Avatar

Initially, I assumed this movie would be extremely racist, sexist, and maintain all of the -isms possible. To the contrary, Avatar was fairly enjoyable....regardless of the comparisons to Pocahontas:

This morning I made a post in regards to my "PRO-Black" attitudes. Just a little back ground information to catch you up if you missed the Twitter conversation:

I made a comment to a friend about going to see "Avatar." I stated that a Black couple sat next to me. They seemed bored from the beginning. About an hour or so into the movie, the couple gathered their belongings and walked out of the movie. My response: they appeared to be #basic. With that, it encompasses all possibilities of being bored, disinterested, and unaware of the key themes expressed in the film. This comment received a lot of backlash from my non-twitter friends and my twam in regards to my use of the term #basic.

So for further explanation...

#Basic: Intended to mean those who are unaware of simple concepts or themes. Further, #basic individuals do not want to gain a higher degree of connection to non- #basic concepts. These individuals either do not comprehend simple plots, objectives, or story lines. These individuals typically "shut down" and want to move on if they do not understand what is occurring. Typically, these people give up easily and have issues with asking clarifying questions or thinking outside of the box. (Sadly, I received this term from comedians such as Kevin Hart and Lil Duval....then, it was expressed by some of my Twam....and then, I translated it in order to fit this situation. *thus, it started as a joke; yet, it does apply (in my opinion) to this situation*

On to the good stuff:

I believe this movie was, actually, for all clearly, speaking ages (able to hold conversation). I think that even if children were very young...they could clearly understand the basic line of this story: "the sky people wanted to take over the blue people's land, but no one knows why. It seems as though the blue people were happy and living a good life." I think that even our children can see this concept. Perhaps, they are unable to intellectualize the concepts to further explore the sociopolitical underlining of the film; but, I think the basis is detectable.

I think that anyone that has seen this film could find some type of connection to their personal life...whether it was their cultural, personal, or educational background. FOR ME, I could empathize with many of the characters portrayed. For the first time in a film of this caliber where the basis was for the sky people to exalt their power and privilege, I saw pain and confusion. I could see the internal struggle to utilize their power for expansion reasons on the basis of faulty information, but I could also see the humanity they seemed to feel when they saw the families' lives being destroyed before their eyes. My heart pounded and sulked as I watched the fires begin to expand throughout their village. I saw the sky people's reactions and surprisingly, they seemed shocked and overwhelmed by the occurrences taking place. Yet, like many "sky people," no one would speak out because of their fear of losing their own status and reputation.

Moving forward....this film was definitely influenced by African and Native American rituals and culture. The Avatars were BLACK! lol. This film touched my spirit. I remember when Black people depended on their spiritual faith and connection to our ancestors before given the "white" Bible based upon their faith. I remember reading about the connections we had to the land and the spirits. Watching this film made me think about the New Orleans culture and how much of my family and friends maintain natural remedies and herbs, spiritual practices, and value the land and our universal connection. This film made me want to meditate and go back to my roots! I wanted to "center" myself and connect with nature to find my path and spiritual enlightenment. It reminded me of the time I spend at the Buddhist center seeking emotional growth and fulfillment. It reminded me of the several different faiths I have opened myself to exploring and the reasons why I reject formal and organized religions. This movie illuminated so many personal struggles, spiritually, that I have been processing and exploring for the past year. Since, I have begun my journey once more.....not giving in to the discouragement I once felt from pressures to affiliate with an organized religion such as Christianity.

Overall, I thought the plot was #basic. Nonetheless, I was overjoyed to see the sky people being represented as humble. Jake Sully's ending epiphany and resolution took me by surprise. I was excited to see that he finally "GOT IT!" He understood the beauty in the Avatars' lives and their culture. He understood the importance and how interconnected the tribes were. He understood the pain that was being expressed; the love shared; and the beauty in each one. As I sat watching, his character was so believable. It was as though he recognized he was living a double life and decided....not that I need to teach "them" something, but that I respect and honor what "they" have taught me. He appreciated what he didn't understand at first. For his efforts, I appreciated that. I did not even interpret his attempt to help them fight against the sky people as "rescuer." I saw it as he finally found a place he belonged and where he felt "at home" after being lost for so long. I felt that since he finally felt a part of the "family," he felt obligated to protect and help them against intruders and harm. For this, I respected his character.

I will not say this film goes without persecution. However, the intention of this blog was to express the enlightening portions of the film. If I think of more, I will add later....but, since many have been waiting on this...I decided to go ahead and post, as per my promise.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT!!!!!