When you create a movie like thatwith a black cast, which depicts mostly black peopleyou have to assume we, people of color, are your main audience. They inspired other young blacks to go to college and even provided college scholarships to high school students. However, the question is at what cost? Jackson and McMurray talked to Rotten Tomatoes about the film here are seven Burning Sandsrevelations they shared. My mindset when I pledged was: By Any Means Necessary. The release date of the film Burning Sands is , 2017. We hold this with pride and this is why; when someone misrepresents us, we react so strongly. I'm here with a theory on what events might happen in Uncle Rick's upcoming book, Tyrant's Tomb. A 2007 survey showed that 55% of male and female students took part in hazing rituals. Do not be fearful to speak out against foul behavior during a pledge process. Not only is hazing illegal, but the practice has claimed the lives of far too many young men and women across college campuses all over America, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Remember!" before losing his life. revamp thrums with sexual tension, Do not sell or share my personal information. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It currently holds an 87% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The pledges balance their time in class with English professor Hughes and their new fraternity life of parties, sorority girls and dating. BurningSands director said that he wanted to use the movie to start a conversation about a call to action to stop hazing. You see these kids in court with the suits and ties on and the letters from sponsors and teachers sayingwhat wonderful people they are, and the punishments are small as a result. The 1988 comedic drama School Daze, which Lee wrote and directed, follows the hazing rituals of the fictional Gamma Phi Gamma fraternity. I was excited but nervous, McMurray said. He makes himself available to be told of pledge abuse but not far enough to break the fraternity code of silence and secrecy. SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched "Father Frank, Full of Grace," the series finale of "Showtime," available on . Theres no permanent solution hazing has always been with us and it will continue to be with us in 100 years.. But BGLOs are anti-hazing organizations, so what is depicted in the film is far from being the norm of the process of becoming a member. In a way, I cant disagree. She did not disclose the cause or time of the death, but asked for "privacy of . Hank Nuwer describes the issue as an international problem.. From the time I played little league sports to the time I entered corporate America, Ive experienced some form of hazing. And I think were tired of seeing ourselves depicted as slaves or abusive on screen. However, March 9 was a much bigger deal for me because it was the 50th anniversary of the day my dad crossed the burning sands of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity at Florida A&M University (FAMU). In BURNING SANDS, Zurich (Trevor Jackson) is a new student at Frederick Douglas University who is trying to survive as a fraternity pledge during "Hell Week.""Hell Week" is a time when fraternity pledges are made to endure a plethora of humiliations from fraternity brothers -- if Zurich can make it through "Hell Week," he will be a member of one of the most prestigious fraternities on campus . In January, the University of Oregon strength coach was suspended after pushing three players too hard, thus forcing them to be hospitalized. It was imperative to prevent anything like this from happening again. Nonetheless, it energizes its somewhat familiar subject matter through specificity. The brotherhood and the family I acquired made me who I am but thats what separates pledging from hazing.. Despite the advice, the young neophyte fraternity brothers wait together at the hospital awaiting the fate of their friend, Frank. Of course, there was a physical element that Id never experienced before, but it was the mental challenges that made pledging hard. Customer SatisfactionCustomer SupportHigh End ProductsSecured Transactions. The pledges in the film were hazed, appeared to have been taught nothing during their process, and seemed to have shallow reasons for wanting to join in the first place. We produce the most black engineers and doctors. In this case, I will be referring to Frank Zhang, our favorite son of Mars! Getting the definition across is really important.. After seconds of waiting the doctor tells them that Frank died of a ruptured aorta artery. big brothers beating Frank until he 02:15 falls to the ground and starts foaming 02:17 at the mouth you know Frank the action 02:20 ceases as everyone realizes that Frank 02:23 needs. While McMurray's inspiration is well-intended, I feel there were more aspects to show. I admit that simply pledging (or being hazed) doesnt ensure greatness. Burning Sandsgives us the good, the bad and the ugly about fraternity life at HBCUs, Trevor Jackson, Steve Harris in Burning Sands. 2:54. While the movie is named after the term "crossing the sands," it doesn't have much to do with the phrase's meaning. Although badly burned and wounded, both 35-year-old master carpenter Billy Weston, who had built Taliesin, and landscape gardener David Lindblom managed to escape with Fritz. The initiation required pledges to run down the center of the bus while being punched and kicked by senior members. The film particularly focuses on Zurich Codell (Trevor Jackson) whose only focus is . I leaned a lot not just through our communication but also just watching her and Steve (Harris) do what they do, he said. It showcased the mentorship that exists within all of our organizations. Judges in the US have been in fraternities, most of our presidents have been in a fraternity and theres leniency, theres a feeling that these are good kids., I helped conduct a survey for Alfred University and the National Collegiate Athletics Association. I can go from the boardroom to happy hour without changing. Its a saga of brutal physical and emotional violence, and the question lingering over it is: are these Greek men figuratively, if not also literally, adopting the tactics of slave-owners against each other? These young pledges, reaching out to members, who were once in their shoes and are now excelling in their particular field, was a point of the film I enjoyed. