Mudbound Movie Essay

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Digging Deeper: Unearthing Injustice in ‘Mudbound’. “I don’t know what they let you do over there, but you’re in Mississippi now. You use the back door.” – These chilling words, spoken by Pappy McAllan, a white man, to Ronsel Jackson, a black man, capture the grim reality of the Jim Crow era. This period, renowned for its segregation laws, forced Black people to enter through back doors while reserving front doors for whites, signifying the deeply embedded racism that permeated almost every aspect of everyday life in a dark chapter of American history. “Mudbound” explores the challenging and gradual nature of change, revealing the enduring influence of deep-seated prejudices and unyielding forces of custom that hinder social progress. Through a rich historical tapestry, the film draws powerful parallels to present-day issues, offering a thought-provoking and unsettling reflection on our times. Set in the Mississippi Delta when Jim Crow laws were still in effect, the film, directed by Dee Rees, is a poignant exploration of race and class in the post-World War II era. The film intricately weaves the tale of two families—the McAllans, a white family, and the Jacksons, a black family—against the backdrop of a society still deeply entrenched in racial and economic inequalities. The film offers a stark portrayal of the intersection of race and class and the …show more content…

The McAllans, despite their financial struggles, occupy a higher social standing than the Jacksons simply because of their race. This hierarchy is evident in the power dynamics between the two families. Henry McAllan, the patriarch of the McAllan family, exemplifies this dynamic through his treatment of Hap Jackson, the head of the Jackson family. Despite Hap’s expertise and hard work on the farm, he remains at the mercy of Henry’s decisions, highlighting the systemic oppression that restricts upward mobility for black

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