Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1538452
20 PROP CULTURE I FALL 2025 so his prop work became all about adding subtle touches here and there. He and Costume Designer Ruth Carter came to the agreement that only the ladies on the white side of the street would carry purses, while the ladies from one type to another. Ware praised production designer Hannah Beachler and set decorator Monique Champagne for creating the rich environments for the two distinct shops. He said they made it easy to complement their designs by seamlessly integrating the props throughout the scene. He enjoyed those scenes along the street because it gave him a chance to "stay true to the feel of the Mississippi Delta at that time and not overpopulate the world with just stuff and things." One of the key elements in this story centers around music. The history of music during this time period is packed with historical import. The blues was born of a time in the late 1800s after the Emancipation Act of 1863 and was a mixture of many types of music, including the Afro-American spirituals and the call and response chants of native African tribal music. This musical history was really portrayed well on screen and became the main focal point for the second half of the film. The hero prop of the movie, Sammie's resonator guitar, went through many iterations before the final prop was selected. Coogler always knew that he wanted some sort of resonator, but the original plan was for it to be haint blue. This color is particularly popular in the South and was used especially during that time period by the Gullah Geechee people. It is a color painted onto porches and window trim to ward off evil spirits. Ware sent off two Hound Dog resonator guitars to get painted haint blue. However, it was later decided on the black side of the street would carry coin purses or baskets. Men on the white side were reading newspapers or carrying luggage for the hotel, while the men and women on the black side were carrying Bibles or purchasing fish from the back of trucks. These moments were only briefly captured on camera when the owner of CHOWS grocery crossed the street, but it was an accurate portrayal of that time period and how a segregated street would have functioned. Speaking of Chows grocery, I would be remiss if I did not mention the use of Chinese immigrants in Sinners. Having been born and raised in the South myself, I am keenly aware of its history of slavery and segregation. Something many people may not know, however, is the large population of Chinese immigrants that also lived in the Mississippi Delta during this time. It is not a part of history that typically gets covered in school, so imagine my surprise when this little-known minority group popped up on the screen. I actually gripped the wrist of my friend who was at the theater with me because I got so excited to see this group represented. Chows had a white grocery and a black grocery on the main city street and, as the actor crossed that street, you can watch as the props change