“YOU GOT THE JUICE NOW”: AN ANALYSIS OF JUICE USING CRITICAL RACE THEORY

The film Juice is one of the most popular films amongst the Black Community and can be considered a cult classic within the community as well. A film that is top 10 in many lists, Juice presents the experience of four young men growing up in the late 80s and early 90s.The events within the daily life of the young men, Q, Bishop, Raheem, and Steel, experiences include both positive and negative happenings that craft their outlook on themselves, their peers, and their own life. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze how the film characterizes and constructs what it means to be Black and male within this time- period and how those instances connect to the current landscape of men in similar situations. This study examines the events that transpire in the film as well as the characters’ speech to discuss their outlook on life and on their masculinity. By using both critical race theory and standpoint theory, the study explores how “Juice” formulates ideas of Black masculinity and the Black male experience. Through analysis of the film, the study showcases the central themes of interpersonal and intrapersonal respect as the main building blocks for both masculinity and the Black male experience. The study reveals that while the film might showcase these young men in a negative, stereotypical light, the surroundings of the young men fashion their mentality. These surroundings, along with other lived experiences in their life, concoct a warped view of respect and power which impact their safety and well-being.