Melissa Harris-Perry and "The Help"
Sunday, August 14, 2011 at 10:03AM 
I fear that I may have to retitle the blog "The Help Experience" but that's okay. This kind of happens when Oscar contenders show up and get everyone talking. Soon there will be more of them and The Help won't hog so much attention.
If you haven't yet read my review, do that please (they don't write themselves!) but today I wanted to discuss Melissa Harris-Perry's righteous fury at the movie (There is a lot of this going around which Sasha Stone discussed recently though Perry was never mentioned).
For those of you who don't Perry she's a professor of political science at Tulane University, her new book "Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes and Black Women in America" just came out, and she's regularly on political programs as a talking head. She's also one of the smartest people alive. Every time she's on television I swoon. When her segments are over I often feel as if the fog has cleared from the subject under scrutiny, her commentary is so perceptive and accessible. Gender, race and politics of the South are kind of her thing so, naturally, she HATED The Help. But she was amusing about it so I thought I'd share her disgruntled tweets.
They're not as incisive and genius as her political commentary but 140 characters, y'know. Read on!
Here they are in order with a few interjections.
I'm one hour into #TheHelpMovie I'm not sure I can make it through to the end.....arrggghhhhhh & I read the book. I knew...but the images...
Hard to tell whether it's the representations of black women or of white women that's most horrible.
Thank God magical black women were available to teach white women raise their families & to write books!!
And thank God plucky white girls could give black women the courage to resist exploitation!
And man oh man was Jim Crow full of giggling good times in the kitchen!!
"oh I loves me some fried chicken" this line was just uttered in #TheHelpMovie #Seriously
Academy Award nominee Cicely Tyson teaches Emma Stone a thing or two!
While I get the frustration that "the magical negro" is stubbornly refusing to exit the movies -- the gays have their own problem with this as their chief role in entertainment is virtually the same: They exist to help the hetero lead become their best self or get their man or job or whatever. But I do think the "giggling good times in the kitchen" is an unfair point to harp on. The truth of human nature is that people have moments of joy and despair and everything in between no matter what kind of lives they have or social class they belong to and no matter what kind of shitty job they toil in. I find it absolutely 100% believeable that maids would enjoy each other's company in the kitchen when they had a moment to themselves. (If you've ever had a terribly unrewarding job, wasn't it your favorite co-worker that made it bearable?) But I get that her issue is with the balance in the movie -- as with the next tweet.
I just timed it. Miss Skeeter's date got same amount of screen time as Medgar Evers assassination. sigh.
First real moment. Violent arrest of black woman.
Oh yeah "cute" stunts like the pie incident would have provoked community wide violent reprisals. Not audience giggles.
Ok wow. They purged the "Imitation of Life" storyline from the film. Just wow...
#TheHelpMovie reduces systematic, violent racism, sexism & labor exploitation to a cat fight that can be won w/ cunning spunk.
She's right about the pie incident.
For those who've read the book what is she referring to when she mentions a deleted storyline in The Help: what Imitation plot thread got chopped? If you haven't seen Imitation of Life, which also centers around the arguably exploitative friendship of a white woman and a black woman, I highly recommend renting both the 1934 and 1959 versions and doing a double feature to see what changes and what doesn't with the passage of time. They're both good films with Oscar nominated contributions.
Hattie McDaniel as "Mammy" in the immortal GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)For those who are interested in the problematic topic of the "mammy figure" and black female labor in history and entertainment, Harris-Perry recommends the following books: "To Joy My Freedom Southern Black Women's Lives and Labors after the Civil War, "Clinging to Mammy: The Faithful Slave in Twentieth Century America", and "Ar'n't I a Woman?: Female Slaves in the Plantation South".
For those of you who have seen the film and for those of you who are avoiding it, does anything about The Help make you uncomfortable?
And who do we have to beg relentlessly until they cave and greenlight a biopic of Hattie McDaniel starring Monique? I can't let go of that dream due to the Oscars. That would be such a fascinating film in the right hands. McDaniel herself was criticized in her lifetime for the roles she was cast in. Her famous retort.
I'd rather play a maid and make $700 a week than be one for $7.
