I finally watched The Help...(review)

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[@ForHarriet619]

Why don't I have any white women friends on Patreon! Patreon.com/ForHarriet

[@gv5806]

“Because white people LITERALLY can’t see themselves in black people. They literally cannot empathize with black folk.” Probably because you make offensive, false, and generalizing statements like this. And because you make it readily apparent that you view white women no differently than you view the ladies of segregated 1960s Jackson Mississippi. God bless, you are so talented.

[@shadowhunterartemis]

Hey King Dynamite! I'm a white lady fan of Kim's and I don't find her offensive at all. ❤️

[@gv5806]

Ashley Flynn good for you- my sister introduced me to her and she’s clearly a generational talent. Given the video playing in the corner about her only having black female friends and that not changing, as well as the fact that she had to make a video to discuss the possibility of having white female friends in the first place, there is respect missing somewhere. Idk whether you don’t respect yourself or you don’t truly respect her enough as an equal to see that blatant bigotry, but I do know that she’s doing great work for a lot of people and it’s a loss for all that this kind of bigotry can still hold a voice like hers back from being heard by everyone.

[@LlamawithHat]

@@gv5806 good thing her channel is not catered to pacifying white feelings...

@@LlamawithHat my thoughts exactly. I will never understand why someone would choose to invade a space created for a certain demographic and tell them how it should be. Just create what you think should exist.

[@HauntedMusicBox2]

"If you are a white person watching The Help, this history is presented to you in a way that makes you feel like you're Skeeter." So important

[@karenramnath9993]

Anna Loos Isn’t it a good thing if we are made to feel like a character who sees an injustice and tried to do something about it? Last time I checked, that was a good thing.

[@sanfran91]

@@karenramnath9993 It also makes us feel as though we would all would have been like her, when really white women played a huge roll in maintaining segregation and social hierarchy (and they still do). So it makes us feel good about ourselves without really having to interrogate our own roles in maintaining social hierarchies today.

[@knit1purl1]

I don't relate to Skeeter one bit.

[@sarah.the.clumsy]

Celia Foote was the lady I identified with. Skeeter seemed genuinely shocked about everything going on around her. Celia knows and rejects her role as a married white, house wife.

[@davy209]

I would compare the The Help to Orange Is The New Black, as they both use the white narrative trope as a way to “Trojan horse” the audience to help introduce another narrative from another person of color. Yes it is great to hear the experiences from another perspective that is so difficult from the main character but both The Help and Orange Is The New Black failed, is to not allow their “representation” to be the main narrative or to not allow the experience of people of color as the main narrative plot or to at least allow the experiences of people to be at least written by them. But instead, we get writers who do their best to try to understand the lives experiences of another person rather than allow those who lived those experiences, let their voices be heard.

[@lisayoung4810]

Octavia Spencer doesn't just play maids, she's played a mother, she's played God, & she's played a mathematician, as well as a host of other roles that I just can't seem to think of right now. I even saw her in the first Big Mama's House. At a time when most older actresses, especially black actresses aren't getting work, thankfully she is. And, she plays positive characters.

[@aarchie8470]

lisa young I love her as God

[@chioma916]

then please explain MA

[@lisayoung4810]

@@chioma916 pls explain...

[@Zeldarw104]

excuse me, but I didn't hear her say that, of course, Octavia Spencer plays a range of interesting characters. I applaud Octavia Spencer's versatility as a black female actress.👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯

[@BloodElfB]

Chioma Uruakpa she was just showing her range as an actress. It’s fiction, all her movies don’t have to “fight the good fight” 😊.

[@Bloooooooooooppp]

Octavia Spencer tryna pay her bills, I can’t and won’t judge her for that.

[@mrh2821]

I know people give Spencer a hard time for her choices but Hollywood really doesn't provide a lot of dynamic roles for dark skinned women of a certain age. Viola got lucky with HTGAWM. Otherwise it's the Hattie McDaniel issue all over again.

[@mermaidtingzzz]

Eeeeh but she's executive producing problematic works by white people when should could be focusing her investing in black writers and filmmakers projects. Executive producer just means she gave a lot of money to the project, she could and hopefully will easily shift that energy toward people trying to break past the gatekeepers.

[@yecart5691]

Glenn Thompson Thank you! It was a stepping stone for Ma.

[@jblue1622]

MIMI Sea 2226 yeah and her role in Suicide Squad was largely wasted, hopefully they paid her a bunch for that

[@nikanj6]

I agree. Some of the strongest self sacrificing women I've ever known are of this era.

[@brieoliver]

I liked the Help. The "pie" will forever be a classic lol. But even in saying that, it's worthy of critique. I was waiting for the maids to take center stage in the story and it just never happened. I wanted Abilene to stand up for herself and they gave her very surface level moments to do it. Her bond with that little girl did have me shedding some tears tho. "You is smart. You is kind. You is important". Whew. Tearjerker lol. The strength of this movie is in the actors really. Not the story.

[@ranestorypictures1738]

The Help... irregardless of its same ol same ol...was a well crafted film.

[@brieoliver]

@@ranestorypictures1738 It really was. They had some heavy hitting actors in it that did a wonderful job. That female cast was top notch.

[@brieoliver]

@@victorybeginsinthegarden ???

[@brieoliver]

@@victorybeginsinthegarden Dont fall for what? No where in my post did I say The Help was a great representation of Civil Rights. I didnt mention Civil Rights at all when discussing what I enjoyed about it...

[@brieoliver]

@@victorybeginsinthegarden I literally discussed all of that in my post.

[@SherwoodAnderson]

I'm not very far into the video but YES hat's off to Domestic workers! My great-grandmother, great-great aunts, great aunts, grandmother, and my mother (to some extinct) all did domestic work. When my Great-Grandmother reached 98 years of age and we celebrated her as the matriarch that she was, so many of those doctors, lawyers, judges and their children and their children showed up and showed out! We knew how great she was but the stories that they told when they spoke about her were amazing stories of her smarts, kindness, emotional intelligence, and strength just brought it home. And trust and believe, I was a recipient of their "hand me downs" and was fly AF in those penny loafers and polo shirts that were all the rage when I was coming up!

[@SherwoodAnderson]

FYI...these judges and lawyers were the same ones who got my knuckle headed cousins off when they appeared before them. Based on my great-grannie's strength! She was practicing silent diplomacy to benefit her family.

[@bravebird1908]

@@SherwoodAnderson A word.

