Groups in Hamden are working together to support the Black Lives Matter movement by showing a series of films depicting stories of Black life, love and success, followed by discussions about the films’ central themes.
Spring Glen Church, located on Whitney Avenue, is hosting the movie nights over the next several weeks to provide a stage for Black films and conversations surrounding the experience of Black people in the U.S. The first movie, shown on Sept. 17, was “42.” The movie tells the story of Jackie Robinson’s first season on the Brooklyn Dodgers, when he became the first Black man to play in the major leagues.
“The films that we’ve chosen traditionally would be called Black films,” said Rev. Jack Perkins Davidson, the pastor at Spring Glen Church who helped organize and host the event. “Films made by and for Black people in the marketing world, the assumption is that white people generally will not want to see these. And so I think there’s just power in declaring that these films are for everybody to enjoy.”
Those who gathered to watch the film came from all different walks of life. Some Black, some white, some Asain, some Latino, and all there for the same reason — to enjoy a story of Black life and love in an effort to break down barriers and differences between races.
Professor Bill Foster, president at Family of Man Concepts, Inc., stressed that the goal of showing this film and others like it in the future is not to make friends, though it’s encouraged. The goal instead is to start a dialogue about the issues Black people face in this country.
“(Making a lifelong friend) is not what the purpose is,” said Foster. “It’s sitting and enjoying a movie, and then it’s what did you think? And you can share that out, and that’s okay.”
After the film, Foster addressed those who remained to start the conversation about the experience of Black people in the U.S. today. He opened by addressing the current state of the country and what needs to change in order to accomplish equality and equity for all.
“Inclusiveness has got to be what America is all about,” said Foster. “And let’s face it, we have some people who haven’t been about that at all. (As a country we’ve) never been always in one direction. If the documents we have that make us American (are) what we believe in, then let’s make them true.”
Foster continued, referencing the film to provide more context for those listening. He hoped that the film would fuel a conversation, and provide context for those who were more uncertain about these topics so they could better understand what he was saying.
“I want everyone to have a shot. That’s what this was about — (Robinson) was good at what he did, (the Dodgers) gave him a chance, and that’s (all they) had to say,” Foster said. “But not everybody (does that), and that’s the real problem. The part where you realize the people that don’t like you, don’t agree with you, and it’s totally illogical why they don’t care about you. But we can’t let that stop us. Either we’re one family or we’re not.”
The sentiment of Foster’s comments resonated with those in attendance, especially Perkins Davidson. He mentioned how much the fight for equal treatment for all U.S. citizens means to him. When he arrived in Hamden, he was thrilled to move to a city with so much diversity, but quickly realized there was a lot of work to do to make meaningful changes.
“Over the last year and a half, I’ve been involved in a lot of the police accountability advocacy since Hamden police shot a young Black couple in New Haven,” Davidson said.. “Being involved in those rallies and protests really highlighted for me how different (white versus Black people’s) experiences and histories and inter-generational histories with policing have been, and with the community at large. When we moved to Hamden we were really excited by how diverse it is, and when we actually moved here we quickly realized how segregated it is, despite how diverse it is.”
These movie nights are how Perkins Davidson hopes to tear down some of that segregation. He hopes that by hosting these events and creating a space for open conversation, he can help create not just an understanding between races, but a cohesive team of individuals that fight for each other, not just themselves.
“If we really want to understand what’s going on then white people need to take the opportunities that exist to hear from people of color, and hear from Black people, so that we can understand their perspective and understand what we as white people have done to them,” Davidson said.
Foster ended by shedding light on how similar all people are, no matter the color of their skin, and that many of the differences people see between races are differences that have been fabricated rather than natural ones that were realized.
“You’re sitting here watching the movie together. … It was a really great experience, and it still is now,” said Foster. “(Perkins Davidson) has two daughters, one of them is six. She was doing cartwheels out here. That’s got to say something about what we have in common, as opposed to what about us is different.”
Spring Glen Church will continue hosting films and discussions as long as the weather permits it. The next movie is “Brown Sugar” which will be shown on Sept. 25, followed by “Do the Right Thing” on Oct. 3. All movies begin at 7:30 p.m.