Rize Documentary About African American Dance

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The film, Rize, sets out to help the viewer understand the hardships the African American people in the LA area face. First with the riots in Los Angeles, California in 1965. Then the Rodney King riots, then the film features the year 2002. The film opens with a powerful small speech by a main character, Dragon, he says, “If you’re drowning and there’s nothing around for help but a board floating, you’re going to reach out for that board. And this was our board. And from this board we floated abroad and we built us a big ship. And we’re going to sail into the dance world and the art world. We’re going to take it by storm because it’s our belief. This is not a trend. Let me repeat. This is not a trend (LaChapelle, D., 2005).” At first glance the film depicts a group of African Americans who are oppressed and face “gang-bangers” and violence. After watching Rize, one quickly realizes many oppressed African Americans within this LA, California microculture have developed close group relationships and depend on group dancing and interaction for comfort and survival. The microculture(s) come together in small groups which are a part of a larger group, the Clown Dance Academy. All dance as an expression of their inner anger and channel it as an art form. I couldn’t help while watching and analyzing this film to reflect on my own upbringing. My single-parent family, all white socially accepted people, lived on welfare and lived in “the projects” among minorities until I was 10. My mother, single, then married my step dad, an upper-middle class alcoholic, hoping this would provide a “better life” for my siblings and I. Three years later they divorced and we were back to being on welfare – living among mostly minorities, living among many oppressed African Americans. Long story short as a young girl living in the projects I didn’t notice my separation

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