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Scene 6:50 - Tish mentions how Fonny has found something he wanted to do with his life, stating it saved him from the death that awaited the children of their age. She's presumably referring to the racial battles and injustices that African Americans face living on Beale Street.

Scene 17:40 - Fonny's father asks Tish, who's been visiting Fonny in jail, about how his son is being treated while locked up. This speaks to the types of racial injustices that African Americans in the film are facing in society.

Scene 38:07 - The film outlines why and how Fonny ended up in prison. The alleged victim, Mrs. Victoria Rogers, declared to authorities that on the evening of October 5th, she was criminally assaulted in her home by a man she claims to have been Alonzo "Fonny" Hunt. Mrs. Victoria Rogers claims she was "used by Fonny in the most extreme and abominable sexual matter, and forced to undergo the most unimaginable sexual perversions".

Fonny's family and friends strongly believe he was charged with crimes that he himself did not commit.

Tish comments on the inconsistences of Victoria's claims. She notes that Orchard Street, the street where the alleged assault took place, was a very long way from where Fonny was at the time of the alleged attack, making it impossible for Fonny to be the culprit. Despite these claims, a Caucasian police officer named Officer Bell swore he saw Fonny run from the scene of the crime. Tish states that if this were the case, Officer Bell would have had to be off duty since his patrol area is on the completely opposite side of the city from where the alleged assault took place.

Mrs. Rogers is refusing to reconsider her testimony, so now it's up to the accused to prove and pay for proving the irregularity and improbability of this sequence of events.

To complicate things even further, Mrs. Rogers suddenly disappeared after refusing to reconsider her testimony. Fonny's lawyers have reason to believe that her family may have returned her to her home in Puerto Rico. This will cost Fonny's family even more in legal fees because Fonny's lawyer is requesting special investigators in order to track down Mrs. Rogers.

Since Mrs. Rogers is only one of the key witnesses in the case and Officer Bell was the one who ultimately identified Fonny at the scene of the crime, the law does not view Mrs. Rogers absence as problematic.

Scene 41:15 - More details about the case are revealed. Fonny's lawyer explains that Daniel Carty, Fonny's friend and key witness, was arrested by the DA. According to Fonny's lawyer, the DA are doing everything they can to make Daniel change his testimony in order to protect the reputation of their fellow officer and keep Fonny in jail. Fonny's lawyer claims that the DA will not let him see Daniel, and states that the DA's actions are highly illegal. This is presumably the reason why Mrs. Rogers has disappeared.

Scene 43:20 - Fonny speculates that the DA office were the ones to provide financial assistance to Mrs. Rogers in order to help her flee, and also comments on the poor treatment he has been enduring as a prisoner. This speaks to the kind of society Fonny lives in, and also highlights the kinds of injustices he's had to endure as an African American man.

This situation is tearing Fonny's family apart financially and emotionally. Fonny feels like he has no control over his fate.

Scene 47:20 - Fonny comments on the poor treatment of African Americans in the USA, stating "they'll rent (a loft) to a leper before they rent to an African American". Fonny recalls how himself and Tish almost had themselves a loft to rent, although once the landlord met Fonny, he backed out of the rental agreement. A clear example of racial inequality.

Scene 51:50 - Fonny's friend, Daniel, comments on how he was wrongly convicted for stealing a vehicle, spending two years in prison for the alleged offence. This shows that Fonny is not the only African American in his community dealing with racial injustices, the problem is widespread.

Daniel comments on the horrific treatment of African Americans like himself in the prison system, stating that "the white man has got to be the devil".

Scene 1:00:30 - Tish comments on her job at the perfume counter. She claims her employment is the result of the progressive attitude of her company, nothing more. Tish comments that the white men at her work make her uncomfortable with their behaviours towards her, treating her differently than most.

Scene 1:08:10 - Not all is lost in their community. Tish and Fonny finally find a decent man (Caucasian) who is willing to rent them a loft with no strings attached. Tish and Fonny both feel as though things are starting to change for the better.

Scene 1:11:25 - Tish and Fonnys' fathers contemplate committing acts of robbery in order to get the money needed to fight Fonny's case as they believe there are no other viable options. It's later revealed that the pair were indeed stealing goods for money.

Scene 1:15:35 - Tish comments on how her and her family distrust Fonny's lawyer because of the colour of his skin. They've received terrible treatment from white men in the past, so they are having a hard time trusting their lawyer even though their lawyer is actually doing everything in his power to free Fonny and clear him of any wrongdoing.

