The Analysis of The Documentary Film "Street Fight" Directed by Marshall Curry

Film analysis

“Street Fight” is a documentary film which revolves around the mayoral elections of Newark, New Jersey in 2002. The movie has been directed by Marshall Curry, who appears to be biased in favor of Cory Booker, then 32-year old. The Street Fight is not about knives, guns or physical combat, but rather a war of strategies, policies and political experience between Cory Booker, a City Council member and newcomer in mayoral race, and James Sharpe, a four-term incumbent mayor (Hutchenson). Booker’s challenge is to unseat Sharpe who has powerful political machinery. Journalists’ attempts to record James Sharpe’s campaigns and movements appear to be often shattered by city security officers, thus the bias in the Curry’s documentary.

Cory Booker’s campaign was meant to be all-inclusive. His co-creation strategies involved door to door sensitization in Newark’s residential apartments, street campaigns and poster publicity. His conviction was that he could win the elections in the streets, he therefore, employed personal attempts to seek for support from residents, businesses, and city workers (Hutchenson). He succeeded to convince many to back him up, including key influential figures such as Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey, and Cornel West. He always made himself available to his constituents, personally attending to their problems.

However, Booker’s attempts were slammed by Sharpe’s administration through demotion of his supporters who worked at the city council, shutting down the businesses which were open to his address and fundraisers, detention of his campaigners on account of terrorism, demolishing of his posters, and associating him with racist organizations. Booker’s failure in co-creation was chiefly attributed to his lack of influence which could not be matched with Sharpe’s 16-year dominance in Newark’s mayoral elections.

Having lived in Brick Towers, one of the worst public buildings in Newark, Booker was well acquainted with the problems Newark residents were facing. His campaign to unseat the incumbent mayor capitalized on the failures in the latter’s administration. High poverty levels, increased crime, poor maintenance of city houses, and disregard to issues affecting minority communities were a reality in Newark. Booker aimed at introducing new strategies once elected, to help realize a change. However, Booker experienced lots of frustration from the incumbent during his campaign period (Hutchenson). Eventually, he lost the election to Sharpe who won the Newark’s mayoral seat for a fifth term.

Booker’s campaign was thwarted by the issue of tribalism. His African American heritage was questioned by Sharpe and his supporters, despite both of them being black. In a city largely dominated by Blacks and African Americans, voting based on tribal lines played an influence. Though being an American by birth, Booker was born to Black parents, Cary and Carolyn Booker, therefore, he had the heritage of the blacks. Another issue that casted doubts in his racial inclination was the fact that he was raised in Harrington Park, a town mostly dominated by the whites. During the campaigns, Booker had difficult time winning the favor of black majority, especially because of Sharpe’s influence in blackmailing voters (Hutchenson).

Conclusion

The methods used by Sharpe to silence Booker during the elections are a mockery to democracy. In this documentary, Curry highlights the different approaches employed by the two contenders in the ‘street fight’ during Newark’s mayoral race, and the effect of both schemes. Sharpe’s influence in using force to frustrate Booker helps him defend his mayoral seat. Booker is presented as an enthusiastic and visionary leader who is passionate for reforms, but fails to win the favor of voters due to blackmail of voters and his lack of influence.

Work Cited

1. Hutcheson, Susannah. "New Jersey's Cory Booker Talks About Life, Losses, Mentors and How He Became a U.S. Senator." USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/money/careers/career-advice/2018/04/24/sen-cory-booker-how-became-us-senator/542900002/.