Monday, March 03, 2008

 

"Banished" Cyber-Essay

Today in both classes we watched the film: Banished. The film is about towns in America where black people were banished or run off, kicked out, told to leave if they wanted to live. The new documentary looks at two towns and one county, Forsyth, Pierce City, and Harrison where descents of these places return to address the wrongs that robbed their families of their peace of mind, and their children of their inheritance. Visit http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/banished/film.html for more information about the film. I recommend it. It's a great website.

I think, the film's key argument is the question: Are there black skeletons in the closets of most if not all white towns in America, especially the American south? The answer is probably so. What questions come to mind as you read Letters from Mississippi and what these young volunteers, black and white are doing to rid the country of prejudice and racism?

Choose one city or county and reflect on the consequences of the mob violence on black residents in Forsyth, Harrison and Pierce. How did the residents respond to the challenge of addressing the wrong done to these families? How should these wrongs be addressed? Explain how, in some ways, the people in these towns reflect the same attitudes of 100 years prior. How does this make you feel about America?

Visit the pbs.org website for more information about the film and the people, the director and the towns profiled. Respond in 250 words (minimally 3 paragraphs) to the questions. If you have a better question, or have another angle you'd like to explore, feel free to do so.

Please include the name of the film, all the places profiled and a brief summary of the thesis of the film in your introduction, before getting to your point or thesis.
The essay is due by 10 AM Wednesdsy, March 5.

Comments:
Sophia Andrews

In the film Banished, which profiles three places: Harrison, Arkansas,Forsyth County, Georgia, and Pierce City Missouri the history, as well as the contemporary subject of racial cleansing is clearly revealed through the stories, from people who lived it, as well as want to change it.

to have to be told to leave the place that you choose to live life in or else deal with the consequence of dying, which is a hughe one, in my eyes is extremely detremental. After the riot in Harrison, Arkansas the white mob went into the black neighborhoods cleared them out, and left them with no other choice but to leave. The fil exposes this as well as some families who tried to come back, but in result to have to face a white person now claiming what does not belong to them, can possibly only make it even an uncomfortable lifestyle.

This film is only proving that the issue of racial cleansing, racial discrimination has not, and possibly will not ever change.With the proof that today the city resides in 97 percent of the population is white. What can be done about this situation, as well as major issue that remains to be brought up in America, I dont think that any of us know, especially when a difference is trying to be made by a leaders they get take from us.But what we can conclude form it is that America is only history repeating itself.
 
Carmen Truong
Sabir 10-12
English 201
BANISHED
In class we watched a movie called “Banished.” Banished, meaning kicked out, forced removal, exile, and explosion. This film by Marco William is a sad film that portrays discrimination at its extreme. This film caught my attention. I was surprise to see how far certain people will go for what they believe in. In this film people took matters in their own hands to protect in what they believe. It is hard to believe that people are capable in vicious crimes like this. Today, we live in a wonderful world going to school, going to work, play games, party at night, etc… instead of doing this in our daily lives, have you notice what is happening to other community? In Forsyth City, During the scene when African American was forced to leave the city before midnight was horrible. In 1912 the African American was forced to moved out the city or will get killed. After all, there were more than 95 percent of whites living there. Although it seems as whites have more power since the government didn’t try to help, there were people who came back to protest about getting their homeland back.
Harrison is also a very racist community, African American was ordered to leave. Some Blacks was threaten, their homes was burned down, people are whipped, and tying men on to trees. Their property has taken away, and there are no ways anyone can stopped this. Also, In Pierce City, more than 96 percent are Whites.
All three community are racism, they doesn’t want any other color in their community except for whites and because of that, many of the African American got killed and injured. Also, till this day the three community is still racism and wont except anyone else. Which led to discrimination.
 
Kay Kaunda
10-12 mw
English 201b

The film ‘banished’ is about three Communities Pierce City, Forsyth City and Harrison where black families were force to flee their homes and leave everything they own, making the places into entirely white towns. Banished explains how people within the community and black descendants react and views of their towns history.

Harrison, Arkansas banished black people twice from the area, home to the Ku Klux Klan. In 1900 the amount of black residence was 115, by the time they had all been banished none were left there. The Harrison Community was forced to deal with its race issues in 2003 when a coach wrote a letter illustration the racial slurs a 9 year old player was subject to. Most black people consider Harrison not a place to go let alone spend the night within. Outside The Harrison Chamber of Commerce is the confederate flag, to many outsiders this shows that they are saying this is not a place for black people but Layne Wheeler defends this by saying ‘reasoning behind the flags is historical. They were put up to say 'Here are the five governments that have governed this particular area. It is not meant as a slap or a sign that says 'you are not welcome here.’

