Burning Sands gives viewers a glimpse at the darkside of Black fraternity hazing.
The physical and mental abuse that comes along with hazing is probably the worst kept secret among Black fraternities. But for the most part, it has never reached beyond mythical status because there’s rarely any video or photos to show evidence of what’s going on. Only the stories of the men who survived it [or not] and Spike Lee‘s film School Daze.
But now, Burning Sands is offering a rare film adaptation of the lines that man frats cross when taking in new recruits.
Directed by Gerard McMurray, the film takes place at a fictional HBCU as one student struggles with whether or not he wants to finish his hazing or speak out against the abuse.
Hazing has always been known about, but it didn’t garner much news attention until the death of Florida A&M University student Robert Champion. Champion was being hazed to join the university’s band fraternity but was killed in the process in 2011.
HBCU’s are seemingly becoming a popular subject for television and film again. BET just debuted their new show The Quad which takes place on a fictional campus as well.
Expect this film to spark more discussion about the rituals.
Peep the trailer below.
Photo: Screenshot
