The Problem with District 9

This summer, South Africa made a statement in movie theatres with the release of District 9. The fictional tale of aliens residing in a apartheid style township in SA, reflected the treatment of apartheid era Black South Africans. The film had us rooting for the ostracized aliens, and wishing they would just find a way out of the injustice they crash landed into. It was an enlightening tale, condemning segregation with subtlety, the film however also managed condemn another non-fictional group in an unfair, and cruel depiction. Amongst the aliens residing in the township lived another group; the only group brave enough (or low enough) to fraternize and deal with the aliens. These were not the local gangsters of Jo'burg, but Nigerian imports, gangsters dealing in illegal fire arms, pimping their prostitutes to the aliens, and dabbling in a bit of cannibalism.

Now, Nigerians are in an uproar, furious about the portrayal of their countrymen in an internationally exposed film, and rightfully so. The folks behind the film have brushed off the allegations of the film being racist, cautioning viewers to not take the film literally, after all it is fiction. Yes that it is, however in a film that is publicly denouncing the wrongful treatment of another group, is it not hypocrytical to put such labels on another specified group? Being that the tale is fictional, writers could have come up with a fictional country, however they specified Nigerians as the group behind the atrocious crimes in the movie. They even went as far as using the previous president's name with just one letter off (Obasenjo instead of Obasanjo).

Because it is fictional, we do take it literally, as an attack on the country. Its still mind numbing that the people behind the film don't see the depiction as slander. Had it been any other group (considered a major group) the action would have been called by its proper name. Its just a shame to see a powerful a moral tale regress by the injection of discriminatory elements. The film is now banned in Nigeria, and that is one battle they had every right to pick.

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On Sunday, September 13th we will be hosting a Wii Tournament as a benefit for Shoe 4 Africa. It will be held at Town Tavern in the west village, with DJs Sinton, Treats, Spynfo, and Kraff Swagger. Amazing music, super cheap drinks, and Wii!! We also have amazing prizes, from a gift certificate to the Red Door Spa, to a free memebership to NY Sports club. For those not feeling competitive we will have free play wii's available as well. How can this not be a great time??

When: Sunday, September 13th
5pm-11pm

Where: Town Tavern
134 West 3rd Street, New York, Ny

Damage: $5 + a pair of old sneakers
$ 10 without

To register email info@no1sdoneitright.org

Tracy Mcgrady went to Darfur...

...and made a documentary.

3 Points is definitely worth checking out.

BLUEPRINT 3

Thoughts?

(buy it when it comes out + go buy tickets for the 9/11 benefit concert, too, while you're at it)

We dig it: Florence + The Machine

Florence + The Machine- Drumming

My current standard for knowing how much I love a song, is if after hearing it for the first time I have to hear it at least 6 more times, and eventually througout the day. Upon completion of these sequence of events do I exclaim ¨I love this song!¨ Florence and the Machine had me at the beating drum line of appropriately named song, Drumming, above. The debut album, Lungs, is an intoxicating effort (yes, i like it that much), making discretion impossible. But, have a listen for yourself.

And Another one...

God Save the Kids

TaqwaTour 2007-2009 from taqwacore on Vimeo.

Muslim kids are finding a voice in punk music. Above is a live performance from Boston-based Muslim punk band The Kominas.

http://www.myspace.com/thekominas

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