Higher Learning (CD 1)

Genre: Drama This drama examines the personal, political, and racial dilemmas facing a group of college freshmen as they begin their first semester at Columbus University. Malik (Omar Epps) is an African-American student attending on a track scholarship; academics are not his strong suit, and he goes in thinking that his athletic abilities will earn him a free ride through college. Fudge (Ice Cube), a "professional student" who has been at Columbus for six years so far, becomes friendly with Malik and challenges his views about race and politics in America, while Professor Phipps (Laurence Fishburne), a black man who teaches political science, firmly tells Malik that he will not be graded on a different standard either because of his race or his ability to run quickly. With Deja (Tyra Banks), Malik finds a girlfriend, a tutor, and a training partner all rolled into one. Meanwhile, Kristen (Kristy Swanson), a somewhat naive young woman from California, meets a boy named Billy (Jay R. Ferguson) after both have had too much to drink at a beer blast; Kristen soon becomes a victim of date rape and becomes involved with a campus feminist group to deal with the painful experience. While working with the women's group, Kristen gets to know Taryn (Jennifer Connelly), a strong but understanding woman who is also a lesbian, and she finds herself becoming attracted to her. And Remy (Michael Rapaport) is a confused young man from the Midwest who feels lost in the multi-cultural atmosphere of Columbus. He is approached by Scott (Cole Hauser), a member of a group of racist skinheads, who believe that Remy is a perfect candidate to help carry out his group's violent goals. Keep an eye peeled for Gwyneth Paltrow, who has a bit part as a student; rap stars Busta Rhymes, D-Knowledge and Mista Grimm also appear in supporting roles, as well as a cameo by the rock band Eve's Plum. Review from the Maoist Internationalist Movement (MIM): Higher Learning is a progressive movie which takes on many political issues, including those which relate to gender, nation ("race"), class and sexual orientation. This upsets many bourgeois film critics, who prefer "art for art's sake," and therefore consider artists like Singleton "preachy" for addressing the issues of the day. One of the worst things about Higher Learning is that in some places, it lends itself to a liberal individualist analysis. One example of this is where we are told that a character who becomes a violent white supremacist was beaten as a child. The issue of individualism is also raised by quick scene changes which seem to indicate a symmetry between supporters of white power and supporters of Black power. Overall, however, Higher Learning does more to promote an analysis of groups than a psychoanalysis of individuals. For instance, Singleton does a lot to illustrate that the white nation or "race" has state power in the U.S. The school in which the film is set is Columbus University (Go Conquerors!), and U.S. flags and portraits of Columbus and George Washington are ubiquitous. One of the best things about Higher Learning is its treatment of gender, particularly in relation to nation. Nation or "race" is correctly shown to be the principal contradiction, the one which provokes the most violent actions and reactions. Gender oppression's existence is demonstrated with a white-on-white date rape. When the raped woman attends a women's support group, she finds that the pseudo-feminist discussion, which centers around the need for more campus cops, does not address the experience of date rape. Elsewhere in Higher Learning, we see that campus cops mainly serve the function of harassing, and occasionally beating, Black men. While most rape is date rape, pseudo-feminism promotes a strengthened white state. Class is best dealt with in Higher Learning by comments acknowledging that it is a privilege to be in college. The Third World unfortunately does not make its presence known in this film. Singleton's treatment of sexual orientation is good. Obviously Singleton is more progressive on this question than were some audience members MIM witnessed who loudly proclaimed their discomfort with a same-sex love scene. Another scene shows a gay couple being bashed by a gang of fascist skinheads. As with gender oppression, Singleton shows that heterosexist oppression is real and sometimes violent, but nonetheless does not mobilize people the way that the contradiction between oppressed nations and the oppressor nation does. Campus multiculturalism is correctly shown for the liberal gloss it is. A multicultural "Unity Fest" is a good excuse for a concert, but does nothing to prevent the reality of racist violence from crashing in. On the question of national oppression, Singleton tells the audience through the voice of a wise professor that if the oppressed want to seize power, they need to have a plan. The professor reminds us what Frederick Douglass said: "Without struggle, there is no progress." - MC49