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Go figure, so much expensive technology utilized to re-present these indigenous people. Somehow I hadn't fully considered how prominent race would be in this movie; I wasn't aware just how central the African and "native" presence would be.

The movie was wildly entertaining no doubt. But still. Well, I'm still working through my thoughts on it.

But for now we could easily use Toni Morrison phrasing, "playing in the dark," to describe what was going on with what James Cameron presents of these Na'vi people. They're athletic; the women wear braids; the group is tribal.

Some weeks ago, folks in our circles were all over that movie Precious. I'm thinking now, though, if we want to talk race and representation at the movies then we have to really be talking about Avatar.