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film?Offended? Earth is dying and humanity's only hope of survival will be somewhere among the stars. I think it does an excellent job of showing the dangers of hazing. We reached out to 12 men and women who are members of the Divine Nine (the nickname for the nine Black Greek Letter Organizations)and asked them to share their reactions to the film. His death wasnt a freak one-off incident. The pledge class learns the brotherhood mottos and bonds together because of or despite moral and physical hazing. Burning Sands is the new Netflix movie that focuses on the story of 5 young black men trying to become members of Lamba Phi, one of the top fraternities at their HBCU. I like going to places where I dont go everyday but there definitely has to be balance., Burning Sandsbegins streaming Friday, March 10 on Netflix, 270 Best Movies Directed By Women of the 21st Century, Best Netflix Horror Series: Scary TV Series To Watch, The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Features Sad Bo-Katan, a Bad Baby, and a Pirate Problem, The 5 Most Anticipated Movies of March 2023, The Mandalorian Creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni on Grogus Force Training and the Darksabers Significance, Copyright Fandango. The lessons gleaned from Douglasss words, though, are complicated. Its the idea of tradition, that its been done for X amount of time, even if its a criminal act, even if its bizarre behaviour, its part of that group. Maya Alena Allen, Howard University '15, Alpha Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands? Since 1988 The Burning Sands by Alicia has served Divine 9 greek organizations with. The dark tone of the film is not surprising. I say that because I look at a movie like School Daze that truly encompassed what it was like being a student at an HBCU. The one where the pledges made phone calls back to their older big brothers felt really good to watch. I wanted to tell a story to create a dialogue, said McMurray, a Howard University graduate and a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. This conversation is still occurring and, unfortunately, it's not just in BGLOs. But now as a parent of a teenage daughter who will enter college in three years, I understand the point that had to be made. I think much of that comes from the lack of character development in the film. Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP and IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, who died in. Branden Bufford, Howard University '11, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands?I was disgusted by the process, but also not naive to that the fact that somenot allof these activities still take place. Burning Sandsis available to watch on Netflix. It sent the message that HBCUs are only about Greek Organizations, sex, and parties, which is not true at all. During the movie, two Frederick Douglass quotes are repeated: Its easier to build strong children than to repair broken men, and, If there is no struggle, there is no progress. These quotes are on opposite ends of the spectrum, yet still meet at a crossroads, showing the dichotomy of black Greek life. BGLO is one of them, and we all join for various reasons. I cant ignore, however, what seems like an increasing number of incidents. Thats just me, though. I feel like that balances me out. Lauren Babb, American University '14, former member of Delta Sigma Theta. Words . When you think about the people who viewed this movie, especially at Sundance, I assure you, it was mostly a white audience. For current members, it is time to reinvent your process and become smarter. Like records, traditions are meant to be broken, especially when it involves violence that can lead to serious injury and death. But unlikeBurning Sands, the musically driven movie portrays hazing as a rite of passage instead of a life-threatening crossroad. In order to be a part of BGLO, there are academic requirements that must be met, meaning while there is a possibility your grades could slip during the pledging phase, there is still a large portion of your focus that must remain dedicated to your education. How black Utah Jazz players have embraced Salt Lake City, The King is crowned: The true and actual arrival of LeBron James, The Undefeated 44: African Americans who shook up the world, Canada is now one of the worlds top sources of elite prep basketball recruits, beef between two hip-hop artists and the beef goes beyond the actual song as in Remy Ma vs. Nicki Minaj, the University of Oregon strength coach was suspended after pushing three players too hard, thus forcing them to be hospitalized. Being that the focus was on excessive hazing, there should have been more light shed on the positive aspects other than stepping and parties. All rights reserved. It gives people an idea of what they could be getting themselves into. Its not a coincidence that the Divine Nine organizations were founded during the Jim Crow era. And this movie really promotes brotherhood. Academia and growth were only [tangentially referenced] in Burning Sands, while there was an emphasis on social life. Given that Burning Sands takes place at Frederick Douglass University, its apt that Douglasss prose is a constant presence, be it in dialogue between Zurich and Hughes, or in Zurichs own narration. Still, for much of the film, theres little question that whatever long-term benefits there might be to this harassment, theyre not quite worth the short-term cost to both body and mind. Though the hazing of Champion happened during a band initiation, the prevalence of hazing runs deep, unfortunately, within the culture of some fraternities and sororities on both historically black and predominantly white campuses. Frank's Death. Understandably, this movie has generated a strong response from members of the Black Greek community. My grandfather, uncle and cousin are members of Kappa Alpha Psi (Rev. . What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands? Released March 10th, 2017, 'Burning Sands' stars Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole The movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 45 min, and received a user score of 58 (out of. The world can be a cruel place and growing up as a black man or woman is exponentially harder. You have a community that depends on you to serve. Black