Menace II Society (Allen and Albert Hughes, 1993)
April 29th, 2009 | 9 Comments »
16 years after its release, its easy to look back and pick apart Menace II Society, even easier to accept it nostalgically as the dope film we all thought it was back then. But the feeling of being in your early teens watching this flick, surrounded by folks who bang (pause) or did knucklehead shit remains, and it’ll always be a classic to me. Moreso these days for being a historical document than a dope film.
There are plenty of memorable scenes in the film affectionately known as Menace. But today, on the 17th anniversary of the 1992 LA uprsising/Sa-I-Gu, I’ll dwell on one in particular: the opening scene. For those not familiar: two young Black men, Caine and O-Dog, stop for some 40s at the cornerstore run by a Korean couple in South Central L.A. The lady spies em and utters the first of the films countless immortal quotables, “Hurry up and buy.” After a tense exchange at the counter, the Korean dude makes a fatal mistake, uttering the second quotable under his breath, “I feel sorry for your mother.” O-Dog turns around and asks “what you say about my momma?” before murdering them and robbing the joint as Caine watches in exasperation. O-Dog grabs the surveillance tape as a souvenir he’d later show to the homies.
A powerful, graphic scene (except for the fact that you can see the filming crew in the mirrors: FAIL). But what did the Hughes brothers intend to say with this? That Koreans are racists who deserve this cinematic execution, perhaps a fantasy retribution for Latasha Harlins? Or to jar and shock the viewer into feeling sympathy for the Korean couple who are merely trying to get by in the same fucked up conditions that the Black community lives in? Does it advocate or justify violence, or does it condemn it? Whatever their intent, this is the effect on others I saw: no sympathy for the Koreans, fanning the flames of Black/Asian tension (to this day: look at the comments on the YouTube clip) and convincing everybody that Larenz Tate is actually a G.
This scene reminds speaks volumes about how much those tensions still remained after April 29, 1992. In retrospect, mainstream media did everything to fuel this tension, which was a very real thing. And still is, even though it’s no longer evening news material. Too much of it bought into that myth that Koreans (and all Asians) and Black folk are just natural enemies like that. I refuse to think so, and though I question the Hughes brothers’ intent with this scene, I still find it telling and deserving of revisiting, to ask ourselves: how far have we really come?
I remember watching this movie in Inglewood during a “ditch” day in school. One fight broke out during the car-jack scene and another at the end in the lobby of the theater.
While the portrayal of the Korean liquor store owners was very exaggerated, it captured a very real feeling. During the riots and for a few years after, Korean store owners brandished pistols and rifles in our community (for obvious post-rebellion issues) in the name of protecting their business — the business of selling us overpriced goods and very cheap liquor. So, the tension was thick at the time this came out. I can clearly remember the cheers during the shooting of the store owner (I might have chimed in too — something I’m very ashamed of now) and I remember the same cheers when Caine and Dog stomped Ileena’s cousin in the courtyard. Our thirst for MORE violence was quenched by the movies that emerged after the riots (South Central, Menace, etc.). The streets were calmer than they’d ever been, but the films and music of the time kept feeding our hunger for a shootout or a fight… Odd, but very real.
Then, by 1994, we were back on our bullshit, the liquor store business was back on track and the dancing in the streets with flags tied together was a distant memory.
How far have we come? Rant on!
April 29th, 2009 at 10:44 amThank you for sharing that kasama. I also didn’t forget that it’s the 2 year anniversary of the show we rocked with you for the I Scream Bars album release block party. Thanks again for that one – I recall you mentioning “historic” while onstage and I think you were right.
Man, I remember the whole theater in Bremerton, mostly black with a few Filipinos and even less whites, cheering those two exact scenes too. Oh, also the A-Wax/MC Eiht “need some help homie?” scene. And I was one of em too. Interesting that conditions were hella different up here than LA but somehow that feeling, whether through media or actual experience, was also prevalent here. Which is why I’m convinced that it’s something that’s imposed on us from other people on a national scale, and the degree to which the tension plays out locally is all economic. Good shit fam!
Come on everybody, let’s play “The First Time I Saw Menace.” Go!
April 29th, 2009 at 10:56 amWhy do you think 2Pac beat these fuckers’ asses. Fuck this movie that I’ve seen 20+ times.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:32 amI’m a young’n, didn’t see this until around 2000, but I remember wasting a beautiful summer day to stay inside and watch the VHS tape.. didn’t feel much like going out to play with the neighborhood kids after that…
April 29th, 2009 at 11:51 amDamn that’s crazy… I know on the east coast the Asians community doesn’t really care for the black community like that when this movie came out. I came over here to Seattle and the city has a large Asian community, I don’t see it being to much of a big deal now… but back then like early/mid 90′s we didn’t talk like that all, but we have always been close or connected to one another by our culture. It’s no secret that black folks love Asian food, clothing, history, and the overall culture (peep Wu-Tang and Kung Fu on channel 5) and I feel like the Asian folks fuck with us too on clothing, music, and dances (peep the dance hall scene) but I do understand what your saying… I saw it recently in a film called “A good day to be black” and this black dude and Asian chick was getting it on, when her parents showed up. Dude ended up spending mad hours hiding in her bedroom as her family guessed if the her boyfriend had blond hair and blue eyes and requested to take rides in his mustang (black dudes rarely drive mustangs… I checked my “black card”).
I personally love Asian culture and my wife is Asian… but I do understand… I think that the scene was mainly about how O valued life. He killed them and took the tape like it was a highlight reel. I think the only reason they were Asian is because most of those stores in the hood are owned by Asians or “The Arabs” (no disrespect).
April 29th, 2009 at 12:00 pmI just realized I probably shouldn’t have said “wasted” a beautiful summer day, as that implies I didn’t like the movie. More accurately, I traded a beautiful summer day. Menace was like my favorite film back then lol.
I’d like to think that the Hughes Brothers’ intent was to evoke sympathy of some sort for the Korean store owners, but as with almost any display of violence on screen, it arguably automatically becomes glorification. As you witnessed in the theater with the cheering. Very interesting point about the racial tensions being imposed from the outside.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:20 pmI was a freshman in high school all the way down south (Houston, TX to be exact) but I to had the same experience as the dude from LA. I’m pinoy, but at that time, I had some identity issues back then…lol! Growing up in a mostly black community, I must’ve been influenced by my peers b/c, tho I’m ashamed to admit now, I too cheered during the first scene. I do remember being aware of the Black/Korean tension in LA back then tho. Maybe it was through Ice Cube…lol! Anyway, can’t believe it’s been 16 yrs, I feel so old.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:31 pm[...] by Guest Contributor Geo, originally published at Prometheus Brown [...]
May 4th, 2009 at 6:16 amthis was my life story that made millions ,how come i didnt get paid for it .only recieved credit as tecnical advisor and why dont i get paid when my movie is showed on t.v.?my life ,my story ,i deserve compensation.
August 9th, 2010 at 3:14 pm