American Son: 10 Quotes That Stick With Us | ScreenRant
American Son is the recent Netflix release that went from Broadway to the screen. In fact, to be even more precise, the show began on the stages of community theatre but then caught the attention of the director of Kenny Leon, who recognized the quality of the writing by playwright Christopher Demos-Brown and launched the show into Broadway. Watching the movie on Netflix is not dissimilar to watching a stage play. The work has been adapted for the screen, but many aspects have been kept the same.
For example, the entire movie takes place in one room, and the dialogue feels as though it's straight from the stage--the intensity and lengthiness of monologues feel particular to the timescape of a play, not a movie. This is not to the detriment of the film, which is powerful and beautifully executed, but perhaps accounts for the low ratings it received. For those viewing the ratings, one would be better to go watch the movie themselves and make up their own mind--it's worth it.
10 His World Is Not Your World.
Officer Larkin spends most of the first scenes--and, for that matter, those after--speaking down to Kendra and, as she eventually phrases it, "managing" her. Kendra asserts the fact that she has a PhD in psychology, and can tell what he is doing. This doesn't stop Larkin from acting as though Kendra is being irrational, rather than a mother concerned by factors that Larkin doesn't understand.
9 If He Were In The Car With Two White Kids, Would You Say The Same Thing?
Scott learns that Jamal was seen in a car with two other black men. He immediately becomes upset at this and assumes that whoever Jamal is with are only going to get him into trouble. Kendra points out that Scott is assuming the boys will get into trouble because solely based on them being Black--seeing as he knows nothing else about them.
8 She Went From Zero...
When Scott finally enters the police station Officer Larkin sees him and assumes that he is the officer he has been waiting to come and take over for him. Larkin immediately drops any semblance of professionalism, shares all information he has which he denied having when Kendra asked, and becomes blatantly racist when referring to Kendra.
7 Do You Have Any Black Children? Then Don't Say You Understand.
Officer Larking keeps asserting, over and over, that he "understands". Whenever Kendra voices an opinion or concern or requests that he try a little harder to help her out in finding her son, he bats away her requests and claims that he "understands", but he can't do anything else for her due to protocol.
6 Coffee, No Cream, No Sugar.
This subtle shift in language occurs after Larkin requests what kind of coffee Scott would like, to which Scott replies that he always takes it "Black".
Kendra makes a sarcastic remark alluding to the fact that he left her for a white woman, and after this point, the word "Black" is never used in reference to the coffee again. What is a seemingly innocent shift in language draws attention to the white habit of defining Blackness by the absence of white qualities.
5 You Couldn't Tell Me A Damn Thing Except How To Go Through A Self-Guided Jim Crow Tour Through The Building.
Kendra says this in response to Larkin's eagerness to assist Scott in any requests that he makes of him. When only Kendra was in the room, she had to beg Larkin to make the smallest effort in helping her. He begrudgingly assisted her, but even when she asked for water he sent her on a trip to find the water fountain which, he clumsily admits, used to be segregated.
4 He Calls Himself The Face Of The Race.
Scott, again and again, proclaims that Jamal has no reason to be depressed or upset in any way when Kendra tries to explain to him that he's been going through a rough time.
Kenda grows tired of his ignorance and shares with him the reality of the fact that Jamal is one of few Black people attending his school and how this weighs on him, and how this is such an obvious thing that would never occur to Scott.
3 When These Men Get Shot Down He Can Feel Their Ghosts.
Kendra says the names of all of the young Black men who have recently been shot (at the time). She tries to get Scott to understand the significance of this, and how it affects Jamal. Jamal is a young man who has been raised primarily around white elite society and is beginning to come into the realization of who he really is and what it means to be a Black man in America.
2 I Am Not Your Sister.
Lt. John Stokes enters the room and throws Kendra off by the fact that he is a Black man, and that he continues to be as obstinate and withholding as the white officer was with her. Lt. Stokes attempts to impart Kendra with some advice on how she would better react to the police system, but she rejects him as a traitor.
1 Filming Cops Is All These Kids Have. It Is Their Last Line Of Defense.
Kendra emphasizes the importance of young Black people such as her son--and any Black people, in fact, including herself--being able to film police officers who pull them over. Scott, being a police officer himself, defends the police and can't understand why Jamal would have a bumper sticker advertising for violence against the police (though the smaller sticker below clarifies the true meaning, which is not violent). To Kendra, it draws attention to the reality of violence being done at the hands of the police.