This served as a very much-needed explanation and clarification of the multitudinous facets involved in the way humanity has learned to to justify its need for self-harmful cults, isms, and movements.
Directed by Raoul Peck and featured in 2016, this film weaves James Baldwin's work into an accurately eye-opening recollection of his, as well as of the collective African-American, experience of living in the United States of America before and during one of the nation's most turbulent and defining periods since its revolutionary conception. Told in Mr. Baldwin's uniquely poignant style of expression in regards to his perspective on living and his race's particular oppression in the States, his candor cries truth for the world to - not walk a day in his shoes but to - acknowledge that he is just as worthy of and entitled to be a living, breathing human being as any other human being, bigot, or mix thereof is.
For those who may wish to better understand the state of, as well as the shifting statuses of, America, BAD FAITH (Written and Produced by Stephen Uljajki) should be made public cultural knowledge since before now. If for no other reason than to clarify the chaos of who America is, intaking and processing the information disclosed teaches much about the currently blurred context of our most relevant history. This lead me on a colorful journey from Calvinism to the crucifixion of the United States' Constitution to the strategic consolidation of conservative voting blocks through an agenda-colored collection of political preachings pawned off as works justified by a God they do not know all the while entertaining the greater demi-gods of "death by or to democracy" and "standing by".
A series by father-and-son, David Barton and Tim Barton, the initial episode is all I have seen and the trip is ultimately worthwhile although a bit sporadic, in that it confused me on the full motivation and intention behind the project. The excited fever with which they took to uncovering historical figures and their stories displayed nothing but a fervor for their faith and the truth it's unlocking for them. A bit heavy-handed of an approach to certain aspects of their message for my personal taste, it was impossible for me, I recall, to not cringe throughout 80% episode one, but as the truths surfaced into the light, light clung to light, the darkness of doubt fled, and the depth of true knowledge became an impetus for my own unforeseen healing - not found but stumbled upon - in being positively affirmed in my life's mission to learn and know truths worth knowing and learning so much more about.
Hosted by Lawrence Fishburne, I skipped to The Mystery of Roanoke Island as my introduction to the series (as the Loch Ness monster is not above "other history" in my non-book). This history had me hooked on the line, start-to-finish (in between multitasking) - not too unlike my deep interest in the history as a primary- and secondary-school-aged child. If for no other motivation than having a cool story to tell that actually happened, it may actually surprise you with intrigue - as it did me, once I also skipped over the initial episodes, which I've equated in my memory to a "Legend of Sleepy Hollow"-esque investigation I cared to know little to nothing about at this particular time in my life.
