Being Black Enough or (How To Kill A Black Man)

Being Black Enough or (How To Kill A Black Man) is a courageous endeavour pursued by Devin Rice who wrote, directed and starred in the film. The ideology of what it is to be Black in America overwhelms and consumes young Cody’s (Devin Rice) focus on life. Seeking answers in rap videos and youtube interviews Cody attempts to unravel the mystery through imitation of culturally significant African American icons. Cody also partakes in conversations with his inner dialogue as it embodies these heroes he starts to look up to. Eventually test driving this new personality is not enough for Cody so he embarks upon visiting his cousin Kyle (Bruce A. Lemon, Jr) to help him cultivate this new character persona.

The driving force behind why Cody wants to be Black is never truly established aside from a collection of half monologues from unknown and random characters that all outright tell him he is not Black. Supposing that Cody gives into this peer pressure of sorts he alters his perception of everything in his life. Cody succombs to the influence of the outside world and not only changes major aspects of who he is internally but shrouds those portions of himself that he cannot deny.

It seems unbelievable that exposure to this environment would be the cause for Cody’s journey into gang violence and would be more plausible if Cody was introduced to it by means of his cousin Kyle. Cody has plenty of character faults as do most teenagers transitioning into their college years and even well after that period but Cody’s are amplified seemingly for the plot. His unabashed abandonment of his mother (Gina Jackson) and girlfriend Serah (Jacqueline Corcos) for this new pursuit and an old flame Jennifer (Danielle Jaffey) bring Cody no remorse and he does it all with no hesitation to possible consequences.

Becoming more obsessed with being “Black,” Cody delves deeper and deeper through these rings of fire until the first loss of a friend. The friend gives a foundation rattling monologue to Cody about the reality of the situation he has fallen victim to. For quite possibly the entire movie this friend has the only scene that is authentically addressing Cody’s predicament and his sole responsibility for all the consequences that will come to pass.

Devin Rice’s first feature film, Being Black Enough or (How To Kill A Black Man) has it’s moments of catharsis and clarity that genuinely expose the conditioning that is placed on all children throughout America. It depicts how endless sources of influence pressure them into how they are to behave. Yet beyond these minimal frustrations with the motivations for Cody’s character they can be overlooked but not his avoidance for his choices. When trying to push Devin Rice’s idea across Cody doesn’t take responsibility for the consequences he created. It was Cody’s poorly made decision to follow in the footsteps of others which very well can happen to anyone attempting to discover themselves, but this falters as a story telling mechanism and weakens Cody’s character.

“Being Black Enough or (How To Kill A Black Man)” examines life of a young black kid trying to discover himself through definitions of how others perceive him. It is a pitfall that Cody (Devin Rice) attempts to climb out of while trying to adhere to all the clamoring of the world around. Overall the film achieves great leaps with exploration into the assimilation of young lives into the gang mentality and how it thwarts bright futures but it stumbles along the way with rough draft dialogues and unrealistic motives for the tragic protagonist Cody.

Saw the 29th May

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