January 2020 Issue

life&arts
JANUARY
Gillian Stewart
Life and Arts
There is a vast amount of leaders who
have shaped African-American culture.
People like Martin Luther King and Rosa
Parks were a voice for the black community
and fought for equality between whites and
blacks. However, the fight for freedom has
gone on for more than 100 years. Specifically,
a young African American woman in the
1800s, known to people as Harriet Tubman,
risked her life in order to help slaves gain
the freedom they long deserved. She has
been a symbolic figure for the black community
and American history. Finally, Tubman’s
life and work are being shown on the
big screen.
Born into slavery in the early 1800s, Araminta
Ross lived in Maryland as part of
nine siblings. Suffering from the separation
of her family and violence from her slave
owners, she eventually planned to escape to
the North with her brothers.
In 1849, Ross conducted a network
known as the Underground Railroad where
she guided more than 300 southern slaves
to the North and Canada. Ross, later selfnamed
Harriet Tubman, became one of the
most significant parts of African-American
history. Tubman’s story has been adapted
into literature, music and cinema for more
than a century. In 2019, Harriet Tubman’s
life, experiences and part in the freedom of
2020 • EDITOR GILLIAN STEWART 17
Harriet Tubman’s anticipated biopic debuts on the big screen
African-Americans are told in the newest
adaption, Harriet.
Directed by Kasi Lemmons, Harriet tells
the story of former slave turned abolitionist,
Araminta “Harriet Tubman” Ross. The film
depicts Tubman’s life from her enslaved
years escaping imprionsment to becoming a
powerful abolitionist.
The film swiftly introduces her as an enslaved
black woman living in Maryland
with her parents and siblings. Tubman is
eventually able to free herself from her
prisoned life to Pennsylvania borders. Once
free, she begins to embark on her journey
to save a surplus of families in the South
throughout her life.
Harriet Tubman is incredibly played by
Cynthia Ervio, known for her part in the
Broadway play The Color Purple as Celie.
Ervio gives a wonderful performance as
Tubman. She is able to show the brilliance
and power of the abolitionist. Delivering her
performance to show more of who Tubman
was, a resilient woman, rather than amplifying
the pain and humiliation of slavery in
the South.
Harriet came out Nov. 1 and gaining $36.1
million from the box office. The film is able
to show off the abolitionist’s shining spirit
and courageous efforts to free the lives of
many families captured by slavery in the
1800s. The film becomes a new way to
show the younger generation about a woman
who has been an example of a strong
black woman, and the abilities of the African-American
community.
Abrams concludes Star Wars saga with the Rise of Skywalker
Joao Lucas Argenta
Staff Writer
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker; or should it be the
fall? As Disney released what is said to be the last film
of the new trilogy on Dec. 20, fans did not know what
to expect of the latest installment of the franchise. After
Star Wars: The Last Jedi disappointed many fans, and
with the return of director J.J. Abrams, some had hopes
that it would be better than the last one. Star Wars: The
Rise Of Skywalker to some is more of a rushed film.
The movie begins with Poe Dameron and Finn, played
by Oscar Isaac and John Boyega respectively, on a
mission while Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, is training at
the rebel base with Leia, played by the late Carrie Fisher.
The plot becomes understandable as it progresses. Rey is
the last Jedi and the rebellion’s last hope against the First
Order, which could be considered the Star Wars version
of an authoritarian army. However, the way she acts is
just the most frustrating thing about this movie, to fans at
least. Like many heroes before, Rey acts on pure impulse
and emotion, and it made the writers seem desperate to
make the fans sympathize with her character. Not only
that, but Rey acts in contrast to how she was portrayed in
Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last
Jedi.
Another thing that upset many fans was how the director
of episode VIII, Rian Johnson, changed the story. To
many fans of the saga, the events of episode VII made
it seem that the character, Finn, would become a Jedi.
However, the story was changed in the newest film. Rey
is made to be the final Jedi, which could be considered
the reason the storyline went downhill.
To critics that are not die hard Star Wars fans, the movie
has a good direction, there are plenty of good editing
shots where you could tell that Abrams knew what he
was doing cinematography-wise. However to many, the
story of the film is not up to par.
Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker, though negative
reviews surrounded the film, was a box office success,
making approximately $990 million in its’ first two
weeks worldwide. The film made history becoming the
12th highest grossing movie, making $177.4 million in
its’ opening weekend. The movie is the final episode of
the nine-episode series beginning 1977 with Star Wars: A
New Hope.