And while we're on the subject of Oscar, do you think any of these critiques will hurt it's golden ticket chances? Or is it too well liked for naysayers to do damage. It's audience rating, the CinemaScore, was a rare A+ this week.
Hattie McDaniel, Oscars (11), The Help, Twitter, politics, racial politics
Reader Comments (22)
so now even professors are texting in the theatre....
I haven't seen this movie, but the racial tropes sound typical and well-intentioned but not horrific. What's horrific are horror movies in which the black guy or the Asian guy is always the one who gets killed. I was just watching the mediocre alien series "Falling Skies" and nearly every non-white character was killed or wounded or made into an evil semi-alien. Why couldn't they kill the weepy tween white "soldier"?
I like your idea of a Mo'Nique version of Hattie McDaniel but only if an auteur with a strong hand oversaw it. Mo'Nique gets a lot of grief for being the ne plus ultra of angry black women but I sense some real vulnerability in her that a good director might be able to draw out. Unfortunately, she seems too alienated from Hollywood and America to have a lasting career in movies.
Par -- lol. it's a whole new world. (sigh) But in her defense i think MSNBC asked her to do so before her on air piece.
Owen -- yeah, i worry about that with Monique... maybe she doesnt care enough for us to get a really great worthy follow up to Precious. But after that performance I would just love to see what else she can do it was so masterful.
There seems to be no movie that can possibly be made that will appease people when it comes to racial tensions. 'Precious' was too anti black male ect ect. We live in a world where Hollywood thinks it is ok for Chinese actors to play Geishas.
I am just happy to have a film out with wonderful female actors getting a chance to shine in the spot light - does not happen often. So every one needs to shut up and just be thankful the Great Viola Davis is in a lead role.
Also so many people are upset that a white author and white director too hold of this material. but doesn't that show that someone is putting themselves in a position of self education and understanding? And isn't that a good thing in the end?
What Mo'Nique announced was that she had purchased the rights to Hattie McDaniel's life and story. She plans to play the leading role, directed by her Precious director, Lee Daniels.
In case you want to read about it:
http://www.shadowandact.com/?p=19274
I just read "Ar'n't I a Woman" (2nd edition) a few months ago, and found it very informative about a subject of which I am woefully undereducated to begin with, namely, the realities of life in the slave system for women; part of Grey's thesis being that slave life has primarily been seen through the prism of male slaves. Fascinating and accesible/highly readable (IMO).
Michael: "Everyone needs to shut up" - isn't that a little strongly-worded? Are you saying that everyone should leave their brains at the door when entering a movie theater, and no one has a right to voice their opinion (unless it's having to do with a superhero movie, of course)? If a black woman can't voice her opinion about a movie depicting black women, who can?
Why is it racist to say "I loves me some fried chicken"? If you ask me, Perry went in the theater wearing her thinnest skin. It is rare that minorites have a real voice in movies, and the story does not center around Skeeter, although she's one of the pillars that hold the movie together, you leave the theater with Davis and Spencer in your mind, and is that a bad thing? I'm not an expert in terms of the historical context of the movie, but what movie hasn't altered or bent historical facts in order to satisfy an entertaining 90-120 minute story? Also, since this is about the relationship of black women laborers to white middle class women, doesn't it make sense that there would be one good egg amongst them, not one who SAVES them, but one who UNDERSTANDS them?. I feel that this was well represented, since in the end the authorship of The Help (the book within the movie) is a collection of stories written by maids that are simply edited together by Skeeter, who rightfully signs the book as Anonymous and does NOT take author credit for the writing. Perry needs to chillax.
This argument is just exhausting. I haven't read the book or seen the movie - though I plan on doing the latter very soon - but it’s been going on for so long that it just takes a toll on you. It's hard when you just want to see actresses who rarely get the chance to shine do stellar work, but then you have to worry about this burden of how the role they're playing reflects upon society. It's never an issue with white actors and it must be painful for actors of color to always have to consider that when approaching new work. I understand the issues that Mrs. Harris-Perry and so many others have brought up, and I can't really argue any point until I see the film, but the anger that some people are expressing really surprises me. There are people who have been opposed to this film from the beginning due to the sheer fact that it portrays black maids, as if that automatically implies that the "Mammy" stereotype will be reinforced and that's what really upsets me. The frustration over movies like this having to supply a "white savior" (also see The Blind Side) is understandable, it would be great to see a film where minorities are shown as being capable of making things happen for ourselves and the glossing over of the violent atmosphere of this turbulent time is troubling, but you can't ignore the fact that there were white people on both sides of the Civil Rights Movement.
