A Philosopher Reacts to Atlanta Season 3

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A Philosopher Reacts to Atlanta Season Three
Atlanta finally came back for its third season after a long break and things felt a little . . . different. And we think philosophy might help us understand why. Let's check it out in this Philosopher Reacts to Atlanta Season Three.
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=== Watch More Episodes! ===
A Surreal Trip - The Philosophy of Atlanta ► • A Surreal Trip - The P...
Community: Can TV Make Us Smarter? ► • Community: Can TV Make...
Critical Race Theory: Why the Controversy? ► • Critical Race Theory: ...
Analyzed and Hosted by Michael Burns
Directed by Elizabeth Yarwood
Edited by William Schwartz
Produced by Olivia Redden and Griffin Davis
Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound
#Atlanta #DonaldGlover #Wisecrack
© 2022 Wisecrack / Omnia Media, Inc. / Enthusiast Gaming

[@sLePpInG]

I think the hangover guy didn't notice he stole it at first, he's distracted by the barista and puts it in his pocket as if it was his phone -- it says he isn't entirely aware of the things his ancestors stole, but is happy to reap its benefits and get away with it. The show is amazing in the way that is both on your face and super subtle. my favourite TV show and s3 cemented it.

[@RichardServello]

The point was that he lives in a privileged life that he doesn’t go back to pay for it when he realizes his mistake, he smiles and is happy he got a free treat. It doesn’t even register as a crime with him.

[@Peecamarke]

I think it’s a commentary on how white privileged can blind you to even the things should be negative to you or a criticism from black culture don’t even register

[@sarahbond689]

I would say the fact that he was able to get distracted and put something in his pocket is a statement by itself as a person of color I'm always thinking about how not to look suspicious, but I'm trying to bake something. Going as far as checking in with the people at Bath and Body Works if I want to look at the table closer to the exit (back into the mall) while carrying my things. I think a testament to that would be the lady who followed Van and later episodes and accuse her of stealing the wig that she bought.

[@mycollegeshirt]

@@sarahbond689 yeah I don't think white people realize how much thought goes into trying not to look suspicious. In everyday public life. But no it's heavily implied that van did steal that wig, Atlanta is not an apologetic show looking for simpathy like that.

[@williambeale8275]

@@RichardServello I agree with Richard. I think his revelation of stealing the cookie was less on-the-nose sinister and more just an ignorance/jadedness that comes with privilege. He noticed he got a free treat and he he just saw it as a typical good thing because typically good things happen to him. When in actuality, he stole the cookies. But not only that, he fails to realize that American society was built to allow people who look like him to receive these advantages and this isn't a product of his individual "good luck". Then the rest of the episode shows this in a macro sense.

[@VivianSweets]

This entire season of Atlanta was one big ghost story, and I loved every minute of it.

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

Same here... except for the last episode, unfortunately. 🤢 I'd been defending season 3 every step of the way till then lol

[@AKIRTV9]

last episode is great, i struggle to understand why most people don’t connect with it outside of the fact that it’s an over the top van episode… if it was an over the top darius episode i don’t think it will be treated this harshly

[@VivianSweets]

@@AKIRTV9 I really liked the last episode, early on in the season, I had convinced myself that Van had been possessed by a thrift store coat, and that was causing her break from routine, but then they're all just like "Nope it's mental illness." I felt like a fool for trying to out maneuver the writers, I should have known better. And the Ern button on the episode was chef's kiss level. Best show of all time.

[@lowtech42]

There's so many ghost allusions that have been deftly woven into the story. There's the main crew (except Earn) who seem to be possessed by pretas: hungry ghosts in Buddhism etc. with an animalistic urge to sate their suffering. They're one of the 6 forms one can inhabit in reincarnation (which is sometimes not literal in interpretation and represents a psychological state). All of them are shown to be eating prominently, particularly comfort foods like in these two episodes. All of the gang's struggles against capitalism also bring to mind the "spectre haunting Europe" from the Communist Manifesto. shout out to big poppa Marx. A deep leftist cut is Mark Fisher's "Capitalist Hauntology" too, who unfortunately met the same fate as white Earn. It feels like the kinda thing Donald and the writers would be hip to. There's also Episode 1, with the Lake Lanier incident. Then the young boy Loquarius whose name is likely a portmanteau of Loa + Aquarius. The latter is of course Latin for "water bearer" but the former are supernatural spirits from voodoo and African (Yoruba) religious beliefs that act as mediums for communication between humans and the creator (Bondye). The key thing is they communicate through dreams 👁️ There's also the episode with Sylvia who coulda been attempting to deliver the family pictures from beyond the grave 👻 Ghosts tend to be associated with curses, which Donald said the S3 theme was "freeing white people from the curse of whiteness." Honestly I have to stop myself here because each season could have it's own book breaking down the deep symbolism, cultural references, and it's significance among the character's in the show's own context. I wholeheartedly agree that its likely the best show running and definitely my favorite ‼️🙌🏿

[@bowow6988]

It’s like how Jim Crow is a ghost. It’s still haunting me like I’m the girl from poltergeist.

[@bboykman]

One part that this video missed would be critique around the 18:40 scene where Earn and paperboy talk about how a black person who manages to uplift their people from poverty to become self reliant always gets killed by the government. An example would be the multiple black communities in america around the 1900's-1940's in which self sustaining black communities which grew their own wealth would succumb to white mobs burning their communities down and forcing them to leave whatever they had built. FD signifier has a great video on it titled Why "I don't dream of labour" doesn't work and it bring to the forefront the idea of why black pessimistic thought has been in the minds of black americans as they came to realise no matter how much they played into the system and they would be always some facet of white supremacy waiting to topple that success

[@sinnsage]

yeah episode 1 of season 3, that whole episode is based on true things that happened. the beginning on the lake, that story is true and ppl do die in that lake all the time, more than other similar lakes. and if you look into that story, it was just another instance of what you’re describing happening. and of course we know that sad story of devonte brown and his adopted siblings. the pessimism is understandable, and almost doesn’t seem like the right term for it…it’s like, the inescapable reality. i don’t want to accept it but of all the centuries of hoping for something better for black people, even a modicum of equality, society isn’t much closer to that so words like pessimism and optimism seem utterly pointless. hope that made sense.