When watching the film I got a sense of that the people within these communities had no kind of remorse for what had happened years ago. Most of the time they weren’t willing to acknowledge for the past actions and saw people questioning what had happened and ways of trying to make it right as greatly offensive. To imagine that this type of behavior is still carrying on within America is shocking enough however to hear people use the ‘N word’ so without restraint shows that people still are not knowledgeable regarding what happened. Many of the people of the community did not know the full history to what had happened. The Black descendents who visited showed willingness to forgive as long as they were given back their land or some kind of reparations. To the people in the community their argument was ‘how can you put a price on that’. They is particular truth to their argument as it’s hard to, but in spite of everything they deserve some kind of reparations. It’s essential that the black descendents take action now as time is running out for any kind of reparations to be compensated toward them
 
English 201, 10-12

"Banished"

The film “Banished” documented a history of the mob violence on black residents who forced to flee their homes a hundred years ago by white residents and the fact that these towns remain almost entirely whites to this day, after a hundred years. The film showed three different cities and county, their current residents, black banished people’s descendants, who return to learn their shocking histories.

Among three cities, Forsyth County’s brotherhood march that held to honor of the first federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and with the intent of countering the area’s racist image grabbed my attention. As like Cox Newspapers reporter Elliot Jaspin’s statement “There [Forsyth County] were 1,098 blacks living there in 1912. Within a matter of months, it had dropped to 30. It's the largest racial cleansing in America that I know of,” the county has notorious legacy of racism. Moreover, the march in 1987 shows not the legacy but blooming racism. On the route to the event, marchers were assaulted by a crowd of white supremacists who hold the slogan “Racial purity is Forsyth’s security” and throwing rocks and bottles. And there were no other reports how the police dealt the white supremacists counter-demonstrators.

The fact the people in these towns reflect the same attitudes during 100 years period was sad reality of history repeat itself. I don’t think it is only the problem of America or struggle between white and black people. The supremacists who believe they are superior to others and misused their power has troubled all around world all the time. I believe America has established on top of the spirit of freedom and struggles to achieve human right, but the people who only claim their own freedom and right have a possibility to corrupt like supremacist. In the film, the descendents of the cities, some current residents who are still living in a hundred year ago, showed good examples, and the possibilities are in our mind too.
 
English Chesi Brown
201B
Banishment


In America some countries still remain all white. In 1912 one of many family were to evacuate their homes in Forsyth. A women, a great-great-grandmother, who is now living to see the age of 95 years-old. From time-time tells her family of 5 generation, about a tragedies that occurred in 1972. She and family was force to leave their home and land, in fear that their lives were going to be taken.( this is what we call a racial cleansing). The reason for this behavior is still unknown besides the fact that white didn’t care for blacks because of their skin. Rumors have it, that a black man rape a young white girl and this is the cause of white not liking blacks( no mans land).

The Morgan Strinklin family is seeking for justice. It is now 2005, and the family want some kind of information, on how their land was sold, took, and purchase. The question this family asks is how can they be compensated for their trouble and their land.

This family makes several attempts to local courts to find some information on how the property has been sold. Some how, there is no record of the person handling this case. The man that is in charge of the deeds, says he has no idea what happen because its over 100-year ago. This is know conspiracy. The state does not want to admit being wrong or compensate this family in know kind of way. The continue to find legal ways to avoid that this situation, and are ignoring that facts shown this family was apart of Banishment
 
Chesi, I moved your Banishment post to the correct spot. If you can't find it, let me know.
 
Erik Del Nero
English 201 B
3/5/08
10-12
Peirce City was one of the towns that did not want black people around at all. If blacks were around they were either killed or hung. The black people were forced to leave their land with no questions asked. The white people who lived there didn’t want a diverse community. The white people did not care about anyone, but themselves.
James and Charles Brown were part of one of the family’s that were forced to leave. Their great grandfather was buried in Peirce City where the black people were not allowed to go. James and Charles fought to get the right to bury their great grandfather elsewhere. For this family it was a extreme struggle to get what they wanted.
In conclusion I true felt the families pain. This is a very shameful act by the white people. Many white people said the reason they moved there is, because there was no black people. That is so racist and outrageous. I wish this never happened, because this very sad.
 
