"The HEARTLAND" A Film by Marquise Mays

“Milwaukee... On what it ain’t nobody quite like you.. like us.... on what?”

My timeline may be off but I want to say the Spring of 2019 I was invited to work on a project with BLACK LENS Milwaukee; a branch of the Milwaukee Film Festival on their SOULS OF YOUNG FOLK programming. As a sweetener on the arrangement; they comp me all access passes during the Milwaukee Film Festival; one of my favorite events in the city. During the time of the virtual festival this past October; I caught wind of a homegrown kid who’d be making his debut in the Milwaukee Film Festival with his film ‘BLINDSPOT’. Shortly after, press popped on my radar from two platforms that I respect and trust like no other doing superb journalistic work on this young man and his recent accomplishments.

[Copywrite Magazine x Marquise Mays | Carvd’N’Stone Magazine x Marquise Mays ]

Outside of a few exchanges that we shared on Instagram of me just expressing my appreciation of his work; I do not know Marquise. But after watching his follow up ‘THE HEARTLAND’ (The Heartland was available for limited release but will re-release on 12/21) I felt as if we walked such similar paths as Milwaukee has quite an interesting rapport with Black youth. I found myself getting goosebumps while watching being able to connect to the imagery, the b-roll, knowing subjects in the film; every emotion described I’ve felt. Every sentiment described; the root cause of why ‘Cans’ is near to our hearts; the joy that comes to faces anytime the ‘twanging & banging’ era comes up.

The film is nothing short of a masterpiece. Themes of racial dynamics in one of the most segregated places in America; and the classism laced within that narrative. Such powerful words come to mind while watching - white savior, abandonment, resourcefulness out of necessity.

In my line of work; I have many colleagues who are implants to the Cream City; as a native son I feel obligated to tell my true narrative of what this city has done to shape me. Sometimes I feel my realities is painting a daunting picture, sometimes I think its easier to just speak on State Fair cheesecurds and the lakefront or some generated narrative right out of some east sider hipster publication. Now I can say, you want to know the Milwaukee that raised me? Watch, ‘The HEARTLAND’ a film by Marquise Mays.

Milwaukee’s relationship with Black kids is a tense relationship…there’s a lot of mistrust from black kids about the city that doesn’t seem to care as much about us..in the classroom, on the street, you just see people who don’t like black kids and then the city is surprised when Black kids emerge angry or hurt, or confused from those situations…

A Still from ‘The Heartland’ A film by Marquise Mays

Learn more about the Director by visiting www.MarquiseMays.com

Learn more about the film AND BUY SOME MERCH!! by visiting www.theheartlandfilm.com