AFI DOCS,  Coming Attractions,  Documentary Film Review,  entertainment,  Film Festivals

Black Women Like Ida B. Wells Very Vital to The Vote

In 2015, Carey Mulligan starred in SUFFRAGETTE, a film that chronicled women’s to vote.  What they didn’t tell you in that film is that Black women like Sojourner Truth, Francis Ellen Harper and Ida B. Wellswere very much a part of that fight for women’s rights. Women weren’t just given the right to vote…we took it on August 18, 1920.

Our struggle began with mass demonstrations, passing pamphlets on the street, standing on soapboxes and explaining why women should and need to  vote.  But, men, just as the remain today, saw these actions as aggressive, militant and misbehaving.  It explains why many were apprehensive to vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and continue to fear women in political power to this day.

Historical origins of are disclosed of Emmeline Pankhurst, one of movements founding mothers was a Quaker, whose belief system was that everyone was equal in the eyes of God despite gender, race or religion. We learn of debates between Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony and how one cause and faction of society was given priority over another.  We are reminded that The United States Constitution was drafted wand constructed by alll white men and while it states – WE THE PEOPLE – those people did not include immigrants, women or people of color.  We learn that women were arrested and treated as political prisoners.

Most importantly, we learn that Black women saw what it was like to have Black men disrespected and disenfranchised.  If you couldn’t vote, you couldn’t serve on a jury or be appointed to be a judge.  A judge who could have brought white perpetrators to trial for lynching.  We learn the importance of delegates, Senate Sub-committees.

Director Michelle Ferrari does an excellent job of stringing all this history together  with archival footage, photographs, music and sound effects.  I already appreciated and revered my right to vote, but this comprehensive look makes me proud that folks fought for over 72- years for me to enjoy that right and privilege.  THE VOTE can be seen on PBS, Monday July 6th.

https://www.pbs.org/video/trailer-vote-american-experience

 

 

I love, love love movies, watching them and discussing them...thus the birth of The Curvy Film Critic!!! Host/Producer/FilmCritic,Carla Renata is a member of such esteemed organizations as Critics Choice Association (Co-President Documentary Branch and Board Member), African American Film Critics Association and Online Association of Female Film Critics. My op-eds or features have been seen in Variety , RogerEbert.com, The Wrap The Cherry Picks, as well as being a frequent Guest Contributor to Fox 11-LA, Good Day LA, ET Live!, Turner Classic Movies, The Cherry Picks, The Stream Team (Beond TV) ITV, Fox Soul's The Black Report, The ListTV and more. Catch my reviews on The Curvy Critic with Carla Renata - LIVE!!! Sundays 5pm PST via You Tube or Facebook Live. If you like what you read please shout me out and subscribe to The Curvy Critic on YouTube. You can chat with me across all social media platforms @TheCurvyCritic and as always, thanks for supporting a sista'

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