[@Hometown989]

love that vid from FD! And yes, the stories you reference are undertold and harder to tell with ppl trying to erase history smh

[@ClayWhiteman]

I would pay for you to do whole episodes. Love seeing some black philosophers along with Sartre too!

[@actualnotanewbie]

Nine Need Yards did some INCREDIBLE breakdowns of every episode!

[@ComeWatchTV]

I did a video essay on "New Jazz"-- I would love for you to check it out!

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

@@ComeWatchTV You did a good job... keep it up!

[@ComeWatchTV]

@@Jimmy1982Playlists thank you so much!

[@chooseitwisely98]

He missed the raccoon on the jersey 😅 very interesting to see Michael's perspective on this. Id love to see yall do more collabs and expand to include the perspectives of philosophers from different backgrounds. Folks like FD Signifier!

[@kingjoeblack5]

Fd signifier is an out of touch academic. He literally has nothing more to add than Micheal

[@chooseitwisely98]

@@kingjoeblack5 I- 💀💀 yea ok sure

[@stevenmonsanto5324]

@@kingjoeblack5 source?

[@TooDamnTall]

I feel like that was a purposeful omission. That is one of those in your face racist things it can be hard for a white person to eloquently navigate around without being demonetized on KZbin or cancelled on Twitter lol

[@toneriggz]

Trini 2 De Bone was one of the most honest episodes ever. Manhattan is full of little kids being raised by West Indian nannies.

[@whoisbenjaminblack7880]

TRUTH 👏

[@kennethjoseph6349]

Them coconuts choose that profession . Who cares Z they just modern day mammies & don’t realize it .

[@toneriggz]

@@user-hc2tu7ul7j I don’t think it was for wealthy people. I’m not wealthy, didn’t have a nanny. I relate to it because it’s something I’ve observed in Manhattan. And it wasn’t just about the rich family. They were fish out of water at the wake. The nanny’s daughter was upset at her mother for raising a rich White kid. Her kids suffered because of her job. It was deep. You might not relate to a rich kid having a West Indian nanny. But you might relate to it if you’ve seen these nannies or know some/related to them. In the end, their child was really the nanny’s child. The nanny was always there for the kid while the parents were either working or living their lives.

[@toneriggz]

@@user-hc2tu7ul7j Ok that’s your experience. But I’m sure it resonated with others from similar situations. And the in that episode, the wife didn’t really care for the nanny. She was trying to replace her. So, I think covering as many bases as possible between rich families that care and those that don’t. I knew a rich girl who had a West Indian nanny and her family was close to her for decades.

[@Daniel-nt5uc]

This episode got me thinking about how the scramble for Africa is occurring again with America and China battling it out in Africa over influence by introducing their culture, currency, and military bases. Back then it was about taking Africa by force now it's about a debt trap

[@DEAF175]

neocolonialism! interesting term, I read about it and my whole perspective changed. nice name btw

[@domsquared9878]

@@DEAF175 in high school my senior English class was centered around neocolonialism

[@DEAF175]

@@domsquared9878 thats awesome!! what state or country did you go to highschool? Did you study it applied on literature/art or a more socioeconomic aspect of it?

[@williampearson6299]

But China is still more reasonable than Europe however they act. Europe and America threaten and bomb Africa and still churn out negative propaganda. Maybe Europe can learn from China's strategies.

[@domsquared9878]

@@DEAF175 New Jersey, US, in that class it was mostly through literature

[@samr2478]

I find it interesting that this video doesn't DIRECTLY attempt to address the Eurocentric views that are prevelant in philosophy. When watching this season I was exploring it through a racial lense, a financial lense, and my own personal experience. It's always fascinating to get someone elses take on art.

[@Phronesis7]

THIS!

[@williampearson6299]

Right? I think that's why a lot of black people on the Left keep freaking out. They feel that their views and experiences don't matter in America. Black history, philosophers, economists etc. It's a little unfair to label black Americans Marxists when they have nothing to do with Karl Marx. Why don't you pull up a philosopher from their black experience?

[@SurrealSurrender]

💯 I give Wisecrack props for giving us a philosophical perspective of Atlanta from a White lens. I think that lens allows us non-White viewers to see not only how deep the White lens can go to understanding Atlanta’s social commentary, BUT also what it fails to understand as well, which can help us non-White folks better understand how and where “bad faiths” can be birthed from. Exploring those limitations can allow for a clearer understanding on how to expose and combat the further propagation of “bad faiths”.

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

@@SurrealSurrender Well-put! As a light-skinned Arab-American, I know what it feels like to be looked at as "white" one minute, and the "other" in the next... which is why I absolutely love the recurring theme of season 3, voiced by "White Earn" at the beginning of episode 1. If I had one wish for the planet, it'd be that white people realize how bad white supremacy, and the whole idea of "whiteness", damages them, too... and men to realize what patriarchy and toxic masculinity does to damage them, and so on (cis people and homophobia - native-born and xenophobia, etc)... It should be enough to see how awfully it hurts the alleged _"Other"_ but, unfortunately, it seems only then that real change might be made. Same with our devastation of the planet. We're destroying _ourselves._

[@kaneaquino8295]

Next: The Cast of Atlanta react to a Philosopher reacts to Atlanta Season 3

[@dafellaz6]

We can only pray

[@Peecamarke]

Well done, waiting for the preview👏 😂😂😂

[@Thefamilychannel723]

🙂

[@JROTCBALL]

Season 3 was so freaking good, and I definitely feel like this show was snubbed on Emmys 😭

[@RichardServello]

If it wasn’t nominated for literally everything, you’re correct

[@leafroadlounge]

They gave away the code.

[@adrianseanheidmann4559]

Who cars about the fucking Emmys anyway?

[@TheHipStory]

watching a white guy talk about the philosophy of Atlanta is SO UNINTENTIONALLY FUNNY for some reason..still love yall doe

[@Elon153]

Philosophy is universal.

