Akhim Yuseff Cabey - City Boys

|70.60.19.xxx |2009-02-26 11:52:44

The nuances of life, of an emotional attachment to humanity - and to their own mortality - in the faces of those boys and in their voices reminds me a lot of the boy I was growing up in NYC during the 1980's. I miss that initial raw power of discovery of oneself, and however dismal that revelation may seem, there is fire in the lungs and legs that announces, "I will not let this place kill me." You need that in order to make a legitimate run at survival, whether one finishes the race or not - and that's the truly frightening thing.

Lindsay Reid - Just Speak

|174.6.86.xxx |2009-02-20 19:55:21

This film was very touching, and I found myself identifying with the young boys in this film in a way that doesn't make a lot of sense on the surface. Being a white male living in a very priveleged community in Canada I still feel a similar fear towards those that are supposed to be there to protect us. I can personally say that I've never felt more safe with police present, only more nervous, and not because I was doing anything wrong, just for the simple fact that the mentality of a man in a uniform is seemingly above the law.

There was an incident in Vernon where some good buddies of mine were having a BBQ for a birthday. There were only about 20 people inside a house with a few on the patio cooking. It was around 9:00pm on a Friday, and the neighbours had called in a noise complaint. After the police arrived, told them to be quiet, and left, an hour later they came back and what should have been a simple request to quiet down turned into a riot. Literally. Police had drawn their guns, pulled out the pepper spray, and batons. This is where things get weird. Not only are the owners of this house the most genuine, hard-working, nice, down to earth human beings I know, they happen to be Ethiopian. The party was multicultural, yet at the end of the riot that was said to be 'encited' by the party goers, which was absolutely false, only coloured people were cuffed, beaten, pepper sprayed, and had guns aimed at their faces. A lot of this occured once they 'offenders' were already cuffed and restrained. One of my best buddies lived at this house, and it was his older brothers mid-20th birthday. The birthday boy was cuffed, pepper sprayed, and beaten on his own lawn, in front of his girlfriend and friends standing and screaming in disbelief. These people 'priveleged' to have just witnessed this and not be on the ground as well, were white.

During the catastrophe that was taking place, a few people went up to an officer and asked for his name and badge number. He refused.

The next day the police made sure to get their side of the story on the news before anyone else had a chance to confront the legal system with grievances of unfair treatment. Now my friends, similar to someone being accused of rape, will never escape the ideas and judgments of fellow citizens that hear what the media will only allow them to hear. I feel terrible for these people. Have they not faced enough oppression?

This happenned in a mid-size city where the numbers of blacks compared to whites is unbeleivabley small. What made these officers react they way they did...unprofessionally, immature, and sadly, stereotypically?

I'm so glad to hear young black boys in this video speak up for themselves, and for those that didn't have the chance to speak. If we all bring attention to the inequality in our own lives, it will make it easier to bring attention to the inequality in peoples lives that we don't even know. Not knowing someone is not an exc...

Sara - I am Sean Bell

|99.233.133.xxx |2009-02-14 09:40:13

This is a beautifully moving film that clearly illustrates the intellectual understanding and emotional response of Young Black Boys. In a world plagued with Racism, inequality, prejudice, and a lack of emotion; these boys speak out on how they are hurt by members of their community, those who are suppose to "serve and Protect". They are empowered to speak out, and to change. I found the film very inspirational.

masc magazine is a space for young men to explore how masculinity affects their lives.

masc is curious about how ideas of manhood are shaped by one's experiences and environment.

masc encourages expression and connection on a range of men's issues such as gender, stereotypes, sexuality and health.

masc helps men imagine their own ideals and ways to make them real.

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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