There is never a limit to learning, and director Roger Ross Williams’ documentary “Stamped from the Beginning” taught me a considerable number of things that the American educational system did not. This eye-opening, academically-minded film (based on Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s 2016 New York Times bestseller) chronicles the entire story of racist ideas and the astonishing power that anti-black sentiment has had on policy, society, and legislation over the course of our country’s history. It’s an ambitious, challenging film that feels like it should be required viewing for everyone.
The film centers on the perspectives of black female academics and activists, interviewing influential and esteemed figures like Dr. Angela Davis, Dr. Jennifer L. Morgan, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, and other intellectuals. These subjects lend their expertise on how American culture became flooded with racist tropes, ideology, and imagery that were developed decades ago, and how they still hold this unthinkable power over the world today. When explained in such a clear-cut way, it’s easy to understand how racist ideas become not only embedded psychologically in our own minds, but also through policy. Ever wonder why some segments of society seem to think black people are criminals? This movie explains the origin, and it will infuriate you.
It’s the type of film that makes history come alive, with discussions about historical figures (both well-known and obscure) who took a stand against racism back in the day, the whitewashed legacies of people like Thomas Jefferson, and spirited debates about harmful “white savior” narratives that are so popular in art and literature. By utilizing creative animation as well as fiery talking head interviews, Williams keeps the discourse engaging in a way that doesn’t feel like a dry, stale lecture.
The most interesting (and disturbing) part of the documentary is a conversation about how America’s racist ideas and forms of oppression are sadly being exported to other countries through our popular culture, music and movies. It’s an overwhelming problem that seems impossible to solve, but it’s never too late to change the course of the future.
Topics like this aren’t easy to hear. The racist clips included in the film are painful to watch. The documentary is brutal, and it isn’t one that sugarcoats its topic. But that’s what makes it so critical to get “Stamped from the Beginning” in front of as many people as possible. This harsh, absorbing, and powerful film is one that shatters stereotypes and racist ideas that most Americans have heard by helping viewers understand their evolution, propagation, and suggesting tools that could help us stop the cycle.
