The Impact of 'Origin' on America's Racial Divide

The Message of 'Origin'

The release of the movie 'Origin' has sparked a timely and urgent conversation about the racial landscape in America. Directed by the exceptionally talented Ava DuVernay, the film is a masterful adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson's bestselling book 'Caste: The Origins of our Discontents,' offering a powerful paradigm for understanding America's bitter racial divide.

Keith Magee

The film unflinchingly demonstrates that the US is indeed a racially divided country, and has been since its very inception. Underpinning this reality is a deeply embedded caste system, as described by Wilkerson, which has been effective in preserving the domination of White people over everyone else. This system, as the movie portrays, has perpetuated hate based on skin color and created a lasting legacy of racial injustice.

Confederate reenactors breach a Union barricade during a staging of Battle of Gettysburg.

The Heroine's Journey

The film boldly centers on the writer's journey, weaving a biographical drama that follows Isabel Wilkerson as she grapples with personal tragedy and confronts the underlying roots of racism. Through Wilkerson's travels and investigations, the film draws powerful parallels between the devastating impact of caste on marginalized communities worldwide. DuVernay's portrayal of Wilkerson's story, embodied by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, offers a poignant reflection on our country's historical foundations and the enduring legacy of racial injustice.

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 1963, file photo, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses marchers during his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The U.S. economy "has never worked fairly for Black Americans — or, really, for any American of color," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a speech delivered Monday, Jan. 17, 2022 one of many by national leaders acknowledging unmet needs for racial equality on Martin Luther King Day. (AP Photo, File)

'Origin' poignantly highlights the significance of understanding and exposing collective trauma, emphasizing the role of influential figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King Jr. in addressing racial injustice. The film challenges the audience to confront the weight of history and the ongoing struggle for liberation and equality.