Django Unchained is a 2012 fictional drama directed by Quentin Tarantino. Taking place during the pre-Civil War years, the film follows Django, a former slave, as he seeks revenge, not just on white Southerners but also on Stephen, a black man who meets his fate in the final scene. Django's hatred of Stephen is arguably the most compelling part of the film.
Tarantino litters the screen with countless one-dimensional white characters painted as pure evil. When Django, played by Jamie Foxx, systemically kills them with a cartoonish barrage of bullets, his actions seem justified. But he saves his final execution for Stephen, as he gleefully kills who he despises the most. Stephen, played by Samuel L. Jackson, is an extreme caricature of an "Uncle Tom." He is a slave who betrays his people to gain favors from the white man.
Jamie Foxx as Django
To Django, Stephen is more reprehensible than the slave owners. He is an opportunistic evil villain, complicit in the oppression of blacks. There is no hint of a desperate individual trying to make the best of a bad situation. Instead, Stephen is a self-hating black man with disdain for other slaves and unwavering loyalty to the white man. Tarantino leaves no room in the narrative for the audience to have sympathy for Stephen's plight.
Django Unchained is a revenge fantasy. There is no historical figure who resembles Django. Moreover, Tarantino exaggerates most characters' traits to fit the narrative. There were probably numerous "Uncle Toms" during the shameful history of American slavery. But it seems unlikely that any were as despicable as Stephen. Instead, Uncle Toms were victims who tried to cope with the horrors of slavery by heightening their subservience to the slave owners.
The disdain for Stephen is understandable. No one likes a traitor. However, before casting him as evil, the viewer should examine his predicament. Although he is a self-serving opportunist, subjects of unthinkable cruelty deserve at least some sympathy.
Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen
Self-hatred still exists, although in a much less severe form. Bigotry remains pervasive in the United States, and some may respond to discrimination by kowtowing to their oppressors. They may accept being second-class citizens and seek subservient roles in society.
My first encounter with racism was when I was in the first grade. I came home from school one day and told my mother, "you have to call Donny's (not real name) mom and tell her we are Korean, not Chinese."
"Why?" my mother asked.
"Because Donny said that he's not allowed to have playdates with Chinese boys."
My mother was speechless, but my older sister was more than happy to chime in. "You are so stupid, Andrew," she said. "Don't you get it? Donny's mom is racist!"
I got it. And I never forgot it. From that day on, I became more aware of race and how it appeared to shape friendships. I noticed that there were Asian kids who only hung out with white kids. I wondered whether they were reacting to racism and negative stereotypes. Perhaps, they rejected their race because they believed that Asians were inferior. I also questioned the Asian kids who only hung out with other Asians. Maybe they wanted to insulate themselves from racism. In any case, can I blame these kids for rejecting their race or refusing to assimilate?
Recent events in the United States, most notably the March 16th mass shooting in Atlanta, shed light on anti-Asian sentiments that existed long before Trump and his allies demonized China for unfair trade practices and COVID-19. The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, the 1924 Asian Exclusion Act, and the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War 2 made clear that white American society viewed Asians disparagingly. However, my negative experiences as an Asian-American are trivial compared to what others regularly face in the U.S. And it is unimaginable to think what slaves had to endure. Moreover, it seems wrong to vilify anyone who suffers discrimination and reacts with self-hatred. The real villains are the bigots, the ones who set the stage for the "traitor." And this is Django Unchained's weakness.
Tarantino portrays Stephen as the most heinous villain. But Stephen's actions did not occur in a vacuum. He chose his path in response to the original sin of slavery. To place Stephen at the same despicable level as the white slave owners did not resonate with me. It seemed as though Tarantino's main objective was to create an unexpected antagonist that Django could kill in a gruesome fashion to end the movie. This premise felt cheap and vulgar.
Quentin Tarantino in a cameo role in Django Unchained
Tarantino made Django Unchained three years after Inglourious Basterds. Both films share the theme of revenge, with the earlier film depicting Jews killing Nazis. But I feel that Inglourious Basterds is a much better film, with a more nuanced examination of vengeance and justice. Django Unchained is like playing Call of Duty: Zombies.
Andrew’s Grade: D
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