I watch a lot of movies. From a young age, anything I could get my hands on was mine for the taking. I ventured through many genres, such as action, drama, romantic comedy, and horror. The movie theater was like a second home to me. Those plush, leather reclining seats, the buttery and slightly salty popcorn, and the experience of being a part of something bigger than myself have always drawn me in, even today. I started this blog with the plan of taking you all—not only on a journey of movie reviews and breaking down institutional racism one movie at a time—but also on a journey of self-discovery. 

I’m not an expert on every form of racism or injustice there is in the world. The only person’s experience I can wholly and truthfully write about is my own. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that. If I have educated anyone of you on the numerous slights that my people, Black people, have had to endure, then I consider this blog a job well done. Unfortunately for us, this job isn’t over yet. We live in a world that—although it may be improving—still demeans and dehumanizes Black lives for the sake of entertainment or out of spite. As you have probably gleaned from my movie reviews, discrimination also happens in Hollywood as well (shocker!). 

I think that a part of me was always frustrated with that. Movies were always such a huge part of me (and my family), and the fact that there were hardly any characters on the big screen who looked like me was exasperating. I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy movies where white characters were the lead because, well, that would be a lie. I also know that if I didn’t watch movies where white characters were the lead, my movie collection would have reduced by ten-fold. 

This blog provided me with an experience I didn’t know that I needed. I got a lot out of researching movies that have had such a huge impact on my life and evaluating the treatment and characterization of Blacks within those movies. It led me to reassess my favorite movies, the movies I have grown up on (i.e., Tyler Perry movies), and the effect they all had on my growth as a person. Sure, I can’t really blame movies for how I’ve grown up, but I think film was—and still is—a huge part of who I am. Because of this, I found it only fair to give some appreciation to the films that paved the way for movies with more representation to appear on the big screen. 

Black-ploitation was quite the journey. Y’all probably can’t tell from reading my posts (or maybe you can), but I got pretty upset writing a few of them. If some injustices don’t piss you the hell off, you either 1) aren’t paying attention or 2) don’t care enough. I don’t ever want to be someone of the latter, someone who disregards the basic human rights that minorities should be given freely. Black-ploitation provided me with lessons I didn’t know I needed. It humbled me; made me thankful for this Black skin I have found a home in. 

Someone much wiser than me once said that “part of the journey is the end.” I think he was totally right about that. Thank you for choosing to join me on this one.