I am not your negro

Based on the writings of author James Baldwin, director Raoul Peck assembles a documentary that shows how much the history of discrimination towards black people has shaped the history of the United States of America. From the Civil War to the Black Lives Matter movement, the relationships between black and white people have been fundamental to understand a society that once and again has divided its members by the color of their skin.

It's not a pretty story, specially for a country that prides itself with self-given titles like "The Land of Freedom" and "Leader of the Democratic World", it shows that underneath the heroic myths lies a rotten society that is not very different to the Nazi Germany. Following the rise and killing of three black activists and leaders (Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Medgar Evers), Baldwin signals how much white Americans at different degrees, have abused Black people, from the slavery times to racial segregation to media representation to denying racism. Because, even years after Baldwin's death, the massive numbers of cops assaulting and killing black people show us that, no matter if they had a black president or if their biggest pop diva is black, there is still prejudice and hatred towards a segment of the US population because of their race.

It's a harsh movie, but a necessary one. It's necessary for black people to fully understand where they come from, to take pride on the fight that has been taken, and to keep looking for a fully inclusive society. It's necessary for black people to question their privilege, to understand that when somebody says "Black Lives Matter" it doesn't imply that others don't, but that they have been submitted to a systematic degradation that had led to millions of deaths, and to showcase that their supremacy lies over a criminal relationship with others that are not like them. And it's necessary for all of us to show us that this idea of inclusion and openness is a lie and that there's still much more to be done for the equal society that we need, and to question ourselves how is it that race relationships have an impact in our daily lives and what we can do to empower those who suffer that lack of power and representation.