Fruitvale Station Essay
In the film Fruitvale Station depicts the last 24 hours in the life of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old black man from Oakland, California who was shot and killed by a policeman early in the morning of January 1, 2009. Oscar was unarmed and pinned on the ground by the two officers, one of whom shot him in the back. Oscar died several hours later. The officer who shot him was eventually charged with involuntary manslaughter and served 11 months in prison. This is just one example of how people of color are brutally mistreated and discriminated. In this essay, I will argue that all Americans should recognize that people of color are discriminated against, racism is as strong as ever, and there needs to be a social movement of the American people.
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A gap between what they see and what they know. Michael B. Jordan who played Oscar said in an interview, “It felt like I was telling a story for young African-American males who are stereotyped and judged before people get a chance to know them. We wanted to let people know who this guy was through the people who knew him the best. Show the good, bad and the ugly. Flaws and all." Which they did. He was a loving father, boyfriend, son, brother, and friend. While on the other hand a convicted felon who had served time in prison. Throughout the film we start to see this man who is trying to right all his wrongs, whether it be his family or even his “thuggish” lifestyle. Although on the night of his death the police officers saw a black man who was “resisting to cooperate”, is held face down on the ground then shot in the back. In this moment everyone had known Oscar had done nothing wrong even the officer who had pulled the trigger. As the events traveled throughout the media, all the public saw was a convicted felon who had been released from prison three months before his death. The public’s prejudices became negative due to the color of his skin. Men of color are most likely to get judged for their past then white men. From what they see to what they know making them all the more
A gap between what they see and what they know. Michael B. Jordan who played Oscar said in an interview, “It felt like I was telling a story for young African-American males who are stereotyped and judged before people get a chance to know them. We wanted to let people know who this guy was through the people who knew him the best. Show the good, bad and the ugly. Flaws and all." Which they did. He was a loving father, boyfriend, son, brother, and friend. While on the other hand a convicted felon who had served time in prison. Throughout the film we start to see this man who is trying to right all his wrongs, whether it be his family or even his “thuggish” lifestyle. Although on the night of his death the police officers saw a black man who was “resisting to cooperate”, is held face down on the ground then shot in the back. In this moment everyone had known Oscar had done nothing wrong even the officer who had pulled the trigger. As the events traveled throughout the media, all the public saw was a convicted felon who had been released from prison three months before his death. The public’s prejudices became negative due to the color of his skin. Men of color are most likely to get judged for their past then white men. From what they see to what they know making them all the more