Stomp the Yard

[PhDiva]

AKA_Monet: I guess I can see both sides of this debate. I can agree with the Old Head perspective, we do need so much work done in the community but it seems that many younger folks take for granted the rights and privileges other people died for and service is the least of their worries.
But at the same time, with Black student enrollment in college declining and thus our presence on campuses (esp. PWIs) being so low, what other means do the D9 organizations have to spark initial interest but through highly visible and entertaining activities like stepping? It might be a good idea for both groups to brainstorm ways to grow memberships without losing touch of our founder's respective legacies. The fact of the matter is that our younger generations will have to carry on the work of our organizations and if they (as if I'm old) are not involved in the governance and decision making, I worry if our relevance will be lost.

Regarding the letter, it was well written and quite compelling but if not officially given the green light to use Alpha trademarks, I don't think legally the movie producers have any other choice but to remove them. It would be nice, but probably unlikely, that we'll ever know if this is about money or ethics.

PhDiva

[SummerChild]

PhDiva, as a patent and trademark atty, I can say that yes, you are gneerally right re permission to use trademarks. If the frat has not given permission to use their trademarks, they cannot be lawfully used. HOWEVER (BIG HOWEVER), the question really turns on just what the company is using. They may not be using the trademarks literally. I seriously doubt that Sony would be dumb enough to just use the fraternity's trademarks wholesale like that. I seriously doubt that Sony's legal counsel has not gone through the film with a fine tooth comb. However, anything is possible. I will stand by the fraternity however, b/c they paid good money for their intellectual property (I should know as I see our bills) and, more importantly, they have built up 100 years of goodwill in their trademarks, and if they believe that they are being used unlawfully, I will stand by them and not pay $$ for the film.

ETA: what is interesting is that Mr. Hardy would write this letter. it's almost as if he is *admitting* that he is using the trademarks in a round about kind of way. this might work against him if the Fraternity does haul him (and Sony) into court. i wonder if he got the advice of legal counsel before writing this letter. a phone call woud probably have been better. lol.


SC

Originally Posted by PhDiva

Regarding the letter, it was well written and quite compelling but if not officially given the green light to use Alpha trademarks, I don't think legally the movie producers have any other choice but to remove them. It would be nice, but probably unlikely, that we'll ever know if this is about money or ethics.

PhDiva

[LoisLane]

You all have made some interesting points.
I too agree that as owners Alpha Phi Alpha has every right to enforce the use of their trademark as they see fit, and if that was their position, I could respect that.
However in the call to boycott letter that Darryl Matthews issued the first thing he stated was that it was on the grounds of juxtaposition of gang violence as though the movie is misaligned with the vision, goals, and objectives of the fraternity. If Rob Hardy's letter is accurate, it’s hard for me to imagine that someone could come to that conclusion without having seen the movie. If they had seen it and came to that conclusion, fine. They are encouraging others not to see it, but they haven’t seen it either. It leads me to believe that it’s ALL ABOUT MONEY, but isn't it always?

[SummerChild]

LoisLane, I guess I don't follow you. Of course they are encouraging others not to go and see it. The surest way to communicate one's point is to hit the other person in the pocket.

Also, if the grounds for the boycott are juxtaposition of gang violence (I don't recall what the grounds were) you have to ask yourself juxtaposition of *what* with gang violence. That is where the trademarked symbols, the Fraternity's goodwill (i.e., rep) that is associated with the symbols, etc. comes in isn't it?

Perhaps I have missed your point. Not sure.
SC

Originally Posted by LoisLane

You all have made some interesting points.
I too agree that as owners Alpha Phi Alpha has every right to enforce the use of their trademark as they see fit, and if that was their position, I could respect that.
However in the call to boycott letter that Darryl Matthews issued the first thing he stated was that it was on the grounds of juxtaposition of gang violence as though the movie is misaligned with the vision, goals, and objectives of the fraternity. If Rob Hardy's letter is accurate, it’s hard for me to imagine that someone could come to that conclusion without having seen the movie. If they had seen it and came to that conclusion, fine. They are encouraging others not to see it, but they haven’t seen it either. It leads me to believe that it’s ALL ABOUT MONEY, but isn't it always?

[LoisLane]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

LoisLane, I guess I don't follow you. Of course they are encouraging others not to go and see it. The surest way to communicate one's point is to hit the other person in the pocket.

