Minority Examination In 13Th, Harvey Milk, 4 Little Girls, And A Leap Of Faith

Identity in Politics

Throughout all of history, the politics in the United States and abroad have heavily leaned towards the needs of the majority, which initially sounds reasonable, as democracy works that way. The problem arises when the identified majority either suppresses minorities or refuses to share power. In the past, and to a lesser degree today, politics and leadership positions primarily go to a closed majority group. Whether that be white straight men in the United States or religiously protestant people in Northern Ireland, the issue of political identity bias is very alive. Although repression occurs and it is difficult for minorities to rise to the top, it is partly the fault of said minorities, as they remain close minded and dislike change and cultural differences. In all, minorities have a significant disadvantage all over the world, as they struggle to ever gain power of become more than just a minority amongst a goliath majority. By examining five documentaries, it is evident that political positions and overall integration into society is different for different identities and more difficult for minorities.

Political biases have been a part of American politics for a long time, sometimes making the political sector appear as a whitewashed, conservative organization that refuses change. This of course is not correct, as lately politics have been opening up. The reality though, is that today it is more difficult to be elected in to office as a part of a minority, and in the past it was borderline impossible. This of course can be seen in the documentaries watched, and primarily the three documentaries, The Times of Harvey Milk, directed by Harvey Fierstein, 4 Little Girls, directed by Spike Lee, and A Leap of Faith, directed by Jenifer McShane and Tricia Regan. In the times of Harvey Milk, one can see the struggles Milk faces as he attempts to take office in San Francisco. In one scene in particular, Milk is seen fighting against proposition 9, stating it is immoral and ridiculous (Fierstein 00:40). Proposition 9, which banned the hiring of gay people in public schools, was obviously targeted at homosexuals and simply did harm to a minority. This suppression of a person’s identity makes it difficult for anyone to feel pride in what they are, and is simply immoral. Another clear example of suppression comes from Spike Lee’s film, 4 Little Girls, where because of the color of their skin, a minority is treated as a lesser. In Lee’s film, the 16th Street church bombing in Birmingham Alabama is examined and the families of victims tell their stories. One particular scene that shows the minority’s struggle to rise up is when J. Christopher McNair, the father of one of the four little girls, tells the story of segregation in a shop. In this story he states that the family could not use the same bathrooms, water fountains, or even vendors for food as the white people in the town (Lee 00:20). This clear segregation was simply a part of life for black people in America and it meant that it was almost impossible for any black person to gain political power or influence. The third documentary that gives great insight into a group that has been suppressed is and A Leap of Faith. In contrast to the other documentaries discussed, this one, directed by Jenifer McShane and Tricia Regan takes place in Northern Ireland and discusses religion. The main issue throughout the film is the clear segregation between Irish Catholics and loyalist Protestants. Although the entire film depicts scenes of segregation and struggle for both religious groups, it is most clear that the minority, which is catholic, struggles the most. As Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom, loyalty to the crown and their beliefs of Protestantism reigns supreme. One scene in particular expresses this, as it shows the internal struggle in Northern Ireland explode. In the scene, it is explained that on Halloween night 1972, a bar owned by the Irish Catholic was destroyed by a car bomb, thus sending fear and suppression throughout the society(Jenifer, Regan 00:45). The suppression of the Catholics in Northern Ireland was one of the main causes for the creation of Ireland as a nation, which brought conflict as people felt the need to identify as one or the other. In all, all three films discussed look at the politics of identity and the suppression and mistreatment of one particular identity. Whether it be sexual orientation, race, or religion, people identify with people similar to them, and if one is in the majority regarding those traits, they are advantaged.

One of the advantages of having unique identities is that people who share them tend to group together. This of course includes drawbacks, which make identities something that can be used negatively. As discussed, people in a majority hold the most power and those in the minorities usually have trouble rising to higher ranks. This has to do with many factors, including that of identity bias and unwillingness to change. People in minorities often refuse to change themselves or attempt to stay within their identity communities. This can lead to problems and can primarily be seen in the films, Sound and Fury, directed by Josh Aronson, and Little White Lie, directed by Lacey Schwartz, James Adolphus. In Sound and Fury, the identity in question is that of deaf people in America. What stands out in the documentary is the willingness for the deaf to stay deaf, and their clear disrespect for those who can hear. Of course it is reasonable for them to disregard the claims of hearing people about the sense, but their clear distrust and uneasiness for the population majority is worrying. In scene in particular, where the parents of little Heather are discuss her getting a cochlear implant, the father, Peter ultimately says that he does not want to lose a member of his closed community, as Heather would no longer identify as deaf (Aronson 00:25). What is interesting though is that when the mother, Nita, explains her case she is not so much afraid of losing a member of her community, but more afraid of her daughter not being able to identify with any community. This is a great example of how different Heather’s parents think, as one is more concerned about losing a member of his community and the other is simply worried about her daughter. With both cases there is validity, but the stronger case, which is the mother’s, brings up a good concept. In her worries, Nita expressed a worry that is completely correct, stating that everyone must identify with something because being in limbo over an identity is just cruel and sad (00:25). It is very easy to grow up in to a society, following the footsteps of parents or simply those around oneself, but it becomes difficult when having to choose. Just like Heather’s parents had to choose for her, in Little White Lie, Lacey Schwartz had to choose for herself. After growing up in a Jewish home as a white woman, Lacey gradually discovered information that eventually led to her finding out she was black. Although something completely arbitrary and on the surface minute, to her it was a turning point. Because she had grown up white, she took her old life to be lie as she was never white. In one scene specifically, she goes around asking her family for advice on what identity to select, ultimately willing to drop one (00:40). This scene depicts her struggle to find an identity that suits her, and not just to stay with the one she had. Moreover, this attitude shows that Lacey struggled to find an identity and refused to be in both. This speaks towards the point that transition is difficult, and that moving to a different culture or assimilating is a hard road. In all, both films about identity share a common theme of identity translation and the struggle to move from one culture to another, overall making great points and entertaining an audience.

In conclusion, the five films viewed and discussed all shared similar themes of identity. While some leaned towards a political theme on top of identity, others kept their structure to identity in general. Thinking politically, it is quite easy to make connections to the past and present in the world. As stated before, the identities people conform to influence their thoughts and behaviors, which can lead to either good or bad. Some people who are lucky enough to be born into a more fortunate community or an identity majority have the upper hand politically, but those who fall into a cultural minority and identify less with those in charge are finally getting chances. The future does look bright for all identities as the world today seems to be opening up to all cultures, people, and identities. In all, while everyone’s identity might be different and people can have many identities simultaneously, it is sometimes hard to remember that all people identify together as people, which is the one identity no one can escape.