Video Clip of co-producers S. Epatha Merkerson and Rockell Metcalf from the presentation of The Contradictions of Fair Hope in Boston.  Cleveland was fortunate to also be on the tour for the presentation of this documentary with a similar Q & A at the Cleveland Public Library.

I am glad I saw the preview of this documentary and know that the producers are seeking wider distribution with a tour of college campuses and the next showing at the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture.  The film revisits our troubled past with a revelation that is not limited to African-American culture--as the lessons imparted apply to all of the multitude of cultures in America today facing a loss of historical perspective, and an appreciation for the efforts to shape community and the sacrifices made by our ancestors.  The film may be shocking for some viewers because it reveals how what was once a community turnout to celebrate the fall harvest has morphed into the lewd Uniontown Foot Wash festival.

Olivet Institutional Baptist Church Reverend Leah Lewis appropriately and graciously introduced the film with a reflection on the sacred, profane, and mundane in our lives.  At the Q&A in Cleveland, the audience also learned more about the film makers, including S. Epatha Merkerson's family history in Detroit and she was visibly moved by the appearance of a male friend from her high school who made the trip to Cleveland to see her at the film presentation in Cleveland. Another audience member at the Q&A noted that the bad behavior seen in The Contradiction of Fair Hope is not limited to African American culture--she mentioned that the same kind of bacchanalia occurs in Sturgis, North Dakota (for me, I was unpleasantly reminded of frat parties during my own college days). 

At the conclusion of the talk, Ms. Merkerson also asked that the audience "like" the film on Facebook and Twitter and requested that we use social media to engage folks to see, discuss and promote the documentary.  I hope to see it again on PBS--though there will be portions of the film that will obviously be brushed out for a wider audience. 

http://www.contradictionsoffairhope.com/

http://www.contradictionsoffairhope.com/screenings.html

https://www.facebook.com/contradictionsoffairhope

http://www.cpl.org/WritersandReaders.aspx

  The film previewed at CPL is a valiant effort to address a breakdown in our society. This breakdown is not isolated to African-American culture.  The enslavement of women is on-going.  And, the corruption of law enforcement and definition of property continues to be of issue in America.  Talk about it.  Let's work to improve our society in America.  Sexuality is a difficult topic.  Don't bury it.

A period in life we all go through--the strange and uncontrollalbe urge to procreate (with the opposite sex, same sex, and anything really), which can manifest itself in so many outlandish behaviors--most not acceptable by our overall society.  Is there a way to make this time in all of our lives--tolerable to the rest of the world, so we can live with it??

Especially, as the rite of passage behavior theatens to undermines years of civil rights accomplishments during autumn every year--the bewitching time when we all feel our mortality and...FREAK out.