[@kingjoeblack5]

He’s struggling so hard😂😂😂

[@Peecamarke]

it’s like something they’d have in an Atlanta episode: “viewers listen to White Philosopher analyzing show that highlights black people’s perspective of white culture” 🤔lol

[@chiaravivini4939]

They have a black host on this channel so why do not put him

[@chiaravivini4939]

And next time we are going to have a wisecrack video about ROSA PARKS being analysed from the point of view of Jared a WHITE MAN stay tuned

[@CottonCandySharks]

This was really well done! As a white person this actually helped make things clearer. I think it's scary to think that the debt will never be paid, or it has to be equal, which is impossible without white slaves. But that's not what's being championed. Concrete atrocities happened in that past that are still affecting black people today, and so in order to level the field for future generations we need to do concrete things. Need to invest in black communities, schools, neighborhoods, businesses. Not just a token amount to make us feel better, but even more than equal for a while, until it really is equal.

[@RichardServello]

This has been my favorite show since episode one. This season was next level amazing.

[@AlexA-dr4yx]

Great video. When it comes to the limits of change our system can/will tolerate and Afropessimism, I think it's interesting to note that Atlanta has also toyed with the definition of what it means to be 'White'. When the Hangover Guy's wife leaves him she states that she's Persian, and can't be associated with him, to which Hangover Guy says something like "You were white yesterday!" showing that Whiteness is a social status (what the vampire guy said in the first episode) When Wilderson states that Black people are disconnected from other nonwhite peoples I think it's because Whiteness was manufactured to just mean not Black and as long as those identities exist they will separate and isolate Black people from all others. When Fanon discussed creating a new version of humanism he's arguing imo for us to redefine the categories by which we define ourselves so that we can actually be in community with each other. But as Sarte and Wilderson note, as long as the systems and institutions we have in place instantiate Whiteness there's not much we can do.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

There's also the fact that whiteness is treated as the default world viewpoint as opposed to simply American culture. In fact money, institutions and money combine whiteness with American culture and used this combined concept to diminish non white ideas/cultures and the only international culture that is acknowledged in mass media is the UK. And the UK has its own ugly history of diminishing non white people's. Non white public figures such as President Obama are measured against whiteness. They aren't measured or examined under a different lens because it pays money to make whiteness the default viewpoint globally. This explains the old man and the tree episode where MK the Asian American woman was harassed for being racist under the viewpoint of whiteness and her interactions with Darius are framed around whiteness instead of her home city of Los Angeles.

[@_abracadabra]

*Peruvian, not Persian. I agree with your assessment though.

[@RichardServello]

Want your mind blown even further. Every time Earnest (the white guy in the hunters jacket) shows up in this season, he’s voiced by Donald Glover (who plays Earn).

[@Dan1elAndrade]

BULLSHIT nah man I call BS :O

[@daylanberry7955]

Dude i hear it in the voice but I can’t find any source on this.

[@sinnsage]

i love how both their names are Earnest. (although for Earn and him being nicknamed “Earn” i think it might have a different connotation) but i find it interesting that the white guy is name Earnest. like he has no bad intentions, he maybe earnestly wants equality and to not do racialized harm, but that doesn’t matter. the harm happens simply due to the whiteness and his Earnestness is depressingly irrelevant.

[@chrisrosenkreuz23]

The point of the cookie was not that it was stolen (he did it unintentionally) but the contentness of profiting from it because he didn't inted to steal it. It was basically bestowed upon him through no ill will of his own (like his white privilege)

[@mahlatsimamabolo6179]

The episode with the English lady “colonising” the Nigerian business, is also a great representation of how European colonisers infiltrated African states and cultures back then. The way she “uses” her buddy Darius to introduce her to the restaurant, and to “measure” the opportunity, before finally taking over. This is similar to how the English posed as missionaries, became familiar with a tribe of people, get that tribe to help them explore the land and understand the other indigenous tribes before finally (forcibly) colonising that land.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

White people back then knew they were to weak to win by force and so their racist ideologies stem from a desire to justify their own capabilities by devaluing black people.

[@HussOnTheBeat]

Moat telling part from that scene for me was her telling Darius she hates fish immediately after telling him they owned a seafood restaurant as a side venture

[@rye419]

This show and this season is a masterpiece.

[@Peecamarke]

I love your videos and this channel BUT I feel like this video hella missed the mark in analyzation and doesn’t delve deep enough from the view point of like, the actual Black/African-American diaspora. Which is fundamental to understanding a lot of the semiotics in this show since most of them are from a non-Eurocentric pov. There’s a lot scenes and events that ref a lot Black history, culture, philosophers, African history and culture, when you don’t know those things or use European culture and view of history to understand them, you don’t get the deeper meaning but a VERY different meaning all together. Like, you hardly quote ANY black philosophers and poets (modern nor current) when there are so many who’ve spoken extensively on a lot of these subjects (I was expecting, as oppose to most vids where you resource a lot of euro-centric/white philosophers and few non-white ones, you’d have primarily black philosophers, psychologists, and poets for this) making your substantiations seem quite out of touch. Very surprising but hopefully this tidbit doesn’t discourage you but helps with any future similar videos, again, love the channel! Keep up the work! 👍🏿

[@fcktherich6913]

You should do it!👍

[@fcktherich6913]

I think that's why he picked themes and topics that stood out to him as a white philosopher and didn't try to take a black perspective. Also I don't think they have the time and budget on this channel for big collaborations (so far as I've seen) I too would like to see the kind of video you suggested if there is someone who does huge projects like that on KZbin

[@MaskedHeart]

🔦🔎🕯🔍📹📸🎥📽🎬💻 make ya own vid, drop dem bars.

[@Peecamarke]

@@fcktherich6913 I feel you, I just feel if that’s the case then they shouldn’t do it at all or use your platform to give someone else that has that knowledge and perspective (there are quite a few white Black history and culture academics). Otherwise you just inadvertently end up enforcing the euro-centric lens of Black culture that a lot of folks outside the Black Community (not just white people) naturally default to seeing things through due to western schooling and education system, defeating the whole point of the video in the first place. You can see it the comments with folks taking what he’s saying as gospel but warping it even more when even HE isn’t seeing it the right way.

[@alvapazz]

I loved this series. I haven’t been so happy watching something since I watched spirited away years ago. This show is magic. I loved Donald. Genius!

[@stevenboelke6661]

Guilt isn't heritable. The benefits of privlege are passed down, but the solution isn't to make random individuals pay for the crimes of their forefathers. The individuals responsible may be gone, but society is neither blameless nor dead. Reconstruction should have addressed this after the civil war, but it didn't. The solution is equity for all which would of course have to be funded via a fair tax system. Class justice is racial justice and vice versa.

