'The Help' was a high-grossing movie in Hollywood last year based on the National bestseller written by Kathryn Stockett. The movie and the book have always been controversial but now more people are engaging in the dialogue of whether or not the book/movie is racist.
Many see the story of 'The Help' as white man, in this case a lady, helps poor black people to overcome whatever trials they are facing. This annoys many people because it leads some to believe that blacks can not do anything without the help of the white man.
Unfortunately, history books and TV tends to help in that misnomer that blacks in the United States have always needed the help of the white man. This is not correct. Blacks have been fighting for their own freedom, education and equality for years and years and years and have been tremendously successful and motivated in their actions. It is unfortunate that some people can not see that.
It is also unfortunate that a feel good book like 'The Help' has caused so much bitterness in so many. There are many ways to look at the story from the book and movie and there are many reasons to get angry, mad, sad and even a little joyous. The good thing about movies like 'The Help' is that they are able to open up the discourse of race and allow many different people to come together and to talk about it from their own perspectives.
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