Blog Assignment #4

Boys n the Hood shows us a glimpse of black people’s life in Los Angeles during that period and how to define a man. In the movie, a man is defined as a person who can take his responsibility to support families. At first, when Tri lives with his mother, he was taken care of by his mother. He did not do much chores in families and had more involvements at school. However, Tri’s masculinities were not defined in that way until he lives with his father. I think Tri’s father is a good father compared to other black’s parents. he teaches Tri to be a man in his perspectives and helps Tri grow a lot from a boy to a man. Tri understands the importance of supporting families and standing on his own rather than robbing, smoking, drinking, dropping out school, sex and so forth. His father does not want him to be those inferior blacks. They are looking for respect, equalities and justice in the society especially for Tri. According to the movie, blacks people always show their masculinities by building muscle, dealing with women and drinking while involvement in violence which I did not agree with. Fortunately, the movie tells us that people who involves with illegal violence will bring no good to all of them. It also indicates the importance of education and how education can change a person’s life such as Tri’s mother, girlfriend and himself.
However, we can also have a glimpse of women’s week power and low status in society. First, there was discrimination in blacks especially for black women. When Tri had argument in class, his teacher called his mother about that. Being a white teacher, she assumed that few blacks are educated. They thought they could not understand each other since white women are educated. Secondly, women are weak and easily taken advantage by men. Men intend to have sex with black women. Sometimes, the movie shows us that black women were used to that kind of life. They were used to have relationship with men early, to set up family early, and easy to quit school. Thirdly, women who pursue education is not encouraged. For example, when Tri’s mother worked successfully through education, Tri’s father does not think it proud. He doesn’t even encourage his son to go to school.