Black Film by Hannah

In 1990 Wendell B Harris Jr. created Chameleon Street. Harris himself stars as the main character, William Douglas Street Jr., a real life con man. Harris’s film shapes its subject’s own chameleonic transformations of Street. 

After watching this film I have several thoughts about it. I feel that this film is very relatable to the low income black community and the black men in them. 

The main character, William, and his co-worker were in a truck having a conversation about money and beauty in women. I think it’s common for black people, especially black men in that condition, to conform to anything to get money. It’s like they’re conditioned to just try to look for ways to get quick money. Usually it’s illegal ways of getting it. In terms of the beauty in women, William’s coworker has a preference for women that are light skin with “good hair”. Ignorance is bliss. The coworker said that he has been conditioned to think that is the ideal standard of beauty. Colorism and Texturism are still relevant today. It’s sad that this is still a major problem within the black community. However, it’s great that there’s black films like this one that have real conversations. Not to forget to mention, William did say his coworker was a fool for thinking the way he thought. 

William shouted out HBCUs and mentioned that’s where he met his first two wives. 

When William went out with his friends, the topic of “getting money,” came up again. It’s always a topic of discussion. There’s always fast money schemes. William even considered selling Marijuana. People will do anything for money (and fame.) 

When William interviewed that woman athlete, he was fantasizing about her. I found that to be interesting because he was married. Do men fantasize about women when they’re married? 

William had an altercation with this caucasian man while he was out to dinner with his wife. The man was disrespecting William and his wife. I know this scene was dramatized but I do feel like some caucasian people feel entitled like the man was and I’m sure he had no credentials. I also feel that black people should hit back. I know it’s the Martin Luther King Jr. thing to be the bigger person and not stoop down. However, sometimes the Malcolm X way of striking them back is needed to learn a lesson. 

I found it to be hilarious that William put on his resume that he went to Harvard Medical school. He really lied that big on a resume. That is crazy. The fact that the hospital that hired him didn’t do a background check is crazy. William had the audacity to perform a hysterectomy. This started off the chaos of transformations to me. 

Another hilarious moment is his experience in jail. A jail-mate tried to force himself on William and William pretended to have an epileptic seizure. That was a great way to get out of that situation. It makes me think about if I ever got kidnapped. God forbid that happens but if I did I would act crazy so they wouldn’t want me. 

Anyways, William made a comment to his coworker after a corporate meeting and said, “White people smell like wet dogs after being in the rain.” I’m sorry not sorry that was hilarious cause it’s true. 

Back to the madness, William escaped prison and went to Yale. He changed his identity again… He acted like he was a French student. He ended up being called out by a real student who spoke french. 

It was crazy he was cheating on his wife. Then when he found out his wife came to the ball, he left the girl he was cheating on her with. All of Williams’ relationships were examples of struggle love . His wife ended up turning him in. Rightfully so. 

At the end of the film during the credits, there was a Scorpion and Frog storytelling. From that story I took that people can not change people’s character. Don’t try to change people. See people for who they are. If you don’t you could get hurt. 

Thank you for reading my review on Chameleon Street.