[@kingjoeblack5]

It wasn’t random individuals. It was literally ONLY the people who inherited wealth from the enslavement of black people. Reparations has never been about who’s responsible, it’s about who was harmed. There were plenty of random individuals who didn’t have to pay anything. Class reductionism ain’t the way.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

The reparations episode was satire. It wasn't intended to be taken seriously. It was supposed to mock white people's reactions and explanations for slavery and systemic racism. I just find it disappointing so many people took the reparations in the Atlanta universe at face value but then treated the Black Justin Beiber as satire. Smh.

[@lancesharpe6163]

They (he Central Park 5) weren’t Black men, they were Black boys, teens at most.

[@kevinhenderson5928]

And there was no murder.

[@TheCreepypro]

man there is more to this show than I thought

[@urfatherty]

in my opinion, this was easily the best season and one of my favorite seasons from any tv show ever. so intriguing and i was excited every week for the next episode

[@dafellaz6]

I hope they keep em comin and FX don't try to f it up

[@kennethjoseph6349]

This shit was weak

[@dafellaz6]

@@kennethjoseph6349 nu uh

[@Peecamarke]

I mean that FIRST season was VERY real for young black Americans esp a lot of black men but I feel this last season was great at showing the greater black diaspora’s relationship to different communities

[@urfatherty]

@@dafellaz6 theres one more season coming this year, and this will be the end. it finished filming and everything, hope its a great finale

[@andysawyer647]

I will probably give offense where none is intended but here goes. The reparations episode was intentionally aggressive and alienating. Her character was designed to be abrupt and alienating and entitled. Sheniqua was the avatar for his ancestors actions and a Kwame Ture wet dream. Marshall is the avatar of whiteness ability to detach from "other people's" problems. He passively benefits from being so "normal" through his dress and demeanor that he literay gets to rob the store becaise the cashier felt it necessaryto harass and escalate with the black customer. He also did not interject on his behalf. There is a concept thats typical "American" families are insular divested of the troubles of there extended or nuclear family. This is not a thing with many "minority" families and often extends to people in our surroundings. When he was advised what to do by the black person it was not even worth finishing because not accepting social debt has been conditioned in to the many white people. On The Boys MM's ex-wife's new husband idolizes Homlanders "FYou" attitude to the point of astonishment during his I'm Better speech. Marshall's is co-worker quickly says the same. Ghost Earn is not at ease accepting that social responsibility even after their talk at the hotel. Marshall's downward arc was created to show people how unfair the systems in place feels. His refusal to listen as his other co-worker in the bathroom cost him money, but his change in perspective prevented the added injury of guilt and aggrievement that the red-haired lady co-worker suffered.

[@MaskedHeart]

I can dig it

[@leafroadlounge]

Thank you

[@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460]

Preach it, Andy Sawyer, PREACH IT!!!!!!!

[@nlsantiesteban]

Also, Ern needs to be reminded of the Audrey Lorde quote, sumthinglike, the master’s tools will never tear down the master’s house.

[@Neversoft2489]

I imagine I'll get flack for this take (and I may well be wrong!), but the episode on reparations was more complicated than the host of this video made it seem. It was an exercise in let's do to white people what they did to others, which was interesting and thought provoking to watch. However, it seemed to complicate the wisdom of this idea, as Ernest killed himself after that speech and the ending at the restaurant and seemed to present class issues. Perpetuating pain by inflicting it on the descendants of those who inflicted it does not represent solidarity or progress. Also, the host said the daughter was free of the curse, which didn't seem like a logical reading. The main character's wife was Peruvian and likely white but she changed her heritage when it was convenient and now his daughter will also be part of that lineage.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

The entire reparations episode was satire mocking white interpretations of racial inequalities that stem from slavery in the United States. These false interpretations avoid the fact that the systems that created slavery in the US are still present today and harm black people in smaller subtle ways. We see these subtleties through the eyes of Doug the man white Earn talks to. White Earn represents a white progressive. He can explain the systemic inequalities related to race but ultimately isn't willing to suffer alongside black people. He is satisfied with only having an intellectual understanding and when faced with living under worse conditions he commits suicide undermining his wisdom completely. And the reason the episode switched to economic inequalities was to show that white people who say all lives matter and slavery is gone therefore everything is fine are ignorant. They fail to understand that even if racism is 100% gone some other form of inequality will replace it. Therefore ignoring the history of oppression is a bad idea because it allows power balance to continue in modern day to day society.

[@kemalkaharuddin2668]

Agree wholeheartedly

[@RenaldyCalixte]

@@kemalkaharuddin2668 How come you don't agree with my argument?

[@dracojoule]

Atlanta is an amazing show, probably in my top 3 all time. Everything about how it balances social commentary, humor, and story telling is unlike anything I've seen. I liked seasons 1 and 2 more because I enjoyed the narrative of Earn, Van, Darius, and Paper Boi all trying to make it, but season 3 definitely had a lot of great moments. I thought your interpretation of the episode 4 was interesting; I personally saw that episode as a parody of what a lot of white people think reparations would look like: white individuals directly repaying black individuals for crimes their ancestors committed. The episode takes the idea to an extreme on purpose imo to kind of act as a visual representation of that unrealistic fear/resistance some white people have toward reparations. In reality, reparations would come from the government (obviously funded by taxes, but where the financial responsibility isn't solely on individuals) but people still resist the idea anyway. I think it's ridiculous to assume that people are responsible for the sins of their ancestors. Sons don't go to jail if their father committed murder; the idea that actions taken by people who aren't you and that you had no say in those actions yet are still responsible for them is ridiculous. That being said, you can't ignore the impact that those actions have had. The episode shows the dangers of white guilt with how the Earnest guy kills himself over it in the pool. Being consumed with guilt over actions you didn't commit is incredibly unhealthy, and a lot of white kids will grow up with this sense of guilt upon learning about the nation's history. That being said, you have to understand where people are coming from and you can't be ignorant to the impact slavery and racism have had on this country and on Black people. You can't deny someone's plight simply because you don't personally see it because you think it doesn't affect you, because it DOES affect you. It's like how the shoe presents the "curse of whiteness" that haunts every fabric of this nation, and people need to realize that it is bad for everybody

[@TheModernAlchemix]

I love the comprehensive approach to discussing such a show full of sociopolitical commentary ♥️

[@realbrizza]

This was amazing and reinvigorated my love for philosophy. Thanks again wisecrack

[@thomaslyons441]

So, my white ancestors came from Ireland during the famine. Does that mean I don't need to pay slavery reparations, or that England should pay me reparations?

