Lifestyle by Wegs: THEM – A Bold Social Commentary

In an era of seemingly unprecedented racism in our country, THEM, a limited series on Amazon shows us that not much has changed in the last 70 years in the Land of the Free.

Overview

THEM is a 10 episode streaming series on Amazon Prime. Each episode is about 45 minutes with a continuous interwoven story of an African American family who moves to East Compton, CA from North Carolina during the second Great Migration in 1953. The opening of the first episode sets the tone for the entire series, as Livia “Lucky” Emory encounters an older white woman who is singing a song that makes the hair stand up on your neck. The strong tone of both terror a la American Horror Story alongside blatant racism is frankly difficult to watch. As the Emory family pulls into their new home on a quiet suburban street in East Compton, the all white neighborhood literally stops with jaws open to stare and eventually plot to rid their “home” of THEM. Meanwhile, if the racist neighbors and co-workers are not enough to deal with, the house the Emory’s move into appears to have a malevolent spirit lurking around every corner.

The Creator and Cast

THEM was written/created by Little Marvin who is a relative unknown writer. Little Marvin has written a strong piece that is a lot to take in. He has brought together a collection of actors that may appear in future seasons in different roles like in other anthology shows. Lena Waithe was the executive producer, which I did not need to be convinced to watch the series, but I trust her work.

Lucky Emory played by Deborah Ayorinde has been seen in Girls Trip and Luke Cage, but this role is central as she shows great range. Her pain expressed in this series will break your heart.

Henry Emory played by Ashely Thomas or Bashy as he is known as a music star in Britain – shows his acting chops in a role that displays the difficulties of being a smart, professional black man in the 50s.

Bette Wendell played by Alison Pill is the evil, but troubled neighbor who’s own issues and inadequacies bubble up her unfounded hatred for the Emory’s.

The Emory girls (Ruby and Gracie) are played by Shahadi Wright Joseph (best known for Us and the Lion King) and Melody Hurd. They are strong, but troubled as the dark forces work against them and their parents.

General Review

THEM is not for the faint hearted. The imagery and tone of the series is dark. The topic of racism is exhausting for the Emory’s and the viewer, which maybe is the point of the series. Privileged viewers, like myself, will never truly feel the torment or oppression experienced by people of color, especially African Americans in a world without any civil rights. However, the pain and torment felt by the Emory’s on all levels is something that Little Marvin’s work succeeds in sharing, in my view.

Beyond the very powerful imagery and ominous tones created, THEM is a beautifully shot series with impeccable costumes, set design and even cinematography paying homage to horror classics like The Shining. Episode 9 stands alone as a short movie, which I thought was really well done even with the blood curdling conclusion that ties into the rest of the series.

Now, THEM is not linear, and it is somewhat confusing at parts, especially as the Emory’s descend into what can only be called evil induced madness. So, I can see people not being able to push through to the end of the series. I do think that the beauty and message are worth complete viewing, despite the inevitable tears you will shed for horrific treatment of the Emory’s.

I have no doubt that THEM will be receiving nominations when the time comes.

Social Commentary

As a real estate professional in affordable housing, watching THEM shows the blueprint for many of the reasons why what I do is necessary. Even in Episode 1, the mortgage or deed of trust signed by the Emory’s had language in it that many up until recently did not know existed. Many mortgages or deeds including the Federal Housing Administration’s (a federal homeownership program) mortgage overtly prohibited the ownership of African American people. Thereby removing the possibility of African Americans in participating in the post-World War II boom economy in terms of asset accumulation. In the case of the Emory’s and other African American families of the time, if they had the means to buy a home it needed to be done either illegally as in the case of the Emory’s or via a shadow buyer (meaning a white family would buy the home legally, but the African American family would make the payments and live there), then the succession of the home to their ancestors could be refuted.

In Episode 5, the opening scene is perhaps a simplified example of how banks and real estate developers literally preyed upon African American families of the time. In a practice known as redlining, banks would only lend to African American families in certain areas and, in many cases like the series outlines, charge those same families exorbitant rates on mortgages. This practice not only left the prosperous African American families at greater risk of losing their homes but also created areas that would concentrate African American families in lieu of natural integration due to economic status and opportunity – the true American Dream promise of homeownership.

The legacy of such practices is still alive and well today in America. In fact, the deed restrictions on homes built in that era often still exist even though the laws have been deemed unconstitutional. More importantly, the perception of African American families driving down property prices and white flight from certain areas is on full display in this series. That false notion exists today whether people openly acknowledge it or not.

The other main commentary I would have on the series that relates to today is the simple judgement of people based on skin color. The series set in the 1950s is pre-Civil Rights during the Jim Crowe laws of the South, not that there is an excuse for the behavior of the East Compton white neighbors. However, what is the excuse now? Most recently the former Army man, Jonathan Pentland, who assaulted a young, African American man walking on the public sidewalk in the young man’s own neighborhood in South Carolina has gotten press including a protest at the former Pentland’s house and eventual arrest. That scene that I saw on social media juxtaposed with THEM shows me that America has not changed much since that time. Perception of people of color as less than and not belonging in an America that has shown that violence against them (yes intentional) is not such a far cry from what is shown or spoken in Episode 9 by the crazed and would be damned prophet and the rest of the “godly community.” When will people of color be treated like actual equals? Not under the law in books, but in the streets with neighbors, police, educators, and employers.

THEM may not be for everyone, but it sure as hell makes me feel like despite changes in our world and attempts to make equality or equity a priority that hundreds of years of slavery and oppression cannot be overcome in just a few generations.

Wegs