Hi class,
I mostly wanted to take this time to talk about how deeply today's film affected me. I'm sure many of you were crying with me, or at least had some tightness of the throat. As a documentary filmmaking student through the Media Studies program, there was one scene that I have continued to think about since when we started the film last week. It was repeated again today, as he sat upon the car, wearing a lei, and waving enthusiastically through the parade--which was slowed down. He seemed like a truly genuine person, and that quality was really expressed in this shot. I found his attitude of not being afraid of assassination or attack as sort of astounding... and reflective of how he put the city and movement above his ego (I can't say the same for Dan White...)
I think part of what makes Milk's murder so shocking is that fact that it was perpetrated by another councilman. In some ways, White's light prison sentence seems to reflect that anti-gay backlash that we have exhibited following strides in the gay rights movement.
Also, I found this little news story about how people are trying to incorporate Milk commemorations at the San Francisco airport. I had no idea that it was proposed to be named after him at one time. While Milk's death clearly amplified his accomplishments, I wonder what else he could have done if still alive today...
https://sf.curbed.com/2019/4/4/18294997/san-francisco-airport-milk-signage-ronen-harvey-sfo
- Danielle K
Thanks for your post Danielle! I think it's really cool how Terminal 1 is going to be renamed Milk Terminal, and that there is going to be an ordinance to make sure it really happens. In San Francisco, I've always found it fascinating that there aren't more mentions of Milk since in my mind I automatically associate the city with him. I think I've seen a Milk Square somewhere in the Castro before but I wish there were more mentions of him.
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