'I Will Tell' Film Festival - Adinkra Film Reviews by Eleni Schmidt

What Black Men Think

Are there more Black men in jail than in college? Who's the most popular iconic figure today, TUPAC or Dr. Martin Luther King? Where did the Civil Right movement go? What do Black men think of themselves? And how do media portrait them and why? Director Janks Morton digs deep into what is troubling him about the American media, and the situation for Black males today. He interviews a lot of Black men, academics, writers, and community leaders, as well as 'man on the street' interviews. Some of his ideas are controversial, particularly that the 'Civil Rights movement went wrong in the sixties, when the black community lost its values, resulting in broken families' and that the 'media make money on promoting the Black man in a bad light'.

On one hand, this is a very interesting movie, that is very enjoyable to watch, with an important message. On the other hand, it is a documentary, and hardly mainstream, since it's rather provoking. It might be best as a DVD edition. The screening ended with an audience discussion featuring two guest speakers; community leader Tony Warner, Director of an education program, and Claudette Williams, a Minister. Emotive subjects discussed were moral guidance, spiritual life and a lack of positive role models for young people.

This is not a bleak movie - it's raw, funny, interesting and challenging. It engages you, and provokes you. There's not a boring moment, and the movie stays with you for quite some time.