Honestly, I was worried about seeing Get Out, Jordan Peele’s shocking and accurate depiction of blackness in the United States. I was worried because it quickly became a critical darling, and the last movie in the critics’ eye was La La Land, a movie heavily criticized for its erasure of black people’s history in jazz. But thankfully, the critics and I aligned on this piece. Peele did a truly phenomenal job of describing the micro and macroaggressions black people face every day in our country, and kept me on my toes for the entire movie, praying that Chris somehow made it out of the film alive. But before you continue, please note that I will not pretend that I now understand what it’s like to be a black man in America now that I have seen this film, because I don’t and no other white person can. I’m here to talk about what I, a white person, took from the film, and what I think that other white people should take from this film. Beyond the gorgeous cinematography and genius screenplay is a movie that is desperately imparting the truth of black America on its audience, the proof that we need #BlackLivesMatter and affiliated idealogies to create progress toward racial identity and understanding in our nation. So if you’re white, please read on. You need to hear this.
1. Being “color blind” is a form of racism
I am not the first person to say this. I will not be the last person to say this. But damn is colorblindness subtle in this film. Now maybe it’s not subtle to some, and I’ll be the first to admit my privilege in not always seeing microaggressions when they happen. But without spoiling too much of the film, there is a character who is physically blind that talks about how he couldn’t care less that Chris is black. And honestly? That’s just as unacceptable as the people who mentioned Obama and Tiger Woods and other black celebrities as conversation topics. You need to see color, and accept it. That’s how you show that you’re not racist. And while we’re on this topic…
2. Stop saying you’re not racist as a response to this film
The point of this film isn’t for white people to separate themselves into “racists” and “non-racists”. On the contrary, it’s so that we can take an honest look at ourselves and at the interactions we have with people of color. We’re supposed to notice that Rose keeps her Froot Loops and milk in separate contains, keeping the colored food away from the white beverage. We’re supposed to cringe when her father says “I would have voted for Obama for a third term”. There’s a lot that Jordan Peele asks us to take away from the film, but nowhere does he suggest that we take this film and make it all about ourselves. We’re not the star of this film. Our actions are scrutinized but not in the spotlight. We’re supposed to see ourselves in Rose’s family, and in Rose herself. We cannot forget that white women won the presidential election for Donald Trump. We cannot distance ourselves from the fact that white women are still portrayed as prizes for the brutish, animalistic black man (I’m looking at you, King Kong remake). We need to embrace this discomfort if we’re ever going to actually attempt a non-racist lifestyle. But if you need further convincing…
3. This film is not anti-white
Again, this is making it all about us (white people), when the film is really all about black people. But this film is truly not a piece of hate mail against white people. This is a callout for the white feminists, white allies, and white liberals whose politics aren’t always intersectional. This is a callout against the perceived fetishization of white women by black men, and the actual fetishization of black men by white women. This is a callout against everyone who appropriates black culture and doesn’t acknowledge the source or tries to claim it as their own achievement. This is a callout for the people who, in Jordan Peele’s words, claim that they are “Above these things”. This movie is supposed to be eye-opening. This film is supposed to be entertaining. And this film is supposed to hurt you a little bit if you fall into the above categories, the ones that exist alongside your white skin. Progress doesn’t come without a little punishment. So take the sting and get to work on a new and improved justice platform.
Again, this is not an all-inclusive list, and this is not an article that is supposed to shame white people purely for existing. This article–and the genius movie that inspired it–helped me and hopefully will help you realize the privilege that we hold in American society, and hopefully give us the insight we need to make real change in the way we speak and act toward people of color. Because guess what? It’s really fucking scary if you’re a person of color in our country. This country doesn’t feel like home, it doesn’t feel safe, and it doesn’t seem to be doing any favors for a lot of people, as stated by a hell of a lot of people (and yeah, that entire sentence is 5 different links. Please read every damn one if you don’t believe me). If you’re looking for words outside of my limited perspective, check out all of the in-text links and these other pieces linked below, which are either thinkpieces or articles written by or are interviewing people of color:
One Tweet Shows Why People Are Freaking out Over a Terrifying Interracial Horror Movie
Review: In ‘Get Out,’ Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (Bad Idea!)
11 People in Interracial Relationships on the Intense Experience of Watching Get Out
I’m black. My wife is white. We saw ‘Get Out.’ This was our conversation afterward.