Terence L Wallace – SOCI 3422 – Sec.

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The Powers of a Dark American Dream

A critical analysis of the film

The Power of an Illusion

By

Terence L Wallace, Student

SOCI 3422 – Section 1

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Abstract

America is cloaked in
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The Powers of a Dark American Dream

Upon Personal Reflection

In my view of this film I find that one of the most unspoken truths of America is finally

revealed to the masses. It literally comes as no surprise to me as I have oft times studied the

history of this “Yet to be United States”.1 However, one thing is painfully clear in this work and

could dangerously lead one a psychosis of defeat. If you happen to be included in the one of the

stereotypical American minority you might be tempted to believe, after watching this film, that

no matter what you do the powers that be will always strive to keep you crushed to the ground.

As in 1922 one Japanese born gentleman who petitioned the court to become a

naturalized citizen, had come to the understanding that after doing all that he was supposed to do.

Whiteness was what the common white man defined it to be. They ruled that he was not white

because did not have white skin by law. Personally, I make it my business to never watch films

of this ilk and others such as Roots by Alex Haley. It is precisely because there is so much

darkness that seems to color the American Dream.

It is easy then to understand the mindset of one, William R. Jones Garden, in his book,

“Is God a White Racist”.2 In this book Dr. Jones, a professor of religion a Yale Divinity, is

pressed to boldly ask, why these things and many more have happened to the people of ebony

hue. I must admit it is at times when faced with the brutal truth of the country in which we live

that these types of deep reflective thoughts do go through ones head.

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Science as Weapon

When you watch The Power of Illusion and hear historians like Ira Berlin in the film

mention things like the Blacks calm demeanor made them victims. That is heart wrenching.

Mia Bay, also a historian, reports the past thinking, “Perpetual slavery”, “blackness and slavery

went hand-in-hand” and that there was a “natural quality of slavery” that lends itself to Blacks.

Through this film’s powerfully packed emotional content you cannot help feel anything but

bitterness and resentment for the people who once thought this way.

Yes, this conscience strategy has been used time again by the misinformed and misguided

person. I took particular notice of the idea that Indians should be driven out of their lands and

terminated in native America. As I listened to each of these historical accounts, I heard the

excuses used to completely dehumanize a people much to the benefit of “Good Christian White

Folk” who came to this country to “settle down”. Therefore it became wholly acceptable to

make land-grabs from the Indians who lived in wealthy lands.

Even in modern day America we here the undertones of these demons from yore as they

say that poor minority people should just, “pull themselves up by their bootstraps”. How can

you do that when the system is so heavily weighted in favor of another group much different

than your own? Science is still used today for the marketing and selling of money making

drugs.3 Much like biological science was used to red-line and articulate venomous views in the

past.
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Footnotes
1
I shall not be moved - Author Maya Angelou, Publisher Random House, 1997 ISBN

0679457089, 9780679457084
2
Is God a White Racist: A Preamble to Black Theology, William R. Jones Garden City,

New York: Anchor Books, 1973, xxii + 239 pp.

3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zhu8rsumBw