Ugh, I feel like there’s so much more to say…but I just can’t bear it anymore. I just want to see actresses act!
I saw the film, and it's been a long time since I've seen an audience that enthusiastic at the end of a film, applause and everything. The film plays much more like a comedy, so I think it's much more interested in the storytelling than setting the historical record straight. People just seem to be taking it a little too seriously.
I know nothing about race issues in America, I live comfortably where I look like the majority around, but isn't the biggest issue that this is still an issue in 2011? And yes, it is, or so it seems from a distance. Looking for information on the internet about this, I've found sites where only the white cast is mentioned in the headlines (the black ones in the text inside), pretty much like those magazine covers that only have white people on them, even though the reviews say it's Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer show.
Nathan -- why entertain the same complaints? The representation of minorities will always cause a bone of contention. The problem with this continuous bitching is that when a real problem movie comes along it'll have a lesser impact on the general population to listen.
As a black person, I didn't go into The Help expecting a documentary. As a black person, I don't expect Hollywood to change their practices to suit the changing times. Mel Gibson goes off on the Jewish community he's a pariah. When he talks shit about women, gays, black people, Latino people, they don't a have a single public or private objection. Beyonce says: Who Run The World?
Can we get back to something else? Anything else? I'll learn to love Streep, Bale and Fassbender if you get off this topic soon!
Owen -- that's a great point. I do feel like those subtle things (like horror movie deaths) are in their own way much more insidious since they're not done with any good intentions. They're just done because people don't challenge their own thinking and go with default decisions -- and what a grotesque default that is! It must upset me in Blood Diamond and The Last Samurai when both Leo DiCaprio and Tom Cruise could run through war zones with bullets flying at them like superman and yet the extras (i.e. people of color) were dying to the right and left of them. It's really a disturbing visual.
Michael -- agreed that it's nice to see so many actresses taking the reigns. As for who should or should not be able to direct and write stories about race. I found this quote from the David Denby review of The Help to be absolutely how I feel about the topic.
Books movies television plays... they'd all be terrifyingly robbed of their classics if only men could write about men, only women could write about women, only straights could write about straights, and only people of color could write characters of color.the film junkie -- "i just want to see actresses act". I know this feeling well :)
but i should say to add to this point -- the denby quote -- that the reason people remain so touchy about this is i think the imbalances. If you had more people of color getting writing and directing opportunities and what not, probably people would eventually stop caring since nobody wants to be confined to only one type of socioeconomic, racial and sexual experience when they're writing or storytelling... well except woody allen. (rimshot)
/3rtfull -- why.... because the topic is interesting! But we'll talk about other things soon enough. (This often happens when an Oscar contender emerges. Particularly if they're the only Oscar contender in the room.) There's only one more post on THE HELP written. But it's a red carpet post so it's not really about the topics at hand.
"#TheHelpMovie reduces systematic, violent racism, sexism & labor exploitation to a cat fight that can be won w/ cunning spunk." This is the only Tweet I found insightful. The rest insist she walked into this movie with her mind made up. I thought I was going to hate The Help, but found it to be pretty outstanding for a race movie that appeals to white audiences, precisely because it often takes the POV of the black maids. I hardly think it's a major offender in terms of films with negative black imagery. It's well aware of everything it's putting out there, and if it should be taken to task for something, it's character archetypes in general, not racial insensitivity. The fried chicken complaint is obvious and ridiculous. Just because it's the ultimate black food cliche, doesn't mean that every movie henceforth has to pretend that black people -- especially black people in 1960s Mississippi -- don't eat it. It's part of the culture. I have no delusions that this movie is going to translate into any real giant leaps forward for race in Hollywood, but I think the argument against it is targeted at the wrong film. And I think the arguers are making themselves sound like they just have axes to grind -- prejudiced in their own right, as it were.
