Black Lives Matter Spotlight: Rick Famuyiwa's Dope (6/22/2020)
- Heather German
- Jun 28, 2020
- 3 min read
I wanted to watch Dope during this series for many reasons, and I especially wanted to save it for last as it's in some ways the odd one out of the bunch. All of the films we've looked at so far have been unflinching works looking deep into the various social, political and economical issues that have plagued Black people in both historical and contemporary America. Dope doesn't necessarily shy away from these things, but it also provides a crucial component that many Black people today likely feel is in short supply - hope.
Rick Famuyiwa is a relatively unknown voice compared to others on this list - though his body of work is longer than that of Boots Riley, he has yet to break into the mainsream in the same way as Ava DuVernay and Ryan Coogler. Here, though, we see the work of a filmmaker who is commited to exploring Black culture in a way that is more celebratory than anything else. Dope certainly showcases some of the more dangerous elements of poor Black neighborhoods in major cities - namely, drug and gang related violence - but it doesn't wallow in these miseries. Instead, it uses a visual style and character design reminiscent of classic hip-hop and Black filmmaking in a way that seems like a celebration of contemporary Black culture, while also producing something that is sorely needed - a legitimate role model for Black youth who uses his intelligence and wits to transcend the limitations of his surroundings.
The story of Dope begins in an inner city high school, where protagonist Malcolm (played by Shameik Moore) and his two friends he shares a band with attend. The three are generally considered to be nerds and are picked on for it. There's a very strong social pressure to conform to a specific type of Blackness - one that shirks getting into good colleges and instead encourages gang life and drugs. For the entire film, Malcolm resists this urge, instead commiting to being his own, unique self. When he eventually has the misfortune of attending a party that gets violent when the cops bust in to arrest some drug dealers, Malcolm unwittingly becomes a mule transporting a potent brand of MDMA for the dealers at the risk of his own life.
The antics Malcolm goes through are usually entertaining to watch, but they also very inspiring. Malcolm is a brilliant person who, while thrust into trouble via being at the wrong place and the wrong time, gets out of it by taking matters into his own hands and rising to the challenge, using his wit and intellect to outsmart the villains and come out victorious. I can see this film being particularly important to Black boys across the country, as it shows that while Black communites are often mired by drugs and gang violence, and Black youth feel immense social pressure to partake in these things, there is always another way. With Dope, Famuyiwa tells us that there is more to being Black than the harsh conditions one is born into, and the negative imagery that fills the media. Black people are smart, intelligent and resourceful, and have unique interests, goals and dreams just like anybody else. It is a story made by Black people and filled with love for Black people - anything else would have caused it to be insufferable and patronizing.
This isn't my favorite of the films I've talked about - in fact, it may be my personal least favorite. I find its structure and pacing to be inconsistent, and some of the stylistic elements get jarring, especially in the second half. Apart from one of Malcolm's friends, who is a butch lesbian (played by Kersey Clemons), most of the women in the story are either unimportant or objectified, such as the main love interest who really only exists for Malcolm to fawn over. More importantly, though, of all of the films I've reviewed, I think that this one is the least directed towards me - and unlike my previous points, this isn't a negative. Black people need more films for themselves, especially ones that provide such strong affirming messages.
Dope was a great film to close off on, because it tells us that Black people are more than just their struggle, that they're more than just gangsters and statistics, that they are people with unique individual hopes and dreams too, and - most importantly - that they are people who can succeed and find happiness. Despite its flaws, it's a humanizing film that is especially relevant now.
Please consider donating to the BLM movement! Some links to charities to donate to, petitions to sign and other resources can be found below.
Comments