For Tatiana, Recorded in History: Fruitvale Station Reflection

“You ain’t gotta worry about that right now. I love you.”

Those were the last words that Oscar Grant said to his daughter on the day he died – at least according to Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station. The film follows Michael B. Jordan’s character on the last day of 2008 and, subsequently, the last day of his life.

When he said these words to his daughter, Grant was telling her not to stress about carbs and watching her weight. But what follows after he says goodnight leaves the audience wishing she didn’t have to worry about anything right now. Grant was working to provide for his daughter. Despite the fact that he lost his job and was reduced to selling drugs to make ends meet, Grant was trying – and I mean truly trying – to set an example for his child. She looked up to him, and he knew it.

As the film unfolds, we see what it is like to be a person of color in a society dominated by white, male government officials (police officers included). Grant’s history brings him to a culmination of events that ultimately ends in his death. The worst part? It all started because of a kind action from earlier in the day. A woman Grant had helped in the grocery store dares to say hello to him on the train, bringing his presence to the attention of an old enemy.

In his attempt to become a model citizen, Grant is punished first by his old jail mate and second by society. And no one can say otherwise. When a film begins with the phrase “based on a true story,” there is always skepticism. We always wonder how much of it is actually true. What is accurate and what is creative reality?

In Fruitvale Station, we don’t have to wonder – because we see it. This social injustice was so pubic and so appalling and captured on so many cell phones that we don’t even get a second to question its validity. We hear about these incidents and see these cases on the news. We (being white society) know what happens to the policemen or the perceived victims; they get a slap on the wrist. We rarely hear about the families or friends of the people of color, of the actual victims.

Grant’s daughter didn’t have to worry about carbs, or racism, or death at that moment. But because of the carelessness of society and the demonization of minorities, she will soon have to face the prejudice-laced facts.

Fruitvale Station shows us that people like Oscar Grant are exactly that: people. They have families; they have goals; they have lives. They’re real people with whom we interact every single day. They are dealing with real problems and doing so for real people – for their mothers, girlfriends. For their daughters.

Oscar Grant’s last words to his daughter were “You ain’t gotta worry about that right now. I love you.”

Oscar Grant’s last words were “I got a daughter."