Do the Right Thing

by Marissa Nardone

With everything going on recently with the Black Lives Matter movement, I’ve come to realize that just acknowledging and disapproving of racial injustice in our modern world is not enough. Being from a predominantly white small town in the northeast, I’ve been pretty sheltered from the degree of racism and violence the rest of the world is experiencing. I thought things were better than they were. 

My whole life I’ve been taught that we are all created equal, truly, and deserve the same treatment and the same love. It still surprises me when people don’t think the same way, and don’t see everyone as inherently good. So in taking time to educate myself on the layers of these issues, I’ve come up with a small list of movies that I’d like to share with you guys. 

‘Do the Right Thing’ (1989)

Trailer- https://youtu.be/muc7xqdHudI

‘Moonlight’ (2016)

Trailer- https://youtu.be/9NJj12tJzqc

‘13th’ (2016)

Trailer- https://youtu.be/K6IXQbXPO3I

‘The Hate U Give’ (2018)

Trailer- https://youtu.be/3MM8OkVT0hw

‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ (2018)

Trailer- https://youtu.be/CQXSforT_qQ

‘Fruitvale Station’ (2013)

Trailer- https://youtu.be/crMTGCCui5c

‘Loving’ (2016)

Trailer- https://youtu.be/zRXuCY7tRgk

‘Get Out’ (2017)

Trailer- https://youtu.be/DzfpyUB60YY

‘I Am Not Your Negro’ (2016)

Trailer- https://youtu.be/rNUYdgIyaPM

I’m still working my way through these and more as well, and I hope others who have had the privilege of not knowing these things first hand are doing the same. Growing, adapting, changing. It’s the only way we can make the world a better place for everyone.

My mother grew up in Detroit with the race riots and the gangs and the fear. Throughout my life she has told me bits here and there about her childhood and it seemed like a completely different reality to our modern world. I see now that this is still going on, maybe a little differently, yes, but nonetheless it all boils down to the same thing. We can’t just hope for a better tomorrow, we have to make one. 

(Also check out the link in the Mezzazine insta bio for more resources on how you can help!)