Milk
Content
Jillian Redner Guided Instruction #2 Milk Fordham University 2010
The film Milk tells the story of Harvey Milk, a homosexual politician and activist living in San Francisco in the 1970’s. Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to office, and directed much of his efforts stopping Proposition 6, a piece of legislature that would diminish gay rights by allowing employers to fire their employees based on sexual orientation.
When Milk moves to San Francisco he does so as a business man who is finally open about his homosexuality. Over time he becomes a voice for gay people in his neighborhood, and starts his campaign for gay rights on a very small frame. The movie demonstrates the way activists starting from the ground up have success. Milk literally stands on a box with a bullhorn recruiting people to join his cause. He slowly builds a following, and it is this way, by going straight to the people that Milk creates a force. He notices the problems of those around him, and realizes that the need for change exists. He states that in order to insight change it is necessary to start at the street level, in the community.
After coming into office as a city supervisor for San Francisco, Milk makes the campaign against Proposition 6 his primary cause. He rallies people to vote, and uses his political power to influence others in office to support him. Eventually he finds success in California, the Proposition is voted against.
I found the story of Harvey Milk a particularly ideal example of activism. This is not to say that the people fighting for gay rights did not encounter a great deal of opposition and violence directed towards them; Milk was assassinated shortly after Proposition failed in California. It seems, however, that Milk was able to make huge strides for gay rights almost entirely on his own. Perhaps this has to do with the climate of the decade, and the growth of liberal and progressive views.
I appreciated that the story of Milk offers a different perspective on policy change and legislature. I feel that most examples of activism are geared towards the fight to pass new laws, not to stop them. This story highlights the importance of not just lobbying to put new legislature into place, but also the necessity of empowering people to fight against existing policies that oppress.
Finally, I am surprised that prior to the film Milk I had no knowledge of Harvey Milk or the work that he accomplished. I have, however, heard of the “Twinkie Defense” used by Dan White’s attorneys, the man who assassinated Milk. I guess I should appreciate the current media and pop culture forces for finally bringing the more valuable parts of the story to light.
The film Milk tells the story of Harvey Milk, a homosexual politician and activist living in San Francisco in the 1970’s. Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to office, and directed much of his efforts stopping Proposition 6, a piece of legislature that would diminish gay rights by allowing employers to fire their employees based on sexual orientation.
When Milk moves to San Francisco he does so as a business man who is finally open about his homosexuality. Over time he becomes a voice for gay people in his neighborhood, and starts his campaign for gay rights on a very small frame. The movie demonstrates the way activists starting from the ground up have success. Milk literally stands on a box with a bullhorn recruiting people to join his cause. He slowly builds a following, and it is this way, by going straight to the people that Milk creates a force. He notices the problems of those around him, and realizes that the need for change exists. He states that in order to insight change it is necessary to start at the street level, in the community.
After coming into office as a city supervisor for San Francisco, Milk makes the campaign against Proposition 6 his primary cause. He rallies people to vote, and uses his political power to influence others in office to support him. Eventually he finds success in California, the Proposition is voted against.
I found the story of Harvey Milk a particularly ideal example of activism. This is not to say that the people fighting for gay rights did not encounter a great deal of opposition and violence directed towards them; Milk was assassinated shortly after Proposition failed in California. It seems, however, that Milk was able to make huge strides for gay rights almost entirely on his own. Perhaps this has to do with the climate of the decade, and the growth of liberal and progressive views.
I appreciated that the story of Milk offers a different perspective on policy change and legislature. I feel that most examples of activism are geared towards the fight to pass new laws, not to stop them. This story highlights the importance of not just lobbying to put new legislature into place, but also the necessity of empowering people to fight against existing policies that oppress.
Finally, I am surprised that prior to the film Milk I had no knowledge of Harvey Milk or the work that he accomplished. I have, however, heard of the “Twinkie Defense” used by Dan White’s attorneys, the man who assassinated Milk. I guess I should appreciate the current media and pop culture forces for finally bringing the more valuable parts of the story to light.
