Exploitation said Akiba Solomon at Colorlines without actually seeing the film. “I can’t bring myself to pay $12.50 … to watch these sisters lend gravitas to Stockett’s white heroine mythology,” she said and recommended Eyes on the Prize and The Warmth of Other Suns instead.
Sappy said Alyssa Rosenberg at The Atlantic. “Stockett’s novel presented a vision of segregation in service of a feel-good story, but the film version of The Help is even more distant from the virulence of American racism,” she said. “Whether you’re black or white, liberation’s just a matter of improving your self-esteem.” She suggested Freedom Riders instead.
Both/and said a group of black professional women at The Root. “Too often, we are afraid to discuss the harsh realities of our shared American history. We all know black maids raised white children in the South during slavery and after. White people are part of that story and have a point of view,” said one. “I realized the group I went with actually had much more in common with the white women portrayed in the film than we did the black women. That’s great news about how far we’ve come, but it also made me think seriously about what we’re doing (if anything) to honor their legacy,” said another.
Get behind it, said NAACP chairman Roslyn Brock at The Los Angeles Times. “My grandmother was a domestic in Florida, and when she passed, almost two generations of families whom she had taken care of sent condolences saying what an important part she was to their family. And it never really connected with me until I saw this movie.”
Inspiration, said Mary J. Blige in an interview with ABC News about the theme song she wrote for the movie. “They’re all living proof of surviving out of a bad situation by holding onto each other and encouraging each other through all of that stuff to do better,” she said.
See and discuss, said an integrated group of 300 Christian women in Charlotte, North Carolina, who will screen the movie together Saturday and then meet at a church to discuss it, the Charlotte Observer reported.
Do something about today’s “help,” said the National Domestic Workers Alliance in a YouTube video.
For a plot summary, check out Terri J. Haynes’ book review right here at Urban Faith.
How about you? Are you going to see The Help?
Thanks for sharing. Here is my review after reading the book and watching the movie:
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2011/08/watching_the_help_as_an_africa.html
Wonderful post Natasha! If I’d seen it before we published, I would have linked to it.
smh…to me, it boils down to being another white savior movie. I will probably see it eventually, but only so that I can converse with better background. The book to me was just ripe catharsis for white, liberal guilt: http://awe.sm/5PYmr
Yours is a thoughtful post too Katelin! Thanks for the comment.
Nothing like clear advice here, Christine. Ha! I hope to see it. Then I can figure out what category I fit in.
Sam, If you read the opinions of the two women above, you’ll understand my dilemma. Besides, I wanted to get readers thinking about the issues around the movie, not offer advice. I was highly skeptical, but may go see it with some friends who invited me now that I’ve read such interesting and diverse reviews.
Thanks for this round-up, Christine. So many perspectives! I read the book–now I need to see the story and see how it compares.
(See the story played out in film form, that is)
You’re welcome Ann! If you see it soon, do let us know what you think.
Christine – I loved the book and am planning to go to the movie this weekend, but your round up here has really opened my eyes to how different people see the same piece of file or literature from such different perspectives. I NEED these other perspectives. I also followed the links to both of your commenters, and really appreciated their view points. Thanks for this!
You’re welcome Charity! The fact that the movie has us thinking and talking is a good thing.
Christine, I’ve listened to the audiobook, but not seen the film yet. Some critics feel it is too shallow a depiction of the realities in the years of the civil rights movement. It is not meant to be a documentary. It is a very small slice of life from the South in the 60’s from the vantage point of the author’s childhood having experienced a black maid as part of her household for many years. I’d suggest people watch Katie Couric’s hour long interview with Stockett online if they get a chance. Stockett was unaware of the “big picture” happening outside her privileged world. But as she grew she began to understand. I like Mary K. Blige’s take on it….the fact that this story enlightens us tremendously and causes us to respect and admire their perseverance in such difficult situations. They made incredible contributions. This book finally gives recognition for all their sacrifices. I’m looking forward to seeing the film.
When I was younger, and a movie about race relations, Jim Crow, racial injustice, slavery, or segregation would be released, I remember hearing my mother say, “I really don’t want to go see that. It’ll just make me mad. And I don’t like being mad.” My mother’s mother was a domestic worker – one of “the help” like Aibileen and Minnie. My nephew now attends the exclusive and elite private school where my grandmother once scrubbed the floors and toilets. Hence, the rub for me. My skin is brown, and I speak from first-hand experience when I tell you that still causes problems for some here in America. At the same time, however, I can send my children to private school if I choose, I can buy a house, I can vote, I can ride on the bus in any seat I choose. So I sat in that movie – one of a handful of women with brown skin in an audience of mostly white women – and felt a check inside myself about the times I’ve made someone stand outside in the bushes because I didn’t think they measured up.
Thanks Deidra. The fact that you expressed excitement about seeing this movie is one reason I thought perhaps I should give it a chance.
The Association of Black Women Historians gave it an erudite thumbs down:
http://www.abwh.org/images/pdf/TheHelp-Statement.pdf
Thanks for this, C. I love how you were able to pull from so many sources to get a look at The Help. I did see it and I did love it, tho I recognize the flaws. I would also say that as a white woman who grew up in the South, the stereotypes projected in the film version weren’t limited to just blacks.
Thanks for your input Karen. I couldn’t bring myself to spend $20 on this film. I was invited by some girlfriends who loved the book and also didn’t want to spoil their experience if they loved it and I was busy analyzing it. I’ll see it when my cable company offers it on my TV, which will be sometime after the conversation has died down.
I’m a bit too much of a guy’s guy to see The Help, but it looks like a good rental. Very interesting summary of the various viewpoints on the movie. I know my friend Deidra (above) was really excited to see it, and took a whole group of friends. And I trust Deidra.
I trust Deidra too, Marcus. Thanks for featuring our round-up at TheHighCalling.org!
I loved it and found it true to the book, my favorite read of 2010.