie, Tish and Foony have their lives uprooted with a false accusation and are really upset over how their lives are changing. But there is no “woe-is-me”-style posturing in these scenes. Instead, Fonny and Tish find a semblance of normalcy tinged with sadness and elevated by hope. Sometimes the duo even laugh at situations that arise, sharing the gallows humor entrenched in the lives of the oppressed or downtrodden. This movie, despite the disheartening situation, has a message of hope and love against racial oppression. Although the details of Fonny’s unfair imprisonment are dispiriting, Tish maintains a sense of hope, thanks to her supportive family members. In turn, she is able to visit Fonny and give him the same kind of loving encouragement. Even as his situation gets gradually worse, Fonny is constantly reminded of Tish and her love as well as their unborn child and is given reasons to persevere through the injustice and racism that landed him in prison and keeps him there. The movie conveyed the power of meaningful human connection by suggesting that love can give people hope even when seemingly nothing else will. Tish has every reason to be pessimistic about the future. With the man she loves has been wrongfully accused of rape, and she’s pregnant with his child. Then, Mrs. Rogers, the rape victim that identified Fonny as her rapist has disappeared, meaning there’s almost nothing Fonny’s lawyer can do to dispute her accusation. Luckily, though, Tish has a strong support network at home, as her parents and her sister work hard to do whatever they can to make her situation easier. This movie moved me with the feel of community.