The primary story throughout the film involves Petey Green's volatile relationship with WOL's station manager, Dewey Hughes (played convincingly by Chiwetal Ejiofor). But if the story is ultimately about the camaraderie and competitiveness between Green and Hughes, the backdrop is often one of injustice and racism. Cheadle and Ejiofor demonstrate the very real struggle of Green and Hughes to live, work, and succeed in a culture intrinsically opposed to their triumph. As an aside, WOL-AM has grown into the flagship station for Radio One , an African-American managed media corporation with radio stations around the country.

For many viewers, it could be easy to see Talk to Me simply as an excellent portrayal of historical events. It would be tempting to leave the themes of injustice and racism that run throughout the film in the past, along with the events the film portrays. This would be a mistake. While we no longer live in the 1960's of Talk to Me, it would be ridiculous to claim we haven't dragged our cultural inequalities with us through the decades.

Case in point. A few days ago on this site Steve pointed out the ongoing case of the Jena 6. There's been very little media attention on this case (CNN has a reference here , and FOX has two brief stories, here and here ) so you may have missed it thus far. The best synopsis of the story, though it's a few weeks old, may come from the Herald Tribune.

An all-white jury was seated Tuesday to hear the case against the first of the "Jena Six" — a group of black youths accused of beating a white fellow student amid racial discord at a Louisiana school.

The racial tension began in late August in Jena — a central Louisiana town of 2,900 with about 350 black residents — after a black student sat under a tree traditionally used as a gathering spot by white students. The next month, three nooses were hanging in the tree when students arrived on campus.

"You didn't see the district attorney rush out to school to do anything about those nooses in the tree," said Caseptla Bailey, whose son, Robert Bailey Jr., also was charged in the beating. "You don't see white kids who beat up black kids charged with attempted murder. There's nothing fair going on here."

There are at least two potential responses a person can have to a film like Talk to Me. We can view it's fascinating story as something contained in the past, happy we no longer live in such an era. Or, we can wonder if such things continue today. For some, there is no need to wonder...experience is enough to see that the more things change the more they stay the same. Others of us (and let's be honest, we're talking about those of us who've experienced the privileges of the white middle and upper-class) desperately need films like Talk to Me to make us aware that stories of prejudice and racism continue all around us. As one living in the Midwest I can attest that a drive to Jena, LA is not necessary to uncover societal inequality.

I really liked Talk to Me. Cheadle and company were great, the story was compelling, and the view into history informative. But perhaps I am one of those who needed this story mostly for what it says about our world today. For it's ability to point out stories like the Jena 6. Any film that does this is worth the price of admission. Even if you have to see it alone.

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The Time Has Come!!
written by Renitha Robertson , September 19, 2007

The time has come for us to stop the devils from attacking our youth. They cann't stand this fight alone. Adults, Now we MUST FIGHT FOR THE LIFE OF OUR CHILDREN, JUSTICE HAS TO BE FILTERD,AND MADE TO HONOUR IT'S CAUSE,THAT IS TO PREVAIL EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL..

...
written by David Swanson , September 04, 2007

Thanks Steve... more updated information can be found on the CNN website: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law...index.html

Jena 6 update
written by steve sherwood , September 04, 2007

For those of you who have perhaps read this post and are interested in the fate of the Jena 6 but don't follow daily news reports, there has been an update in the case. The attempted murder charges have been reduced for three of the group, (with a 4th facing charges as a juvenile). One has been convicted on the reduced aggravated assault charges and two face the same charge. This charge carries a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison, but is significantly less harsh than the sentencing possibilities of an attempted murder charge.

News reports indicate that there was significant pressure on prosecutors from human rights groups to reduce the charges. Action matters.

thanks
written by steve sherwood , September 03, 2007

Thanks for raising an important issue, David. While much has changed in 40 years in the U.S., much has not. I agree that racial inequity is still all around, just more subtle than in the past.

I'd be really interested to know what readers have experienced or think in this area.

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