Andrea's Wonderland Shenanigans

Embracing “the help” - Reaction article on the movie The Help

                Just imagine giving up studying to take care of someone else’s child and family. Picture having to kiss your daughter good bye to a bus when she is only 14 years old because her daddy told her that she needed to get a job to pay the bills. It isn’t so pretty when talking about one’s own. It may seem like just a movie exaggeration, or some epoch once upon a 60 years ago, but things like that go on every day, today in 2011.

                Where would life be without criticism? No points of view shared or exchanged? It’s beautiful to see all the different reactions a movie which many find spectacular (mostly women) and others find it silly and unrealistic can provoke. “We already got a black president, what more could they probably want?” That’s where everyone can see that the prejudices are not gone. “They”? What do you mean by “they”? They is suppose to be us, and us suppose to be everyone in this free country. They didn’t see it like that back then, and quite frankly, I don’t think they still do. It’s not about black vs. white anymore, nor about who gets more money and better jobs. It is deeper than that, knee deep on all that prejudice against everyone who is not who she or he wants them to be. Before, it was against negros that everyone’s hate was concentrated on, but now everyone gets the free choice to hate on upon whatever and whoever they like, which is fine and respectable, if it is the way  life is meant to be lived by those who permit such behavior. But this movie is more specific than each person’s individual prejudices, this movie is about an incessant war between women.

                Some critics take up the argument that there are a lot of facts left unsaid in the movie (and book). The sexual harassment lived through those times was one of them. Another argument is the lack of participation in men and their indifference to the situation. As a viewer, I find a purpose to such choice of characterization. This movie couldn’t be more of a girl fight than it already is. It was beautiful and honest, and their was not a moment were emotions didn’t get the better of my susceptible women’s heart. Let’s face it, it was a girl movie, it was strictly and unquestionably made for girls who waste so  much time trying to destroy the other., Even back when some women had a social disadvantage, women just wanted to rip the guts out of each other with black mail and hard on bullying because jealousy and lack of communication. To further prove the stated point, viewers should think back at the glances the mothers of the white children had in those scenes where their children understood and respected their nannies more than the parents themselves.  These women preferred to send their money off to Africa rather than give them to their maids who needed to pay college tuition for their boys. It’s a pool of hypocrisy just waiting for everyone to jump in and splash the faces of everyone who dares to walk by. It is utterly repugnant.

                And yet, those who were in disadvantaged didn’t act so impulsively. Minny and Aibileen participated in something passive, anonymous, that would hurt no one because it was the truth. Without begging, and sassing anyone, these women helped put together a written veredict of what was like to be a maid at this time of history. Nothing exaggerated nor altered, just the pure and profound truth, which is the message the movie should be openly endorsing. Honesty is the best policy, not only for the sake of your sanity but for the sake of representing and giving of an example of those around you with a similar circumstance. Bravery is about standing up to a situation that is bigger than yourself and is positive to more than yourself. Sacrifice is not a sacrifice unless if by doing so you get to influence and help many others around you. Why does popular culture find heroes so attractive and fun? Because besides the flashy costumes, they actually represent that bravery and determination that many others lack scared of what society might have to say about it.

 There are many Hilly Holbrooks in modern day society, even though everyone was to shun themselves and believe that prejudice and ethnicity issues don’t occur anymore. The Help is beyond racial issues and into the acceptance of what others are. Superiority is not determined by job, the color of your skin or where you come from. It is about how brave you can actually be when the time for honesty comes and how willing are you to endorse your powers and rights of liberty of expression and the equality in men and women alike.

-Original Work from Adevarias