[@rollyro6772]

Lol fly af my brother was too from the guy my mom worked for I'm proud of my mom she was a housekeeper in the 80's and word of mouth got around and she had a couple of couples she worked for starting her own business even though she didn't see it that way she is retired and an awesome decorator and gardener gotta convince her to start her business doing what she loves

[@feralLove]

I'm thinking housekeepers were a stabalizing force in alot of these white households. Glad the white families showed your grandmother much deserved appreciation when she retired. I used to clean hotel rooms when young and housekeepers overall are not given respect they deserve.

[@samiekallen4442]

That’s not how it ended she didn’t tell off no one she was wrongly fired for no reason and all the maids got paid for there stories that’s what they got. Good review but don’t change certain things to fit it.

[@angeltangle]

Abeline's line to that little girl, is a running joke between me and my black friends, when we encounter micro-aggresions in the day to day, "remember you is kind, you is strong, you is important". It truly exemplifies black resillence from the perspective of the white gaze.

[@lilcomment1946]

@Jeremy Jones My, my, I see you don't go outside much and talk to people. But to each its own...

[@sanityisrelative]

@Jeremy Jones why are you even here?

[@tamarthebaddest301]

Jeremy Jones I agreed with you until you started overgeneralizing then speaking on our appearance and success.

[@debbieomi]

Honey, I think you may need glasses. I've seen beautiful, stunning, pretty, cute, average, not so cute, and downright ugly in every single shade of human flesh. But there isn't anything uglier than someone like you.

[@rainstorm571]

annrad00 I mean Asian culture had no relation to white people but they still preferred pale skin since it showed richness

[@Candican2]

With all respect, I actually largely disagree with you as a black woman about the Help. I can't get into it all here but here are a few points: 1) I think the movie ended realistically. If Viola and Octavia’s characters actually changed in social status because of the book, it would be historically inaccurate. It's far more accurate the way it ended. In fact Skeeter was conflicted about that at the end of the movie. That she could move on with her life and move to New York but they had to continue to live with the consequences that this book would leave behind and in the same circumstances as before. All they got in return was royalties from the book sales, and historically that's probably the best they could get in these times. 2) I disagree that just because you work as a nanny doesn't mean you don't get attached to kids. Both things can be true! Even if your boss is a jerk, it would be irrational for a nanny to hold that against the child. And therefore, they may very well fall in love with that child (unless that child is an absolute demon), or in the very least care for the child's well being. And so I think it's unfair to downplay her close relationship with her nanny. Plus whenever you spend prolonged intimate time with someone on a regular basis it is normal to get attached. Any profession that requires you to spend prolonged intimate time is prone to the same result. 3) I'm confused because you started off by saying that you weren't the target audience but then you get upset the story was mostly about Skeeter. Yea, because you weren't the target audience! It may be important to judge a piece of art by its intended message. It would be like going to a wedding and criticizing the colors chosen. Sure you can have your subjective and biased preferences but you're not the intended audience. The bride and groom is! And if they like orange and green you smile and recognize that that's what THEY wanted. You can't call it problematic 'cause it's not a problem to them. It's what THEY wanted and therefore mission accomplished. So if they wanted the story of a white woman finally starting to grasp the lives of the help, that's what they made. In this regard, even the inaccuracies may make sense because sometimes when we try to see into someone else's life we get it wrong or we misunderstand it. Furthermore, if you realized this, the book in the movie wasn't written for black people either, it was written for a white readership to put a mirror in their faces. So even the book within the book wasn't for black folks. So I think we should stop trying to make the book/movie something it wasn't meant to be. Lastly, going back to historical accuracy, you criticized that a white woman wasn't needed to tell this story. But seriously, in what other way could the stories of the help be published than through a white author in this time period? Think about that. Anyway, that's my response. I say it with no malice. It's just a difference in opinion and interpretation.

[@lilybryan7797]

Candican2 I love this

[@hiyme123]

Thank you for understanding the logistics and purpose of the the story. It may not be ideal for us Black women but it’s damn sure accurate of the times 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@soda_fairy]

Agreed

[@sexyfemme706]

I am with you!

[@g.Raider]

Not to mention that Skeeter was always more compassionate towards the help before she even started the book, and she was still willing to go through with it after she found out the project would be illegal. Many white women around that time period wouldn't have the spine to keep going as soon as they learned the legal issues.

[@mrh2821]

I worked at a bookstore when The Help came out and it was mainly book clubs organized by middle aged white women that drove up the sales. These are women that typically NEVER read anything about black people or the civil rights era but The Help was the sugar pill of nostalgia that helped them swallow the story. Honestly I didn't like the book but didn't hate it as much as I hated The Secret Lives of Bees but you have a point about it centering domestic workers and the emphasis on white women's support of racism and segregation.

[@ChastityJaye]

If you don’t mind my asking, why do you hate The Secret Life of Bees? I first watched the film and read the novel before I knew much of what I know now.

[@mrh2821]

@@ChastityJaye I think part of it was I was misled about who the book was about. I thought it was going to be about the black women and their community. One thing I will say is that I think Sue Monk Kidd is a good writer, I just didn't like this book. I have not seen the film for Secret Life of Bees, in fact I forgot there was a film adaptation. Is the movie true to the book?

[@soda_fairy]

You shouldn't act like that's a bad thing, take some sugar to swallow down some hard history

[@lamocha9896]

Of course because it's a mere glimpse.

[@peterlane1391]

She clearly did research for the book in order to integrate plot points like the death of Medgar Evers and portray the various tasks of the maids, the neighborhoods, etc. My guess is she saw some of it in her house, stole other bits, and looked up the rest. Also, Skeeter is necessary to the story. She's there to slowly realize how much she takes the maids for granted, is oblivious to the real and deadly problems around her, and how just being one of the good white people isn't enough. The book clearly shows Skeeter's every effort causing more and more trouble for the maids. In the end, she leaves, while the maids have to deal with being exposed. Every major problem in the book is solved by a maid. The movie too. She shows the danger of white people trying to leap in and engage a problem for black people rather than following their lead as they better understand the circumstances.

[@lifebyjo3999]

I would honestly love to know what you think about The Secret Life Of Bees

[@MrNicoleCherie]

Me too!

[@michealstone6883]

I love Jerry Seinfield

[@katyrye]

@@michealstone6883 what..?

[@michealstone6883]

@@katyrye Jerry Seinfield movie secret life of bees really opened my eyes on the danger of beeing a talking bee fight against the honey industry. Very important movie in our generation.

[@katyrye]

@@michealstone6883 you mean bee movie

[@DaRealDarkAngel]

As far as the Help and Greenbook the portrayal is off because it is told through the lences of their white writers. Movies like that will always be majorly flawed. We have to stop shying away from our past and control how our stories are told.

