Love Driven Hate

“I gotta get me one of those,” says the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant as a Southern Cal fullback named Sam Cunningham blazes by him on the sideline making a fool of his Crimson Tide defense. Despite the disrespect of that statement referring to another human being as an object, there’s also a positive acknowledgment contained within. An acknowledgement on Bryant’s behalf that strongly suggests quality athletic prowess among black athletes. A prowess that none of his white athletes possessed. A prowess he wanted on his team. A prowess so strong, it made the legendary coach decide then and there that it was time to integrate college football at the University of Alabama.

Here we are, 46 years and five months after that game, watching a film depicting the very same love for certain black traits.  Judging from the trailer, you would think Get Out is merely about kidnapping black people and forcing them to relive the slavery days of America. In some respects, it is that. However, the beauty of the film lies in the fact that it goes deeper than that. It examines the “why” question. Why are they only kidnapping black people? What does the so called “superior race” want from those they once didn’t even want to share water fountains with?

Although revealed in the end, we get several clues throughout the film. Perhaps the most telling one is when Rose introduces her boyfriend, Chris to a few family friends, and the white lady shamelessly feels on his arm and chest and asks Rose “Is it better?” in reference to his sexual capabilities. That scene and that line shine a light on the alleged sexual inferiority complex that white men have. It also sparks discussion and debate on whether or not white women secretly prefer and/or fantasize about being with a black man. Emphasis on secret because it’s extremely unlikely many white women would ever openly tell their families, specifically their fathers, that they actually want to be with a black man.

Ultimately, this acknowledgement, among several others, gives credibility to the notion that the very hate from white people directed towards people of color is driven by the love of several of our features and abilities. For those who would disagree, I would pose a few questions. If there’s no love, then why is tanning a multi-million dollar a year industry? Why are numerous white people willing to pay for the possibility of skin cancer for a temporary darker look? Why do some of them voluntarily allow the sun to burn them on a beach? Why did Bo Derek choose a hairstyle that black women had been wearing for decades before her? Why did Angelina Jolie have lip surgery? If there is some reason other than the fact that black is beautiful, I would love to hear it.

While some will call this film a display of reverse racism, I pose the question, at what point in the film are any of the white characters oppressed? At what point are any of them not in their original and full states of mind? At what point are they subjected to hypnosis for the sake of being transformed into someone else? The answer is never. If there was ever a moment in the film where racism was perhaps evident, it is when Rose is searching for her next victim, and she types in “Top NCAA prospects” and the immediate photos that come up are all of black men. Granted, a rather high percentage of your top notch NCAA recruits do happen to be black men, but that image doesn’t take away from the underlying message suggesting that athletics are the only way a black male is going to college.

Perhaps one of the most intriguing parts of the film is when Chris attempts to take a discreet photo of “Logan” a newly transformed Uncle Tom type fella who once went by the name Andre Hayworth, a New York native who went missing six months ago. Upon taking this photo, we get to see Andre momentarily regain his consciousness and warn Chris to get out before it’s too late. We now get to see that no matter how brainwashed white society attempts to make you, there’s always a chance for you to reclaim your true self. Chris realizes this and eventually must resort to a Nat Turner like rebellion in order to save his life.

By the time the film ends, we are left with a vigilante hero who avoided being a victim of strong love driven hate that still exists today. The question that remains is what will come of this hate as we go forth seeing as how 46 years and some change later, it still clearly exists.