Margaux Bell, a senior in psychology and sociology, was forced to re-evaluate her relationship with her boyfriend after watching the racially oriented movie “Crash.”
Bell, who is black, questioned her white boyfriend about whether or not he would stand up for her if they were faced with a discriminatory situation like the one featured in the movie, in which a white cop molests a black woman.
Her boyfriend said that if he ultimately had to, he would not.
“Let’s just say that we’re no longer together,” Bell said.
“Crash,” a movie about contemporary issues of racism, was the featured film on Jan. 13 as part of “Past or Present? Racism and Oppression,” the theme of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. As part of the event, a discussion was held after “Crash” in the Marriott Center for Dance.
Approximately 50 U students, faculty and alumni attended the discussion, which was separated into three groups. It prompted a plethora of issues, including stereotypes, personal identities, relationships and hope.
The movie was specifically chosen to make students aware of the issues that surround them, Theresa Martinez, associate professor of sociology, said.
“This movie not only deals with racism but changes people’s minds about it,” Martinez said. “I hope (students) see the world differently and treat others differently after seeing what can happen if they don’t.”
The movie questioned the mindset of our current generation as well as the next, Jessica Humphrey, first-year graduate student in dance, said.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how the next generation will view racism,” Humphrey said. “We’re going to have the opportunity to see if the thoughts and the issues relating to discrimination have decreased or changed at all.”
There will be a forum theater exploration of “Crash” today at 7 p.m. in the Union East Ballroom. It is the closing event of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and is free and open to the public.