Weighing Race Against the Academy on Satellite TV [satellitescommunications]

Weighing Race Against the Academy on Satellite TV [satellitescommunications]

FORSYTH SATELLITE ACADEMY Zephra Rosado The New York City Writing Project presents Student Voices at the Nuyorican Poets Café, Saturday, May 5, 2011 A celebration of teen writers from the collaborating high schools of New York City Writing Project.

satellitescommunications.blogspot.com Zephra Rosado at the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe, NYCWP Presents

Alfred Laro, Forsyth Satellite Academy, Manhattan. Why he was selected: Laro struggled academically during his first two years of high school, he said. But during his junior year, he turned his grades and behavior around. His teachers and principals ... Grads honored for overcoming obstacles credit their supporters

This year's Academy Awards provided lots of surprises. Standing at the forefront of the nominations were two very powerful, contrasting films that have both received a lot of attention over the same broad issue: race. Both the movies Precious Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) and The Blind Side (2009) have received a lot of attention, both good and bad, on both sides of the fence for heavily playing the race card. At the end of the day, it seems to be a matter of personal opinion whether one or the other is the more offensive portrayal of African American life in modern America. Grown out of the controversy are many web pages, blogs, message boards, and movie review website threads. Surely both of these films are sure to see numbers pick up across the board, from purchases to satellite TV rentals. The question is, however, on which side of the argument do you lie?

Both pictures have been praised for their expression of emotional stories, with excellent HD cinematic artistry, but the real controversy lies within the films' content.

The film Precious Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire tells a sad story of abuse and hopelessness in the life of young Precious. In an African American, inner city community, the film does little to show hope and inspiration for changing the condition of those deeply touched by abuse and poverty. While the story may be an accurate depiction of the series of events in a person's life, or at least events that could actually happen to a person, many criticize it for reading exactly like the average racist rich *white* citizen's stereotypical view of black America...bringing the story back around to The Blind Side. Painting a very similar picture of the bleak life of a young black male, raised in squalor and homelessness, critics of the film's racial overtones say that it's outrageous to assume that a young African American man couldn't possible rise to success without the touch of a rich white family.

At the end of the day, the issue may be what agenda each viewer places behind the movies he or she chooses to view.

The average viewer doesn't pick such a heavy movie as Precious when sitting down to watch satellite TV after a long day at work. For a pleasant watch, The Blind Side is far more palatable. However, The Blind Side is a singular occasion of when white, wealthy people do good in a world where people of every race do the wrong thing far too often, as is shown in Precious. Perhaps, the issue is that one film picks up where the other leaves off in a never ending cycle of which is less politically correct. In the end, it may be the society in which we live that is politically incorrect, and not the storytellers, the films or the filmmakers.

Regardless of the debate, catch all of this year's top Oscar picks in high definition on satellite TV. Check out movies that are already available on demand, or see when the latest releases will be available to watch at home. Or, with the Olympic and awards season over, warm up by turning your attention fully to upcoming spring sports!

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