Systemic Racism and Black Resilience in Emancipation (2022)

Abstract

This study critically examines racial discrimination in Emancipation (2022) and its impact on the protagonist, Peter. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film portrays the brutal injustices inflicted upon enslaved Black individuals within a system dominated by white supremacy. Employing a qualitative approach, this research analyzes selected dialogues and significant scenes, applying Joe R. Feagin’s (2006) theory of systemic racism to interpret the film’s representation of racial oppression. The findings demonstrate that racism in the film is depicted not merely as an isolated historical cruelty but as a deeply entrenched structural system embedded in social, cultural, political, and religious institutions. The narrative illustrates how systemic racism operates through violence, dehumanization, forced labor, and ideological domination. Furthermore, the film highlights both the physical suffering and psychological trauma experienced by Black individuals under slavery. However, the portrayal at times risks centering Peter’s experience primarily as personal trauma rather than fully expanding the critique toward the broader institutional mechanisms that sustained racial oppression. Ultimately, Emancipation contributes meaningfully to contemporary discussions on racial injustice. It exposes the harsh realities of systemic oppression while simultaneously portraying resilience, faith, and the enduring struggle for freedom. Through Peter’s journey, the film engages with the complexities of Black endurance and resistance within an oppressive racial order.