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“Chi-Raq,” a modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes, is set against the backdrop of soaring gang violence in Chicago.
In a recent sit-down with TheWrap, Bassett expressed her outrage over the bloodshed in Chicago. “It’s shameful, completely and utterly wasteful, shameful, hurtful to the core,” she said.
“I wasn’t familiar with the name ‘Chi-Raq’ as a nickname for Chicago based on what’s been going on in the community with young black men, children… innocent bystanders dying because of gang violence, and the nickname ‘Chi-Raq’ coming from more black folks dying than in the Iraq war,” Bassett said.
You’d barely announced the film when Mayor Emanuel went ballistic over the title and summoned you to City Hall in April. How did that go?
[Chuckles and shakes his head.] OK, so that’s where your mayor and I got off on the wrong foot, right away. What I didn’t like was him trying to paint me as this villain. I’m not the bad guy, but that’s how he was trying to portray it. Do I have the guns? Am I the one pulling the trigger? To be honest, he’s a bully.
His whole thing was, the title is going to hurt tourism, the title is going to hurt economic development. But what tourism is he talking about? While we were shooting the film, you had the NFL draft here. Quarter million people in Grant Park. Can’t get a hotel room, can’t get a reservation. I mean, it’s packed. Then the Grateful Dead. Then Lollapalooza. So this part of the city is booming. But there are no bulletproof double-decker buses going through the Wild Hundreds [the gang-infested area from 100th to 130th Streets] or through Terror Town [a two-by-four-block patch of South Shore]. What economic development is going on in the South Side?
originally posted by: Boadicea
‘Chi-Raq’ Star Angela Bassett on Chicago Gun Violence: ‘It’s Shameful’
For a long time, I've believed that moms are the only ones who really want to the stop the wanton violence we see in too many inner cities -- like Chicago...
originally posted by: Antipathy17
Boadicea: "For a long time, I've believed that moms are the only ones who really want to the stop the wanton violence we see in too many inner cities -- like Chicago..."
I agree with everything but this. Growig up in a Philadelphia "hood" tells me that uneducated women are just as bad and some time worse than uneducated men when it comes to violence. For two reasons, The "hood culture" is celebrated by those who are uneducated and these hood women teach this culture to their kids. One could easily blame the father as well but what if both parents are capable of wrong doing and they go to court? Chance are even though they are both doing wrong, the female will get custody.
Father Pfleger introduced me to this organization called Purpose Over Pain. These are the mothers here who have lost their children to gun violence. They’re in the movie. And when you see these mothers—I’m not saying it’s not equally painful for fathers, but mothers, there’s just a hole in their soul that’ll never be replaced.
Sadly again, the world isn't black and white and maybe ive seen this scenario too many times.
I am glad to see people opening up about the hardships of people in Chicago...
...it's all to clear the government doesnt care...
...and admittedly, I hate the "hood culture" so i have to press myself to care.
originally posted by: Boadicea
originally posted by: Antipathy17
Boadicea: "For a long time, I've believed that moms are the only ones who really want to the stop the wanton violence we see in too many inner cities -- like Chicago..."
I agree with everything but this. Growig up in a Philadelphia "hood" tells me that uneducated women are just as bad and some time worse than uneducated men when it comes to violence. For two reasons, The "hood culture" is celebrated by those who are uneducated and these hood women teach this culture to their kids. One could easily blame the father as well but what if both parents are capable of wrong doing and they go to court? Chance are even though they are both doing wrong, the female will get custody.
Okay. Fair enough... plenty of people contribute to the problem one way or another. No argument there. But my comment was addressing those who are trying to fix the problem, not those creating the problem in one way or another.
As Spike Lee noted in the Chicago Magazine interview:
Father Pfleger introduced me to this organization called Purpose Over Pain. These are the mothers here who have lost their children to gun violence. They’re in the movie. And when you see these mothers—I’m not saying it’s not equally painful for fathers, but mothers, there’s just a hole in their soul that’ll never be replaced.
Sadly again, the world isn't black and white and maybe ive seen this scenario too many times.
And perhaps you haven't seen other scenarios enough. Why do you think that is? I'd say it's because that's the main scenario shoved in the public's faces again and again and again...
I am glad to see people opening up about the hardships of people in Chicago...
I'm not sure what you mean by that. As I said above, this scenario and its hardships are plastered all over the internet, including ATS... the problems are well covered. It's solutions that are sadly lacking.
...it's all to clear the government doesnt care...
I wish I believed it's that simple. They do care... deeply... they care about maintaining the status quo for themselves and all those hurt in the process be damned.
...and admittedly, I hate the "hood culture" so i have to press myself to care.
Someone somewhere will read this and rub their hands in glee and exclaim, "Mission accomplished!"
He's not saying that it isn't equally as painful until after his comma, when he eludes to only women having a hole in their soul over the loss. Maybe not but why have something for only a mothers loss when everyone involved is losing out on someone. It just seems he's been very well indoctrinated into thinking women are victims.
...formed in 2007 by several Chicago area parents who lost their children to gun violence.
originally posted by: Antipathy17
a reply to: Boadicea
You are right, I did focus on the victim-hood. I shouldn't have. She is making a good point to push for reform and I hope it works. I guess I wanted to chat because people tend to let their opinions dictate their actions. I just hope this isn't another over reaching "justice for women" campaign (which it seems very much it's not). The community is suffering on all fronts but I can't help but feel the men and PARENTS in this community need some heavy working on. My opinion influenced me.
As far as Antipathy. I have the word tattooed on my bicep. I don't want make or continue to make mistakes and feel antipathy toward myself. It's a symbol to me to always thrive to make the best decisions or correct mistakes.
Also, I'd like to admit that when I came back to the thread to read the reply I had confused myself into thinking she was starting something like a focus group for just women who she may have felt are the primary victim.... I was greatly mistaken.