fraternities and sororities on campuses provide images of young black men and women that mainstream media dont show. What is a human life worth after a hazing death? Laci Jordan, University of Alabama '11, Delta Sigma Theta. The Witch Trials of JK Rowling makes sensible points. Director, Gerard McMurray, began writing the script shortly after the death of Robert Champion, a drum major student at Florida A&M University who died during his frat hazing in 2011. I didnt take any part of the film personally, but I was confused by some of the far-fetched details of the plot. We rarely see black people in college, he said. From its opening sequence, in which Frank suffers the repercussions of protecting Zurich from mistreatment, Burning Sands pulls no punches in its depiction of the horrors that would-be frat boys willingly tolerate to join their coveted Greek ranks. Please explain. Not everyone is Greek, and not everyone wants to be Greek. Waking to a new world could be his death. Cheryl is 'torn' over the idea of having more children. We have members of Delta Sigma Theta, Omega Psi Phi and Kappa Alpha Psi, too. Gerard McMurray, the films director, has said he was inspired to make the film following the death of Robert Champion. You dont have to beat or touch someone to challenge them. It didn't shed enough light on the positive aspects. Who better to rule the future world. Im also asked why I would let someone haze me just to be part of an organization. Information Japanese Version Information Location Information Battleground 6 Wild Doges spawn after 8 seconds 240f, delay 16.67~20 seconds 500f~600f. Members thinkweve always done it, were kind of an extraordinary group ourselves and we can get through this.'. . As one of the many proud FAMU alumni and a friend to many who experienced the same ritual, including my dad, I was torn regarding the Champion incident. Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first black sorority, would be founded two years later in 1908 (Michelle Obama and tennis great Zina Garrison are members). The film did not depict how BGLOs run their organizations or the principles of public service or scholarship. On this tortured earth, humanity is gone. Frank Sutton, who played the gruff sergeant foil to Jim Nabors' country bumpkin Gomer Pyle, was a talented actor on screen, tube and stage. V3.1. It was predicted it would take decades to extinguish them. I actually received a 4.0 GPA while I was pledging. Would they be proud of the ways we initiate new members? Series: Burning Sands. His ability to captivate is even stronger inBurning Sands,a film that capitalizes on his strengths. Lord of the Rings TCG. Instead, it's a cautionary tale about the dangers of hazing. During the movie, two Frederick Douglass quotes are repeated: "It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken men," and, "If there is . Tales from the Burning Sands is a lore-friendly, serialized adventure mod which will evolve through chapters. So, my theory for Tyrant's Tomb is that- okay get ready for it- Frank Zhang will die. 2 Wild Doges spawn after 23.33 seconds 700f, delay 13.33~16.67 seconds 400f~500f. What are your thoughts on that?Everything about learning and growing should be intentional and purposeful. How do you feel about the way in which BGLOs experience was portrayed in this movie?I believe that the representation of Black Greek Letter Organizations could have been more well-rounded. 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Starring: Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Trevante Rhodes. Because two Virginia State University students died while being hazed four years ago, administrators were all too happy to have McMurray use the schools campus for the movie. Members of fraternities who dont take part in initiations are oftenshunned duringtheir college career and excluded from social events. 3/6/2019 in General. The Netflix film, Burning Sands (2017), is described online as: "Zurich Condoll (Trevor Jackson) is a student at Frederick Douglass University and is proud to be a pledge at a famous African-American fraternity. What are your thoughts on that?I think the purpose of the film was to start a serious conversation about the severity of underground pledging. He lived and died, quite literally, for his profession as an actor, but there was a side that few outside celebrity circles knewFrank Sutton the cultured Ivy League grad and serious student of theatre history. Not everything about pledging is bad, and not every brother in the organization is mean. Among black fraternities and sororities, there is the saying, Its harder once you make it across the burning sands. Trevor Duffy (2014): Died of acute alcohol poisoning when forced to down 1.5litres of vodka. Instead of highlighting the important reasons people join sororities and fraternities forfamily lineage, support system, seeking personal and professional growthit created a narrative that was negative. All have different reasons for pledging but the one goal is to become part of the brotherhood. Why instead focus on BGLOs who are already under scrutiny and have a litany of investigations on an annual basis? The genres of the film Burning Sands is/are Drama, . I felt it was pretty accurate in the sense that it depicted how modern-day pledging has lost its way; although being a member of an organization brings status and a network, is it worth the loss of self-dignity and respect? During the era of underground pledging, there continues to be a constant when it comes to lawsuits, serious injuries and deaths at the hands of the Divine Nine organizations. It just means you went through a tough process. Rarely has the big-screen spotlight shone so directly on African-American college life, which is here rendered as a milieu at once distinctly black (the thudding hip-hop at frat parties; the step-dancing routines that take place at those shindigs, as well as in public campus spaces), and yet not all that different than any other sort of university setting, awash as it is in the usual mix of personalities, peer pressures and academic types. This is why ; when someone misrepresents us, we react so strongly favorite son of Mars far-fetched. Zhang, our favorite son of Mars solution hazing has always been with us it. Coach was suspended after pushing three players too hard, thus forcing them to be part the. 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