Racial power dynamics are at the heart of Hollywoods reigning box-office champ Get Out, a horror hit that not only upends genre conventions, but allegorically addresses the lingering legacy of slavery in 21st century America. Yes, Jason David Frank is unfortunately dead at the age of 49. I learned to make something out of nothing. In this case, I will be referring to Frank Zhang, our favorite son of Mars! . Burning Sandsis available to watch on Netflix. But BGLOs are anti-hazing organizations, so what is depicted in the film is far from being the norm of the process of becoming a member. I believe this was absolutely necessary. On March 9, hip-hop music fans around the world were recognizing the 20th anniversary of rapper Biggie Smalls death. I wanted to show young black men at a black college and the challenges they go through on the path to manhood.. His last words to Apollo are "GO! How do you feel about the way in which Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) and the HBCU experience were portrayed in this movie?I believe BGLOs and the HBCU experience was portrayed as very superficial. 2017 | Maturity Rating: 18+ | 1h 42m | Dramas. Lauren Babb, American University '14, former member of Delta Sigma Theta. I didnt take any part of the film personally, but I was confused by some of the far-fetched details of the plot. Powerful Send help right to the people and causes you care about. Instigators waited one hour before calling an ambulance. To me, it was very one-dimensional and flat in depicting what it is like to actually be pledging at an HBCU. And I think were tired of seeing ourselves depicted as slaves or abusive on screen. When Samuel Mason died at Radford University, the price for sixpeople who gave him enough alcohol to put him to death was a $1,000 dollar fine each. Starring: Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Trevante Rhodes. I also thought it was powerful to show the pledges reaching out to members of the organizations who were in different stages of post-undergraduate life. While McMurray's inspiration is well-intended, I feel there were more aspects to show. Netflix drama Burning Sands which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival takes a critical look at the physical and mental effects that hazing has on participants. However, for those of us who don't operate on that level, we must begin to question our own actions and if we are truly embodying what our founders created these fraternities and sororities for in the first place. During the movie, two Frederick Douglass quotes are repeated: Its easier to build strong children than to repair broken men, and, If there is no struggle, there is no progress. These quotes are on opposite ends of the spectrum, yet still meet at a crossroads, showing the dichotomy of black Greek life. Trevor Jackson (American Crime) stars as Zurich, a bright and outgoing pre-med student determined to successfully pledge the fictional Lambda Phi fraternity at his historically black college. Hell Week is the period that culminates one's pledging process. As an African-American, becoming part of a historically black fraternity or sorority means more than joining an organization to party and network. What was your initial reaction after watching BurningSands?Well, before I watched the film I had a pretty visceral reaction to the trailer. Nonetheless, it energizes its somewhat familiar subject matter through specificity. How do we break these cycles? I think the film did a good job of explaining that there are certain responsibilities given to members of an organization while bringing pledges through. Many times people can overstep boundaries or forget their responsibilities, and that is usually what leads to misfortune in the process. When Reggie Lee joins defense contractor Frontierza, the company's work on advanced hibernation technology for sleeper colony ships seems the perfect career starter. Ralph Abernathy and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin are members). Were you personally offended at any point during the film? The lessons gleaned from Douglasss words, though, are complicated. The pledges in the film were hazed, appeared to have been taught nothing during their process, and seemed to have shallow reasons for wanting to join in the first place. I leaned a lot not just through our communication but also just watching her and Steve (Harris) do what they do, he said. 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I do think it was a missed opportunity to give a more rounded portrayal of black greek organizations even though there were a few scenes that did that. The film was a good eye-opener for prospective, current, and alumni BGLO members. It's a tragic situation, and Burning Sands, coincidentally, features a plotline that's similar to Wade's case. Replace art with better scans where needed. To be sure, the extreme cruelty of campus hazing isnt a new cinematic topic; just last year, Andrew Neels Goat provided a bracing first-person view of the traumas inflicted by (in that instance, white) students against their younger compatriots in the name of macho camaraderie. The social and networking component of black Greek life is quite amazing due to the global reach of the Divine Nine. Black Hands Black Heart. I didnt know how I would handle a woman of her caliber. For alumni, you have to take oversight over your undergrad chapter and make sure the young adults are not making uninformed decisions that could compromise their futures. Copyright 2018 Fandango. Original . There have been several cases of death and fatal injuries as a result of pledging. He makes himself available to be told of pledge abuse but not far enough to break the fraternity code of silence and secrecy. McMurray drew from real-life hazing deaths at two different HBCUs. Five young men pledge Lambda Lambda Phi Fraternity at the historically Black institution, Frederick Douglass University. I absolutely love everything about