[@shortbreadgirlscout3463]

Pretty Lauren Exactly! Controlling the narrative is key.

[@browngirlreading]

Pretty Lauren Amen!

[@briannam.8235]

i never saw green book so i cant judge, but now i get it with “The Help.” that film was messed up tbh. the book wasn’t as bad bc it was well written and not as much of a white saviour, but still i was upset with how the ending was handled

[@DorothyDandridge]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@maddyhoke3907]

Pretty Lauren I thought Abilene was the main character. She has the first and last scenes of the movie.

[@adafm8392]

One of the worst parts of the movie (to me) is when Minnie's daughter is forced to quit school so she can also work as a domestic worker in order to help support her family. I get that unlike many other parts of the film, that one is more realistic (something similar happened to one of my aunts when she was 14 and was never able to finish school) but it truly wrecked my heart.

[@LauraSomeNumber]

My only problem with this is the idea that you cannot love someone if you don't know their life. The truth is that ever child loves their parents without knowing their life. And they don't really start to understand their parents life until they are adults themselves.

[@sanityisrelative]

There's truth in that, to a point. But with your parents, you start to understand them when you become an adult because you interact with them on a more equal footing as adults. You don't live in your ignorant bubble until they die and then make up fiction in a vacuum about how you imagine their life probably was.

[@aarishowton8037]

sanityisrelative but again, as she said.... you still love your parents for at least twenty years before you feel that way. Hell, not only do I think you can love someone without knowing their life, I think most people do that more than the other. I don’t think most people really know hardly anyone’s life. I’ve been living with my boyfriend for a year and a half, I wouldn’t presume to ‘know his life’, he could have had all manner of things happen in the 24 years before we met. I only have a vague idea of his childhood, you know, raised by grandparents, dad had a temper, only child, Hispanic majority city, geeky but had friends. That is all I can confidently say I know about his whole damn life before he met me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love him. People don’t share every aspect of their life, whether to protect their image, avoid pity, or maybe it just hasn’t come up, and you’ll probably already love them by the time you really learn their struggles. The truth is that most people are hiding something for some reason. The only thing not knowing someone’s life prevents you from doing is understanding everything about their behavior, and that’s not required for love.

[@jameslast6581]

@@aarishowton8037 all the text and still.... 50 YEARS! its like, Mary is my best friend but i never knew her last name. She never was your best friend! that is being pretty ignorant about someones life.

[@bunbacheso]

It's more like, if you love someone, you want to know things about them, because you view them as a person. You want to get to know them. And you do pick up some details about your parents lives before you become an adult.

[@alexish8183]

I don’t think children really view their parents as separate entities with hopes, dreams, and feelings that aren’t rooted in being a parent. The way children love their parents is a very selfish and self centered love but still love. I’m sure the same goes for the child who loves their maid. The child doesn’t love that maid as a person, the child loves that maid as an extension of itself never really think of who that maid is outside of their relationship.

[@gabbyquigley]

I hope Abilene Cooper got her check!!

[@zinniairis]

The lawsuit was thrown out.

[@StarCastersUniverse]

@@zinniairis what!! omgggg :(

[@vegetarianlegend]

I was a bit defensive at first whilst watching your video because I loved the Help so much when I first saw it, but I definitely see your points.. Especially her basically having made this all up and making it seem as some sort of historical reproduction of what happened during segregation. Definitely also see the white woman saviour vibe, which I hadn't thought of when I first watched the movie. Great analysis !

[@LoveHope-mi4lx]

Haven’t there been any white people in history that were righteous and courageous enough to make a big difference with blacks? Sure with one voracious one there were 1000’s that acted cowardly I know of one in particular Charles Finney

[@JordanjamesX]

Viola Davis said she wish she never starred in the movie. It shows the paucity of work for black actresses in Hollywood. The help sucks.

[@thotcrimez4252]

Literary Lady1 Did it? I still feel like she gets the same roles.

[@mermaidtingzzz]

@@literarylady1125 that would actually be HTGAWM, since it's the first role that took her out of the mammy trope and has bought her into millions of homes nationally. She wishes she hadn't done it because the film was NOT made from the perspective of black female domestic workers of the 60s, it uses them as props in Skeeter's life.

[@mermaidtingzzz]

@ HTGAWM is the role that gave her a different image and brought her into millions of people's home. Oscars don't matter for black actors, they don't open any new doors for them we've been having this conversation for decades now. They're would keep her in those roles if it wasn't for HTGAWM helping her change her public image. A black woman was the only person that could conceive of a woman like Viola playing such a dynamic character on a nationally syndicated show, point, blank, period.

[@Jmacatac]

Sources please

[@simmytan4243]

Now I understand why Viola didn't want to star in the movie.

[@catastrophicdesign]

OMG I'm from Jackson! i've never heard someone say that that wasn't from here! it was dramatic when it came out because then everyone found out Abolene Cooper was real! kinda weird that they didnt include the White Citizens councils in any of the scenes being that that was a BIG deal in Jackson. I wish they would have included black life more such as Farish Street, Jackson State, Tougaloo, Jim Hill and Lanier High schools. the Black community in Jackson was Resilient even in times of segregation. I appreciated love your work Kim! glad i came across For Harriet you are the bomb!

[@MadisonS.Trivia]

rebel89 Hey! I am, too! I was thinking these very same things!

[@ashleymaginnis3641]

Great job explaining the difference between this being an enjoyable film (it is) and a good film (it is not). I could really take or leave the scenes with Emma Stone's "Skeeter" character. If The Help is worth watching, it's for Viola and Octavia's performances. I also like the scenes with Jessica Chastain. They really managed to get a lot of great actresses in this, somehow.

[@lr8719]

OMHell!!! I thought I was the only one bothered by Skeeter having success and pretty much abandoning the women who helped her! Telling everyone's business like that would not have gone unpunished

[@jamedraa8472]

If you haven't already, check out the audiobook on youtube. It told more of the maids stories.

[@jackiegriffiths7958]

In the book Skeeter didn't abandon them...she set Abileen up as her replacent for her column in the paper, was paying them royalties and wasn't going to leave until Abileen said she had to go to New York else she basically did it for nothing. It's still not fair or equal the amount of danger they faced as opposed to a white woman but unfortunately that is most likely how it would be.

[@aamia3769]

Your hair is always gives me life 💕

[@audiolove1976]

Great review! You ever seen Corrina Corrina? That to me was pretty much from the point of view of the "help" by way of Whoopi Goldberg's character. Yes, Ray Liotta's character is the other side of the coin, but it's really Corrina's story to tell; from her home life to her bond with Liotta's daughter. It came out in 1994, so I'm dating myself, but.... LOL.

