Mississippi Burning (1988)

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." (Obama's Victory Speech, 2008)

If I were to be a Black during the time of "Mississippi Burning" who were not given even the chance to vote during election, this image of Obama giving victory speech is hard to believe. For many hardships that the Black in Mississippi had gone through before 1964, it is difficult to imagine that United States will have a Black president in the future. Mississippi Burning (1988) is a film based on real-life murders that portrays the racial prejudice in Mississippi in 1964.

The film begins with a drinking fountains scene depicting the segregation of Blacks and Whites. The labels used to separate the different facilities used by the Whites and the "Colored" create a "we-they mindset". Additionally, the better drinking fountain that is used by the Whites encourages the belief that Whites are superior. This simple categorization of races instills ethnocentrism in people, which is seen when one of the White people tells during an interview that "They (Blacks)'re not like us. They don't take baths. They stink, they ...... they're nasty ...... they're just not like white folks." These superiority belief and the "we-they mindset" result in racial prejudice in the movie.

Besides, conformity breeds racial inequality in this movie as well. When Agent Ward enters a restaurant and goes to sit in the area where the Blacks sit, it creates a dead silence in the restaurant. Everyone, including the Blacks, feels shock to see a White approaches the Blacks, which disconfirms with their ingrained belief that Whites and Blacks should be separated. To encourage conformity, fear appeal is used by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). The KKK members beat up the Black guy whom Agent Ward approached to warn people about the adverse effects of non-conformity. Moreover, the just world phenomenon which is visible in this movie contributes to the cause of racism in Mississippi as well. During the interview, one of the Whites tells the reporter that "They (Blacks)'re treated about fair. About as good as they oughta be." Conformity and the just world phenomenon has elicited the feeling of indifference towards racism in this movie.

In addition, institutional support and religion have further supported the idea of prejudice in the movie. It is revealed by Mrs. Pell that racial segregation was taught in school, by twisting the meaning of the verse in Bible: "May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem; And may Canaan be his servant" (Genesis 9:27 New King James Version). The curse on Canaan is used as the valid reason to oppress the Blacks although the Bible does not give any indication of race. Besides, racial injustice is evident even in the court where one should have found "liberty and justice for all". The judge suspends the sentences on White people who committed crime against the Blacks for the reason that their misbehavior are due to outside influences. This suspension in sentence further increases the disparity in power between the Whites and Blacks, which has led to greater prejudice. Moreover, the police force which is dominated by the Whites further worsens the racism in Mississippi.

The strong institutional supports for Whites and the ingrained prejudicial beliefs lead to the learned helplessness among the Blacks. When Agent Ward tries to persuade a Black victim's mother to encourage his son to press charges against the deputy sheriff who is involved in violence against his son, the mother replies that "He won't talk to no one -- And it won't do no good anyway." The other Black man even tells that "Leave him alone. Maybe then they'll let us alone." This reveals that the Blacks are overwhelmed by fear and they believed that they cannot do anything to overcome racism.

All these social influences and beliefs that breed prejudices are promoted by the presence of KKK. It is only until the appearances of Agent Ward and Agent Anderson, which lead to the prosecution of KKK's members, that silences the prejudice down and brings people together. The ending which portrays a burial ceremony attended by both the Blacks and the Whites shows a great contrast with the image of racial segregation introduced at the beginning of the film. Separation breeds prejudice while connection breeds understanding. This transformation from the separation of races to the connections between races signals the beginning of racial equality.

"Hatred isn't something you're born with. It gets taught." Just like hatred, love is taught. When we are able to love regardless of colors, this brings the peace and harmony for our next generation.