When asked, Were you hazed? my answer was simply, No, I just pledged hazing is illegal. Even as I write this, I choose my words carefully. Champion, 26, died in November 2011 aboard a school bus after a football game and a band initiation rite. If there is no struggle, there is no progress, Zurich recites at one point, underscoring the ideainitially subscribed to by Zurich, and born out by his fraternity big brothers professional successthat his suffering is for a greater purpose. However, for those of us who don't operate on that level, we must begin to question our own actions and if we are truly embodying what our founders created these fraternities and sororities for in the first place. Instead of highlighting the important reasons people join sororities and fraternities forfamily lineage, support system, seeking personal and professional growthit created a narrative that was negative. Though many Shameless fans hoped Fiona would return for the series finale, she only appears in flashbacks as Frank looks back on his life. You can make a man (or woman) work hard for something and allow them to keep their dignity. I wont quit no matter what the cost. It currently holds an 87% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. To join the Shrine, Masons must "cross the burning sands to drink on camel's milk." Shriners claim that their tradition dates back to 644 A.D. Frank M. Sands Sr. (MBA '63), a visionary investment manager who left an indelible mark on the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, passed away at his home on 18 March.. McMurrays film raises that provocative suggestion early on, during a discussion in Professor Hughess (Alfre Woodward) classroom about a historical letter describing the fear, distrust and envy used by whites to control their black human property. It was a minor sacrifice in comparison with all that I gained and continue to gain. Series: Burning Sands. While the answer isnt altogether surprising, the message Burning Sands imparts about hazings solidarity-through-sadism ethos is slyly multifaceteda complexity encapsulated by the pained expressions of Zurich as he wrestles with his thoughts (which one can almost hear, just by looking at him) in an extended closing shot that, among other things, heralds Jackson as a star in the making. For me, it meant that I completed one of the most arduous treks of my life. Price: $3.99 USD. McMurray said fraternity brothers and others have questioned why hes tackling the topic of hazing because they think it will tarnish the image of black fraternities and sororities. In 2011, a drum major at Florida A&M named Robert Champion died after being beaten and hazed on a bus. And this movie really promotes brotherhood. You dont see it on the news or social media and I feel like its a dope thing. She did not disclose the cause or time of the death, but asked for "privacy of . Embarrassed? In order to be a part of BGLO, there are academic requirements that must be met, meaning while there is a possibility your grades could slip during the pledging phase, there is still a large portion of your focus that must remain dedicated to your education. The Great Empire (aka GE or simply . Read what each of them took away from Burning Sands in the interviews, below. Despite the advice, the young neophyte fraternity brothers wait together at the hospital awaiting the fate of their friend, Frank. Released March 10th, 2017, 'Burning Sands' stars Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole The movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 45 min, and received a user score of 58 (out of. My grades were the best theyd ever been because I was disciplined throughout the whole process. Matrix/Take: B-27626/5. My response: If you simply see it as that, then it will be just that. You dont have to beat or touch someone to challenge them. Were you personally offended at any point during the film? What would you have changed about the film?I would have made it less about the parties and girls, more about brotherhood, academia, and leadership. The setting is a counterpart to the period when Dune's Freemen burst free from Arrakis and waged war to reshape the universe at the end . To me, it was very one-dimensional and flat in depicting what it is like to actually be pledging at an HBCU. I read an article that stated that since 2000 there have been 60 reported fraternity/sorority related deaths and 40 have been from white frats. While others may deem it as a negative, I actually liked the way the film ended. No one dies in School Daze,but in real life people die all the time.. Ralph Abernathy and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin are members). It was triggering. As an African-American, becoming part of a historically black fraternity or sorority means more than joining an organization to party and network. I wasn't offended because I know these things still, unfortunately, happen, so for me to not honor the truth is offensive to current and prospective members. Lastly, I believe the film did a good job highlighting some of the challenges you face while pledging, i.e., discretion, maintaining relationships, financial strain, and time management. Hank Nuwers new book Destroying Young Lives: Hazing in Schools and the Militaryis availablenow. Branden Bufford, Howard University '11, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands?I was disgusted by the process, but also not naive to that the fact that somenot allof these activities still take place. How do you feel about the way in which BGLOs experience was portrayed in this movie?I believe that the representation of Black Greek Letter Organizations could have been more well-rounded. Unconscious bias is real folks. Still, you ache as Zurich undergoes emotional U-turns in the hours before Hell Night, debating whether to expose Lambda Lambda Phi's tactics or summon his leadership potential to "cross the . What are your thoughts on that?Everything about learning and growing should be intentional and purposeful. It's important to embody those values to empower pledgees so that these same problematic practices don't continue. The film is being directed by Gerard McMurray. When the pledges were talking about their reasoning for wanting to join the fraternity. Furthermore, I enjoyed the one professor's concern with Zurich; educators