“I’m just playin, but all good jokes contain true shit” – J. Cole, Fire Squad
It’s an interesting experience being high with your best friend. Having the munchies leads to endless possibilities of what you may eat. But that saying goes deeper than just food. What if a trip to satisfy your hunger becomes a journey of self exploration. In The film Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, a simple late night run for food led two best friends into different scenarios that reflected the hardships of being a minority in America. Even the title subliminally hints at a discussion on race in America. The only difference from this, and a movie such as Higher Learning is that Harold and Kumar do it through a comedic lense. A prominent scene in the film that encompasses all that is racism against African Americans in America is the jail scene between Harold and the black man. With the scene unfolding, the black man explains why he was in jail. The simple reason being is because he’s black.
This scene, along with the rest of the film is comedic but it is still shows what it’s like for minorities. Actor Gary Anthony Williams plays the role of Tarik Jackson, an African American wrongfully in jail, and portrays what looks to be a man over being upset at the way his world works. In the jail scene, Harold’s shocked at the calm exterior of Tarik after being wrongfully charged of robbery. Tarik explains to Harold what he felt when the arrest happened. “I learned a long time ago there’s no sense in getting all riled up every time a bunch of idiots give you a hard time. In the end the universe unfolds as it should.” A silence carries from the film to the audience after that is said. Until of course, the movie reverts back to it’s comedic aspects. To be black in America is swallowing whatever is given, and having to consistently do so. Though the scene is small, the message is clear that they criminal justice system needs to do better. Racial profiling is prevalent throughout that very system we considered would serve and protect us all. Notice in the picture above, Tarik holds a book entitled “Essays On Civil Disobedience”. Now if it wasn’t for the comedy surrounding films like this, we’d all notice how often movies similar to this send social messages to the world. Is the quote from J. Cole in the beginning starting to make sense?
The pressures of living in America as a minority are becoming an increasingly growing pain. A pain that not only angers many, but also puts fear into their hearts. The jail scene depicts just a little bit of the tendencies. In scenes after that moment, another instance of racial profiling against Tarik occurred due to him simply reading a book. This comedic moment held truth as it has become a constant in the real world. Black bodies such as Trayvon Martin’s, Mike Brown, and many more now rest due to abuse of power within the police force, and more specifically criminal justice system. To wake up everyday, and realize that you’re a target in a country that claims to thrive on freedom is a bone-chilling experience. Messages like the jail scene in Harold and Kumar, a film released in 2004 carries something still going on today. It all goes to show, we have much more work to do in regards to the amount of racism within America. Think about it, a man was arrested for being Black, for wearing a shade darker than others, there’s a bit of an irony in that statement. But as it was said before, all good jokes contain true shit.
Morehouse Afro-Asian Archive 1:00 pm 