Black Culture Needs More Movies Like “Dope”
Dope tells the story of a black teen who finds a different way out of his less than perfect situation. Why can’t we have more of this?
I was scouring through Netflix and I came across the movie Dope. I had seen the movie twice already and I was tempted to watch it a third time because of how damn good it is (and because I have a problem of not watching new things and constantly re-watching the same thing, but that’s beside the point). I started to think of why I think the movie is, to quote myself, “damn good.” Other than having a fantastic plot and great acting the movie is able to show another outlet, or view point, for black teens that other movies within black culture cannot. I know I’m two years late to point this out but how could I not?
The movies that are targeted at a black audience include anything by Tyler Perry (TRASH), biopics including musicians or athletes (solid), and action/gangster movies like Bad Boys (badass). The thing about a good chunk of these movies, is the fact that it depicts violence in the streets and the only way to get out is with music or athleticism, and while this can be true in many situations, it puts a dark overcast on the matter. These movies aren’t able to give hope to a newer generation, when only so many people can be musicians and athletes. Black culture needed something to show that there is another way out, and Dope was able to achieve that.
Dope is a film that is chocked full of pop culture references that pertain to any audience. That’s one reason it’s a good movie. The reason that I love it though, is the fact that the main character is intelligent, driven, and wants a good future like a lot of kids from that background. He works hard for what he wants and is able to achieve his dream by doing well in school and working the system in his favor — not with athletics or music. That’s what I think is so genius. The idea is simple. Take an intelligent black kid who works hard in school and is rewarded by the end. WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
If black culture implements the idea that if you work hard in school, you have another way out, viewers will start believing it. Because when a ten-year-old black kid watches Coach Carter or listens to Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City they dream of hoop and mic dreams. Now, that same ten-year-old black kid can watch Dope and dream of Ivy League schools. They can be encouraged to understand that intelligence can take you far or where you need to go in life just as much, if not more, than music and athletics.
That’s the beauty of the movie Dope and that’s why there needs to be more movies like it. If black people put themselves in a position of excellence, the only thing standing in their way is the (institutionalized racism, but that’s a different argument) fear of failing and themselves. It’s been two years since this movie was released and it hasn’t gotten the full credit it deserves, considering it can open a whole new door for the culture (s/o the Migos).
Speaking of the movie Dope, it features some acting from A$AP Rocky, and what the culture needs, and what is overdue, is another A$AP Rocky album.
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