When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Black Man

A black man runs through a field.
A black man runs on the beach.
A black man runs through a city.
The black man is always running, he is always chased, he is always running…
Running to save his life
A black man runs towards freedom.


On screen one, the voiceover is constructed through the ‘alphabet of violence’. Instead of relying on subjective voice-over recounting experiences (testimony) or theoretical and historical references (perhaps Frantz Fanon, Steve Biko, Patrice Lumumba or Malcolm X to name a few possibilities), the voice–over functions as a lexicon of violence.
The second screen functions to evoke potential, possibility, aspirations and ambitions of a future where the value of the black man in society is revitalised through a lexicon of freedom; he runs towards his freedom.
The script for ‘alphabet of violence’ and ‘alphabet of freedom’ was developed in collaboration with Kgafela oa Magogodi, a spoken-word artist, musician and playwright-director. The approach was to capture a visceral vocabulary of violence that also embraced the street and/or colloquial and the corporeality of violence on black subjects. Words-spoken and expressed in rhythm and with repetition by Magogodi produces in the mind’s eye images of violence that is denied in the visual representation shown on the screens.
On the other hand, the language of freedom resists fortified terms; those proselytized by liberation movements. Instead Magogodi includes words that pulse with possibilities of freedoms imagined and enlivening. Freedom in this alphabet is not an abstract construct but made tactile; tangible and physical – embodied as a state of being: with the freedom to float and with the lightness for flight.

Orig. Title
When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Black Man
Year
2017
Countries
South Africa, Austria
Duration
10 min
Director
Jyoti Mistry
Category
Avantgarde/Arts
Orig. Language
English
Downloads
Filmstill (Image)
Credits
Director
Jyoti Mistry
Script
Jyoti Mistry, Kgafela oa Magogodi
Cinematography
Craig Maarschalk
Editing
Nikki Comninos
Sound Design
Peter Cornell
Production
Shadowy Meadows Productions
Actor/Actress
Ben Tjibe, Kgafela oa Magogodi
Executive Producer
Florian Schattauer
Available Formats
Digital File (prores, h264) (Original Format)
Festivals (Selection)
2017
Winterthur - Kurzfilmtage
2018
Sevilla - FCAT - Festival de Cine Africano
Durban International Film Festival
Amiens - Festival Int. du Film
Rotterdam - Int. Filmfestival
2021
Uppsala - Int. Short Film Festival
2022
Paris - Tigritudes Cycle Cinematografiques Panafricain