Twin Cities Workers Defense Alliance just put out this rad guide to the far-right shitheads in the area. We’d love to see more cities following their example!
Alright, kids. Settle down, and take your seats. It’s time for me to explain to some of you why the man above was extremely fucking important not only to the modern zombie film as we know it, but to the entire horror genre.
George A. Romero was born on
February 4, 1940. He passed away today, on
July 16, 2017. This man was truly the godfather of the modern zombie. In 1968, George Romero and John Russo unleashed upon the world a little film called Night of the Living Dead. This one film forever changed what a “zombie” meant in terms of horror. Prior to this, zombies in cinema were relegated to mere background villains, and were more closely associated with their spiritual origins in Haitian
Vodou. They did not consume the brains and flesh of the living. They did not infect others. They did not amass into formidable hordes.
Romero imbued the creatures in his film with traits from the “ghoul” of Arabic mythology to form the template for the modern zombie, and invented the Western trope of the collapse of society under the feet of the undead. Additionally, he was the first director to truly utilize zombies as a parable for the common tensions that separate us in our society.
Night of the Living Dead is also incredibly important to horror due to its casting. In choosing the talented Duane Jones as the male lead, Romero had done something completely unheard of at that time: He cast a black male hero, and had him taking the lead of the situation over his white counterparts. Such casting would continue to be a signature of Romero’s zombie films, and would help pave the way for future black actors and actresses to be considered for leading roles.
With Dawn of the Dead (1978), the “zombies in a mall” trope was first created, spurred on by a visit to the Monroeville Mall (at this time, malls were an entirely new concept to the public, so many theatergoers hadn’t even seen one yet), and a passing mention by friend Mark Mason that it would be a great place to survive in if an emergency occurred. In the process, Romero added to the plot a subtle, underlying jab at American consumerism (pretty impressive, given that he hadn’t even planned a follow-up to Night until contacted about it by Italian horror maestro Dario Argento). It was with this film that Romero also gave a then-up-and-coming effects artist by the name of Tom Savini the opportunity to not only act, but to serve as a stuntman–both of which he would continue to do throughout his now-legendary, multi-faceted career.
By the way, if you pay close attention to the background during the “pie fight” scene in Dawn, you might catch a glimpse of George running around in a Santa Claus outfit.
While not as revered, Day of the Dead (1985) can take a great deal of credit for creating the concept of the sympathetic zombie that still holds memories of its past. This notion would be even further explored in Land of the Dead (2005), where the zombies are, in actuality, the true “heroes”–seeking and fighting for a place where they can find peace away from the living.
George would go on to make two more zombie films later in life: Diary of the Dead (2007), and Survival of the Dead (2009), but neither would reach the same level of reverence as his previous efforts. In addition to his flings with the undead, Romero directed The Crazies (1973) (a very anti-military piece that can be seen as a bridge between Night and Dawn), the powerful and highly-underrated Martin (1978), and the much-applauded horror anthology Creepshow (1982).
He became a zombie boss in a DLC pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops. He even had a cameo in a zombie-themed episode of Disney’s kid-friendly animated series, Phineas and Ferb. George A. Romero will always be rightfully remembered as a horror icon that shaped an entire subgenre. Like the cinematic hordes he helped birth into the modern age of horror, he shall live on long after his passing.
Planned Parenthood — in solidarity with patients, staff, and supporters — stands with the Movement for Black Lives’ call to defund the police. Defunding the police means investing less in militarizing police forces and investing more in community-based solutions, education, and health care.
From slavery 400 years ago to present-day attacks by police, systems of white supremacy have imposed imposed a public health crisis on the lives and safety of Black people. Today, there are far too many examples across the country of police officers strong-arming and killing Black people. Yet certain lawmakers want to continue pouring money into weapons, training, and systems that allow officers to commit violence without consequences. It’s time to shift our priorities.
Instead of investing in systems that brutalize Black communities, elected officials must prioritize public-health approaches that strengthen Black communities. Excessive and discriminatory policing should be replaced with a model that promotes community support, connects individuals to available services, and actually creates safe and sustainable environments.
What Defunding the Police Means
Defunding the police doesn’t mean reducing safety, as the Movement for Black Lives explains. Defunding the police is all about protecting and serving communities in ways OTHER than militarizing the police. Defunding the police really means investing in community-based solutions, education, and health care.
A successful plan to defund and divest from the police will look different in every city and require participation from the community. But across the board, Planned Parenthood supports calls for national, state, and local governments to:
Shift away from massive spending on police forces that often don’t keep people safe, and reverse centuries of disinvestment in Black communities; and
Shift toward a massive investment in community safety that works — including increased funding in public health — so we can all live connected, represented, and free.
Why Planned Parenthood Supports Defunding the Police
Planned Parenthood’s first priority is the health and safety of our patients, and that concern doesn’t stop once patients walk out our doors. Our support for people’s health and safety extends to Black, Latino, and other patients and staff of color — including immigrants — who live in a world where law enforcement officers pull them over, engage in brutality, and target them because of the color of their skin and immigration status.
Planned Parenthood supports efforts to defund and divest from the police because the continued militarization and brutal treatment of Black people runs counter to our values: caring for people’s bodies, lives, and futures. Everyone deserves to live in a world where people are equally protected, and have the resources they need to be healthy and safe.
We stand with the Movement for Black Lives in defense of the basic human rights of Black people, and we stand in solidarity with all of our social justice partners against hate and discrimination.
We Commit to Advocating for Policies That Will End Police Violence and Systemic Racism
It’s unacceptable that Black people disproportionately suffer from state violence and killings.
Planned Parenthood is committed to advocating for policies that will dismantle the system of white supremacy and oppression of communities of color — including policies to end police violence.
Specifically, we’re calling on public officials at all levels of government to work together to adopt four key proposals: holding police officers and departments accountable, divesting from police budgets, investing in community-based solutions, and ensuring peaceful neighborhoods. Here’s the breakdown of those four proposals:
1. Evaluate local, state, and federal budgets and policy priorities. Then, divest resources from policing. 2. Reallocate resources to the health care, housing, and education that people deserve. Invest in community-based solutions and policies that prioritize public health approaches. 3. Enact laws and policies that allow everyone to parent their children in safe environments and healthy communities — without fear of violence from individuals or the government. These policies are necessary to ensure that individuals, families, and communities have the tools they need to stay healthy and thrive. 4. Eliminate policies that criminalize health care, including punishments for people living with HIV and people’s behavior during pregnancy (including self-managed abortion).
In determining exactly how to defund the police, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Thankfully, examples of successful efforts to defund the police demonstrate what’s worked. And one thing is certain: True reform requires community participation.
Get Involved
Ensuring that the humanity and dignity of Black people’s lives are valued, seen, and believed is an integral part of the Black Lives Matter movement — and Planned Parenthood is unapologetic in our support of it.
We must demand accountability, justice, and an end to the inequity that continues to define every moment of life for Black Americans. We are working with organizations and communities to build a future where Black people have the right to live their daily lives without fear of violence; make choices about their bodies without fear of persecution; and access sexual and reproductive health care without entrenched barriers.
Join us in calling for justice and freedom. Get involved in defunding the police, creating safer communities and defending Black lives. GO TO M4BL.ORG.
This blog is mostly so I can vent my feelings and share my interests. Other than that, I am nothing special.
If you don't like Left Wing political thought and philosophy, all things related to horror, the supernatural, the grotesque, guns or the strange, then get the fuck out. I just warned you.
