Viewing of “HIM”

 

Watching the new movie HIM was uncomfortable and very interesting to me. The film peeled back the layers of the NFL’s exploitative nature, exposing how it often preys on young Black men’s dreams while disregarding their long-term well-being. The scenes dealing with CTE and the physical toll of the sport made me think about how ambition can be manipulated by systems built for profit rather than preservation. As someone who is very interest in the body and particularly the bodies ability to endure when it comes to the muscles and performance I found it extremely interesting to see just exactly how common injuries for football players like a broken tibia can come about. 

Through historical consciousness, I recognized that this modern day form of exploitation isn’t new and in fact a continuation of the commodification of Black bodies that has persisted for centuries, only dressed in modern uniforms and million-dollar NIL contracts. My ethical discernment was activated as I considered how easily our society celebrates pain when it entertains us whether its football, boxing, wrestling, etc. To watch the spiral of sacrificing everything for the game from your body, mental, to home is a story I know is true to many and is very overlooked today. The movie made me reflect on what it means to pursue success without losing yourself and how much strength it takes to step away from a system that doesn’t value your humanity.

- Giavonni Whitener