I got a fantastic movie recommendation the other day. "Take This Hammer" is a short film in which KQED follows one of my absolute favorite writers, James Baldwin, as he explores issues for the black community around the city of San Francisco. It was made in 1963. 1963, that's almost fifty years ago, but you'd never know it from the way the folks in the film speak of the same issues we face today.
"This is the San Francisco Americans pretend does not exist," Baldwin says. This reminds me of my experience of coming to San Francisco, eagerly looking forward to being embraced by the city that supposedly stands for equality for all, including my people. Only to find, upon arriving, that my people are being driven out.
This film is eye-opening, and if nothing else, it's worth watching to witness the brilliance of James Baldwin, as well as the history preserved in the filming of the city. I'm kind of obsessed now, and I can tell you from personal experience that there's more to see with each new viewing.
Watch the whole film, uninterrupted, on Vimeo here. Below is the first part, on Youtube.
"This is the San Francisco Americans pretend does not exist," Baldwin says. This reminds me of my experience of coming to San Francisco, eagerly looking forward to being embraced by the city that supposedly stands for equality for all, including my people. Only to find, upon arriving, that my people are being driven out.
This film is eye-opening, and if nothing else, it's worth watching to witness the brilliance of James Baldwin, as well as the history preserved in the filming of the city. I'm kind of obsessed now, and I can tell you from personal experience that there's more to see with each new viewing.
Watch the whole film, uninterrupted, on Vimeo here. Below is the first part, on Youtube.
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