News With Nezua | Making Sense of Sinsemilla
MAKING SENSE OF SINSEMILLA. This week’s News With Nezua looks back on the history of Marijuana, the racism involved with its prohibition, and how that prohibition still plays out as oppression on people of color.
This week’s News With Nezua looks back on the history of Marijuana, the racism involved with its prohibition, and how that prohibition still plays out as oppression on people of color. Also highlighted is the hypocrisy of alcohol and tobacco being so accepted while the benefits of Marijuana are ignored or simply coopted under Capitalism’s purview, while the People are left again to suffer. Finally, I underline the perverse way that the Mexican drug cartels are empowered and thus their violence enabled by our continuing an outdated, ridiculous ban on a substance that so many people use.
NWN videos headlines weekly at La Frontera Times (again, not their fault that it shows up a little late this week), and can always be viewed in a dark room, as well, at the XOLAGRAFIK Theater.
Since La Frontera Times runs this vid, and generally, Nuestra Voice picks it up too, I am trying to offer you a little more here at UMX so that I, the originator of the jawnt, am not just another place to see the videos. I guess I can show you the alternative poster stills to the video (that frame you see above in the player) as a way of both giving you a goodie as well as relieving my frustration that I can’t use all the shots! I really like this red one here, it was my first choice. It feels somewhat like Russian Constructivism to me. And I also really dig hand-drawn art lately, as the stylings of the world are largely being expressed more and more in digital art. And no matter what digital art lacks a certain overly-irregular, tactile, human feel. I think the only reason I didn’t go with it is because I’ve done red a few times lately, at least in the NWN font, and I wanted to go a different way. Or that I wanted to communicate the playful feel of this weeks’ video, even tho a serious topic with an earnest message.
I like the way this drawing worked out, but it ws just a bit too monotone for me in the end, especially after last week’s.
As you may have guessed, a lot of scribbling went into this video. I wanted a break from the facetime stress. Sort of disappear behind the lens again for a bit. And I like the dynamic, I like bringing everything into that world, drawing Anslinger when I have a picture of him I could have used.
You may see a return of this style of video. It did not, ultimately, save me any time to not speak on camera, but it’s fun.
Finally, I got a huge kick out of the fact that the White House made the statement it did yesterday! It really would have been fun if I released this the day I do normally, which would have coincided with their announcement. But a big thumbs up for Barack Obama’s administration on this count. It’s a good step.
Tags: African Americans, Anslinger, Art, Cannabis, Drug Czar, Farmers, Hearst, History, immigrants, Jazz, Marijuana, Marinol, Medical Marijuana, Mexico, Mota, Prohibition, Racism, Reefer Madness, Sinsemilla, THC, Weed
Posted in Featured, Filmmaking/Video, News With Nezua
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that was awesome. Well done! I loved all of the art, the humor (a whole new market of psychedllic snack food….that was great), in the midst of the serious message.
I really also liked your one with racist island. This one is just as good though, even though it’s a different style. I used to watch this show when I was a kid with a guy who drew scenes from kids books as the story was being read, it def. works as a storytelling method.
Fabulous video! I learned a lot about the history of cannabis. Loved the art as part of the story’s illustration. Your points are well taken.
One of my white friend’s son while in his twenties sold marijuana up and down the East Coast to doctors, lawyers, and other pillars of society. He did this for a few years to get on his feet to start a legit business. I was alarmed that he would get caught and thrown in jail. My friend’s response to my fear was that he told her, his mother, to relax. The law would never stop him because he was white. He was never stopped. Small example of the larger truth.
Great video!
I appreciate the feedback on the video. It’s great to hear what comes across and works for people.
Yes, good example of the larger truth…
Love your revised site! It’s fun, colorful and tells a mean story through humorous art.
Thanks so much! And for your story, too…
wow, love what you’ve done with your place!
i saw this vid of yours when when you first posted it, but am just now (with the purpose of) getting back to you to tell you, how much i like what you did with this video. your talent is endless…this is why i continue to return here, is how you tell the truth/story and mix/deliver it with amazing ability, with an endless reservoir of creativity, knowledge, and intelligence. another wow.
yes, the prohibition of drugs is a means to oppress ethnic groups, and to maintain a class distinction in this country. i would say the outcomes of criminalization definitely speaks to the intent, (as well as make mad profit for certain special interests).
yes, legalize marijuana for ones personal pursuit, and allow for the best ever cash crop (hemp), that exists. your timing was perfect for this vid, with obama’s (milk toast) statement, to leave the states alone…we’ll see.
yes, legalize it, tax and regulate it, and that will decrease the crime and violence that surrounds this most amazing plant. legalizing it, is an action that is a direct decrease in the hypocrisy, that is this “manifest destiny”.
thanks for your great part in keeping the collective conscious united for good. another project really well done nez.
thanks so much for the feedback and sharing the energy you always do.
[...] perverse way that cartels are empowered—and thus their violence enabled—by our continuing an outdated, ridiculous ban” … “When you look at the sky with new sensitivity, you’re going to find new [...]
Obama as wholly owned subsidiary of corporate America? Trite but true.
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