[@m.l.2483]

Corrina Corrina is brilliant and Jenifer Lewis' character held no bars. It also had a black nuclear family which they always erase in these movies.

[@mermaidtingzzz]

I was born in 93 and grew up watching and loving this movie! I think it helps that it comes from a child's perspective, allows the adults to function as adults on equal terms because she's still unaware and learning about the society around her.

[@theTruthSeekerishere]

It's an underrated movie, I love it.

[@tbd3744]

What a film that was! and Jenifer Lewis as her no nonsense older sister. When she reads the rejection letter from the publishing house "Dear Miss Washington..... We are not interested in publishing articles by unknown colored women. No matter how talented they are. Sincerely ... Best regards ... Yours truly ... Whitey."

[@caitthecat]

I loved that movie as a kid! I'm sure I'd still love it if I saw it again. I especially loved the relationship between the kids. So cute.

[@ashleyware82]

I agree. The Help doesn’t give an accurate depiction of how serious racism impacted blank women.

[@wendys_lemonade2459]

I read The Help as a middle schooler, and I gotta say learning about Stockett’s history and how she barely did any research really surprised me. Thank you so much for his video

[@DisturbingRainbow]

The scene where Minny runs from Johnny seems funny at first, but then you realize the implications of WHY she runs and picks up a stick. Not funny at all.

[@torianantonio9561]

Why did she run?

[@profoundending1390]

@@torianantonio9561 She was afraid he was going to kill or hurt her.

[@sonyapeach]

The beautiful Cecile Tyson was in it too.

[@joaniedaniel9889]

She had the best part ehrn the dsighter got her

[@thatjillgirl]

I am flashing back to the scene in Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman when Scout goes to visit Calpurnia, and all the black people regard Scout with suspicion and Calpurnia is kind of cold towards her, and Scout suddenly realizes that she didn't actually know this woman who had cared for her all those years, and Calpurnia hadn't actually loved her like her own child. Scout had been a job to Calpurnia, not family, and Scout had just taken her care for granted and imagined a relationship that wasn't actually there. That novel was a little off in many ways (count me among those who don't believe Lee actually intended to ever publish it), but I'm thinking that scene got something right.

[@PomegranateStaindGrn]

Absolutely. Such a powerful scene in the book. You’re right, she didn’t plan on publishing it because it was written before TKaM so the plot was very different and directly contradicted the other. Loved reading both books because I love her writing but I knew very quickly why she didn’t want it published. I wonder if she would have had the same issue with it if it had been accepted originally as her first book instead but I suspect it wouldn’t have done as well - especially in that time. Why it was finally published is a story for another day and has nothing to do with this video.

[@toyaJM]

The original white savior movie is Driving Miss Daisy.

[@b.j.dee2702]

Latoya Johns Agreed 👏🏾

[@KJ-pr7ln]

That hey maid took me out

[@jblue1622]

Does anyone know when KJ’s funeral service will be? KJ RIP hehe jk

[@pm0913]

What's even more interesting is the fact that the same premise (a white woman writing the story of someone black and becoming famous) is in Mr. Church - it's a more recent movie with Eddie Murphy and some other white girl. But this time it's a black MAN who is the help, not the women. It's really interesting.

[@jesushateswood]

Just the trailer for Mr Church made was too much for me. Ughh! 😒😖

[@jenster29]

That movie isn't even about race though 😂 anybody could have played any of the characters

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

He did not play the part of a maid or butler type character. He was not The Help in that way.

[@denisedixon-george3866]

underablackgaze it’s really a good story.

[@lastdays9163]

I felt exactly the same way when I watched the author speak about her book. I was like pump the breaks, this movie that I really like is built on a very shaky foundation. But I do think, whether right or wrong, writing away her confusions or guilt about the black/white dichotomy of her upbringing is interesting in itself.

[@jessicajepson9823]

I am so confused. 😕 abilene and the other ladies got royalties paid to them from the book sales. They were paid for their stories? Also i never saw skeeter as the "savior." I saw her as more of a facillitator. She was a voice the ladies could use to tell their stories. I also thought the ladies showed alot of agency recruiting other maids from other households and bravery. What horrible thing would have happened to them if they were found out plotting this story with skeeter? They couldnt just march down that street and protest without being killed. They had to get the word out somehow? Idk i just considered skeeter to be a human typewriter lol but thats just me... I guess it was portrayed that skeeter initiated the story and getting the ladies together, but if u remember when the one woman approached the subject of getting more money for her sons college they punished her or shamed her for it. If these ladies approached the wrong person trying to write this story they would have been arrested/killed/banned from employment. Thats why they "didnt want to do it at first" and were reluctant to talk with her. How would they of published it let alone get a white audience at that time to even read it? Skeeter sat down and consulted these ladies and wrote down their stories. She facilitated a way of communicating these womens stories while helping mitigate consequences by trying to create anonymity for these ladies. Of course there was going to be people pointing fingers at the workers anyways;it was the only way to avoid legal consequences for the women because they couldnt legally prove anything and they cant just get rid of all of their servants in their minds. However, i think the one mistake made was that they never showed the aftermath for the maids in this movie. You know shit got bad for them because of it. I think that is really the biggest problem. It makes seem like "racism ended in that town that day and everyone lived happily ever after." We all know that is definately not the case. I think if u see skeeter as a savior there is something wrong with you because that is definately not how i saw her. I thought she was a little whiney. And i hate how she sat around feeling sorry for herself. Like she had some problems, but her life was very priveleged in comparison with the maids' lives.

[@southpaw2k1]

@@keenafromphilly Speaking of slavery...I'm still trying to figure out how in the world Jamie Foxx's Django (a pre-Civil war slave) was more articulate than Viola Davis' black maid character in 1963 Mississippi, in "The Help?" "You is kind, you is smart?"

[@saturndreams4168]

Omg!! I definitely share the same point of view with you! I saw Skeeter as more of a person who used her privilege to have the maids’ stories be heard! Because a black person couldn’t have done that at that the time. And yes, I also agree that the maids get nothing out of that and thin lgs might be worse for them after the book release… but Abeleen did say in the movie that she got the job as a columnist, so at least she’s not a maid anymore!

[@SheriMaple]

Speaking of Mississippi, I have a couple of recommendations. The first is to listen to the second season of In The Dark podcast. It's about a man Curtis Flowers who has been tried six times for the past 23 years for a quadruple murder at a furniture store. It's still an on-going case and the journalism is great. The second recommendation is a book entitled, The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist, a True Story of Injustice in the American South by Radley Balko and Tucker Carrington. This is a book where you are shocked but not surprised and question what so-called experts are passing off as science under a system that hasn't changed since the 1700s. Also, there's a new nonfiction book that went on sale February 19, 2019, entitled, They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers that gives a historical perspective of white women also owned slaves and greatly benefited from the system.

