Black Panther, Movies Under the Stars, and Cultural Affairs...taken from Social Media

The following post was taken from social media. It explains the offense recently taken by a number of people who were stunned by the fact that there will be only one movie shown this summer in the public housing complex on Jackson Street in Hoboken (a.k.a. "the projects") and that the one movie that will be shown will be "Black Panther"-- a popular movie released earlier this year. What should be done? First, more movies "under the stars" should be shown at the Mama Johnson Field during the Summer of 2019 (how about 1 a month or every other week?) AND the movies can be both popular and diverse. This was perhaps a good natured and good hearted attempt-- but it can be done better. I encourage you to read the following post... -Dr. Petrosino 

Repost: Jawwaad Sabur and I were looking at the list of summer movies put out by the city of Hoboken and found ourselves downright offended. If you are familiar with Hoboken, you can probably see why immediately. If not, let me explain to you the ignorance of our fine "cultural affairs" department.

There is a low income housing project on the west side of town, at 4th & Jackson Sts. Less than 3% of our total population is African American. There is one movie on the below list that has a predominately black cast. Guess where that one movie is being shown? And guess how many other movies are being shown at that field? Zero.

What kind of message does this send to you? Jay and I are appalled. A million questions came up, including:

Hoboken, do you not want the black people to come to the pier where all the white families watch their movies? Or do you think that all the black people in town only live in the projects? Are you piloting a new program of showing movies on the west side of town? If so, why are you only showing one movie this summer and why did you choose Black Panther as that movie? Marvel spans all races and demographics, so is this your attempt to draw more white people to the west side? Or do you think that black people are the only ones who are interested in a movie with a black superhero? Even if these families do live only in the projects - which is the most racist assumption of all - do you find them unable or unwilling to come to Hoboken's beautiful pier? Or do you think you're providing a convenience by screening the film in their backyard? If so, why do you feel that's the only movie they'd be interested in seeing?

Does anyone else agree that this feels misguided and wrong?

Either way, my husband and I will be there to watch Black Panther, but I find this whole incident embarrassing and unseemly. We can and should do better.

Mama Johnson Field- Hoboken, NJ