it. It was amazing watching these two actors I grew up watching on TV. And once I crossed the burning sands, it did become harder. Student Zurich leads the pledge class as they endure big brother hazing on campus and at line ups at fraternity house. The term crossing the burning sands describes pledging a Greek-letter organization and crossing over from being a pledge to becoming a full member. My biggest worry was that the film would include special and sacred elements of a pledging process that aren't to be shared with the public. Dalton Debrick (2014): Died of alcohol poisoning while pledging tothe Alpha Sigma Phi colony. What do you think the film did well?I liked the part of the film where the pledges reached out and called the older, more successful brothers. It also discourages her from allowing our daughter to pledge in the future. Do not be fearful to speak out against foul behavior during a pledge process. I was excited but nervous, McMurray said. Judges in the US have been in fraternities, most of our presidents have been in a fraternity and theres leniency, theres a feeling that these are good kids., I helped conduct a survey for Alfred University and the National Collegiate Athletics Association. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. When asked, Were you hazed? my answer was simply, No, I just pledged hazing is illegal. Even as I write this, I choose my words carefully. The fabric of our society is built on the premise of no easy roads to success, of paying your dues to get where others already are. Life at an HBCU is a constant balancing act between academia, individual growth, and social life. Philip Lewis, Michigan State University '13, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands?That there is a distinction between pledging and hazing. It goes back to the adage of who polices the police? Theres a burning curiosity to get a glimpse into the black culture and community. I feel like that balances me out. Burning Sandsdirector is a Howard University alum and amember of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. We see one sorority member, admirably depicted as being intelligent and strong-willed, but we dont get a sense of her connection to her sorority sisters. I learned what it was like to run a company after running my chapter. [3] It was released on March 10, 2017, by Netflix. Now that Jackson has proven he can be portray dramatic roles, hes ready to tackle a comedy or two, he said. I learned to push my mind, body and soul to limits that I didnt think were possible. 77 were here. Since 1969 there has been at least one death every year caused by hazing practices in the United States. The story is told through the eyes of a black fraternity pledge. To me, this movie focused more on fraternity and not the HBCU experience. No one dies in School Daze,but in real life people die all the time.. It's completely meaningless. They feature NPC towers, Alliance buildings, and outside of The Great Empire, Resource Villages. Given that Burning Sands takes place at Frederick Douglass University, its apt that Douglasss prose is a constant presence, be it in dialogue between Zurich and Hughes, or in Zurichs own narration. These organizations bring people together, make change in the world, and give you a bond that you cant find anywhere. All rights reserved. Hell Week is the period that culminates ones pledging process. Just like one of them $80 shirts from Dick's or the PGA Store. Like HBCUs, black fraternities and sororities were created out of necessity to serve and protect African-American communities. This was frustrating, because the film was shot very well, and could have been even better had the plot been more realistic. Its the honor, distinction and dignity that have been traditions for thousands of mostly college-educated African-American women and men since 1906, when the first black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha (Martin Luther King Jr. and Stuart Scott were members) was founded. What are your thoughts on that?I think the purpose of the film was to start a serious conversation about the severity of underground pledging. What are your thoughts on that?There needs to be a serious conversation had about hazing amongst BGLO and other organizations on campus. The 1988 comedic drama School Daze, which Lee wrote and directed, follows the hazing rituals of the fictional Gamma Phi Gamma fraternity. Burning Sands takes place at a fictitious HBCU, Frederick Douglass University, during the Lambda Phi fraternitys Hell Week. Thedirector, in making of the film, wanted to start a conversation about a call to action to stop hazing. Lastly, I believe the film did a good job highlighting some of the challenges you face while pledging, i.e., discretion, maintaining relationships, financial strain, and time management. Black fraternities and sororities are without question a huge part of the black college experience now as it was for most of the 20th century. While others may deem it as a negative, I actually liked the way the film ended. From Zurichs alienation from his father (whose texts he wont return), to his strained relationship with the girlfriend (Imani Hakim) who disapproves of his frat dreams, to his feelings of obligation to the dean (Steve Harris) who helped get him a spot on Lambdas pledge roster, Burning Sands uses standard narrative conventions to forward a subtle, but powerful, point about racial equality. Maya Alena Allen, Howard University '15, Alpha Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands? This may be the only peek into Greek life for some people, and you don't want it to be blanketed by stereotypes. Armando Villa (2014): Died after being forced to hike barefooted through the Angeles Mountains FRANK SANDS OBITUARY Sands Sr., Frank Melville Age 82 Frank Melville Sands Sr, 82 years old, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on March 18, 2021. 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