In the movie Sankofa, the audience was first introduced to slavery and unjust treatment amongst African-Americans, through a number of different scenarios played out in the movie. The opening of the movie starts and engages the audience with a woman named, Mona as a white tourist who is photographing her in modern-day Ghana. Many tourists are visiting the ancient buildings surrounding the historical African culture. They seem to be fascinated with the culture and events that almost led up to the demise of the black race, that had occurred in previous years. The man in a white ensemble who was also an African-American man wanted the white tourist to leave because of the idea that the African blood was forced to pour out there. The man wanted Mona to revert to the past and remember what it was like during slavery times and to be one with her people, and all they experienced. Mona began to view the historical moments of her ancestor’s lifetime back during the colonization of Africa. Sankofa was able to demonstrate the remarkable stories of Shango, Joe, Nunu, and Shola and their role in her transformation and the African perception of coherence.
At the very beginning, the start of the film, it was apparent that Mona, who is one of the main characters, struggled with self-identity. Presumably, she has lost sight of herself and her experiences, as she is continuing to maintain relationships with her oppressors, the whites. Mona's first vision is very significant. Mona started seeing some of the slaves from her ancestorial past, and as she is about to be tortured and whipped by the colonizers and slave owners, Mona identifies herself as an American, not embracing her blackness. She has Stockholm syndrome. Mona seemed to have dismissed the ties with her culture all in all. In every aspect, she disassociated herself. Mona turns into a slave as the movie began to transition into making her come to the realization and teaching her a lesson. Shola was the slave name given to Mona, on a Lafayette plantation. Shola, among many others in the field picking cotton, was taken advantage of within the plantation field, with horrible labor aspects was raped by the oppressors, and left like yesterday's trash. As a slave, Shola did not understand the reason behind her people running away toward the hills.
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An example was made out of Kuta, who was another character in the story that was whipped to death after attempting to run away to give birth in a free land. This feeling of bewilderment was also distributed and seen through the fights and wanting to claim what was theirs against the harsh conditions. Whereas in Joe’s case, the semi-normal perception of blackness identity is lost, as he must conform to the societal norms of the whites that were being distributed throughout the movie, and the era period. Joe was told he had to let go of his ties and perceive Africans as a completely different category. They are a minority who should be treated with less respect and honor and given more respect for whiteness and give thanks to white men. This particular vision, Mona can obtain, she recollects these stories and finally begins to understand what the black man at the beginning of the film meant. Mona couldn't easily harmonize with the present-day forms, accepting everyone as they are, when so much pain and blood has been shown. Mona was always having to keep in mind that she had to show respect for the country and keep in mind what the whites have done.
Sankofa the movie did an amazing job at giving insight into all of the many different transformations, that altered to showcase the African identity, but, also how history played a significant role in never changing and realizing to come back to your ethical roots. “The Bible and The Gun” is based on this structured idea of racism, color, and race in Africa. Europeans came over to Africa with the intention to take over and seize the territory.
Haile Gerima, a writer from Ethiopia is known for one of his outstanding fictional films “Sankofa.” The artwork that is represented is to show the representation of how the idea of moving forward doesn't happen unless we acknowledge our past. The majority of Haile’s movies were based on African or African American tales. Haile's work was a very inspired journalist, he loved to embody everything about his work. Gerima moved to the United States to study drama.
In “The Bible and The Gun” the Europeans also known as the colonizers had this belief that Africa was uncivilized and treated Africans with such disrespect. Africans were very naïve people that did not realize the motives of the Europeans and what their reasons were. Unknowingly they became workers and slaves in their own homelands. They were banned from their religious practice and were made by missionaries to change their spiritual culture. If they were caught praying or having worship, they would be asked to stop and if they refuse, then they would be punished. As in both movies, a punishment could consist of being whooped, losing a body part, not eating, or sleeping. They faced many harsh obstacles day by day.
The goal of the Europeans was to get Africa they used many literary devices in Sankofa such as “snakes will eat whatever is in the belly of the frog.” This meaning eventually if the slaves were quiet and conning enough they would get the opportunity to receive whatever the white man had. Blacks were very capable of running away the fear of the whites is what kept them in captivity. Whites knew the power blacks had so the only way to keep them as slaves were to put fear in their hearts. Viewing both the documentary and the fictional film people will understand what black history is about and what our ancestors did to get us here today. Many do not believe but colorism, racism, and fascism still exist today. We all worked for the same rights. Blacks faced slavery for many long years but they never lost hope. Both movies showed how we as African Americans deserve to be treated equally plus more.
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