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"Fahrenheit 9/11" Resonates With Many African Americans

Photo credit: www.michaelmoore.com In "Fahrenheit 9/11," Marine recruiters at a mall outside Flint, Mich., approach teenagers to enlist them in the military.

By Titus Ledbetter III
Black College Wire

A day before filmmaker Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” opened nationwide, Moore stood in Washington with several members of the Congressional Black Caucus on the steps of a legislative office building as they praised the film.

After President Bush turned down an invitation to speak in Philadelphia at the annual NAACP convention, the civil rights organization sponsored a free screening of the anti-Bush film, drawing at least 2,000 people on July 13, according to the New York Times. NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, in introducing the movie, likened it in importance to Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel ''Uncle Tom's Cabin,'' the book that boosted the abolitionist cause before the Civil War and became the first social protest novel published in the United States.

A poll conducted by the D.C. Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research surveyed 1,000 likely voters after the movie’s first week. It did not break down those it surveyed by race, but the survey showed that the largest percentage of voters that had seen it were in the 18-29 age bracket, and that 86 percent of those who had seen the movie planned to vote for John Kerry.

Despite the lack of racial statistics, there is much to suggest that “Fahrenheit 9/11” is resonating with many African Americans.

Moore has plugged the film on radio’s syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show” and on “The Tavis Smiley Show” on PBS.

Kimberly Thompson, executive vice president of the Johnson Development Corp., which runs the Magic Johnson Theaters in six black communities around the country, said that Moore’s movie –- which Moore calls “an op-ed piece” -- is doing “very well” there.

The movie makes the argument that the United States never should have invaded Iraq, and he maintains that African Americans are being used.

Some black moviegoers agreed.

Jennifer Mowbrey, 21, a recent graduate of Hampton University, says Moore’s point about the recruitment of poor blacks to serve in Iraq hit home.

"African Americans should pay attention to the fact that, according to the movie, most of the (American military) recruitment takes place in poor neighborhoods," said Mowbrey.

"The poor people are going to fight and the rich people are making all the decisions. They are selling them the promise of a college education...” she said.

Mowbrey saw “Fahrenheit 9/11” within the first two weeks of its June 25 release, and said she was one of the few blacks in the movie theater.

"I felt black people should watch the film, but, unfortunately, they will be the least likely to see the film,” she added. “Black people seem to be the least interested in politics or anything that affects them in the future.”

Moore follows two Marine recruiters who seek candidates at a working-class mall outside Flint, Mich. Many of their contacts are with African American men in their teens and early 20s. The recruiters talk about the success of David Robinson of the National Basketball Association and of the rapper Shaggy, and imply that the armed forces could be the road to success for a would-be pro basketball player or musician.

"You know, they try to play on the ignorance of black people or poor people," said Joseph Tobe, of Hyattsville, Md., an energy technician who said he, too, was struck by the segment. "They try to sell them all this hoopla about what they can have" if they enlist.

Glen Lomax, 52, a training consultant from Germantown, Md., said he appreciated the film because it was courageous of Moore to bring to light secrets that need exposure. He called the movie excellent and well-documented.

Scenes in "Fahrenheit 9/11,” show that even though 15 of the 19 hijackers on Sept. 11, 2001, were Saudis, many, including members of the Bin Laden family, were flown out of the country on Sept. 13. Moore interviewed Craig Unger, author of "House of Bush, House of Saud," who claims to have tracked $1.4 billion in deals and investments between the Saudis and Bush family and friends.

"If nothing more, it raises awareness of the issues that go on in the country," said Lomax. "Hopefully, it will cause people to raise questions when we start to talking about who we really want as the president of the United States."

Deidra Squire, a junior at Hampton University, said she was struck by Moore’s interview with an African American who had served in the war but said he’d rather go to jail than return to fight again. The fact that he’d accept imprisonment spoke to "how serious this thing is," she said.

Moore interviews a group of young black students, most of whom say they have a friend or family member who has served in the war.

"They don't have any other way to escape impoverishment," said Squire, speaking of the black students. "If they don't join the armed forces, they don't have any other option."

Tobe, the energy technician, said some of Moore’s points might be exaggerated. “The main part that I look at is the reason we went to war and all the people that died. The fact is that we went to war on a false pretense."

Squire said she knows that the film might stir up fears and memories that many people would like to forget. She thinks that watching the movie will better inform those voting in the upcoming 2004 election.

"I understand trying to protect your emotions," said Squire. "But sometimes you have to face it. If you try to ignore problems, they are not going to be solved. It's better to relive it on screen than later on in real life."

Not all black people are eager to see the movie. Some say they do not want to relive that September day in 2001.

Susan Simpson, 34, has lived in New York, said she considered herself “very neutral when it comes to politics,” and said she did not want to see the movie after she heard the words "Fahrenheit” and “9/11."

"I wouldn't see 'Fahrenheit 9/11' because I think it was a very sad day," said Simpson. "No one should have to relive it. Regardless of the political background or whatever the basis for it, the saddest thing is that it happened."

Titus Ledbetter III is a student at Hampton University.

Posted July 20, 2004

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