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Category:    Home > Reviews > Documentary > Arts > Music > Oppression > Racism > History > Injustice > Bleaching Black Culture (2014/Cinedigm DVD)

Bleaching Black Culture (2014/Cinedigm DVD)


Picture: C Sound: C Extras: C Main Program: C+



Rap, Soul, Jazz, Hip-hop, and many other things have came from black culture and have influenced and created modern American culture, but what is 'black culture'? Nowadays if a white person imitates a black man in appearance, music or ability who gets the credit? Is it really still black culture? While it's roots and cultural history comes from people of African American ancestry, the modern economy has turn it into multi-million dollar businesses. And when they give it a 'white face', what is it saying about American culture?


Director Cas Sigers-Beedles' Bleaching Black Culture (2014) takes a good hard, new look at this situation that is part revisiting, part updating the subjects & ideas covered. While slavery was not one of American's shining moment in history, it's survivors prevailed somehow and their work & ideas provided many things from fashion, food, music, to dancing to modern America lifestyle. While America is a mix of different cultures, it clashes when people claim white men steal music, songs, dances moves, makes millions of dollars with them without giving back to it's original creators, though the recent Blurred Lines case shows bizarre variants. Some people become further enraged by when they choose to put a 'white man/face' to represent them. There are an army of lawyers who claim music such as these were influence, and therefore not copyrighted.


How much of 'black culture' do we use in our life? Do we even think of it as black culture anymore? While America is a mix of different races and cultures sometime they don't mix too well ...specially if it involves pride and/or money, but then we must also argue how much 'white culture' has made it's way into 'black culture' as well. There will always be difference between people and culture, old meets new, but what does it mean for future generations?


The anamorphically enhanced image and lossy Dolby Digital sound are a rough mix of sources, so only expect so much in playback, while extras include extended interviews and on the streets POV.



- Ricky Chiang


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