“I Don’t’ Want to Time Travel No Mo,” by Dr. Andrea L. Moore  (She, Her, Sis, Queen), Associate Professor  of Ethnic Studies; Director, Cooper-Woodson College Enhancement Program, Sacramento State

Poem #1: “Still I Rise,” Artist- Maya Angelou

Song #1: “Brown Skin Girl,” Artist- Leon Bridges, “Don’t you know you’re a cutie pie”

Dominate message:

Historical context- The opening scene is a Black woman sitting in a peaceful rose garden, reciting Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” poem. Its message is directly speaking to those who may not see the beauty of the brown skin girl and she comes in strong with her identity of self and knowing that she will still rise in spite of the oppression she experiences. Next, a Black waiter enters smiling, while walking around serving his beverage to the attendees of the rose garden party. The rose garden scene incorporates the historical sound of the 50’s, showcasing predominantly women of color dancers appearing to have a great time embracing their natural beauty while dancing in the sun amongst the flowers. The audio serves as a message telling the brown skin girl that she is a “cutie pie.” From a political standpoint, notice that the Black waiter is the only one serving. Also notice that there are interracial couples enjoying the sunny, relaxing atmosphere. This scene takes the viewer back in time, so it feels like one has time traveled into what seemed to be a more peaceful moment. The scene closes with the waiter abruptly being snatched from an unknown entity in rose bushes, scene then transitions into another dimension and location.

Song #2: “Oxygen,” Artist- Smino

Dominate message: The familiar character has now traveled to another dimension and he wakes up in his bed, next to his iPhone. He then prepares himself for work and when brushing his teeth a hand comes in and holds his neck as if to disrupt him breathing peacefully. This hand does not seem to be unknown or foreign, it is received as a normalized part of the character’s regular daily duties. There is an expectation and cumbersome expression on his face, for dealing with that level of pressure and lack of access to all of his oxygen. The hand on the neck is still present when the character takes a deep inhale before walking out the front door (as if to mentally prepare for the day ahead). The moment he steps outside, a new hand takes hold of his neck. From historical context, think about the numerous Black people who have yelled out “I can’t breathe!” due to police choke holds, or someone’s neck on their knee etc. This severe traumatic daily experience transcends into the broader community of folks who identify. The daily oppression that one experiences because of their Blackness is not some isolated incident, it follows you wherever you go as a form of oppression. Oppression makes it difficult to breathe and be at peace. The scene transitions to the character at work. The character is working in a predominantly Black environment when a White hand reaches in and covers his neck. Once again the expression is one that shows the hand is not foreign, however, it’s looks visibly uncomfortable. There is a moment when the character gets up and goes with the White hand covering his neck. All of the coworkers look at him with questionable expressions. The song playing is called “Oxygen” and the lead character’s daily routine of having a hand on his neck represents the connection of the lack of oxygen that is available to him. The White hand on his neck speaks to nuanced forms of oppression on the job when people are being controlled by those in power. This can literally make one feel like they cannot breathe freely. (In this case a Black man’s) access to freedom in the workplace and how difficult it is to have autonomy over oneself when you lack social, economic, and political power.

Song #3: “Strange Fruit,” Artist- Girl singing Billie Holiday rendition

Dominate message:

In the final scene the viewer has time traveled to both past and present simultaneously. A Black girl is sitting outside in grassy field area singing the Billie Holiday rendition of “Strange Fruit.” Behind her a Black man in blurry past shows up clothed, then in ropes wrapped around his wrists and ankles. This image takes us back to chattel slavery and the stolen enslaved Africans who helped cultivate American soil. Two people begin picking on land gathering crops who soon experience death in the fields. Next, the scene cuts to a group of younger looking girls wearing all black marching while a Black girl recites “Strange Fruit” in a poem style. “Strange Fruit” was a metaphor in 1939 for the bodies left hanging in the trees after being lynched by White supremacists. Since 2020, we have experienced the second wave of the Black Lives Matter movement dealing with the public murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and anyone else who died because someone physically stopped their oxygen. This is experienced as modern-day lynching. It has the same psychological and physiological effects on the psyche as did the hanging bodies “from the poplar trees.” The girls appear to be at a protest with black fist in the air for Black lives, chanting and burning sage, to clear the air and acknowledg the ancestors. The same girls are now wearing colored clothing, chanting “No Justice No peace,” with fists up. Some are holding signs that say royalty, peace and love. Next, The Black male character is seen tossing in bed and appears to be waking up from a dream due to a knock at the door. The knock is his consciousness, he is now #woke. He walks throughout the house as he hears people chanting, “no more!” Upon opening the door he can hear it louder. There’s a protest happening right in front of his home, he cannot ignore it. The girls shown earlier can be heard leading the protest discussing peace, love and police. While standing outside of his apartment, a Black hand tries to wrap around the neck of the lead Black male. However, this time the Black male character looks down as a natural reflex. He pulls the hand away from his neck. The piece is showing how overtime Black people just being themselves had to deal with different forms of racial oppression that often led to Black genocide. In the opening scene, the Black man was a waiter, working in a submissive position. In the middle scene, he was in a subservient position in his workplace being oppressed by his employee who had more control and power over him. In the final scene, he naturally does not accept submission to oppression. Over the past three generations, Black people have transitioned from respectfully declining to accept to unapologetically resisting injustice. The director leaves us with the message that we should not accept societal oppression that makes us feel like we can’t breathe, that makes one feel like they aren’t free, that makes you feel like you can’t be you. Naturally, a person would not accept someone’s hand on their neck. Black people naturally have a right to remove anyone’s hand from around our necks figuratively and literally. Fight back, keep protesting, keep using your voice. “One blood one love” as we are all part of the same human existence fighting for our rights to exist.

Dr. Andrea L. Moore