Apes Represent Blacks in this Movie; Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Friday July 18^th, I ventured out to one of St. Louis’s newer downtown movie theaters; I had been anticipating Dawn of the Planet of the Apes since I learned of it in January. The ticket was twelve dollars and I spent $14 on refreshments, wow, pricey.  Inside the theater, I enjoyed the leather rocking seats designed with couples in mind and the large screen and superb surround sound.  The movie was entertaining and well-orchestrated; had it not been so late in the evening, I would have viewed the movie twice.  I usually watch movies twice, first for the entertainment value and second for critical observation; nonetheless, upon returning home, I posted the movie trailer on my Facebook page along with a simple comment, “Yes I enjoyed this movie.”  As friends do on social media, a friend commented on my post, it was more a cautionary notice than a comment, “Watch it closer.” I asked this friend to inbox me his thoughts, however he posted for all to see.  Funny thing, I knew what his response would be.  He posted, “Apes represent Blacks in this movie”...  This was nothing new; I have heard it all before. 

Fifteen years ago, while engaged in a conversation, I mentioned my fascination for all things Planet of the Apes and it was then I was told of racial connotations depicted within Planet of the Apes movies and its series... One friend told me; in the older television shows Gorillas represented Irish Folks because they were responsible for policing society; Chimpanzees represented Asian Folks because they were the scientific body; Orangutans represented White Folks because they were the ruling body and Humans represented the Negro; Black Folks enslaved and imprisoned for medical science, labor, and target practice.  Some years after that, a second friend shared with me in conversation a simpler version, he said, “The Planet of the Apes represent the fears of White Folks and their ideal of society if Black Folks Ruled; Gorillas were uneducated Blacks used as overseers, Chimpanzees were educated Blacks creating the white collar labor force, and Orangutans were the intellectuals of Black society full of talk but never getting their hands dirty. 

Before those two conversations, Planet of the Apes was a simple Saturday afternoon flick which entertained the mind of a child who enjoyed the mental escape from a weekend filled with childhood obligations of morning chores and laborious errands. Vera, Cornelius, Caesar and Taylor along with a host of others, whose names I have forgotten, were my weekend heroes.  I was not aware of political propagandas and fears of social decline and terror.  Conversely, these aforementioned conversations caused me to question my awareness and work to expand my consciousness, making mental notes to revisit my memories of the Planet of the Apes.  Why hadn't I been cognizant of these agendas before? 

It took me some years to revisit the old Planet of the Apes shows and as they say, when you look for something it will appear.  Cloaked with the information of my two friends, I clearly realized their earlier analysis and wondered what else had I not seen? Should I return to Star Trek and look for the racial over and undertones there as well? 

Now days, I am clearer on issues of ethnical intolerance, prejudice, bigotry, the use of religious dogma, the excessive legal system and political improprieties all of which were tucked within those earlier Planet of the Apes Movies and series.  On the subject of “Apes Represent Blacks in This Movie” my response is this…

If the Apes in this movie “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” are representative of us (Black Folks) we have truly developed; we have laid aside our weapons to study war no more. We have learned as a collective body of people to live together in unity and community.  We have declared loyalty to ourselves as a people, refusing to slay one another.  We have taken our education into our own hands, educating our own children, training them in the ways of our people.  We protect our women and children, providing shelter and security, and a place to call home for us all. 

If the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is representative of Black Folks, based on the character of Koba, then we (Black Folks) are no different than we already are.  We have learned bigotry from the bigot, war from the warring, intolerance from the intolerant, barbarism from the barbarian and fear has enslaved us so severely we imitate the very contempt and disdain we desired to rid ourselves of and too I say, until we the people (Black Folks) conquer fear, lay aside emotional anger for logic, and break the yokes of religion and economic slavery, we will forever be third class citizens in a nation we helped to build. ASE’