A look at the punk scene

"AfroPunk," a documentary that investigates the two worlds of race, identity and the punk rocker, will be shown tonight at Boxcar Books, 310 A S. Washington. \nIt interviews and explores the lives of four people who have committed themselves to the punk rock way of life. It embarks upon issues such as loneliness, exile, interracial dating and black power.\n"It's important for the black community to be provided with examples of all the things we could be. We stereotype ourselves and let ourselves fall victim to those stereotypes. I am trying to build bridges within the black community," said James Spooner, director of "AfroPunk."\nThe movie deals with black identity and what it's like for a black person to look for and hold onto an identity in a white community. It goes beyond the archetypal "black history month" documentary and digs deeper into the lives of four very different protagonists' lives. The film's protagonists come from different genders, regions, generations and sexual preferences.\nSpooner himself was a black man living in the punk scene and wanted the film to mirror his life story. Spooner uses the punk scene as a medium to base his film and wants to inspire self awareness within black punk rockers. \n"While I was growing up, my best friend was into the punk scene," junior Dave Morrow said. "He was always being judged for his style. I would like to go see this film to know what he was feeling when people would stare and make fun at him."\nIssues concerning black people and the punk-rock lifestyle have never been tackled hand-in-hand in film before, Spooner said. While the issues are controversial, viewers might be surprised to find they are dealing with some of the very same issues.\n"Most people feel as though they are trying to fit into a scene where you feel out of place. This film is not just for blacks in the punk scene," Ali Haimson, co-founder of Boxcar Books and Community Center said. "It gives you a better idea of feeling like an outsider."\nSophomore Stephanie Eyer said she will attend the event to educate herself on the hardships different groups of people face.\n"Everyone's got a little 'punk-rocker' in them, and everyone's felt a little out of place at some point in their life," Eyer said.\nSpooner said once reflected on his life as a punk-rocker, he realized there was much he missed out on. He said the punk scene did nothing to inspire his self-awareness as a black man. \nAfroPunk will be shown tonight at 8 p.m. Admission is $3 and guests are encouraged to arrive early, as seating is limited.\n-- Contact staff writer Sarah Kanter at skanter@indiana.edu.