"Angry Gets Shit Done," : Orlando Jones in 'American Gods'

Last week in class our guest speaker, Professor Cathy Thomas, brought to our attention a powerful scene from the TV series, 'American Gods', that speaks to how Black people could rewrite history. For this blog post I wanted to analyze further the meaning and power behind the speech Orlando Jones delivered to the black passengers of a Dutch slave ship.

The TV series, American Gods is known as a captivating series that blends mythology, religion, and contemporary issues in a unique way. One of its most memorable scenes features the character Mr. Nancy, played by Orlando Jones, aboard a Dutch ship in the 17th century. In this scene, Mr. Nancy delivers a fiery monologue that exposes the brutal and dehumanizing nature of the transatlantic slave trade, while also calling for resistance and empowerment. This scene serves as a powerful message for Black people and shows what could've happened if these people were told their doomed futures.

The scene begins with Mr. Nancy appearing on the ship, dressed in colorful African clothes and surrounded by flames. He introduces himself as Anansi, the West African trickster god who brought stories to the world. He then proceeds to narrate a story of how European slave traders captured and transported millions of Africans across the Atlantic to be sold as slaves in the Americas. He describes the horrific conditions of the slave ships, where people were chained, beaten, raped, and killed. He also points out the complicity of African chiefs and merchants who traded their own people for guns and goods. Throughout the monologue, Mr. Nancy's anger and passion are palpable, and his words cut deep into the viewer's conscience.

Orlando Jones scene in 'American Gods'

What makes this scene so powerful is its relevance to the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality. The legacy of slavery and racism continues to shape the experiences and opportunities of Black people in America and beyond. By depicting the historical context and human toll of the transatlantic slave trade, American Gods acknowledges the systemic and intergenerational harm that has been inflicted upon Black communities. Moreover, by having a Black actor play a West African god who challenges the white supremacist ideology of the slave traders, the scene subverts the dominant narrative of white supremacy and highlights the agency and resilience of Black people.

Dutch Slave Ships, 17th Century 

But what if time traveling was possible? What if Black people could go back in time and change the course of history? This is a tantalizing question that has inspired many works of fiction, including Octavia Butler's Kindred and Ta-Nehisi Coates' The Water Dancer. While time travel is purely hypothetical and unlikely to happen in reality, the idea of it raises interesting thought experiments and moral dilemmas. For example, if a Black person could go back in time and prevent the slave trade from happening, would they do it? Or would they risk erasing their own existence and altering the course of history in unpredictable ways?

While the idea of time traveling to change history is fascinating, it is also important to recognize that the past cannot be undone or ignored. The legacies of slavery, segregation, and discrimination are deeply ingrained in our societies and require ongoing efforts to address and repair. Time traveling may offer a temporary escape or a glimpse of alternative possibilities, but it cannot substitute for the hard work of building a more just and equitable future.

In conclusion, Orlando Jones' scene in American Gods aboard the Dutch ship delivers a powerful message for Black people and highlights the potential of time traveling to change history. By exposing the horrors and injustices of the transatlantic slave trade and empowering Black agency and resistance, the scene challenges the dominant narrative of white supremacy and affirms the humanity and dignity of Black people. While time traveling may offer a tantalizing fantasy, it is ultimately our actions in the present that determine the direction of history. As Mr. Nancy says in the scene, "Angry gets shit done."