Representation

I waited to do this blog post because I wanted to respond on the portrayal of black masculinity in Fruitvale Station. I found something that Herman Grey said about the different types of portrayals that exist throughout films, television, music, and so on. He said that mainly, Black males are depicted as: "The super star athlete, the indignant rapper, 'menacing' gang member, ad pitch man, appropriate middle class professional, and movie star."

I thought that the portrayal of Oscar Grant in this film sort of broke through Grey's claim, at least in this particular section. Rather than masculinity being something that shapes and defines him, Oscar's masculinity appears to be somewhat of a conflict that he is quite conscious of. His feelings that HE must provide for his family, as if Sophina isn't there at all, flips the idea of masculinity as a sort of trophy into masculinity as a burden. 

Oscar's masculinity is worn almost like a mask he can take off and put back on. He isn't able to necessarily control it, but nevertheless he is always at odds with it. His personal struggle isn't concerned with police brutality or racial tensions. Instead, Oscar's struggle is within himself. He struggles to hold onto this confusing sense of masculinity that overflows much of his culture, yet deep inside he feels less and less like a man each day because he isn't fully providing for his family like he wants to.