at HBCUs are definitely more connected with their students. Six convicted of hazing and providing alcohol to a minor. I was really disheartened by the depiction of Black Greek Organizations. What is the Spanish language plot outline for Burning Sands (2017)? The term crossing the burning sands describes pledging a Greek-letter organization and crossing over from being a pledge to becoming a full member. Yes. He lived and died, quite literally, for his profession as an actor, but there was a side that few outside celebrity circles knewFrank Sutton the cultured Ivy League grad and serious student of theatre history. Be sure to include what name you would like to be credited with! But anti-hazing rules have driven his Hell Week underground, and the veteran members of his fraternity have degenerated into a pack of vicious, drunken, sadistic louts. How do you feel about the way in which BGLOs experience was portrayed in this movie?I dont think I really saw anything positive from the BGLOs on the campus in the film. Blavity. Nuwer notes that these traditions arent exclusive to fraternities and sororities. All rights reserved. When Samuel Mason died at Radford University, the price for sixpeople who gave him enough alcohol to put him to death was a $1,000 dollar fine each. Praneet Karki (2015): Died of exertion during extreme physical hazing. But now as a parent of a teenage daughter who will enter college in three years, I understand the point that had to be made. We produce the most black engineers and doctors. I learned what it was like to run a company after running my chapter. These organizations bring people together, make change in the world, and give you a bond that you cant find anywhere. Cheryl is 'torn' over the idea of having more children. 1.6K 108K views 5 years ago We speak to the director and cast of Netflix's Burning Sands about what happened at the end of the movie, and what it's all about. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film? Only ten per cent believed they had taken part in the practice, but the number who went through drinking, sexual simulation, beatings, forced shoplifting, was over 50 per cent. Nuwer suggests a competitive nature may also have a role to play in a participants willingness to take part. Was he trying to make these athletes better, or did he go too far? The episode opens with the family finding Frank hovering near death on the couch after his attempted suicide by a heroin overdose, but aside from Liam, no one particularly seems to care if he lives or dies. Our HBCUs and BGLO are very important in this country. What would you have changed about the film?I would not change anything about the film. This conversation is still occurring and, unfortunately, it's not just in BGLOs. My biggest worry was that the film would include special and sacred elements of a pledging process that aren't to be shared with the public. While Burning Sands may be a new movie, hazing in Black fraternities is not. Burning Sands is pretty straight forward in terms of the plot, but there is a nice twist at towards the end of the film, which is probably when the movie hit its climax. In 1998, I would be blessed to cross those same sands at FAMU. 2017 | Maturity Rating: 18+ | 1h 42m | Dramas. If you're able, e-mail us scans at no less than 600 dpi in a high-quality format at LBS.Remastered@gmail.com. Black fraternities and sororities are without question a huge part of the black college experience now as it was for most of the 20th century. Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP and IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, who died in. The brotherhood and the family I acquired made me who I am but thats what separates pledging from hazing.. Co-starring Moonlights Trevante Rhodes in yet another film about African-American masculinity, Gerard McMurrays dramawhich premiered at Januarys Sundance Film Festival, and is based in part on his own experiencesconcerns five African-American college freshmen going through Hell Week, a hazing rite of passage required to gain admittance to prestigious Lambda Phi fraternity. Nuwer believesthat harsher sentencing needs to be handed out to those who instigate extreme acts of hazing. Waking to a new world could be his death. The 1988 comedic drama School Daze, which Lee wrote and directed, follows the hazing rituals of the fictional Gamma Phi Gamma fraternity. What would you have changed about the film?There needed to be more light shed on the different aspects of the pledge process and the members already in the organization. I had great trepidation before I watched Netflixs new movie Burning Sands. Most took plea deals. I do think it gave a great general glance at life at these institutions and orgs. I would add the consequences. After seconds of waiting the doctor tells them that Frank died of a ruptured aorta artery. There have been several cases of death and fatal injuries as a result of pledging. Despite charities like hazingprevention.organd activists like Nuwer, the problem of hazing is likely to persist,according to the Indiana lecturer. Id be remiss to say that the film was entirely falsified; Gerard McMurray didnt make up the violent initiations depicted in Burning Sands. The ensuing student debate focuses on the documents authenticity, and whether or not that matters if what it conveys is true. It is said to be the Western hemispheric branch of an Arabic vigilante organization founded by the prophet Mohammed's son-in-law Kalif Alee. I believe this was absolutely necessary. 