I read an article today about a documentary filmmaker named Byron Hurt who is in the final stages of working on his
"Soul Food Junkies" film. While I am really excited about this documentary, I am also worried because I do not know what angle Hurt is coming from. In the
NY Daily News article I read today by Stanley Crouch, it establishes the position that this documentary is going to be the "Super Size Me" of the Soul Food Industry. He goes as far as to claim that Byron Hurt is "like a combination of Spurlock and Upton Sinclair". This one-sided, all is bad notion, is what worries me the most.
While I am personally really looking forward to this documentary because it will educate the black community and the world about the health risks of eating mostly "Soul Food", I just hope that there will also be a highlight of the many
healthy Soul Food restaurants in our country. The biggest problem I have with dogmatic documentaries or commentaries of this nature is that it also takes away from the very black businesses that are in dire threat of surviving in this country as it is.
"Soul food is killing black America" - What a persuasive title! Stanley Crouch is a great writer indeed. This is a social psychological claim that of course begets people to make decisions based on that which they do not want. In this case it is: death. Nobody wants die and poignant statements such as this concern me because it persuades people to want to stop supporting Soul Food restaurants. The very same people who spend their money to stimulate the black economy will in turn, take their money and spend it at a Red Lobster or Olive Garden "chain" restaurants, where they will end up consuming the same amount, if not more calories. Which is the greater evil?
Without seeing the film, I cannot comment too much on the dialogue presented, but Crouch states that the film is, "humorous, soulful and well aware of how hard it is to change when what one is addicted to is not only certain kinds of food but food made to taste truly delicious." This is a huge blanket statement which persuades people to believe that most black people are "addicted" to Soul Food.
Why do the words "addiction" and "black community" have to be synonymous? Are Mexican's addicted to Mexican food? Are Italian people addicted to Italian food? NO. It is the food of their culture. Is eating it everyday, all day, without concern about the health implications a threat on our well being? YES. This is not only a "black culture" thing, this is a nationwide, all cultures, all people epidemic. My concern with documentaries and people who write articles like Crouch, is that it persuades a population to have self-perpetuating stereotypes of anger and resentment toward a culture of important history and food that has brought a people together for over 1,700 years.
It is just curious to me that while
black buying power is at an all time high, there are still certain people who want to prevent black businesses from thriving. It is far more of a concern for me that there is a lack of black support of black commerce than it is a concern for the health issues of the people. Shocking to hear, but reconsider... Did you know that the
biggest threat to health in the world is poverty? It is important that people support these black businesses and instead of trying to tear them down, build up other businesses that show there are options to eat healthier.
Soul Food Connection does not only encourage stimulation in the Soul Food market, but also educates people about healthy Soul Food options.
The point I am claiming here is that there are many avenues to consider before concluding that it is the food that is killing the people. In light of the "Super Size Me" link as Crouch so confidently declaired, I would like to also remind you that there was a documentary in response to Spurlock, called "
Fat Head", in which a man proved that you can loose weight on a fast food diet.
Let's assume we are all grown up and capable of monitoring our calorie intake, physical activity, and limiting our consumption of fried foods (and animal products).
It is a choice for people to be addicted to eating bad foods all the time and this does not mean that it is that way for all of a community. Let's stop perpetuating negative self-racism and start to empower people to make better choices. Let's go into 2012 with the desire to lift black people up, rather than tear them down.
Empowerment will always win over degradation.
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