[@AussieRoos]

I was born in Scotland with Irish peasantry ancestry = zero white guilt. Our ancestors were getting farked over long before 1619. Facts

[@diodorussiculus2186]

Both.

[@ComeWatchTV]

Loved this video! I did my own video essay on "New Jazz"-- I would love for you to check it out!

[@LiterallyJustTheWorst]

Did anyone else notice how half of this season was just... "Black Mirror"? ... Tell me it wasn't just me that got the reference and joke in the vehicle for message delivery.

[@ramoncruz6646]

Something that also made me say "uh oh" watching the episode in the food truck part is that the cooker wasn't Nigerian or even black, it was (I think) asian

[@BartRos1980]

I did not like the season at all. Mostly because I wanted the main characters story. Not this anthology stuff. It approached a few interesting ideas. Certainly. But I am a Jew Indonesian. And it even made me uncomfortable. Very much so.

[@kingjoeblack5]

Atlanta is the main character.

[@BartRos1980]

@@kingjoeblack5 have you actually watched the newest season?? Cos nothing is set in Atlanta.

[@dafellaz6]

I hope they keep em comin and FX don't try to f it up

[@thatonecrazybrownguy3631]

Here after season 4 finale and damn did this show hit different and I am gonna miss it ;(, and glad I saw the original wise crack video when i was 16 on Atlanta surealism wisecrack a real one.

[@theburningstone]

They aren’t cookies. They are Madeleines. That’s some Proustian stuff right there.

[@AKATakisOfficial]

This show is genius. From Earn's dreams being shown in season 1 to here with the hands reaching for him and the surrealism, symbolism and it being all explained fully in the latest episode of season 4.

[@destinyforreal9744]

This is a great video what an awesome way to modernize classic ideas I started watching I thought old is might be just about pop-culture then I started getting into it this is really smart

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

"Have the courage to read it, primarily because it will make you feel ashamed, and shame, as Marx said, is a revolutionary feeling." --Jean-Paul Sartre on reading Fanon Which is exactly why all those right-wingers in the US refuse to have their kids taught the _actual_ history of America - because it might make their kid "feel shame"... and shame would force those kids to question the worldview of those same parents and transform society. Can't have that, can we?!? They might actually start thinking for themselves! BTW Bryan Tyree Henry is _incredible_ as Paper Boi! Can't wait for Season 4, coming soon 😁

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Think about Doug in the reparations episode. He was unhappy about his daughter asking questions regarding heritage as it relates to whiteness. History that's non biased towards whiteness is a tool that would create a sense of powerlessness in the minds of some white people. Therefore Doug makes excuses and uses the economic well being of his daughter to force her to ignore the history of their family and whiteness as a whole.

[@kymCPT]

Thinking wouldn’t it be amazing if Spike Lee directed an episode 🤔

[@donnysmoke]

More Fanon on this channel plzzzzz

[@theocnetwork1521]

I like your take on this but do you plan on uploading a part 2 ?

[@MartyD]

such an interesting season

[@jhonklan3794]

"His history" It has nothing to with him. He neither chose it nor has a connection to his ancestors.

[@Corey.Coolidge]

I agree that racism will never be solved by capitalism. To try and do so is folly and entire new systems separate from capitalism need to be created to stop minority exploitation. I do not believe that the woman that made a Nigerian restaurant did anything wrong. People don't own culture and culture by it's very nature should be shared an iterated on. If you're mad that someone made money off your culture that doesn't share your heritage, then what you're made it is capitalism. We all have to lived in the messed up system and do our best to make it here. The restaurant owner is not hurting anyone by selling her food, so I say it's fair game. Is it in poor taste, maybe. Should actual Nigerians be making that food? Well banks don't give them those loans, so, again, there needs to be separate systems apart from capitalism that should help.

[@Peecamarke]

Soooo racism and capitalism can’t be tied…? Isn’t that a form of systemic racial oppression…?

[@Corey.Coolidge]

@@Peecamarke I think you made a leap there. Of course capitalism and racism can be tied. That's what colonialism and slavery are at their very core. But simply selling something from another person's culture isn't racism, just as much as Eminem isn't doing a racism when he performs hip-hop, an American chef isn't doing a racism when they create sushi, even though we took Japanese property during WW2.

[@Peecamarke]

@@Corey.Coolidge maybe it’s more in line with a systemic cultural appropriation but the thing with systemic RACIAL oppression is also that it’s so ingrained into our socio-economic systems that the very foundations/makeup of common business strategies and education is geared towards white people and as a result not giving that particular race (partic in this case the black/African diaspora) the same “footing” because they aren’t born or raised in or have a heritage within white spaces OR possess a white identity. I.e communication and language, schooling, semiotics, etc

[@Corey.Coolidge]

@@Peecamarke I totally agree with your take that much of racism is baked into the systems we have and that many countries including the US need not only change those systems but make up for the inequality past system produced that lead to the situation we are in now. My point is that capitalism can’t solve these issues. That there need to be systems apart from capitalism that we value as much if not more. As for cultural appropriation, I think this has been used too broadly. A single chef making a small business isn’t doing that, no more than a white hip-hop artist is doing it no more than a fashion designer is doing it.

[@kingjoeblack5]

Of course you don’t believe the British stealing from Nigerian culture while actively oppressing Nigerians is wrong…. YOU’RE WHITE

[@varunbendre]

Great video. About the last point you made, it's not that real change isn't possible, or can never be achieved, it's that it can't be achieved *under* capitalism. The social relations associated with capitalism are too intertwined with colonialism and white supremacy to ever be separated. We cannot end one without also ending the other.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

The problem with this is that other economic systems have weaknesses intertwined within them. Communism is intertwined with authoritarianism and utilitarianism. Socialism is intertwined with inefficiency and lack of innovation. Communism puts too much power in the hands of governornment to redistribute resources to the people. And there is no systemic protection against the government paying themselves to redistribute wealth and then enforcing laws on people that eliminates the ability to privatize (or accumulate individually) wealth. This transforms a society into a utilitarianists society as opposed to a self determined one. The government cares for the people as a whole and the individual has no power or no ability to effect change in the government because it could limit the value of services given to a majority of people as a whole. Socialism means no incentive to innovate the means of production or innovate the quality of goods produced. The government controls production and that limits the amount of profit that one can make. This limits the drive to innovate or create new products. The government essentially suppresses the growth of different industries as a way to keep costs down but it harms the potential for improvement within an industry.