The basic set-up of "The Help" (white author/character writing about black characters) is unfortunate for sure. However, the criticism lobbied against the film is, in my mind, unwarranted and unfair. I've heard some people criticize its inability to show multiple facets of the lives of black women in the '60s while some say that there aren't enough positive views of black men in the movie (nevermind Medgar Evers and the black soda jerk). Some say Skeeter's vulnerabilities should have been flushed out while others say it was too long, particularly when showing its white characters.
The takeaway for me is that you just can't please everybody and include everything in a two-hour movie. And since you can't, we should rely on two things when judging the final product: 1) First and most importantly, is the movie respectful of the minority characters it depicts? My answer is a resounding "Yes." 2) Is the movie enjoyable? In my mind, once again the answer is "Yes."
I agree with any criticism of a biased portrayal of facts, or of plain lies. I have not seen the movie so I don't know if it's biased. Additionally, I am not an American. But I can't understand criticism that the film shows black women being mistreated or stigmatized. And The Help does nto depict ALL relationships in such terrms, at least in the book. Now, when we're talking about the horrible way in which black women were forced to work (safe exceptions).... isn't that the way IT WAS? And let's not forget the film is even showing it from THEIR point if view?
I can fully understand complaints about stereotypes: black men are very often the criminals, gang members and murderers. Or about the outrageous portrayal of Native Americans by Hollywood.
But isn't The Help showing something that actually happened, the way it happened? WIth all due respect, should the Jewish community have felt outraged at Schindler's List?
This is just my view, which I submit most respectfully as a non-American who's seen thousand of American films and lived in the US for six years.
I read the book and while it was an entertaining read there were some cringe worthy moments. But it reads more like a young adult book on the subject of the civil rights movement. The kind you would read in class in elementary school. So I don't expect the movie to change that. It's a tough theme to tackle, and most representations of black women in film and television leave a lot to be desired. I am happy that the adaptation meant jobs for talented black actresses like Octavia and Viola who deserve more recognition and I will see the film for that especially. I understand the negative reactions to the stereotypes this kind of movie can perpetuate. I hope to see more thoughtful films dealing with the lives of black women being made soon.
Also on the subject of a Hattie McDaniel biopic, I would just like to add that I've always wanted A biopic of Butterfly McQueen . She was such a fascinating woman and was an intellectual and a outspoken atheist at a time when it was really uncommon to talk about that.
Lots of movies read stereotypically before talented actors are given the chance to elevate the material. I haven't seen The Help, but by most accounts it sounds like that's what happened: arguably "racist" story arcs were redeemed by three-dimensional performances.
Maybe cultural critics should be lobbying harder for additional films that portray black women in less antiquated roles, without knocking the opportunities they currently have.
Everyone will bitch about something it seems. I loved "The Help" (book and film), and if I had to choose between the portrayals presented here and any of Tyler Perry's crappy films, I'm choosing the former. We aren't gonna get but so much to choose from anyway, so whether it has to be a "black" film couched in a "white" framing device, I guess I'll have to just live with that at the end of the day. It's nothing new. This lady acts like offensive racial tropes were just invented yesterday. Take that ish somewhere else.
Nathaniel: The "Imitation of Life" storyline that was purged was a good one. It would have given Cicely Tyson great material and a possible Oscar nomination. Constantine's daughter Rachel could pass for white, so she had to give her up for adoption. When Rachel came back to see her mother, Charlotte blurted out to her that the reason Constantine gave Rachel away wasn't b/c she was sick or couldn't afford to raise her, but that she was ashamed of her and couldn't take care of a white-looking child in Mississippi. It's not mentioned that the father is white, only that some children just come out light-skinned sometimes according to ancestry. That was the impetus to Constantine leaving. Charlotte didn't fire her like the way the movie presented it. The movie cheapened that entire storyline. Read the book. It's much better than this film is.
"...you can't ignore the fact that there were white people on both sides of the Civil Rights Movement."
No, we can't, because most all of the movies we get set in the era are about the Nice White Folk. In 2011, it's a little much to be asked to view the race-based conflicts of the 1960s Deep South as a feel-good fairytale backdrop for a series of kooky, sweetly harmless escapades, or to see the civil rights movement reduced to just a useful tool to help a white hero feel good about herself. I'm a bit tired of seeing films set in the era fixated on the gravediggers and completely blind to the princes.