Also, if the grounds for the boycott are juxtaposition of gang violence (I don't recall what the grounds were) you have to ask yourself juxtaposition of *what* with gang violence. That is where the trademarked symbols, the Fraternity's goodwill (i.e., rep) that is associated with the symbols, etc. comes in isn't it?

Perhaps I have missed your point. Not sure.
SC

Quote "Please know that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. does not endorse the film Stomp the Yard. The Fraternity prefers not to be associated with a movie that juxtaposes gang activity with that of black Greek life."
SC
My argument poses this question--How do you as a national organization, rally support from the community based on POTENTIALLY unfounded claims? You have a responsibility to do your homework. This movie could exhibit a very positive, uplifting and accurate representation of Greek life. According to the letter Rob Hardy wrote, the producer's attempted to screen the movie for the members of the national body, why would they refuse to see it? The whole juxtaposition statement feels like a diversion to mask the fraternity's monetary intentions and ambitions. It makes me question why the fraternity felt the need to be misleading in order to garner support. If the fraternity came out and made a statement saying we want to milk Sony and the producers of this film for cash, would you still boycott this film? I wouldn't, but at least I could respect their honesty.
At the end of the day, if Sony does deliver the cash to the fraternity, everybody will get another memo instructing the Greek community and adjacent to support the film!

[lovelyivy84]

The premise of the film is that fraternities are RECRUITING some dude because he can dance and they want him to win the upcoming stepshow.

ACCURACY already went flying out the window, so it is no surprise to me that A Phi A wants nothing to do with this film.

[firecracker08]

Originally Posted by lovelyivy84

The premise of the film is that fraternities are RECRUITING some dude because he can dance and they want him to win the upcoming stepshow.

ACCURACY already went flying out the window, so it is no surprise to me that A Phi A wants nothing to do with this film.

Well put Soror! On those grounds, I completely agree and will not go see this film.

[unspokenone25]

Originally Posted by LoisLane

Quote "Please know that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. does not endorse the film Stomp the Yard. The Fraternity prefers not to be associated with a movie that juxtaposes gang activity with that of black Greek life."
SC
My argument poses this question--How do you as a national organization, rally support from the community based on POTENTIALLY unfounded claims? You have a responsibility to do your homework. This movie could exhibit a very positive, uplifting and accurate representation of Greek life. According to the letter Rob Hardy wrote, the producer's attempted to screen the movie for the members of the national body, why would they refuse to see it? The whole juxtaposition statement feels like a diversion to mask the fraternity's monetary intentions and ambitions. It makes me question why the fraternity felt the need to be misleading in order to garner support. If the fraternity came out and made a statement saying we want to milk Sony and the producers of this film for cash, would you still boycott this film? I wouldn't, but at least I could respect their honesty.
At the end of the day, if Sony does deliver the cash to the fraternity, everybody will get another memo instructing the Greek community and adjacent to support the film!

Hey LoisLane...how about you stay in your lane? Just a suggestion.

[PhDiva]

The premise of the film is that fraternities are RECRUITING some dude because he can dance and they want him to win the upcoming stepshow.

ACCURACY already went flying out the window, so it is no surprise to me that A Phi A wants nothing to do with this film.

Good point, LovelyIvy84. Additionally, all one has to do is to look at the trailer for the film and see how the main character comes out of a "gang culture" into fraternity life. Real or imagined, many people have a similar perception of Black Greek Life - like fraternities and sororities are legalized gangs. I would guess that no BGLO wants a film utilizing their symbols to be associated with anything that could potentially reinforce this negative perception.

Now, maybe I'm just getting old and conservative, but where is the balance? Drumline and Stomp The Yard even School Daze focused on the more "entertaining" aspects of Black college life but can we see somebody going to class, studying, or even graduating from college? I call this the "BET effect" - ever since BET went to Viacom, all of the educational and informative shows have been replaced with a Black man self-destructing (DMX: Soul of a Man), dysfunctional Black couples (The Christies), more of the same tired music videos being repeated over and over again and re-runs of The Wayans' Brothers. Where is the substance? Where are the inspiring stories and news about what's happening in our communities...I wonder if films like Stomp the Yard will further contribute to the stereotype that all Black folks are good for is tap dancing, cooning and showin' all our teefs. I know entertaining sells but we need some balance.

PhDiva