Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Everyday Black Matters

Home
Progressive Christian
The Hunger Games – Black Rue, District 11 & Trayvon Martin

The Hunger Games – Black Rue, District 11 & Trayvon Martin

Last updated on: March 31, 2012 at 10:30 am by Grace Sandra

The Hunger Games – Black Rue, District 11 & Trayvon Martin 2012-03-31T10:30:52-04:00 Grace Sandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

*Spoiler Alert*

I really enjoyed the movie version of The Hunger Games. It was a good adaptation, and stayed true to the books. Both equally depressing.

There’s been some what of a media circus surrounding the casting of sweet little Rue (an African-American child, Amandla Stenberg) by people who “didn’t picture her as black,” though in the book she’s described this way…

“Up close she looks about ten. She has bright, dark eyes and satiny brown skin…”

If this doesn’t look like satiny brown skin what does?

The backlash has been somewhat disconcerting…

…it’s nothing new, but the internet has allowed all of us to see much more of racist conversations that in years prior happened in living rooms and bars. Now Cliff Kigar can call Amandla a nigger from his Twitter account…and the whole world sees.

Cliff Kigar doesn’t care. No need to be anonymous. Balls of steel.

As I watched the adaptation from book to movie what really struck me was seeing Rue & Thresh as black kids from the mostly black, District 11.

When Rue is murdered in the film, Katniss holds up the sign for District 11 in which the District members watching publicly all hold up just before they riot.

As I sat there weeping like a fracking baby, I could not stop thinking about the civil rights movement. Seeing those people pushed to rage by the slaughter of their daughter, Rue made 100% sense to me.

Rue was the community’s baby. That’s why blacks have rallied around Trayvon. Trayvon is our baby. He’s our 17 year old son murdered. He’s my baby.

The rage of District 11 was palpable. I felt that rage, rather I feel that rage. I feel it about Trayvon most recently, but I feel it all the time for my black men who I’ve known and met and loved who wind up in prison or dead for no good reason.

For black people, I could riot. For our freedom and safety I would riot if it came to that. I would hope I’d do it peacefully as Dr. King did.

It was a powerful scene in the movie for me. That scene that made me so grateful for the many blacks (and whites!) who were brutally murdered in the Civil Rights Movement for the freedom of African-Americans.

So. I cried. I thought about how precious black people are to me, and I cried.

It occurred to me later after debriefing the film with a friend that a particular scene being left out was heartbreaking. In the book, District 11 scrapes together enough money to buy Katniss some food during the games as a ‘thank you’ for her kind treatment of Rue during death and after.

On matters of race, THAT was important.

Sigh.

Anyway, as for the rest of the casting…

…spot on. Yeah, I would have liked to see Katniss played by a minority with “olive skin,” but I understand that white women headline blockbuster movies. If Katniss were played by a minority, then her whole family would need to follow suit. Call me crazy, but I think the drama would have been: “Where are the White Actors in The Hunger Games?” Even so, Jennifer Lawrence did a fantastic job.

…Peeta & Gale. Rocked it…

I would have liked to see a more drunk Haymitch. I pictured him gurgling, bumbling, tripping and coming off as much more of a booty-wipe. But sweet little Woody here was actually likeable!

If you haven’t read the books, I’d suggest doing so before the films. Obviously they left a lot out.

Kudos to the cast for making a great film!

So. What did you think about the casting? The books? The film? Rue? District 11? Do tell!

Previous Post

March 29, 2012

The Power of Vulnerability And Courage

Next Post

April 2, 2012 In Writing, In Marriage, In Housework, In Parenting, In Faith...

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abuse Survivor African Americans Black Campus Ministries Blogging Books Celebrities Depression Detroit Divorce Dreams entrepreneurialista Family Fashion Fashion & Hair Fashion Finds Fashion Tips Fitness & Body Love For You Girly-Girl Giveaways! Goal Setting Hair Adventures Home Human Trafficking Humor & Fun InterVarsity iphone Apps iphoneography Leadership Marriage Memoir Mentoring Movies Music My Faith My Life My Pregnant Life My Weight Watcher's Journey Netizen One Word Opinion Parenting Photography Policy Politics Pop Culture Product Reviews Race & Ethnicity Racism Ransom Rhys Second Marriage Self Leadership Social Justice Social Media Spiritual Disciplines T.V. Uncategorized Western Theological Seminary What I Wore What I Wore Wednesday Writing Writing Tips

Select a Month May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz