Why 'The Help' doesn't ACTUALLY suck.

I wanted it to suck, because of the subject matter. There were complaints galore.... I certainly didn't want to see it, but when you watch these formidable women in their roles, it all makes sense. In light of recent discussions of just who is visible and who is not it made sense to me to revisit this film. 

Yes. 

I did say that it didn't suck. 

But I watch ''Gone With The Wind'' without cringing (much) because of the perspective I'm watching it from. For example, Hattie McDaniels famously used her typecasting as a means to finance a first class life, even as a second class citizen. She also opened up creative roles for those like her, who came after her. Like Sidney Portier for Denzel, Denzel for Nate Parker. Like Oscar Micheaux for Melvin Van Peebles, Melvin for Spike Lee. I see nothing to be upset about in her role in that film. I am reminded of Paul Laurence Dunbar's words, ''We wear the mask that grins and lies, it shades our cheeks and hides our eyes." We wear it to get us where we need to go. We wear it because people are afraid of our truth. We wear it for many reasons. It's always an excellent thing when you can choose how that mask benefits you, and others. 


I'm also reminded of last centuries conversations between black artists, scholars, community members, activists, and philosophers about what it means to be black in america. Conversations about how to show, and embody humanity as a birthright. Particularly how to do so in a world that was one generation (at best) removed from slavery. It was also, a world gleefully plunging itself with reckless abandon into the sins of Jim Crow (the foundation of which our national house is currently built), and specifically in a world where one has to co-exist with groups of people/individuals who are wholly convinced that you are somehow innately inferior and probably sub-human. It is with those eyes, that I watched this film. 

I had to watch it, understanding it's time, the setting and how that would affect the rhythm of their version of events. On the face of it, it's another story that uses black people as a plot device in the self-exploration of white people. It definitely feels that way initially. This is pretty much the tone of films, and television anyway. People who are different, be it due to color, gender, orientation, weight, address, class or what have you, are typically seen only as articles in the story that help the protagonist come to some sort of personal denouement. Usually leaving those other people dead, silent, or otherwise disappeared. So it is rare for a film like this to actually achieve something else. 

We'll get better, I hope. 

When you look at this film in it's space, and time you see these women breaking the 4th wall for young Skeeter. She seeing them as more than part of the scenery, all while she is figuring out her own life. Fortunately for her, her awareness doesn't simply stop at ''her role'' in society, but that society ACTUALLY includes people other than herself. Kudos. 

What doesn't happen is the transference of that same awareness to most of the people she grew up with. But that's authentic. That's truthful. If it wasn't we wouldn't have certain attitudes persisting to this day. It's all learned behavior, so I'm not mad at those people for being who they were raised to be. However, I do get frustrated when people try to point out how these attitudes (and subsequent behaviors, policies, laws, etc) affect them and these grievances are dismissed as fallacy, or even worse a malicious attempt to harm the ones they are speaking out against. Also, even though I am understanding of this film and others with far worse offenses, I believe that storytelling needs to keep evolving, and the pool from with the mainstream sources it's content desperately needs to expand.

For those reasons: Speaking on, and speaking to what oppresses you is necessary, for anyone experiencing injustice. Those people who benefit from the injustice of others will just have to suck it up. We have to keep progressing. Speaking about your mundane, ordinary human experience stuff is also necessary. Because the divine is often found in the non-spectacular aspects of life. Just speak. 

Let me stop here and discuss the ''You Is Kind, You Is Smart, You Is Important" controversy. 

There was a lot of hoopla about this line. Not unfounded. Not at all. It was the only thing in the film that made me recoil. Initially. Then when I considered the geographical origins of the character and how that impacted her linguistically, particularly in that time, it made perfect sense. She wanted to express to this girl, in the simplest terms possible, that she was loved by her, and beyond that was worthy of loving herself. She says this knowing that this girl would need something to anchor her in dark times, like any child would. There's nothing shameful in expressing empathy and showing care to another human being, even if you do it in some sort of regional speech pattern. I say that fully aware of the complex history of black people working in the homes of white people. For that matter any of the previously defined ''others'' working in what is considered the mainstream world. 

There is so much more that could be said about this film and the book (which I have not read at present). Particularly because there isn't enough diversity in storytelling for our stories. So this film feels like it's in a vacuum. There is validity in some of the complaints against the film, but it should be understood that when you view a story, it matters how you see it.

I choose to see this film in a certain way, so that affects what I'm able to come away with. 

In a world of women (which this movie was set in) the rules of engagement are different, but the results and attitudes are the same. One of the things that struck me most is that one group of women could not see the womanhood of the other group of women. As if somehow the maids were adult sized children who took orders well, or were part of the furnishings in their homes. When in reality (and this is what made the movie for me) these women, these ignored, mistreated, disrespected women were amazing in their own right. People were pissed about Minny's lines, particularly those about cooking. Thing is, Minny took pride in cooking, the way Abilene had a gift for writing. In another life they would have been Martha Stewart, and Alice Walker. But this was the life they were given, and under the law even aspiring for more was unthinkable, criminal. 

I had a conversation recently with a friend about Marilyn Monroe. There are many mis-conceptions about that woman and her legacy. One of the most interesting things I remember finding out about Mrs. Monroe was that her IQ was about 168. Pretty impressive. But of course that's not the first thing we know about her. We know Blond, buxom, ditzy, turbulent, etc. All these things that made her legend a tragic one. There is often little discussion of her depth, her humanity, her needs, her abilities, her aspirations. There is something about being caught in your era, and that is where many people have found themselves. Talented, skilled, full of dreams, but also made to fit into other people's boxes. Marilyn had glamour, diamonds, but she didn't have freedom. She and so many other people. The maids of "The Help" (and the lives they were modeled on) had the homes they served, but not advancement, nor respect. Similar boxes are made to this day. 

When I consider the women I know, the women I descend from, some of whom endured similar situations, I think of their voices which come together to create my voice. I think of their actions, their thoughts, their stories, which come together to shape mine. I think of what they endured to give me the world I have, and what I encounter and rise above to help pass on a better world. When I do that, and see those amazing performances from Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, Cicely Tyson and the other maids, I am able to hear their stories pour from their pores in each line. The sour taste that I expected is largely not there, and when it is, their cool water, in the face of such conditions, washes that taste away. 

I should also add, that I, like Minny..."don't burn no chicken." 

It's true. 
Ask about me.