[@psulionz87]

amazing vid!

[@AdrianAye]

9:51 was one of my favorite scenes of TV history.

[@RoundHouseDictator]

Are some Americans ashamed of their shame? Is metashame something to be ashamed of?

[@lildtripp]

Wisecrack doing Atlanta! Probably the fastest like I’ve ever gave

[@RobGradyVO]

Honestly I think they should have made the whole Season an Anthology Season. The Anthology episodes were hands down the best ones of the season and you can tell they put the most thought into them.

[@curiouscommand5916]

Nah that would've created too much backlash. For the record I liked both the main cast episodes and the anthology episodes, however I felt like the anthology took away from the main show this season (comprising half the episodes overall) and going forward I wish they were split into two different series or something, that or at least double up on the main cast episodes. (Not that it too matters much, the show is wrapping up this fall anyway so whatever happens happens.)

[@RobGradyVO]

@@curiouscommand5916 I feel ya, but I felt like in most of the episodes with the main cast, other than the ending where Al asks about his masters, none of them learned or experienced something that they didnt experience in some way the previous seasons. Im still trying to figure out what the entire point of Socks' character was considering they never even brought up the phone again or....Him again after episode 5.

[@RobGradyVO]

Not to mention that Episode 10 definitely didnt feel like an actual Season Finale. It felt more like an episode 8. Plus, we didnt even get any mention of like Clark County or any of the questions from season 2. The Anthologies were their own essays and their own thought out thesis for what they wanted to prove with the season that made the other episodes of the season for the most part to me personally feel....Almost Irrelevant.

[@Peecamarke]

@@RobGradyVO there’s a lot of social commentary in this season on the relationship of the black diaspora TO other cultures and ethnicities. Whether it’s the white colleagues of Paper boi and Al that act like bridges for them to white spaces, despite their success and social autonomy or the West Indian nanny’s caretaking educating white children on black semiotics, or taking on euro-centric identities to escape the harsh reality of being a black American and the various challenges and issues that comes with, Paper Boi’s mother relationship reflects the relationship of a lot of Black Mothers and children, I mean I could go on. Sometimes, the objective or goal of the story isn’t for the CHARACTER to learn something but the AUDIENCE to learn something about the character or about the world the character lives in

[@RobGradyVO]

@@Peecamarke Oh I agree, I really loved the episodes from this season and the themes were definitely well placed and Addressed. But what you said at the End for the AUDIENCE learning. Thats kinda the point Im getting at. The dialogue and the actual discussions of the show and what the messages were for me and my friends atleast were more Poignant in the anthology episodes. In Season 2 we already had an episode about Al's Mother and being mindful of the people he surrounds himself with. But then in Season 3 they just let some Random like Sock's Leech? I understand that Sock's is supposed to represent the White person using an up and coming Black Celebrity for their advantage, but I personally felt they didnt do enough with that to get the entire point across. He was in two episodes and that was it. Meanwhile, and I know people are attached to the main cast. But For example in season 1 and two some of the best episodes were ones that didnt focus entirely on the main cast, I.E. B.A.N. , Teddy Perkins, Champagne Papi, and Arguably FUBU and The Barbershop. My point is. I think the Team at Atlanta are so fucking good at writing stories and working their ways to express their narratives, but I thought that because they did so many anthology episodes this season and each episode needed to do more to establish the characters and Thesis, that the episodes with the main cast felt less fleshed out and sometimes lackluster in comparison. Not that The episodes with the Main cast weren't amazing in they own right, just That I personally liked the direction the anthology episodes were heading. But Im very excited to see where the entirety of season 3 does to the end product of season 4 especially cause they said they goin back to focusing on the main cast.

[@prometheus1606]

More episodes on Atlanta S3, please 😀😀😀

[@Bantoshima]

I'm so happy you actually researched black philosophers for this video. S1 and S2 were very good in my eyes and a lot better than S3. S3 was literally a montage of white people destroying black people and their culture. It rarely dived deep into the minds of the its very interesting characters. Paperboi and Vyn were the only two that got somewhat adequate screen time. Maybe it hits different because it is in Europe, and the US sees Europe as more progressive, when *surprise surprise* it's not.

[@lunasperidot8760]

White people destroying black people? What? When did that happen?

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Europe was the U.S.'s historical role model in how to take advantage of non white people so it made sense that Europe has its own racial tensions and that it created challenges for Paperboi, Earn, Van and Darius.

[@not.here.nat.]

Donald Glover should have uploaded this before airing season 3... Regrardless, love his work, as always!

[@R3K0Ntv]

What if a guy with a useless degree talked over a good show?

[@WisecrackEDU]

honestly . . . great description of this.

[@MoMo-ul6uk]

Yo Michael, do a react on 'What is a Woman' by Daily Wire.

[@caziis13]

Atlanta gave me a perspective that in USA is hard to be patriot when all the culture comes from somewhere else, it happens here in Brasil too, as we grow as a country financially it seems to take 100 steps back when it comes to the society and it's values, the more capitalism instals here the more chaos seems to bring...

[@Qwasboy]

I could watch your commentary on Atlanta all day mate

[@lordkayx]

Why the fuck does wisecracks "A Philosopher Reacts to Atlanta Season 3" stir more feelings, emotions, and thoughts in me than anything ive seen in the past 5 years?????

[@JasonHitzert]

I think the maturity of Earn, Van, Darius and Paper Boi means they are having to confront more complex problems. I think as they become better at what and who they are in the world, as they do we're seeing the world in a different way through that complexity.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Exactly. That's what I believe story was Atlanta Season 3 was about. But I understand for some people Season 3 wasn't as entertaining as the 1st two seasons. But I think it's not just about entertainment. It's about understanding who these characters are and how they are entering more complicated situations because they're making more money.

