This film was significant because Riggs gave the black gay community a voice. When this documentary started, it started off by the men chanting “brother to brother,” this was important because it revealed that they were just human beings loving each other. It was portrayed as a sin to be gay in that community at the approximate time period. I felt as if the edits were very intense and powerful, every-time the film maker would zoom into the men’s faces I felt as if it represented them being trapped, isolated and felt a great burden. I was a little unconformable with the white men being accepted by society even with them being gay, but the black brothers, were humiliated or taunted because of it. I felt as if the community was very controversial and it was more of a race card rather than a gender card. However, I did not enjoy the scenes of where the two men were very intimate with each other. Not that I am against gay people, I just rather respect it from a far, those scenes were to vivid for me. In addition, I do feel as if it was put their to make their audience uncomfortable in their aim to confront homophobia.
“Tongues Untied,” is a 55 minutes documentary film that came out in 1989. It was directed by Marlon Riggs, who gives voice to the gay black communities. Marlon Riggs also includes himself in the film. This film gives us an inside look on their perspectives and their confrontations with racism, and homophobia. It is not easy being a person of color back then, on top of that if you are also gay? It is harsh and tough. This film’s message is powerful and meaningful. The way they made this is unique, and it gets through to me. People who are not gay black men can also somehow relate to this film; whoever has been an outcast or has been looked down upon by society can relate, because they have something in common, they know how it feels. This film consist of many voice overs, repetitions, poetic sayings or verses, songs, dances, footages, and people talking about their stories. I feel that their stories is the main focal point in this film. Some of the stories are, a black man talking about the transition of homosexual insults he went through, “punk, homo, faggot, and freak.” “Mother-fucking coon.” How his best friend became his worst enemy. That time when he got greeted with a spray- printed sign that said, “Niggers go home.” The red necks hated him and so did the blacks; they assumed class status made him uppity, assumed his silence as a superiority. “Uncle Tom.” He was shy, confused, afraid, and alone. He says, “Each joke levels us a little more and we sit silently.” He sometimes even joins in on the laughter as if he too deep down believes that he is the lowest among the low. “Black or gay? What do you value most?” That’s like asking him, “ your left nut or your right?”
I can see why PBS did not want to air this film. honestly for 1 or 2 scenes. and only because younger children might accidentally watch it…. and honestly who wants to have a conversation with there 4 year olds about certain sexual things that homosexuals might do.. maybe leave that conversation with them until they’re 8 or 10 lol. why? because kids can be imprinted.
Umm, yes some scenes may have been inappropriate and there are things kids shouldn’t be exposed to but it’s not just what homosexuals do. Maybe I’m reading your response wrong but all things whether done by a heterosexual, homosexual, whatever sexuality, it should all be hidden from children. PBS is known for showing kid shows early in the morning or afternoon and this film would probably have scarred a child due to a scene or two but it could’ve been a heterosexual sex scene and the kids still would’ve approached their parents asking them about those things. Riggs doing this was very brave of him because of the tragedies he’s already faced from locals, so for him to produce a film that would be seen by a larger group expressing his art was extremely risk taking. I’m not sure where I was going with this response but I feel like if you were to call out a sexuality, call them all out because kids being kids are extremely curios and will always ask questions about something they know wasn’t exactly meant for their eye to see.