Scene 1:18:55 - While grocery shopping, Tish is approached by a white male who harasses her with inappropriate commentary, referring to Tish as "brown sugar" because of the colour of her skin. When Fonny finds out, he physically assaults the man outside of the shop and is confronted by a police officer. The officer happens to be Officer Bell, who immediately does not take a liking to Fonny, referring to him as "boy" while pressing him for details. If it wasn't for the kind shop owner confronting the officer, Fonny would have been arrested for assault on the spot. Officer Bell felt embarrassed by the confrontation, and told Fonny "I'll be seeing you around" before leaving. This is likely a motive for Officer Bell's future testimony in the case involving Fonny and Mrs. Rogers.

Scene 1:23:10 - Again, things seem to be looking up for the couple. They enter a restaurant asking for a meal they won't be able to pay for. The kind restaurant employee allows them to sit and eat if Fonny can get him the money for the meal once he has it.

Scene 1:26:55 - It's revealed that Mrs. Rogers did indeed flee to Puerto Rico once she made her testimony accusing Fonny of assault and sexual assault. Tish's mother flies to Puerto Rico to confront Mrs. Rogers and prove her son-in-law’s innocence.

Scene 1:34:11 - Tish's mother makes contact with Mrs. Rogers, and pleads with her to reconsider her testimony against Fonny as she believes the wrong man was convicted. Unfortunately, Tish's mother is unsuccessful as Mrs. Rogers' trauma of the assault still runs deep. This failure to bring Mrs. Rogers home has resulting in Fonny's case being postponed. Fonny still believes justice will prevail and he will be able to come home to his family.

Scene 1:48:50 - Tish delivers a powerful statement highlighting her experience as an African American and the future of her lover Fonny. "There aren't enough hours in the day or judges on the bench to try all the cases brought against these men (African American males). The game has been rigged and the courts see it through. The trial is their right. But to bury you beneath the prison for forcing the judge and the DA to do their jobs is the court's right, too. And so, like many of these poor men, Fonny took a plea".

Fonny now has to watch his son grow up behind bars because of the severe racial injustices plaguing their community. Tish is also having a tough time providing for her son on a single income.

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Earnestine = Fonny’s sister

Adrienne- Tish’s sister

Joseph- Tish’s father

Frank Rivers- Fonny’s Dad

Sharon- Tish's mom

Shela- Fonny’s sister blames his arrest on his lack of education

Alice- Fonny’s mom

Fonny- main charcter

Tish- Fonny's finance

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A Mind Map By: Grace Bottah, Jonathan Gargaro, and Jameel Baksh

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A Mind Map By: Grace Bottah, Jonathan Gargaro, and Jameel Baksh

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Barry Jenkins’ film “If Beale Street Could Talk”  is a 2018 film that was distributed by Annapurna Pictures. When watching Jenkins’ film viewers observes the romance of two newly engaged lovers, who are faced with the stigma of  racial discrimination. For instance, Fonny encounters the wrong kind of police officer who is determined to falsely imprison him. Much like in Canada, in the United States there is a serious delay in the time it takes the criminal justice system to process criminals. The stages of apprehension, conviction, to detention is a widely overarching burden on the wrongfully accused. Jenkins illustrates a struggle that many people of color face. Fonny is being wrongfully accused of the sexual assault of Victoria Rogers. In “If Beale Street Could Talk” the theme of the movie is racism and fear. Jenkin’s  film’s focus is on abuse of black people due to racial profiling. Jenkin seeks to display the discriminatory relationship between police and African Americans in United States. Fonny becomes a victim of  racial profiling is falsely apprehended and slowly awaiting trial through the criminal justice system. As the key witness Victoria Rogers goes into hiding after falsely identifying Fonny as the man that raped her. Mrs. Roger confesses to Sharon in Puerto Rico that she was pressured by the police to identify Fonny as the assailant. The lack of access to justice is a large dilemma throughout North America. In both Canada and the United States cases are measured by the margins set out in the Constitution. Thus, it is fundamental that court trials adhere to set standard deemed reasonable to process a case. Jenkins highlights an important topic steaming from the accused’s right to be tried within a speedy time.

The film shows the struggles faced by many ambitious African Americans that are wrongfully convicted. Many African Americans are  struggling to fulfill their basic needs, gain wealth, and attain access to resources in White corporate America. The notion is rooted in the struggles faced between the aspiring have not and have who own the resources to capital. Those who ‘have’ access to wealth and capital control access to resource. As a young black couple, the main characters Fonny and Tish are struggling with fulfilling their basic needs. Tish and Fonny are struggling to provide housing for themselves due to gender bias and racial bias. Fonny states many of the landlords won’t rent to Tish and him as a couple, rather just a lone female. As none of the local landlords are willing to rent to a black family.

