Leslie Odom Jr. | Family Issue 2019

While Queen & Slim embodies everything from
provocativeness, stunning cinematography, injustices,
and the visibility of oppression, it is
not to be confused as love on the run or Bonnie
and Clyde. The film exhibits systematic racism with an impactful
ending that’s historic, honest, and heartbreaking on many levels.
It’s a tale of one’s escape from the hell of America with gripping
and jaw-dropping moments. Here are six things I took away from
Queen & Slim.
ONE THING CHANGES EVERYTHING:
It’s not long before you realize how one mishap has the ability to
alter the trajectory of one’s life. That’s exactly what happened
to Queen and Slim. An unfortunate incident, which they knew
wouldn’t be viewed as an accident, forces them to embark on a
journey neither one of them wanted but understood they had to
because there will never be any real justice.
OVEREXPOSURE OF TODAY’S YOUTH:
We are no longer living in an analog world, it’s digital. On their
journey, Queen and Slim’s paths cross with a young boy who’s become
overly invested and intrigued by their story. Perhaps it had
something to do with the dashcam footage going viral. The film
exposes us to how today’s youth are overly exposed to things that
our parents were once able to shield us from. It showcases how
much of an influence the world outside of the four walls we live
in impacts our children, and there’s not much we can do about it.
Hatred vs Heroism: Some are going to love what you do and some
are going to hate what you do. Queen and Slim soon found out
how people truly felt about what they’ve done. They were met
with a jarring approval and disapproval, but the sense of community,
pride, and solidarity seemed to act as a shield and hope for
the pair. The film’s underlining theme told the story of how blacks
are often perceived by the public without explanation.
hopes the one who comes to their aid would be someone black.
Queen quickly replies by saying, “that isn’t always a good thing.”
They’ve encountered their fair share of eye rolls and betrayal from
blacks on their journey and found refuge in the Shephard’s modern
day “underground railroad.” In the end, it came down to every
man for themselves verses a crab in the barrel mentality.
BLACK LOVE:
To believe this all started from a Tinder date. This unforgettable
first date became a six-day love story. It doesn’t read any more
beautiful than two strangers becoming bonded by an unexpected
incident. Who knew a believer and non-believer could become
each other’s belief system? On this road trip to freedom, they unveil
scars and healed them all while finding balance in one another.
They decided to enjoy the experience regardless of the outcome,
although it was a first and only date that was destined to be
doomed before it ended. It remarkably examined the experience
and exchange that resides in a new relationship that many don’t
want to survive.
UNDERSTANDING:
One thing in particular this film did to combat against present-day
racism was beg for more understanding rather sympathy. Instead
of trying to coerce the audience to see the plight and struggle of
blacks, it urged for understanding of the plight. It spoke on the
multi-levels of racism; how black lives really matter and are perceived.
By examining black radicalism and black suffering, the
creators perfectly painted the picture that blacks aren’t just deer
tangled in branches that need freeing.
Queen & Slim is non-violent and hones in on the pain, strife, complexity,
and unapologetic-ness of blackness. It didn’t reinforce
any black stereotypes, but more so mirrored the truth that lies in
blackness. All Queen and Slim ever did were be black, while journeying
to their destination, which ultimately became their legacy.
SKIN FOLK AIN’T ALWAYS
KINFOLK:
They like to say, “it be your own people,” and that truth wasn’t farfetched.
Earlier in the film, when they’re hitchhiking for help, Slim
FAMILY 2019 / 31