The Parallels Between How Poc Are Treated And How Animals Are Treated In Nope (2022) Was Perfect. One

the parallels between how poc are treated and how animals are treated in nope (2022) was perfect. one of the first scenes in the movie is when oj is on set for a commercial, and i was immediately as uncomfortable as he was. when he introduces himself to the white actress, she looks scared of him because his name is oj. she sees a black man with that name and can’t hide her inner thoughts. then the pa guy is confused as to where the “older one” is, clearly giving the message that he doesn’t trust oj to be a competent person. the pa sees him as an untrained boy, and doesn’t listen when oj tried to tell him not to look in the horse’s eyes. then when em explains the story of the first moving picture, we see that the black jockey and the horse aren’t even on the same level. people talk about the horse, but they don’t know anything about the man riding it.

then, there’s jupe and the gordy the chimp. jupe was a child star in a western comedy, and the poster itself gave me the wrong feeling. jupe and the unnamed black child actor he starred with were so clearly being used as a spectacle. it made me think of blazing saddles, how the idea of a black sheriff is absurd and funny. however, blazing saddles uses that as commentary and as a way to send a message, while in nope, we see that jupe was the victim of a film industry that tokenized him. then, with the chimpanzee, we see that same tokenization. a sitcom of a white family that includes an asian child and a chimp. it’s clear that both are meant to be equally funny; an asian kid is just as absurd as a chimp in human clothes and a birthday hat.

then, when we see him try to use the alien to create the same spectacle he was a part of in his youth, he realizes far too late that he’s made a mistake. that you can’t rely on an animal. his wife makes a comment about how working with trained animals is unpredictable, and we see in his eyes that he knows what’s about to happen. he put his trust in the behavior of a wild animal and now he’s paying the price and feeling the same fear he felt as a child.

Pretty & Smart

i’ll stop eventually (i’m lying)

warnings: none. unless too much fluff is bad for you. @imjusthere2readbruv wake up!!!! mo nation, come get y’all juice!!!!

tags: @oceean @pantherheart @taiiunknown @sweetalittleselfish-honey @pocketsizedpanther @mysticalmarss @sleepynggafr @blacksapphhicmaddonna

——

No matter what, you and Mo were determined to raise Nala up better than both of you were. You promised her to teach her how to read, and how to count. She would know more than just her name.

“Again, baby. Count ya fingers.” Nala was five now, and remained just as curious from when she was a baby. She wanted to know the world around her, and from the day you got her, you promised that she would.

“One, two, free, four, five.” Nala counts her fingers, looking up at you with a bright smile, though one tooth in the top front is missing.

“Three, baby.”

“Free.” She repeats, pouting when she can’t say it right.

“It’s that lost tooth,” Mo speaks up, coming over to the two of you. “Nosey Bug, say throw.” Mo says as she lifts Nala, placing her on her lap.

“Frow.”

You try to stifle back your laughter. Nosey Bug was just too cute, from the faces she makes, to the way she talks. “You alright, Nosey Bug. You alright.”

“Ma’s gun got six.” Nala looks down at her hands and begins to count. “One, two, free, four, five, six.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Good job, baby. But… how you know what Ma’s gun got?” You smile faintly.

“Ma let me count it!” Nosey Bug’s smile never fades. If anything, it grows.

“…Oh she did, now?” You sit up in the chair, crossing your arms.

Mo’s eyes widen. “You were ‘posed to keep that hush, Nosey Bug.”

Nala shrugs. “Mama, can I get sugar cane?” She hops off of Mo’s lap to approach you. When you say yes and send her away with a kiss on the head, your attention turns right to Mo. “Mo.”

“Honey Bee, she wouldn’t stop askin’. That child is so smart and curious.”

“You let my baby hold a gun?!”

“No! It was empty, an’ I was holdin’ it. You think I’d let my baby girl hold a loaded gun?!”

“No-“ you stutter to find your words before sighing. “No, Mo Baby. I know you wouldn’t. But you needs ta keep-“

“I wanna shoot like Ma!” Nala shouts with sugar cane in hand.

“Nala Washington!” You shout back. “You gon lower your voice in this house, now!” You stand up, and walk over to Nala, lifting her up in your arms. “You not shootin’ no gun, Bug.” Your free hand wipes the corner of her mouth.

“But I wanna be like Ma.” Nala pouts, looking into your eyes. “Ma gun got six holes,” she manages to hold up six fingers with her treat in hand. “And issa black pistol. B, L, A, C, K.”

You nod you head with a soft sigh. “Yes, good job, baby.” You place a kiss on her temple. “You’s too young to be shootin, Nosey Bug. You just a baby.”

“I’m not a baby, I’m a big girl!”

“Yes, I know, but-“

“I’m a Washington!”

“Nala, baby”

“AND I CAN COUNT! ONE, TWO, FREE, FOUR, FIVE!”

“Nosey Bug!” You raised your voice above hers. “I know you can count. You very smart. But you don’t needs to yell. Why don’t you ever count higher than five, huh?”

Mo watched silently, her lips curling into the biggest smile you’ve seen in a while. She was enjoying this. Nala was the perfect balance between you and Mo. She had your snappy attitude and Mo’s determination.

“Cuz you never ask, Mama.” Nala says with a mouth full of sugar cane.

Mo was real close to bursting out into laughter. Nala was truly a character. “Maybe Mama will let ya shoot when y’older. Nosey Bug, say think.”

Oh, how you wanted to protest that.

“I fink mama losin’ her mind ‘cuz I can count faster ‘fan her.” Nala proclaims proudly, placing her forehead against yours. “ S’okay, Mama. I can teach you.”

Mo chuckles, finally approaching you and Nosey Bug. “You something else, Nala Washington.”

“I’m smart!”

“Oh yeah? How many letters is there?” Mo raises a brow, taking the sugar cane from her little girl playfully.

“Hmm…” Nala thinks for a moment. “Twenty… six!”

Mo’s eyebrows shoot up. “I ain’t know that.”

“Yes you did.” You snort, placing a kiss on Nala’s face, then Mo’s.

“I can teach you too! I know all of ‘em. An’ I know all my numbers, and my colors ‘cuz Mama taught me.”

“Ya Mama pretty smart, ain’t she?”

“Pretty an’ smart.” Nosey Bug nods in agreement with Mo Baby.

“How you spell Mama’s name, Nosey Bug?” Mo sits down, gesturing to you and Nala to sit down with her. You had asked Nala to spell a lot of things, but not once had you asked her to spell your name. Mo however, has. And the answer melts her heart every time.

“H, O, N, E, Y, B, E, E.” Nala spells, looking right into your eyes as she did. “Honey Bee. And Ma is M, O, B, A, B, Y. Mo Baby.” Your eyes scan Nala, then Mo. You were thankful for them everyday, but moments like this almost made life seem surreal. You were free. You were a wife. You were a mother. You were happy.

“Good job, Bug.” You smile.

Anyways I might create a counterpart for Mo kinda like a annoying side kick idk

Facts

Me, not talking: Ah fuck, I am being weird

Me, talking: Ah fuck, I am being weird

Felt cute so here you go ig, y’all I swear my ass is phat these jeans are just baggy 😭😭

I’m tryna be an actress and a singer but ion know plus I feel like my writing is mid… anyways if anybody is in love me speak the fuck up