In the dark history of Florida’s state-sanctioned racism, one of the most shameful episodes involved the brutal treatment of children, mostly Black, at the Arthur G Dozier School for Boys. They were beaten, shot, sexually abused, and subjected to a reign of terror that lasted for decades at this remote reform school.
Next month at the Academy Awards, the film „Nickel Boys“ will shed light on the horrors faced by the students of Dozier, with nominations for best picture and best adapted screenplay. The story, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, exposes the abuse and violence suffered by the boys, as well as the efforts to cover up the truth by white officials.
The movie, set in the era of Jim Crow segregation, portrays a fictionalized account of the experiences of two Black teenagers at a state-run youth facility. Despite being fictional characters, their story reflects the harsh realities of the time.
The film, directed by RaMell Ross, paints a stark picture of the atrocities committed at Dozier, known for its brutal treatment of young boys. The White House, where children were chained and beaten, and stories of disappearances and abuse, are chillingly depicted in the movie.
Through painstaking research and DNA testing, the truth about the victims of Dozier has come to light. Dr. Erin Kimmerle, who led the investigation, was able to identify some of the buried remains and bring closure to the families of those who died.
The film „Nickel Boys“ serves as a timely reminder of the injustices faced by young Black men and children in the pre-civil rights era. It sheds light on the abuse, mistreatment, and lack of justice that prevailed at institutions like Dozier, where children were sent for minor offenses or simply because they had nowhere else to go.
As the Dozier story is brought to the forefront through this Oscar-nominated film, it serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and hope of those affected by the horrors of the past.
Ross hopes that the film will spark conversations about the injustices of the past and inspire a renewed commitment to justice and equality for all.
Die Regierung von Donald Trump greift Diversität, Gleichberechtigung und Inklusionsprogramme an; und in Florida wird trotz einer offiziellen Entschuldigung für die Missbräuche in Dozier im Jahr 2017 und der Eröffnung eines 20-Millionen-Dollar-Entschädigungsfonds für Opfer dem hart rechten Gouverneur Ron DeSantis vorgeworfen, „aktiv feindlich“ gegenüber der schwarzen Gemeinschaft zu sein.
„Es hat mich darüber nachdenken lassen, wie Geschichte zeitgenössisch gelöscht wird [und] wie Geschichte wie ein Art erfahrbares Denkmal sein kann“, sagte Ross.
„Das Ding an der Arbeit über so genannte Gerechtigkeit, und ich sehe diesen Film gerne als eine Art visuelle Gerechtigkeit, ist, dass es immer der richtige Zeitpunkt ist, es wird einfach mehr der richtige Zeitpunkt, weil diese Dinge scheinen nie zu enden.
„Hoffentlich liege ich falsch, aber ich bin sicher, dass es in 10 Jahren ein Film des Moments sein wird, wegen der Art und Weise, wie die Dinge laufen und wie die Dinge gelaufen sind.“