[@JasonHitzert]

@@RenaldyCalixte they've been so good for one another too. They each are aspiring to become mature and complex. I'm 53 years old and when I look back at my life I realize the things that are important are what they seem to be aspiring too. I think, most people could learn a lot about where they need to go in their personal development from watching these characters and how thoughtful they are dealing with the insanity around them.

[@heavymetal3122]

yall shouldnt have done this one

[@Rhettsta]

Doesn't do the episode with the two white lesbian couple adopting the black kid. which is based off a true story.

[@benblack8941]

I’m sayin tho!

[@pvtpain66k]

11:30 This is the guy in the end credits of the last episode. Earn opens the bag that's not his, with a bag of meds, shirt and family picture.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Earn stayed in the same hotel and the white Earn was real and he committed suicide while Earn was still in Europe. White Earn stayed in the hotel first.

[@andreaobaez864]

"Why should I be held responsible for what my ancestors did," becomes moot when you reorient the conversation back to generational trauma; trauma is insidious, it manifests in weird ways and duplicates itself through the bloodline, and those who inflicted that trauma 1. Did it for their prosperity and that of their progeny, and 2. Refused to acknowledge the harm they caused and instead prolonged it through institutional means. We aren't holding you responsible for what your ancestors did, your ancestors left you the bill.

[@minedantaken1684]

I am still being held responsible for this shit I didn't do. You're just saying "well, I am not forcing you, it's them". The funny thing about it is, now it's like doing dishes, I would do it, if you just stopped forcing me to do it. At least that's how I feel about it. I mean, it just feels better to help with a problem I already know I benefit from, because someone was a jackass and that's just not alright than to be forced to because I am the same race as said jackass. So tl;dr guilt tripping doesn't feel good, I guess? (Please don't take the tldr seriously)

[@Peecamarke]

@@minedantaken1684 that’s like hella childish tho, hence your dishes example I guess. When you’re grown you do dishes regardless of the guilt trip because you understand the importance of it and have gotten over things like childish egos that blind you to that, or at least that’s how it SHOULD be

[@Peecamarke]

Preach 🫰

[@andreaobaez864]

@@Peecamarke @MineDan Taken not to mention, if your parents dine and dash, leaving you with the bill, doing the dishes to pay it off is a pretty mild consequence.

[@vysharra]

@@minedantaken1684 oppositional defiance at its best. This is what happens when toddlers don’t grow up. “I would do it if you stopped telling me to”?! Lol. I guess you’ve never had a boss or paid your taxes.

[@Bob-jn8jt]

I love this episode. I really appreciate that you take the time to explain and breakdown the episodes and its philosophies. I do find it a bit Ironic that it is being told by a white dude. But no criticism just love. Thanks again for this beautiful episode.

[@ClockworkBirdiee]

As for the 4th episode, it was surprising for me that you skipped the main character's explanation to his daughter about their Serbian ancestors, who obviously had never been slave owners. If I moved to the USA from Ukraine - how would I behave and how would I feel in such a situation? Should I feel guilty for my skin or the history of other European nations? Nevertheless, I think that this guilt is a part of American culture. And if I wanted to integrate into the culture, I would need to adopt this feeling like an "original sin".

[@ClockworkBirdiee]

But it's strange to adopt original sin when you are an adult, while all white Americans were born with it.

[@thenerdyblackgirljournal8850]

I was genuinely excited to watch this video. I'm always open to hear a white persons perspective on racially charged topics that have such philosophical gravity, and see what thier takeaways are. Unfortunately, I am dissapointed by how many of the actual themes, story lines and symbols were missed, and that the most shallow, surface level actions were evaluated. It is a missed opportunity for an engaging discussion. Instead, it's just more of the same. I'm not trying to tell you what SHOULD say or do, I just got my hopes up too high for some transformative engagement. I think Liam Neeson said it best on episode 8 of this season when he said something like, "the best and worst part about being white is that you don't have to learn anything if you don't want to". That's my takeaway from this video.

[@seanbradford9858]

What were some of the themes, story lines, and symbols that you feel should have been discussed instead?

[@dominicmacrini8537]

Could you explain what some of these “actual” themes were or the symbols that were missed? (Other than the obvious raccoon on the jersey lol) Genuinely asking!

[@teeekay31]

Also that woman going at Darius for not being in Nigeria for a long time and still wanting to identify with that identity wasn't spoken about. I thought that was deep

[@dortezmeyers8970]

More of these please and thank you!!!

[@Headshots4Hope]

The Big Payback was an interesting episode. I think there is a need for reparations in US society to offset the continuing harms of slavery, but I think the means of doing so shown in that episode (i.e., individual litigation against specific people) is not the way to do it. While those white people may certainly benefit from slavery's history, the fact remains that those people didnt enslave anyone. To extend liability beyond one individual down the centuries to another whose only connection is mere accident of birth creates the dangerous precedent of inherited liability. Further, the burden of reparations gets laser-focused on those sued individuals. I cant help but think that a better way to go about it would be to spread the burden out among society; reallocate funding in the federal budget to fund stronger reparations programs. If we're talking about a society that has already made slavery reparations a cause of action for litigation (i.e., Atlanta's USA), then that same society would presumably have the political capital necessary to create govt programs which fill the need for reparations, funded by tax dollars, as opposed to the entire burden of reparations being placed on individuals who, even though they benefit from slavery, did not commit it. Additionally, the same logic which is used in the show to justify the litigation against individuals is equally applicable to state and federal govts. After Abe Lincoln's assassination, his replacement, President Johnson, a Southernor, sabotaged Reconstruction and allowed the former Confederate state govts to implement the Black Codes, which were state sponsored oppression against the former slaves. The modern federal and state govts, with their deeper pockets and ability for more sweeping change, are much better positioned to commit to Reparations than random divorced white dudes, and just as liable under Atlanta's presented theory.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

The reparations episode was satire. It wasn't intended to be taken seriously. It was supposed to mock white people's reactions and explanations for slavery and systemic racism. I just find it disappointing so many people took the reparations in the Atlanta universe at face value but then treated the Black Justin Beiber as satire. Smh.

[@YoungSwaggness]

Great analytics my man 👍🏾

[@WisecrackEDU]

Thanks for watching this.