[@jlcii]

I honestly didn't know about all the extra information about the book not being legit, and therefore the movie itself not truly honoring who it is supposed to honor. My great-grandmother was a maid for a white family, and initially when I had saw the film, I looked at it as an ode to women like her. And boy was I wrong. That's a damn shame that when Hollywood does try to be Pro black, they still end up being backhandedly pro White.

[@toomuchinformation]

Nothing backhanded about it.

[@jlcii]

@@toomuchinformation good point...

[@TheLolalove]

Definitely pro white

[@sashao.1534]

Roxane Gay wrote a really good essay about the movie, it was really insightful.

[@burpie3258]

i love Roxane Gay 😭

[@trilobite-knight7746]

I really enjoy the way you structure your thoughts. Its so smooth yet not artificial love it

[@EllieC130]

Honestly, I always found Elizabeth to be the sort of average representation of what most housewives would be; not as malevolent as Miss Hilly but more fleetingly aware of the bad things in the world around her but too afraid of being uncomfortable to try and change anything. That was something I found uncomfortably relatable if I'm honest, even today. Though I would argue things are a bit more grey as to what's wrong with the world on a social scale, I definitely think I as a person could be doing more but you know, I stay in my routine, I go to work, I hang out with my friends, I don't really get involved. I just observe it. That's something I think gets often overlooked. I'll admit, this has been a favourite book of mine for a while and honestly, that's not going to change. It's an uncomfortable thing to admit but outside of the moral ramifications, I still like the book as an entirely fictional story with fictional characters. I think I can relate it to how people still enjoy movies made by people like the Weinsteins and Woody Allen. As much as it feels wrong to praise those people, on a technical level, the fictional work doesn't have a lot to do with it's creator. I will not hold this book up as particularly progressive and written through an ethical lens (though some points, like what I said about Elizabeth, do stand up well), but I won't lie and say I hate it now, you know? To respond to the idea of white people empathising with black characters or even non white in general, I think it's because, I'll admit there's a disconnect. It's a combination of the fact that, while I won't say it's impossible for a white person to suffer it (though it's rare and carrying less weight in my opinion), I personally have never suffered racial prejudice so when I see it happen to a character, I can only become uneasy and feel kind of like in that moment, relating to that character isn't "for me" if that makes sense (Michaela from HTGAWM being a perfect example); the other aspect is, and this is probably not a nice thing to admit, but there is some desensitisation to prejudice. The atrocities of slavery and segregation just don't shock me anymore, horrific as they were, partially because I've seen so much of them (I would say 2010's onwards have had a political climate that has really pushed it into the media) and partially because I've seen phrases like "it's practically slavery" in arguments where, as much as I try and remove the fact that I don't really understand it, I truly don't believe that comparison is warranted. Wondering what your view is on how white writers should approach non white issues and characters. I hope this doesn't come across as confrontational but as an aspiring writer myself, sometimes I hear criticism of white writers not including enough diversity but then in the same beat I'll hear someone else saying that it's wrong for them to write a non white character because they don't understand the black/Asian/etc. experience. Similarly, with actual issues of racial conflict, there doesn't seem to be a middle ground between people accusing writers of either ignoring the conflict or trying to talk about something they don't understand. Trying to remove all my emotions on the matter, I can't say I really believe that people have a "we have enough white writers" thought process but sometimes I see these conflicting criticisms side by side and I do get a little frustrated as to what I'm supposed to do. And anyone about to put something along the lines of "oh poor little white girl getting upset because she can't write however she wants" or some shit like that, get off your high horse. I know this is nothing compared to the issues some people deal with, white and non white alike. It's more an inquiry than anything. PS- Sorry for the random essay; I find this kind of discussion interesting and got a bit carried away.

[@samiraansari5686]

TalkingToMyself Hey! I‘m not black, but I guess since I‘m middle eastern I would count as a woc by American standards (?) and I‘m also a writer and quite invested in the discourse around diversity. Of course I don‘t have a final answer to your question, but I think that when writing characters from other cultures and ethnicities it is important to a) actually research a LOT. Don’t go off on assumptions, stereotypes or other people’s writing. b) try to center them as a character (their personality etc), rather than their experiences as a person of their race, because that is something that someone who hasn’t experienced it themselves will probably do a really bad job writing c) definitely get sensitivity readers!!! Can‘t stress this one enough d) don‘t „exploit“ their experiences for your own gain. So for example if a black woman sues you for using their name and likeness and backstory in a book that you, a white writer, are profiting off, that‘s a really bad sign. and finally e) keep in mind that you‘re writing for a diverse audience and not just other white people, so try not to fall into the trap of making your characters „exotic“ to appease a white reader’s gaze and don‘t use „white“ standards to judge your own diverse characters. That might sound like a lot of „rules“, but I do think it’s possible to include diverse characters as a white writer, and to show discrimination or hardships they might experience, without appropriating their suffering that way. In general, showing all kinds of characters (and being able to write all kinds of characters) is, in my opinion, a sign of a good writer. And most of these „rules“ are also just about basic human decency, and good writing. Of course I‘m not the ultimate expert on this, and other people will have different, and possibly way more nuanced opinions on this. But I think that since you seem to be genuinely curious and searching for answers, you will definitely find a way to write diverse characters well.😊I‘m looking forward to maybe reading your work one day. (Also sorry of my English is incorrect/ not as eloquent as it could be, it‘s not my first language)

[@EllieC130]

samira Ansari Not at all, I really appreciate your insight. Sometimes when I write I tend to keep appearances vague but I don’t like to pigeon hole myself into doing that because I’m worried about doing things wrong. Thank you!

