Mississippi Masala explores the relationships (romantic, civil, social) between people of color in various diaspora. Specifically, the film thinks about the relations between Indian and African diasporic subjects. The film complicates the subjectivity of our main Indian family, because they are South Asian in the African diaspora, meaning that they view Uganda as their homeland. This context, combined with the historical period at hand (1970s-90s, or, Uganda’s military dictatorship, as well as the post-Civil Rights movement in the USA), sets the ground for some of the themes in the film, including racial hierarchy within communities of color. Throughout the film there are discussions between the characters regarding both racial solidarity and accusations of anti-blackness in Indian culture. For example, Demitrius tells Meena’s father that his Indian skin is only a few shades lighter than his own Black skin. Earlier, an Indian character attempts to dissuade Demetrius from suing after the car crash given that they are all non-White persons of color.
Week 6 from Mia
Economics were also important in the film for signifying race hierarchy. All of the characters strive for upward mobility, but in the long term, it does not seem likely they will gain in economic status. Meena’s father looks back on Uganda as home, but at the same time, he is fixated on getting his property back. I may have misread this part of the film, but it seemed that he favored (nostalgia) Uganda because he imagined he would have better economic standing there (he mentions his property several times, and endeavors to sue to Ugandan government for losses and injustices).
For me, Demetrius and his family’s story played on stereotypes of black familial and economic arrangements. That is, the poor and worked-to-the-bone father, the redeemable older brother, the delinquent younger brother, and, although not direct kin, the exceptional ex-girlfriend and up-and-coming singer. I’m not sure where to go with my analysis from here, but…….
Is it love that allows Meena and Demetrius to move forward in life? I wasn’t moved by this telos, which I thought the film fetishized– that is, [interracial] love conquers all, and moving West from Mississippi to LA is a move toward better times…. Meena is free to choose her lover, a hallmark of liberal sexual freedom ? She is not bound by her parents, or Africa, or tradition? And Demetrius is with an Indian woman from who he can become more worldly? As they travel the world together?