“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” Thusly speaks an African American maid to the white child she cares for throughout both print and movie versions of
The Help. Set in the 1960s, the story provides a unique view of the Civil Rights Movement: the view of the average women, both white and African American. The Help focuses on two maids, Abileen Clark and Minny Jackson, and the young white woman, Skeeter Phelan, who convinces them to share their experiences working for white families in Jackson, Mississippi with her so that she can write a book. Because of her close relationship with her own family’s maid, Skeeter hopes that by publishing these stories she can make the maid’s point of view known and show society the many hardships that African American maids during that time faced on a daily basis.
Since its publication in 2009, the book, written by Kathryn Stockett, has sold over five million copies in just a little over two years, spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times Best seller list, and was made into a film in 2011. Last month the film received four Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
Although the tale initially seems to be just storytelling and gossip, it ends up being much more. Ultimately, the story is a critique of the society of the 1960s and of the present, touching on issues such as social injustices based on race or sex.
With National Women’s History Month approaching in March, the Multicultural Affairs Office has partnered with University Programming to show the film adaptation of The Help at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Drexel Theatre. A panel discussion facilitated by faculty members who specialize in race and gender studies will follow the showing.
“The discussion hopes to provide a more in depth understanding of the various political and cultural contexts in the film,” Cynthia Duncan, director of Multicultural Affairs, said. “We would like to foster an environment where students can discuss the film through a critical lens focusing on the differences and similarities of race and gender in the 1960’s compared to 2012.”
The faculty members who will be facilitating the discussion are Dr. Tayo Clyburn, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at The Ohio State University and Dr. Daniel Skinner, Asst. Professor of Political Science at Capital University.
The Help fits this year’s Women’s History Month theme: Women’s Education—Women’s Empowerment. The goal is for the movie to open up a discussion about the successes and challenges faced by women today. Admission to the showing at the Drexel is free for all Capital Students with their Capital IDs.