[@ninewectawski1935]

I always enjoyed the movie The Help, a lot of what you talked about I thought the same too. As much as the white women played the "villain" part, it was still very B rated. In the sense as they were made to look mean, bad, cruel, heartless, but at the same time made to look not that bad, if that makes sense. When I was little, my gramma gave me a black cabbage patch doll, I loved that doll so much, she had medium length curlyish black yarn hair, shiny brown doe eyes, a off white/yellowish knitted dress and booties my gramma knitted for her to wear. every time I went to my grammas house my doll would be sitting on my knitted baby blanket on the rocking chair. For 31 years every time I went to my grammas I seen my doll on the rocking chair and I always got this overwhelming joy seeing it. (My gramma fostered 2 young sisters for a bit, who fell in love with the doll and so after 32 years my gramma let it go to these beautiful lil girls who loved my doll as much as I had). Why I'm telling this story is because I am a white woman (well white and Spanish but look white). I never understood the significance of that doll until I was older. My grandma who is 81 now, was born in a racist country to white privileged parents who did not speak the best on non whites. My grandmother wanted my first favorite doll my favorite toy to play with be a black doll, playing with my doll as my baby, playing with others with my doll and it being just fine. She wanted to make sure that I saw equalness in all, whether black, white, brown, etc. because of that one thing my gramma did, by putting that doll in my arms, by showing me we are all the same had a profound effect on how I perceived everyone growing up. By doing that one act, she was able to impact my life in the most beautiful way, important way. My grandfather had a racist tongue (and very abusive, they divorced before I was born) my great grandparents used racial slurs, my mom didn't date the best of guys, some being racist. I could have easily taken on those traits being around it at such a young age, racism is taught, we are not born with it in us. I could have easily became a person who spoke down on others, who used derogatory words towards others, no empathy towards others. But I didn't, by my gramma showing me what was right and what was wrong at a very early age let me see everyone as equals and to love every race and every color. I hope this is coming off right and not making sound like a weirdo, I know to some it doesn't seem like much, but to me it means everything, and I am so glad my grandmother showed me the right path, the path of love and equals, as I could have easily been persuaded to the other side. I know that I can never know what it's like to be a non white person, I know I will never know what it's like to be looked at in a negative way all because the color of your skin. Like what was said when talking, the white women losses were meager, losing a friendship or a boyfriend, black women losing their lives, being put away in prison for years over tiny things, that white power has always been superior, and will continue til we all stand up to bring it down to complete equalness.

[@reallyitsjackiev.meadows7578]

Chyle......at 15:30.....preach!!! That is a whole message........they don't see us as equal or sometimes human.....

[@birdiewolf3497]

Yup. Stopped caring a long time ago what white people think and trying to appeal to their empathy. They literally don't have it for us. I mean centuries of all that horror and violence, that shit was turned off a long time ago.

[@AnimalFacingLeft]

yeah this spot really made me stop and think

[@amyclarke41]

other groups get prejudiced too just my view 😣

[@birdiewolf3497]

@@amyclarke41 I mean obviously. Not really sure what point you are making.

[@amyclarke41]

@@birdiewolf3497 not just afro Americans get prejudiced jews did in the uk and people from pakistan and jamica not as bad as usa but still got prejudiced 😣

[@kennedymaison6333]

This is one of the first videos I’ve ever watched of yours, and I’m hooked! You’re so eloquent, and an amazing explainer. So many great points. What a prevalent issue, and ongoing. I’m a new subscriber!

[@williamsmith5549]

You are a fabulous critic, looking forward to wathing more of your reviews! Thanks for all your amazing work!

[@turnne]

I really liked the Help. I think it was told from a realistic point of view. However..I don't think it was intended to be a hard piece on racial inequality. I liked the characters and the acting

[@DocStewie77]

That's part of the problem: it's so easy to gloss over the seriousness of that place in time when you have someone who wasn't on the receiving end (and someone who, apparently, didn't consult with people who were on the receiving end of peak racism in the American South) telling the story. The story she told wasn't realistic because it wasn't told from the perspective of the people who actually experienced it.

[@turnne]

@@DocStewie77 I don't think the movie was ever meant to be a very heavy civil rights piece. I say it was much more of a satire piece with the characters dealing with the time period and situations they were in

[@DocStewie77]

@@turnne True, but it WAS a heavy time, so not depicting it as such is inaccurate as well as unrealistic, and it does the people the movie is about a disservice. It's like having a movie about slavery, but making it seem as though it was a work program with mildly harsh living conditions; softening the blow as to not make people feel uncomfortable how things ACTUALLY happened is disrespectful to the people who dealt with those things. Maybe you're just not old enough to really understand how much of a dangerous time this was for black people, or maybe you are coming from the same perspective as the author who didn't even bother to ask for the proper perspective from the people she wanted to write about in her story. As the video states, you cannot get an accurate idea of how black people during the height of the civil rights movement felt without asking the people black people that lived through it. She had TWO different black domestic workers to interview, but instead chose to make up a story about something she clearly didn't understand based on her on power dynamic in the situation.

[@turnne]

@@DocStewie77 The Help is not dismissing what was going on at the time. Just like the black women found laughter , in the film , in spite of their situations.....and that laughter IMO, would have been very real during this period of time. So..I disagree that this depiction is inaccurate and unrealistic. I did not live through this personally. I am a black man in my mid 50's. My mother did and she is not jaded in her thoughts and enjoyed this movie immensely I assume, based on what you posted, that you lived though this and know directly how things were.....which means you would have to be a black person who is over 65 years old?

[@saypumpkin3067]

What do you think of Secret Life of Bees? Id love to see your opinion!

[@teacupwithhoney]

This is why I love you so much. You don't hold any punches. Thank you .

[@denisesalt9729]

I agree about the seriousness of the $#!+ pie. My white co-worker saw the movie with her friends and told me she was interested in talking to me about it. I was happy to have that conversation so that I could concur that these women were not just help but brave and complex women. But her ONLY questions for me (from all the other important implications in the movie) was, "Do you think that blacks really made $#!+ pies for their employer?" and "did you grandmother ever say she did horrible stuff to her employers?" Those were her only questions. Maybe I was wrong but I said "ARE YOU SERIOUS" and walked away. Never spoke about it again. i just thought, she would be the '@$$' that got the pie in real life.

[@Moscato_Moscato]

I’m so glad The Rap Critic got me subscribed to your channel because I like perspective a lot!!

[@katekursive1370]

Same!

[@Nmendenh-rl6ej]

The Hey Maid clip sent me to Jerusalem.....OMG! :)

[@FoAdunni]

Gurrrrrl what gon do in Jackson. I'm from Jackson and I feel like there is nothing there. Excellent weather though most of the time. Nice humidity.

[@ForHarriet619]

I'm boring. All I need is weather.

[@amyseed183]

I’m confused. Do you want this to be historically accurate and not at all made up, or do you want a fairy tale where the maids fix 1960s racism and frolic into the sunset? You keep changing your mind.

[@karenramnath9993]

Amy Seed Yeah, she seems to not like the idea of Skeeter seeing an injustice and trying to correct it, but what if Skeeter had seen injustice and not tried to help? I don’t think that would have gone over well either.

[@avaphynx]

Domestic workers did help a lot when they boycotted public transportation. It made an actual difference. We deserve accuracy.

[@vlo123veronica]

Yes, she's very contradictory.

