[Bamboozled]

I definitely see your point about the protrayal of some "middle class and educated" characters (specifically the two we're talking about), but I don't think that this characterization is widespread enough to call foul quite yet. There have been plenty of movies that portray so called "middle class and educated" black folks as down to earth, well rounded, humble individuals. I do think that it is fair to put these types of characters in movies because they do indeed exist. As you know, often times when someone decides to leave the community in which they were reared to pursue higher education, a dichotomy is created between them and those who stay and become complacent. Sometimes that dichotomy lends itself to a "holier-than-thou" attitude among the educated. I don't think any of us have watched either of these characters without thinking, "Dang, I know someone JUST like that." If it's not a member of your family, it's one of your friends and if it's neither of those, it may just be you (not you Blackwatch, but the collective you). It is a relevant phenomena in our community and I think it's a fair characterization to include in movies about us.

Now about Rosa Parks ... from most accounts that I've read, her refusal to give up her seat on the bus that day was not associated with a a larger plan until AFTER the fact. Her refusal was a catalyst for the NAACP to further their involvement in the city-wide bus boycott. But, I may be wrong. I'll have to investigate a little bit more.

*Edited to add* No matter what the reason was that Rosa refused to give up her seat, she was definitely a brave soul. I revere her for her strength and courage to uphold her inalienabe rights. I don't know if I'd be willing to risk possible beatings and jail in order to prove a point. So while I'm arguing the circumstances surrounding her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, I do acknowledge the fact that she played a significant role in obtaining the liberties we enjoy today.