What happens when the powers that be don't serve the poorest and most vulnerable among us?
The poorest and most vulnerable fight back –- peacefully. That's what the Sassistas!TM witnessed in two of the 10 films we viewed on day four of SILVERDOCS.
The first film was "The Garden," a documentary about a 14-acre oasis in one of America's most blighted neighborhoods – south central Los Angeles, the scene of the devastating 1992 riots. The land empty and ugly, immigrant farmers created the garden to provide fresh produce for low-income people who had been relying on food stamps. More than that, it became a place of beauty where before there had only been abject poverty, violence and dependence. But in December 2003, bulldozers were poised to level this urban oasis to make room for a proposed soccer field. The film tracks the legal steps and uncovers backroom deals and political scandals as the immigrant farmers refuse to remain silent in order to keep what one farmer calls "our sacred space."
The film does not have a happy ending. We hear the voice of the original landowner say, "I don't care if they did raise my asking price of $16.3 million for it (three times what he had originally paid for it). I don't like what they stand for. They weren't gracious to me. They should have come to me and said, 'Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.' "
"Pray the Devil Back to Hell," the second film, gives witness to how thousands of Christian and Muslim Liberian women peacefully ended the civil war that claimed more than 250,000 lives. Using non-violent protests (filled with inspirational prayers and songs) and organizational acumen, they leveraged the cultural respect that men confer on mothers and grandmothers to shame those who would threaten them. At one point, they resorted to withholding sex which certainly got the attention of the men. Then they physically barricaded a building where peace talks were going nowhere, not allowing the men to exit until a peace deal was bartered. The film culminates in the election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female head of state.
Leymah Gbowee, an ordinary Liberian woman, who initially organized the peace movement quoted Martin Luther King, Jr. when asked how it all started. She responds simply and clearly, "I had a dream."
Hey sistas and mista sistas! Flannista here. Matissta and I are still alive! Thanks for your interest in what we're viewing this week. It has been life changing, not to mention, inspiring. We'll be checking in from time to time today. Hope everyone is having a peaceful weekend.
PEACEsista -- Happy 23rd Birthday to your twins, Andy and Pete!
Posted by: Flannista | June 21, 2008 at 07:21 AM
Hey Flannista, Thanks for the inspiring post today and for the birthday wishes. The party starts sometime after Andy's arrival at noon and will continue for a long, long time!
I'm wondering, was Leymah Gbowee really quoting MLK or making her own statement about her own dream? There's a difference, I think. The way in which they are the same is in demonstrating the power of a dream.
Posted by: PEACEsista | June 21, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Sorry to be unclear, PEACEsista. Leymah specifically referred to Dr. King when she was asked who inspired her. But SHE was the one who made her dream a reality!
Posted by: Flannista | June 21, 2008 at 11:08 AM
CorrectSass! Matissta reminded me that Leymah did, in fact, HAVE a dream in which she envisioned Christian and Muslim women coming together for peace in Liberia. She said that it reminded her of what Dr. King said. So there is a difference, PEACEsista. Thanks for pointing it out.
Posted by: Flannista | June 21, 2008 at 03:22 PM
What I'm going to find haunting is your synopsis of The Garden. What kind of evil demands that other human beings grovel? Makes me sick.
Posted by: Westsista | June 22, 2008 at 04:08 AM
Hearing those words by original owner of the real estate toward the end of "The Garden," was a truly sickening moment, Westsista. The tone of his voice matched his condescending invitation that these immigrant farmers prostrate themselves.
By the way, we learned late yesterday (Saturday) that "The Garden" won SILVERDOCS Sterling Award for U.S. Film and "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" won the SILVERDOCS Witness Award. The Sassistas! were so pleased as we loved both of these films.
Posted by: Flannista | June 22, 2008 at 06:38 AM