“ASMR For White Liberals” and Other Reviews From Slamdance 2021
Slamdance Film Review: The Sleeping Negro
John Connor Hammond’s short “ASMR For White Liberals” hilariously razzes white liberals who mistake personal ego-stroking for allyship. ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) uses relaxing sights and sounds to create in the recipient a sedative sensation from head to toe. Using a black whisperer, Hammond brings up irritating white liberal behavior towards blacks in a totally non-confrontational way. The result makes the white liberal behavior described on screen deservedly seem as ludicrously grotesque as that of your garden variety racist.
Yes, it’s nice that white liberals don’t use the n-word as easily as they breathe. But wanting to feel the hair of a black person you’re not in any sort of intimate relation with raises questions about the liberal’s mental health. Nor does a white liberal’s skin magically get blacker by using urban slang. Also, acting like a decent human being towards blacks shouldn’t be a reason for awarding personal trophies. Finally, claiming that “Green Book” or “Crash” (the one that’s not the David Cronenberg J.G. Ballard adaptation) offer powerful insights into race relations just demonstrates an obvious lack of either taste or social awareness.