Fonny and Danny are both victims of wrongfully conviction charges. The notion resonates with the discriminatory practices of the criminal justice system. where racial injustice and tension is present. For several decades Blacks have been overrepresented in criminal detention centers and courts. Jenkin’s film depicts the story of the wrongfully convicted. Throughout the film depictions of black men being beaten, arrested, and brought to their knees by white officers.

Stone, M. (2023, November 21). Social injustice: Causes, consequences, and solutions. Study.com. https://study.com/learn/lesson/social-injustice-causes-consequences.html

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Alonzo also known as Fonny, is a 22-year-old black man expecting his first child  while he is incarcerated. His fiancé, Tish narrates their shared experience throughout criminal justice process and their experience with Anti-black racism.

As a child Fonny enrolled in a vocational school to learn woodman ship. Fonny learned to building cabinets, chairs, and dressers.

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Fonny decides to drop out of school and he took some tools with him.

Next, Fonny begins working as a cook in a restaurant. This allows him to eat and maintain a rented basement apartment.

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I hope that nobody has to look through glass at the one they love

Shela- Fonny’s sister blames his arrest on his lack of education

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This speaks towards the prejudice that many uneducated adults face. The assumption that the are lazy, or poorly trained. When in fact, they lack access to the resources in place to secure housing, education, and financial security

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The film depicts images of the confrontations met by African Americans and their confrontation with police brutality, drug addiction, and poverty. For many North Americans this is reality. Out of poverty many are struggling to feed and clothe themselves. In some instance, adults turn to a life a crime as a way of income

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At the time, Fonny and Tish are struggling to find appropriate housing because they are facing anti-black discrimination and prejudice in the housing market.

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Fonny and Tish grew up like most young lovers as children companion taking bubble bathes together. As time passed, they formed an understanding and began to care and nurture each another. Tish first realization of Fonny’s love was when he sculpted a statue for Sharon.

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However, Tish's  relationship with Fonny’s mother Alice is not that good. She tells a story that Alice has never accepted her and her relationship with Fonny. Nonetheless, Tish announces she is pregnant to Fonny’s family.  Alice states, that Tish's actions are lustful she deems the pregnancy a sexual immortality, Then Alice , states Tish's child is born of sin; thus, it will cause her womb to shrivel. Next, Frank slaps Alice for the outburst.

Earnestine, Fonny's sister then ask who will  take care of the baby. Earnestine  in an attempt to confront Tish, charges towards her.  Fonny’s sister responds by threatening Earnestine. The notion of christening in the home takes root in the relationship of church and state. That is, laws were designed to protect religion. One can see that notion in the character portrayal of Earnestine.

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Alibi –

Fonny that evening states that he was with Danny Carty and Tish occupied an apartment on Bank Street. Nevertheless, Daniel Carty arrested by means of coercion by the District Attorney’s office handling Fonny's case.  Coercion is the practice of persuading an individual to do something by using force or threats. This was seen as an attempt to get Danny to change his testimony.

When Tish visits Fonny in prison he opens up about concerns remaining in prison and his life. As, Fonny is facing the death penalty.

The day of the crime Fonny invited Danny over as a surprise for Tish. They are frustrated with the discrimination they face in the current rental market. As, it has been difficult for Tish and Fonny to secure a home because of racial discrimination.

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Danny had marijuana on him when the police detained him. However, he had no knowledge of how to operate a vehicle when arrested. The cops use tactics of fear and intimidation during the criminal processing. Danny took the lesser charge, car theft. This speaks to the racial discrimination and injustice many Blacks face. The criminalization of marijuana has led to the over representation of African Americans within prison.

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Fonny is being harrassed by a belligerent white policeman, whom threaten him

Later, Officer Bell arrest Fonny for the alledged rape of a Pureto Rican. Although Fonny, was not present at the time

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People of colour also look down upon each other, just like Fonny's mom thought little of Tish. She wasn’t good enough for her boy, but I feel his mother would have been happier if Fonny had decided to get with a white girl. If Fonny got a white girl pregnant, his mom may not have seen the baby or pregnancy as sinful or immoral

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Moments of Discrimination and Important Quotes 

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Moments of Discrimination and Important Quotes 

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A key point is how they address black ppl and white ppl. In the scene when Daniel saw Fonny on the street he was described as big loud, and black but in the house scene, when the parents were there, they spoke highly of a white man saying he was in law school and such.

“They was playing with me because they knew they could” “when you in there they can do with you whatever they want” (white guards and black inmates)

“The white man has got to be the devil” can be related to all the injustices they create for people of colour, their intentions are evil. (This can be seen when the white landlord denies the house because a black couple wants it) the scene with the landlord also displays that black women are very sexualized they aren’t seen past their bodies (another scene was at the store when the man was hitting on Tish) black women are seen as weak and easily manipulated (fonny talks about this at the table)