[@acehawk1000]

It didn't dawn on me, until just now, that her naming the bowl "The Darius" was less of a compliment and more of the same colonizing of something that had an "ethnic" feel to it.

[@igorpaulo7499]

those people are just trying too hard not to say that capitalism is the problem. it's incredible how this idea is a lot of times in the subtext of many big movies or big shows, but we cant really say it. and it's never enough

[@RedBoyGambino]

You can be held responsible when you don’t acknowledge it and make it right

[@tristan5796]

Please do the rest of the season

[@8dollars276]

What it takes to become a philosopher: Say "I'm a philosoper."

[@MaskedHeart]

I like to philosophize 🤓🤓🤓

[@NathanielLongchallon]

Think something.

[@adamoosthuizen2409]

Can we talk about Van's cannibal Amelie Finale though pls

[@Chevvey]

Really enjoyed this one thanks guys, also side note love Atlanta too!!

[@daddyvatilifa]

9:28 I found this scene a bit ironic because as a black man, I've found myself in this situation multiple times due to my skin color, getting screwed just becauseof your heritage. But it still didn't dawn on him that is exactly how that lady been feeling most her life.

[@brandonlmartin1993]

Slow claps for this amazing video

[@ChrisMorganComedy]

I'm just curious how much did slavery contribute to Marshalls family. Was it like 5% or 75%. Or is the point just to make white people as bad as slaves have it. Is it about lifting up descendants of slaves or tearing down descendants of slave owners?

[@TheMjsanty]

That was brilliant

[@vengefulhero]

Do one on the bear. Please.

[@hjalmarfreidenvall1655]

Neat

[@svc335]

See, no matter the price he pays, his daughter will never be free from the sin of his ancestors, her white skin will always mark her as subjugator. Will she get a card that says her father paid the price? No she will be treated as an oppressor till the day she dies. What needs to happen is something not personal but systemic, that allows healing. I only watched the KZbin video, not the episode so i’m commenting on what was there.

[@Lastofthescofflaws]

Awesome, now do an episode on the racism of historically celebrated philosophers! Start with Hume.

[@himanshurajput523]

I think you should have made a separate video about this episode alone. I am utterly confused by the point you were making. Though to be honest this was the best episode of Atlanta as whole and I am still thinking about it. My opinion on this story was its really absurd concept. I don't understand how one's ancestral history of some centuries can fully explain the historical responsibility of an individual. You cannot trace all the ancestral crime of an individual and just ignoring the untraceable history should be same as seeing slavery as mystery.

[@Peecamarke]

Yeah, I think you missed the point of the episode and his explanation is confusing it more

[@himanshurajput523]

@@Peecamarke maybe, but for me i think the point of episode was to make people question. Its a discussion starter as for me writer didn't force any one narrative.

[@IHateutube62]

I don't think the show was as open as you are interpreting it. having the guy steal and get away with is is directly meant to parallel the idea of historical responsibility. As he wasn't punished at that moment should we really punish him later? Why is it that some justice is time gated and some justice isn't? The obvious rebuke is that it's not justice to take action against those who didn't perform the crime and sure, but this argument only holds if you are talking about individuals. It falls apart when you realize the concept isn't being applied to individuals it's being applied to institutions. Institutions can be held accountable even if the individuals inside of them change. Not only can they, but they must be held accountable because unless you do they will repeat the same actions over and over again even if all the actors change. Hence, the white guy is still stealing, african culture is still stolen and misappropriated, and the ways these communities seek to help themselves is ultimately turned against them. This is why in general ideas of reparations shouldn't be thought of as punishment to people but rather acknowledgement by the institution of its crimes. It's also why they should feature no direct payouts but rather should be structured as assistance to break poverty traps.

[@himanshurajput523]

@@IHateutube62 So that's the thing I was missing, institutions. I was always thinking about story as literal and thought of individual responsibility.

[@kingjoeblack5]

Not really, the whole seeing slavery as a mystery thing is only for white people. Outside of roughly 3 million people, every black person in the us descends from slavery including immigrants from the Caribbean. For the black Americans in particular the families that raped their way into our bloodlines live all over the country and for some might even be our next door neighbors or bosses only contending with the history of slavery or how they got their money if they want to. That is the absurd reality of the US.

[@malikphillips4794]

Did the thumbnail change? Because that is what made me click on the video.

[@afrinaut3094]

I don’t know if I’d like to Atlanta, I haven’t heard good things about it when it comes to writing AfricanAmerican women characters. If the show is as deep as people say it is in examining the connection between modern American issues and the foundation of American past, it’s even worse that the only “black girl” on the show is not actually a black girl but a biracial woman character player by Zazi Beats. A show with 3 non-biracial black skinned AfricanAmerican male characters. I don’t know if the show is being incel or misogynior, but it does appear that way from the outside looking in. As being a Black male myself, it’s….. Any veteran viewers thoughts?

[@MobytheMonster]

I mean they give Zazie (Vanessa) solo episodes. The characters can be misogynistic themselves, but not the entire series. Stefani Robinson, the only female screenwriter, puts a lot of input in the creative process of the show. There are also other characters who are women on the show. What I like as a woman, is their not all painted the same way. They have dimension. I also think it's interesting you bring up the biracial point considering, they made a whole episode this past season about it. I think you should definitely give it a shot. One of the best shows of our time. Talks about everything in a way that captivates everyone, without being so preachy, but more entertaining and making you interested in thinking about them.

[@_abracadabra]

Watch a few episodes and decide for yourself.

[@malayerba71]

Absolutely brilliant and genius show...!!!

[@juanpendragon]

Wisecrack, I would like to know your point of view seeing in another scope than USA. How is racism in other parts of the world or culture.

[@thebigdawgj]

Racism ended in 2008. We elected Obama, remember?

[@alanmcivor2005]

Sart. come on buddy

[@BlastinRope]

What distinguishes a philosopher and a non-philosopher?

[@mistermagoo8685]

Do season 4

[@mightyrem]

@18:05 they wasn’t accused of murder

[@fede22081]

Btw the fashion company is Italian not French

[@simpaticode]

Isn't this just a new form of blood libel?

[@repmidwest]

😂 I actually skipped that episode with the shoplifting because I just assumed the file was corrupt. Like why was it playing an episode of freakonomics over the video. I just assumed the “free streaming site” was glitching and pulling audio from my podcast app. 😂