Based on the book by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, “Stamped from the Beginning” is a documentary that mixes animation with real images. It is directed by Roger Ross Williams.
The United States is a complex and contrasting country, as is its rich and diverse culture.
In 1860, Senator David opposed a law that sought to provide education to black people, arguing that, marked since birth, God himself created them inferior.
It was another century, different ideas, and now, in our times, ideological propaganda still exists, in a different way and with different intentions, but there is always someone behind all the ideological propaganda that presents certain societal models and benefits others. What lies behind it all?
“Stamped from the Beginning” explores how, since the enslavement of black people began in the 16th century, popular culture has justified behaviors that, ultimately, only have one sole motivation: trading slaves to make money, choosing black individuals because they were stronger and distinguishable from the crowd.
To justify this situation, stories were invented and the population was indoctrinated to convince them, fabricating stories about why it was acceptable. This is how propaganda works, here, now, and in the past.
About the documentary
“Stamped from the Beginning” is an outstanding documentary that examines the history of racism in the United States, starting from slavery and how, through control of ideas, media, and stereotypes, the population has been conditioned to exhibit racist and clearly false behaviors.
Racism has been used against others and even against white individuals, who were also enslaved and unconsciously behaved like puppets, perpetuating an economic system that only benefited a few.
It was not always like this, and both white and black individuals have united on several occasions to fight against landowners in the past (Bacon’s Rebellion).
The documentary tells us the story of how the laws in Virginia were created and the reasons behind keeping the two populations separate (whites and blacks), which follow the classic “divide and conquer” strategy. From there, it explains the historical evolution of racism and how these false ideas spread to economically benefit a select few.
This documentary is brutally filled with politics and false ideas, showing how everything has ultimately been a deception orchestrated by the system itself.
It is a story of the United States, but it can be viewed from any place because fundamentally, systems function similarly in all places, and these ideological systems rely on these ideas to continue existing.
And only a few reap great benefits from them.
This documentary gives us a detailed account and compelling reasons why all racism and all conflict are ideologically created so that only a few (the elite) can benefit from the confrontation.
Our opinion
We loved it. It is not an “exposé documentary” or inflammatory, but rather emphasizes the value of diversity for progress and how, precisely to stall progress, ideas such as racism have been created to falsely convince both sides of an absolute falsehood.
Don’t miss it.
Release Date
November 20, 23023
Where to Watch “Stamped from the Beginning”
Director
Roger Ross Williams, born on September 16, 1962, in Easton, is an esteemed American documentary director, producer, and writer. Meticulously making history, he was the first African American director to claim an Academy Award (Oscar). Williams’ remarkable short film, “Music by Prudence,” triumphed at the 2009 Academy Awards by winning the prestigious accolade for Best Documentary Short Film.
