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“The fact that young people are getting out… black and white people are getting out on the street is great but, you know, we’ll see where we get.”
With the blowup of police brutality and blatant racism toward black citizens in the US, it seem that much of the world is dividing itself into black and white – but one director has decided to speak his mind and say that it’s not just black and white – and it’s not just happening in the US.
During an interview with Esquire on black British culture, filmmaker an artist Steve McQueen gave his open and honest opinion about everything from George Floyd’s death to curiosity and intelligence.
“Black people live in a world of extremes. When you’re look at an image of someone being beaten by the police, by the law, by the establishment, time and time and time again; it does something to you inside.”
The 12 Years A Slave director goes on to elaborate on his own cautious optimism. “The fact that young people are getting out on the street, black and white people are getting out on the street is great, but you know we’ll see where we get.”
When he was asked whether or not things were better for the black community this year, McQueen had this to say. “To some extent…there’s been huge amounts of progress, but it’s not good enough. Let’s be honest.”
Obviously, McQueen is right, as racial tensions continue to brew amid what some would call rampant killings of black people by police, especially in 2020. And with some of the transgressors being punished leniently, for the wrong things, or not at all, the divide between activists and those who oppose them is growing deeper than ever.
Related: Chris Rock Identifies The Struggles Of The Black Community In Terms Of Rich Vs. Wealth
McQueen also makes a point to say that he’s not interested in symbolic gestures when it comes to the idea of co-opting black pain. “If I have to do a somersault about a stamp on a royal mail envelope, I’m sorry, we want real change and I’m not interested, you know, in some sort of symbolic gestures.”
McQueen is, however, very aware that his own success likely wouldn’t have come without the sacrifices of those who came before, something he’s expressed that he’s more than grateful for. He also hasn’t lost his sense of humor about it.
“What do they call a black man with a Ph.D?” he asks the interviewer. “What do you think? They call him then ‘N’ word, that’s what they call him. Listen, I’m grateful for, for what I’ve achieved and what people have achieved for me to get to this place.”
His point of view couldn’t be more timely and rich, given both his background and the issues the world is facing at this moment in time. The whole interview is available on Esquire’s website.
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