[@redrooster3420]

I'm confused because I didn't see her arguments here as being contradictory at all... As she mentioned in the vid, it is historically accurate that domestic workers played a huge role in fighting racism. The movie could have centred these workers, and their actual research-based realities, without needing any or as much of that saviour-figure white protagonist. I don't think she's saying we need movies to be always non-fictional or to show movies about "fixing" racism entirely at all. She's simply saying that it was clearly irresponsible for a privileged white woman to be writing fiction about these workers who she did absolutely no research about prior, and that there is an issue with the trope of having a white person save people of colour (usually in ways that very subtly dismiss the root and depth of racism, and serve to make white people feel better in the end).

[@redrooster3420]

Ah, someone below this thread summed it up really well! "The point is the author of the help presented a narrative of black domestics as if it were from their point of view but it was entirely hers." That's the issue here. I hope that clarifies some things for you?

[@lovesue86]

I’m falling in love with your content!🥰

[@VSunshine7]

Omg! My home is Jackson! (Live in Dallas now) Love that you’re speaking so kindly about it. We don’t get that type of positive shine as much as we should. Thank you so much! Love your videos💗👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@hamadi03]

Another absolutely brilliant analysis, sober and extremely thoughtful, wow, you are so on point

[@TheWealthyWeaveologist]

I watched the movie once. That was enough. The movie wore me out emotionally. I cried at the end. Ron Howard's daughter can get these hands.

[@sarahj287]

Great video as always! Curious your thoughts on Hidden Figures

[@TheCelae]

So I just found your channel like this week. I have watched about five of your videos but this one struck me. As I owned this movie and always liked it. I grew up in Birmingham, Al. I’ve been to a lot of the civil rights memorials and civil war memorials. Hearing your views on how this story is told really opened up my eyes. I appreciate that. Because, we’ll always identify with people we can see ourselves in. And I had no clue that author just made this up to deal with her guilt over never getting to know her domestic worker. Anyways just wanted to say thank you, keep making this stuff because I am eating it up! Looking forward to supporting you soon!

[@talisha5863]

Thanks for doing the research and informing us on the background of this film and the production crew. You stay keeping it 💯 Kim👏🏽👍🏽✊🏽

[@legendariopr3897]

Sometimes I fight you but at the end of the day your clearly logical, passionate and deep analysis win. Thanks for being so educational. A great tool in the demystification of this racist, colonial and eurocentrist society. I love you and thanks.

[@SayreObrien]

Great content! I am curious to know how you feel about the book/film "To Kill a Mockingbird."

[@weinerherz0g]

Just found your channel; your perspective is so needed on this platform!!! New patron and new subscriber for sure.

[@fionadooley2437]

This is so good! Just discovered your videos and I really like them

[@ryryelmdweller]

This is a great critique! I’ll admit I was initially pretty hesitant to engage with criticism of The Help since I liked it so much when I was younger, but you provided a lot of valuable insight that I hadn’t considered. Thanks for broadening my perspective.

[@1hotshon]

Yes, I HATE the help! In this day and age, these movies should no longer be produced. Hidden figures was so much better in terms of telling their story without diminishing the people or events.

[@ashiko19]

I've been loving these thoughtful reviews

[@ohlovelyqs]

I’m here to learn. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and analysis.

[@bluewolfradio9521]

I'm a Chicago native that lived in Jackson, MS, from 2001 - 2016.

[@TheAmityElf]

Someone else commented saying you should do Secret Life of Bees, and I agree; I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[@jacksonellis5865]

I had some doubts about my thoughts on The Help. Thanks for helping me with your unique thoughts

[@lucymiller1126]

Thank you for making this video!

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

I didn't realize how bad this movie was until you pointed out

[@kizi180]

@Charlene Warren You do know that Skeeter payed royalties to all the domestic workers, right?

[@fayis4everlove]

@Charlene Warren ah, were you expecting her to end all the prejudice and all of them to live happily ever after? You do know that the book was supposed to be set in a realistic settings right? This ain't Disney sis.

[@ilovenikkij]

Born and raised in Jackson Mississippi 💁🏾‍♀️ Jackson State Alumni 👩‍🎓🐯

[@xr2kid]

Im from Hattiesburg living in Miami. ❤

[@ColRusSer]

Wonderful analysis. I did not know the backstory of the book, but I did feel the void, felt that the lack of the darkness made it fake; it was glossy. It was a typical Hollywood film. The acting was impeccable, yes. I’m not really from the US (though I have lived here before and live here now, but in California) and I learn so much from channels like yours. I haven’t wanted to ever go visit the Southern states because of their history and politics, but when you express such love for Mississippi, I become a bit more curious. Thank you!

[@burpingcricket]

So glad I found this channel! Great video.

[@Pagesandperfumes]

It's funny hearing you talk about your love for the south. I am so scared of the idea of living in the south. Thank you for the comments on domestic works. Because of my Iove for 60's fashion I love to watch movies like this. I personally like this movie compared to many in its category mainly for the acting. I like that it was one of the first movies that focused on the racist white women. Many of these movies depict the women as the innocent party just going with the time. Granted I didn't read the book and just like you didn't know it existed until the movie

[@mermaidtingzzz]

The same amount of ignorance and hate exists in the northeast, midwest, and west coast. History just makes it seem like it's all here to make all the other white people outside the region feel better about themselves lolol.

[@bobby12348]

@@literarylady1125 I'm nice I live in Memphis.😀

[@iguessitsokyungrichbaby2813]

Yaya Marie I honestly my family has made sitting down and hate watching the movie a family gathering 😂 we make fun of it all the way thur. We’re from Louisiana lives in Mississippi and Texas. Honestly I love the south but there issues

[@kr3642]

Having lived in both the north and south as a white woman, i can say i had no idea what kind of bubble i lived in until i got out of it. Im from Portland Oregon, and until recently i was absolutely BLIND to my native city's very racist history and firmly believed that because its so liberal over here that it would be a good place to live as a poc. In my daily life, everyone is very inclusive so all of this history came as huge shock and i felt so fucking stupid. I also lived in New Orleans, which is a very different atmosphere. Thats the city that tought me about micro agressions. A word wich i previously had no realistic concept of. I didnt see how constant those little shitty looks could be and how they could add up if it happens all day. Everyone should travel and get some perspective...and make a point to look into history even if you think you're from a "good" place....ive always been proud to be from portland but now i see why its never really been cool to outsiders..

[@jimjimjimmy7793]

Minny would most likely be killed for the pie or hurt at least during that time. The ending was also cheap.

