Christian Community Networking

 Ramon Roane, author/speaker

Seen "The Help", yet?

I was among the millions to have watched the movie “The Help.” I saw it opening weekend and I attempted to see again a week later, but I was turned away twice because it was sold out. I am a sucker for a good movie and this is a great movie. However, this movie has its share of fans and critics. Which are you?

I read an article by Dr. Boyce Watkins on NewsOne.com, in which he criticized a movie he didn’t even watch. That is like a judge deciding a case without hearing it. His first impression of the movie was that it was the female version of “Driving Miss Daisy.” He criticized the racial stereotype that was pervasive in the film. What did he expect from a movie about domestic help in the 1960s Mississippi, a Queen Cleopatra movie?

This movie entertained and educated the audience. Let me tell you something personal about me, when I go to the theater, I sneak in my favorite treat, chocolate covered cashews. The first time I saw the movie I told a friend of mine that I got so pissed off that I wanted throw my chocolate cover cashews at the screen, lose my Christianity and walk out. You know I must have been angry to throw away my treat. I am currently in a racial discrimination lawsuit and scenes in the film provoked anger in me, because of my own experiences with racism that are so recent.

African Americans have contributed to this country greatly and this film points to that fact, even though this movie was based on a novel. Dr. Watkins looked at the white woman, Skeeter (Emma Stone), as the hero, but if he had known that she was heavily influenced by her help, Constantine, played by the great Cicely Tyson. Skeeter was told daily by Constantine that she was kind, smart and important. Constantine told her that she was going to do great things. Constantine’s contribution was seen in the life of Skeeter.

Now, the real heroes of the movie were Aibileen and Minny played by Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, respectively. Those two women faced a great risk of not just of losing a job, but even their lives. I thought the story was historically accurate for the times. When Aibileen and Minny went to recruit other maids to participant in the book, but were initially rejected, because of the fear of retaliation from whites. When Yule Mae (Aunjanue Ellis) was beaten and arrested for stealing that ring, her friends decided to get involved in the writing of the book. This was the most inspiring and emotional moment in the movie.

There are some African Americans that don’t want blacks to be playing subservient roles in the movies, but movies about racist Mississippi life, what would you expect? However, I am all for African Americans playing the heroes or heroines and I do support those films at the box office. However, The Help is a great movie no matter who made it. Needless to say I am a fan of this movie.

What say you?