The other book I wanted to have read first was 1493
by Charles C. Mann.
I thought it might provide some context for the next round
of reading focusing on Native American history, but it ended up being much more
global. 1491 was about the Americas before Columbus, but 1493 was about how that
contact affected the rest of the world.
The impact was huge. From the effects of new crops on
dietary patterns, farming practices, and population growth to the way the supply
of silver at Potosi affected Chinese currency markets, the
book is full of fascinating stories of different groups and their impact on
each other. It was not specific to Native American history, but it went along
well with something else.
Early in February actor Orlando Jones suggested a hash tag
focusing on historic people of color that could be represented in film and
television. The hash tag he originally proposed, #HistoricPOCForFilmAndTV, was
a little long for Twitter, but he wisely asked Mikki Kendall for advice, who
suggested #HistoricPOCMedia, and that was the thread that happened:
(FYI, I have gone there and found things missing, so
refreshing can be in order.)
Jones himself is working on a feature film about cult deprogramming
pioneer Ted Patrick. He also suggested Bass Reeves, an idea that I had once
wanted, and then got discouraged on. Still, it could work.
There were many interesting ideas, and one nice thing about
updating the tag to focus on Media, is that you can look beyond film and
television. Many of my ideas have centered on comic books, but there may also
be things that work for web content.
My initial ideas focused on black women, because that is
where my head has been lately. Of course I will want to see media focused on
Ida B. Wells, but it also occurred to me that Becoming Rosa Parks could
be an excellent mini-series. Every activist has a history that leads to their
activism, and probably many of those stories could be good. With Parks
specifically, I think with her early investigations of sexual assaults and the other
work she did that it could be both good drama and educational.
One thing I have noticed in passing is how many people who
traveled abroad seemed to have run into James Baldwin, so perhaps "James
Baldwin in Paris" could be interesting. Paris wasn't just a gathering place for
fascinating people when Hemingway was there.
I thought it had come from the thread and I can't find it
now, but Cora Strayer could make a great character. She was a private detective
in Chicago around 1900. Her ads appealing to
women show some savvy marketing, but also, she was a private detective, in Chicago, in 1900! She also seemed to enjoy
the company of younger men, which some people could find interesting.
The suggestion I posted that got the most positive feedback
was Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, early computer programmer. At least online,
people get excited about programmers. This could be the place for a web series.
There's another point here, where if you look into the
history of computing, women were very much a part of it. The perception of that
changed, but the truth hasn't. Screenwriting was largely done by women in early
Hollywood. Cowboys were very likely to be of
color, both in North and South America, though that doesn't come across in early Westerns.
There is a tendency for the doers to be remembered as white men, but that's not
accurate.
That leads us back to 1493. One reason slaves from Africa were valued is that they were
often-skilled with horses and metalworking, because those were things that they
did back in Africa. Some of them were great at leading
rebellions because they could use their military skills from back home. This
included women like Aqualtune. (There is lots of story potential in Palmares.) Interesting stories, and interesting people,
and it does not conform to the stereotypes that so many people still hold.
Also, the silver trade led to Japanese samurai working as
guards, first in the Philippines and then in Mexico. That's pretty interesting.
There is a sad tendency to erase all of that richness. No,
there wouldn't be black people there, or women wouldn't do that. Even in the
time period, there was a whose series of Mexican "casta" paintings
showing the different racial combinations that ignored the Asian population.
Some people will call a request for representation
"political correctness", but the greater representation is more
correct. People from all over the world have been bumping into each other -
trading with each other, living as neighbors, making babies together - for a
really long time.
I could go on and on about this, and this is already kind of
long, but add that as another reason for representation. Not just because it is
important for all kinds of people to be able to see themselves, not just
because seeing different kinds of people builds empathy, but because the world
has been interesting and diverse for a long time, and the idea that it hasn't
is a lie that serves oppression.
On that note, I wish to conclude with a referral to the Tumblr
page, People of Color in European Art History.
Look at the eras on the side, and how far they go back. It's
worth checking out.
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