Theresa Smith
English 201A
10-12 Banished

Banished was about a film that Marco Williams had written about. Banished was based on three cities Harrison, forsyth County Georgia, that was involved in clensing of all black people. Pierce City was an all white community that wanted to rid their city of all black people. In 1864 Pierce city was at war with the blacks; black people were hung, beaten, or killed. Peirce was not a diverse city and was not forced to have black people be apart of their community. The laws did not change for them no one was punished for killing any black people and forcing them to leave.
The reason I wrote on Pierce City was because the two grandson’s James Brown and Charles Brown was trying to dig up their grandfather’s body. The Brown’s was not allowed to dig up the body right away; they had to go through a lot of steps and humps to have their grandfather’s body removed. James Brown went to Pierce City to talk two the Cemetery owner to see if he could have his grandfather’s body removed. The president and owner came over to the burial site and told James that he could not did up the body, the reason for her telling him that is because she felt like once a body is laid to rest it should not be removed. James felt since his family was not allowed back in Pierce City to morn the body. The Brown family is not able to put flowers, pictures, or marks on the burial so they should remove his body and give him a proper burial and also be with his wife. The argument went back and forth but she told him they are all ready together in sprit. James Brown did not want to keep his grandfather’s body their, because their family is to scared to come back to Pierce city and the white people do not want to see any blacks in Pierce city either which will only keeps them from their grandfather’s grave. Then James had to speak with a gentleman who was going dig up the body, James has gotten his grandfather’s body removed and brought to the cemetery he wanted him buried in. He felt as if Pierce city should pay them for all the trouble they have sent the family through. The mayor who responded in a news letter told the James family that they are changing, and by allowing the James family to dig up his grandfather’s body was payment enough.
In conclusion I believe Pierce City is wrong and is still wrong for all the hard ach and suffering they have put these families through. Feeling as if new faces, new laws, will heal the healing. Having the remains of the body was fantastic but having the bill compensated would be even better. Piece City fill money will never change so pay the bill.
 
E201A 1-3

A hundred years ago, three different city’s white residents were banished all African Americans. Which cities are Forsyth County, Georgia, Pierce City, Missouri, and Harrison, Arkansas. Each city had own sad story however most sad part for me is those cities still mostly white residents are living these town and those white residents still not welcoming blacks.

In 1987, a white martial arts instructor in Forsyth County organized a brotherhood march in honor of the first federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and with the intent of countering the area’s racist image. However when they arrived to the event a bus full of marchers was attacked by a crowd of whites yelling and throwing rocks. It was dangerous situation so the marchers had to turn back. These incidents were not happened like a hundred years ago. It happened only twenty years ago. When I saw this documentary I felt like not only blacks but also different ethnic groups would be banished in some of white communities of white supremacists.

Those who white supremacists are must be addressed right. Then what is the meaning of addressing right? They should understand and realize the United State is not only for whites but also different ethnic groups together to make communities and this country united. Our appearances are unique and different but we are same hearted human being. We should not hostile each other by our colors and appearances. I hope each ethnic should respect each other to make communities reconciled because we share same land and live in the same time flame.
 
Dylan:Banished

Banished means kicking out, forced removal, exile, and explosion. This film by Marco William is a depressing film that portrays discrimination at its extreme. This film caught my attention. I was surprise to see how far certain people will go for what they believe in. In this film people took matters in their own hands to protect in what they believe. It is hard to believe that people are capable in vicious crimes like this. Today, we live in a wonderful world going to school, going to work, play games, party at night, etc… instead of doing this in our daily lives, have you notice what is happening to other community? In Forsyth City, During the scene when African American was forced to leave the city before midnight was horrible. In 1912 the African American was forced to moved out the city or will get killed. After all, there were more than 95 percent of whites living there. Although it seems as whites have more power since the government didn’t try to help, there were people who came back to protest about getting their homeland back.
Harrison is also a very racist community, African American was ordered to leave. Some Blacks was threaten, their homes was burned down, people are whipped, and tying men on to trees. Their property has taken away, and there are no ways anyone can stopped this. Also, In Pierce City, more than 96 percent are Whites.
All three community are racism, they doesn’t want any other color in their community except for whites and because of that, many of the African American got killed and injured. Also, till this day the three community is still racism and wont except anyone else.
 
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