Fruitvale Station Essay

Fruitvale Station is one of the most endearing drama genre films, that reflects the injustice murder of Oscar Grant, an innocent black man taken inhumanly by the mercy of law enforcement. The film is based on a true story, the last 24 hours in the life of Oscar Grant everything he did and everything that occurred, moments before his life would be taken from him. From my perspective the intention of this film is to consider the real person behind the event and the tragedy his family felt and had to face, due to systematic racism. We live in a society of deeply entrenched, systematic racism, in which a tragedy like this, happens to several innocent human beings. Due to their skin color,race,and background. Also, this film speaks justices for

those individuals who are stained with similar stories of racial profiling and tragic incidents, where law enforcement takes the authority and power they have into violence. Majority of those incidents happen to go unpunished or justice doesn’t take place for those victims. This movie makes one feel rage just knowing this stuff happens in our society, and very few do anything to make a change.
In addition, in the film the actor Michael B.

Jordan who portrays Oscar Grant, is demonstrated as a hero in a way. Heroes in films usually have a goal or want something, but have a challenging time obtaining it, due to obstacles getting in their way. Also, someone we can connect with or feel sympathetic towards. Additionally, the character has to be brave and act like it, in order for the audience to want to cheer him or her own their struggles. Also, how far the character is willing to go to get it. Therefore,Oscar Grant is a hero in the film, he’s a young man who is struggling to do right by his family, with some success where it really matters. He wanted to change for his loved ones and he was trying even with the obstacles that were thrown at him and even when they were hard to overcome. Moreover, he was a good father to his four year old daughter Tatiana, a good friend, and wanted to be a better man for his mother and girlfriend, as well. Oscar, struggled with money, there’s a scene in the movie where his sister calls him to ask him to lend her a hand with rent. He had lost his job, he was jobless and rent was due for him, as well, but he never said no to his sister. Oscar, did the opposite and said he would help her. Additionally, there was another scene where it demonstrates how Oscar never stopped trying, where he begs the police officers to let him go and not do anything to him, that he had a four year old daughter at home waiting for him to come home. A four

year old daughter who he loves and who needs him.
In the article, “Class and Virtue”, by Michael Parenti, the author discusses the separation of classes in society Hollywood reinforces. For instance, he states that "The entertainment media present working people not only as unlettered and uncouth but also less desirable and less moral than other people." That is exactly how Oscar grant is portrayed, just because of the past he happened to have, being in prison, being a drug dealer. He is seen with less moral than others, this is where discrimination occurs. Also, class in a way has to do with one of the elements of the movie because it connects with stereotyping,racism,and discrimination. Therefore, violence was held against Oscar Grant because he was seen as less as a person,less desirable,and less of a human being than those who were above his class.
In the article, "The Offensive Movie Cliché that Won’t Die”, the author discusses the "Magical Negro" in movies a saintly African American character who acts as a mentor to a questing white hero" and how that happens in most films.Basically, the character devotes his time and energy and serves him as a servant/slave for him. In return of nothing and the "Magical Negro" always does his best to help the white character obtain the best and be best. In the movie Fruitvale Station it is shown how Oscar takes his time and energy to plead to the officers for the sake of his life and his friends. Here we see that Oscar is a slave of discrimination, he isn’t the mentor for any white character, he’s more of a mentor for himself.
In the scholarly article, by Andoval, Lapacazo, the author discusses the meaning and intention of the filmmaker team how vulnerable we are to one another. As the author mentioned, What “Fruitvale Station” did was show how vulnerable we all are and to shrink that “distance” between us. Through good storytelling, we have a way to honor the life of another human being. It also gives viewers ways to examine their own lives and try to make each day that we have left productive and memorable. I definitely agree with this point the author made, there is a powerful message behind this film and it is pointing the problem, but with the intention that the problem is us. That the change comes within us.
Additionally, in the scholarly article, by Gay Roxane the author discusses background information about Oscar grant and a summary about the film. Also, racism, how difficult it could be living in a city like Oakland due to your skin color. As mentioned by the author,“As director Coogler, who is from the Bay Area, notes, “Often times you’ve got to be different people just to stay alive.” This demonstrates the struggle Oscar had, how when leaving your household you might not make it back home, without knowing.
In addition, a professionally published movie review by Bill Goodykoontz from The Republic mentions how we were all aware that Oscar was going to die, we just weren’t aware when. How we learn about Oscar throughout the movie, his imperfections and his struggles who he happens to aware of himself. I like how he mentions, “Fruitvale Station” is not going to solve problems of race in America. It’s not going to ease the still-strong tension that exists after the Zimmerman verdict. But it does move the conversation in a more-thoughtful, less-knee-jerk direction. It isn’t just a terrific movie. It’s an important one.” I feel like we had a similar connection on what we think the meaning behind the movie is. Which is racism issues,but what we do to stop the issue.
Moreover, another professionally published movie review by Liam Nicholls from The London List Magazine gives his perception on what he thinks was the author’s intention with filming this movie. As he mentioned, “Walking away from this film, the narrative of injustice that runs throughout really does ring true. This was a tragedy that resonated not only in Oakland, where the shooting happened, but across the whole of America. As well as being a superb piece of filmmaking and writing that tells an important story of what happened, it’s also a thought-provoking tribute to what could have been.” The whole issue in the film and on the true story was injustice, so I agree with this review. This film being made open individual's eyes to things going around the world where they might be blind upon.
Furthermore, the reader should care about these issues of injustice, racial profiling,discrimination, and law enforcement violence, due to the fact that these are issues happening around the world.

This movie portrayed an important concept, What can we do about this? It opens our eyes to, that we are the change. When we see something wrong, speak up, speak up for justice. To never stay quiet for justice. To not invite stereotyping, discrimination, and even violence against people who are different from us. We are better than not, and we are only hurting us human beings. What I learned from this assignment was there’s more to just watching a movie, that there’s a meaning to a movie. It’s interesting analyzing a film because there might be an important concept behind the movie like Fruitvale Station happened to have. Also,the elements being used and archetypes in order for the film to be displayed that certain way. I actually enjoyed this assignment, this has to be one of my favorites, I found it interesting and not dragging to do. I will move forward by now picking up to all this when I watch a movie next

time.