Mississippi Burning- the Use of Power free essay sample

Stage 1: English applications Discuss the theme of power, what is power? What forms of power are presented in the film? Who has the power (How/why)? Who is powerless? How has power obtained? How is power maintained? How is power used and abused? Does the balance of power change? The film Mississippi burning presents a strong theme of power, throughout the film it shows both lack of power for some and also the ways others can abuse it. The film accurately demonstrates how little equality and respect was shown to the African Americans and how powerless they were during those times in our past. The definition of power is the possession of control or command over others; authority this is presented through the film although its more intense then Just control, in Mississippi burning the control that the white community holds over the black one is so strong that the black people are so powerless they dont even know how to defend themselves when their lifes are in danger. We will write a custom essay sample on Mississippi Burning- the Use of Power or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The authority figures of the town have a very deranged mind set, and abuse their ower by doing disgraceful acts they see as fair business. They are convinced they are so powerful that they can even overrule the courts from making Mississippi a segregated state. This is shown when the quote In the courts of Mississippi, they have been reminded, that they cannot, by force, turn our communities into replicas of their communities is used. The saying knowledge is power is highly relevant and related to this film. At the KKK meeting the speech given refers to how powerless the FBI is as they have such a lack f knowledge and evidence on the disappearance of the 3 civil rights workers. These federal policeman you see around here prying into our lives, violating out civil liberties have learned that they are powerless against us if every single Anglo-Saxon Christian one of us stands together! The whole town is brainwashed into telling a lie and exercising their own individual power by having knowledge Something the FBI lacks earlier in the film. Not only is it Just the theme of the movie that is power but each individual charac ter n the film has their own rank of power. Each character is very varied as to how much or little power they possess. The local police not only abuse their power when treating the black community unfairly they also abuse their power to the people of their own community this is very clearly shown when Mrs Pell is powerless against her husbands rage. Not only do I HAVE the guts I have the AUTHORITY! is a very interesting quote said by Mr Ward when quarrelling with Mr Anderson. This shows that there is even