OBJECTIVES
Viewing the PBS family movie,
Brother Future
, will give students a common frame of reference as they begin their inquiry into the particulars surrounding slavery and the Southland at that time. Students will be aware that this cinematic account of slavery is told in a gentler, more sympathetic voice than those heard in most other films. After viewing
Brother Future
and shorter segments of other films such as the Television Series,
Roots
, the class should be well equipped to recognize and identify many of the inaccuracies and stereotypes so often depicted in other films dealing with the same historical/social period.
NOTES
This film is an excellent point of entry for students in this age group. For one thing, it starts off with the familiar: scenes from school, T.J.’s nonchalant attitudes towards education, the urban environment, and of course, the hip-hop music. The sudden transition into slavery hits a nerve, perhaps a primordial fear that it could really happen; a person could wake up from their sleep and find themselves trappedÉa prisoner of slavery. The audience empathizes with T.J.’s plight, personalizing his experiences and the lessons that he learns through his encounter with slavery. Our perception of slavery becomes more focused and detailed as we become acquainted with real-life individuals, complete with feelings: hope, love, anger, fear, and compassion. We begin to
see
the people who lived during this time, whose efforts, dreams and struggles paved the path upon which we walk, even now.
The film,
Brother Future
is really the launching pad of this unit. The following activities are but a small sampling of the possible areas that students may want to look into. Granted, exploring the ante-bellum South is a big undertaking. It would not be possible to cover it in its full extent in a unit such as this. With this in mind, my suggestion is that you follow the responses of your students. They will let you know where their interests are.
ACTIVITIES
Depending on the teacher’s judgment, some of these activities may be presented or after viewing the film,
Brother Future.
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1) Within the film we encounter the personage of Denmark Vessey, a South Carolina slave who planned one of the largest and elaborate uprising on record. His plans were thwarted when he was betrayed by another slave. This brief description barely scratches the surface of this remarkable man.
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____
____
There was a wealth of outstanding personalities who lived during this period. Many have been obscured in historical accounts. Many are heroes unsung. For the purpose of letting their stories be heard students will choose a person to investigate and to later personify while being interviewed by classmates. Who they decide to research is left to the student’s discretion, however it must be a person relevant to the slavery period in this country. In the event that they can find no one they wish to study, they might create a composite character based on the information they have collected during this activity.
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2) Many of the themes and issues in the film Brother Future pertain to slavery and contemporary times, as well. With this in mind, students will:
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____
a. Identify themes, values, trends, issues, and concerns that appear within the film.
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____
b. Compare and contrast their present and past significance.
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c-In small groups write and present skits or simulations that illustrate their understanding of a particular theme.
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d. Create posters or collages that express their responses to various issues. These may be done in cooperative groups, and can focus on the period of slavery and as well as contemporary concerns.
The following list includes themes that I identified:
Contemporary/Urban
|
Slavery Period
|
street-life survival skills
|
education
|
dealing with the law
|
role of music
|
peer pressure
|
code language
|
ethical behavior (stealing etc.)
|
social hierarchy
|
clothing
|
morality
|
respect for teachers and elders
|
religion
|
friendship
|
plantation politics
|
education
|
historical/cultural ties
|
respect for self and others
|
reading and writing skills
|
slang talk
|
selflessness
|
Examining the institution of slavery within a social and political context will provide students with information necessary to better understand the perspectives offered in many film portrayals of this era. With this in mind, I have prepared a brief narrative describing some of the more significant events that precipitated the large-scale importation of African captives into this country.