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. So much of black Greek life and mystique are based on secrecy and discretion. He said that the film was inspired by the death of a student and that he wants to. His death wasnt a freak one-off incident. It's the best representation of Black Greek life that I've seen, especially compared to Stomp The Yard, Drumline, The Quad, etc. Love for Black Fraternities and Sororities, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (USD $), Kappa Alpha Psi Crimson Golf Stand Bag - COMING SOON, Kappa Alpha Psi Cream Golf Stand Bag - COMING SOON, Alpha Phi Alpha Half Zip Pullover Sweater. Mark Sands Organizer Hull, Yorkshire and the Humber, United Kingdom Created February 13, 2023 Funerals & Memorials Report fundraiser Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help Easy Donate quickly and easily. [5] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average rating of 63 out of 100, based on 7 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[6]. Armando Villa (2014): Died after being forced to hike barefooted through the Angeles Mountains Dean Richardson, a Lambda Phi alumnus, holds himself out as an example of the fraternity system and extols its virtues. Could these athletes have become better from something less strenuous? $24.99. Burning Sands takes place at a fictitious HBCU, Frederick Douglass University, during the Lambda Phi fraternity's Hell Week. Browse 678 burning sands stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. All rights reserved. Life at an HBCU is a constant balancing act between academia, individual growth, and social life. Before the catastrophic BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico all earth was thr. Related topic Torn (Ednaswap song) Related topic. To follow in their footsteps was a great challenge and honor for me. Savino, Domenico - Pinkard, Maceo - Warren, Frank H. - Wilbur Sweatman's Original Jazz Band - Henry, S. R. Date: 1918-06-14; Audio Recording Burning sands Fox trot Victor 19033. What is a human life worth after a hazing death? Meanwhile, Jackson said Woodard helped him grow as an actor. More so disappointed. Burning Sandsis available to watch on Netflix. 7 min read. The story is told through the eyes of a black fraternity pledge. In the spring of 1981, a hunger strike involving an IRA prisoner became a story that caught the world's attention. The film is an ode to brotherhood, a . For me, pledging a fraternity meant much more than just wearing some letters and being popular. In the film, there is a moment when a girl who is in a sorority asks, Who is your girlfriend is she in a sorority? and the guy replies, Shes not the sorority type. The girl says, I wouldnt know her then. This suggests that black Greeks interact only with each other. Burning Sands | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix Watch on Burning Sands is the debut feature from Gerard McMurray, whose most notable producing credit is on Ryan Coogler's devastating. Burning Sandsgives us the good, the bad and the ugly about fraternity life at HBCUs, Trevor Jackson, Steve Harris in Burning Sands. Keryce Chelsi Henry, Johns Hopkins University '14, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. I think it accurately looked at some of the current obstacles we have to solving these problems: the silence of the current pledges, the blind eye some professors and admin turn for sake of "tradition" or not wanting to get too involved, current members not seeing the problem because "they went through it, so the pledge can do," students on the outside of the process feeling the need to just go with the flow even when they see their friends suffering. I felt it was pretty accurate in the sense that it depicted how modern-day pledging has lost its way; although being a member of an organization brings status and a network, is it worth the loss of self-dignity and respect? Demaris Webster, DePaul University '12, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film? As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film?Offended? Just like one of them $80 shirts from Dick's or the PGA Store. Understandably, this movie has generated a strong response from members of the Black Greek community. While pledging, I was never disrespected. The way the pledges were treated, as well as the hazing, was somewhat dramatized. Hazing isnt exclusive to the United States. SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched "Father Frank, Full of Grace," the series finale of "Showtime," available on . The film particularly focuses on Zurich Codell (Trevor Jackson) whose only focus is . The movie Burning Sands is about a fraternity hazing gone wrong. The actor committed suicide, per TMZ and other news outlets. The original title of the film Burning Sands is Burning Sands. These events have, do, and will continue to happen. Copyright 2018 Fandango. Even when its plot trajectory seems more than a bit predictable, McMurrays film proves a shrewd snapshot of fraternity life that, encapsulated by a scene in which Rhodes Fernander is branded on the stomach by his brothers and reacts by jumping around with his friends in both agony and ecstasy, understands that frat life can beget both pleasure and pain, often in the same moment. One night the hazing goes too far and a big brother advises the pledge class to drop off a seriously injured pledge at the emergency room but to avoid the cameras. What do you think the film did well?I think people went into the film wanting to be entertained by the HBCU/BGLO experience, but instead, they were educated. In this case, I will be referring to Frank Zhang, our favorite son of Mars! So, my theory for Tyrant's Tomb is that- okay get ready for it- Frank Zhang will die. During the movie, two Frederick Douglass quotes are repeated: "It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken men," and, "If there is . That topic is of similar concern to the latest original feature from Netflix, Burning Sands, albeit in a manner thats as unexpected as it is intriguing. Zurich takes out his cell phone and calls his dad, realizing why his father never joined the fraternity, and the movie ends. Considering that this film was not just for BGLO audiences, those who aren't members of an org may still be confused about certain aspects of the experience. Among black fraternities and sororities, there is the saying, Its harder once you make it across the burning sands. Frank's Death. To me, this movie focused more on fraternity and not the HBCU experience. Burning Sandsdirector is a Howard University alum and amember of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. It stars Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole, DeRon Horton and Trevante Rhodes. This is not just among U.S. college students, but also includes high school students, military deaths, adult societies, Masonic organizations and occupational deaths. The film was a good eye-opener for prospective, current, and alumni BGLO members. It leaves it up to the audience to interpret, which for me, isn't necessarily a bad thing at all. 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