[@ayanna6327]

The movie came out when I was going into 8th grade, I remember watching it sometime when it came to On Demand and I loved it. I read about half of the book when I was freshman in high school and enjoyed it, I don't remember why I didn't finish it. But yeah, it's one of my favorite movies hands down! Although I do agree with the points you made, it's been a while since I've watched it. You made an excellent point, especially with Skeeter taking Aibileen's ideas as well as always having to filter the black experience through white voices.

[@TheThriftQueen]

This was great! Such an excellent critique. I haven’t seen this movie in years but I do remember there being a lot of controversy. Good job🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@ChrisBrooks34]

I was unaware of the author's personal stake in the story because when I had initially watch the film I was maybe in high school so I wasn't as knowledgeable as I am now in my 20 s of black history and you know as I always say the American school system has failed us but that's a video topic I hope you do one day but realizing that it was an exploration of the fact that a woman who worked for your family for 50 years you seem to have no intimate knowledge of her it's kind of gross. That the way it's presented as though she was not a human person like you didn't recognize the autonomy of her, that she had no life outside of the job or the service that she provided for your family that is deeply disturbing

[@tsuyayaka1]

I have had no interest in this movie but I like your review. 😊

[@iwhite1710]

As always 50% of my time watching your videos is 'that's such a good point'. Today, especially it was about the fact that before the movie had come out I had never heard of The Help (even though I am definitely the target demo). Finally a bit less broke so made myself a Patreon account and have signed up. Thank you for all you do.

[@cali6950]

I've just got to say.... that this is the 3rd time I've watched your videos and I really learn a new perspective every time. Thank you! I love Viola Liuzzo but I didn;t learn about her in school! More of your voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@t.e.burgos3263]

"The Help" is the "Thriller" of books for selling 5 million books? The first Harry POtter book as sold over 100 million books.

[@CeliniacForLife]

T. E. Burgos I was just going to say. 5 million books is nothing to snooze at, but plenty authors have sold wayyyy more than that.

[@t.e.burgos3263]

@@CeliniacForLife Exactly. Any author would KILL to sell even half of 5 milliion books. Heck, a million books sold will totally make your day. But The Help is hardly the Thriller of books. Considering that Thriller is the biggest selling album of all time, the analogy does not work.

[@julianbluefeather8491]

Hey Kim, I was wondering what films you think are accurate depictions of black history? Thanks.

[@lemurlover7975]

she has said she likes The Color Purple. You might check out I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

[@hueykhalidX]

Lemur Lover - The Color Purple is anti-Black man, feminist BS.

[@heartofvanillaice7443]

Im very grateful I found this video. Well researched and informative. Thank you.

[@glipgloppapi9959]

K I’ve officially subscribed to your channel only after the second video I’ve seen by you, I rock with you 🤧

[@leroystea8069]

Hello Kim, just wanted to say how much I appreciated this conversation. Yes, Octavia Spencer's character walking off into the sunset seemed really creepy and off putting to me. Truly liked the research you did on this film and the book it's based on. Have watched a few of your videos and like the energy and honesty of what you present. There was a network television series on many years back called "I'll Fly Away". 1991 - 1993. Sam Waterson and Regina Taylor were the main stars. Basically a good show that sometimes hit the mark perfectly. Would have to research what Ms. Taylor's been doing lately. Such an awesome actress. Would be curious your take on it. But maybe too time consuming to research. Became a sub after watching this analysis.♥ Really great insight!!!

[@emem6935]

I loved I'll Fly Away! I watched it when I was 12 I would love to see it again now.

[@leroystea8069]

@queenofmeanest meanie Thank you for the comment....awesome♥

[@RichardWritesOn]

But we all know if Minnie had served that lady a shIt pie.... she woulda been strung up!! *SMH* You should watch Mr Church. (This feels like a series: Kim Interrogates White Savior Movies LOL) ....

[@stellabellafontay9366]

Omg... thought I was reading my own comment. That scene was ridiculous! Great minds think alike.

[@stellabellafontay9366]

Mr. Church? I'm interested.

[@SpamNeggs23]

Sis!! I’m so glad I found you!

[@cavepunk2102]

saw the help when i was about 12 or 13 and thought it was really good, this is the first video of you ive seen but you broke down the authors intentions really well (dealing with white guilt) and i now seeing the authors point of view really changes the book and movie for me. you explain things so well, you got yourself a new subscriber

[@lyricbot8513]

This was educational, thank you! I had a similar reaction to The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas; I think fictionalising traumatic historical events, especially as a white author, is a particularly dangerous form of white supremacy.

[@anniej844]

Yeah like... the way they set up the ending of that movie never say right with me. Like they frame it as if the only reason it’s sad is because the white boy wasn’t “supposed” to be there. But like what about the Jewish boy? And all the grown men? And literally everyone else? Like that movie’s ending is very 😬😬😬

[@chae1557]

@@anniej844 yep agreed!

[@karikuo6634]

As an asian girl in Canada I watched this movie with my mom when it came out and never considered the problematisms with this film. Thanks for rehashing it’s plot and the way deeper problems of race are not addressed within this iconic film!

[@Samanthajeanann]

Thank you. I don't generally do a lot of research in movies, about actors or book/play writers. I just enjoy the content and move on with my life. I thank you and enjoy looking at things through another view.

[@destineee6]

Kim! I have been avoiding watching this video because The Help (and the original Carmen) is my favorite movie and I didn’t think I could bare any slander. But I mustarded up the courage to hear a difference in opinion and also respect it! So I’m pretty pleased with myself lol. So glad I got to enjoy another video by you! and yes The Help and Carmen are still my all time favorite movies

[@KendiaMarie]

After reading the book, I thought the movie was terrible. The casting was terrible also. I liked the book tho.

[@helengordon-smith5753]

This is such a good, thoughtful take! I enjoyed the book and the film, but couldn’t quite put my finger on the hesitation I had with it. Like you said, the book does a much better job of showing the terror and violence the white women wrought, and I liked that Skeeter’s motivation for collecting the stories was shown as coming from a pretty selfish place - she wanted material so she could be a writer, and was happy to further exploit these women to get it. That to me seemed like a pretty incisive take on white people’s involvement in/support of civil rights. I also felt uncomfortable with the idea that white people shouldn’t write in black people’s voices - I felt like that was kind of reductive. HOWEVER I think you hit the nail on the head: if you ARE going to write about an experience so different from your own, DO YOUR RESEARCH. Interviews! Archives! Autobiographies! These voices exist, you don’t need to pretend you can just imagine them all! I think the humility that would have come with doing that research would have made this a much stronger book/film overall. Thanks!

[@katekursive1370]

Enjoyed hearing your thoughts a lot!

[@MilaBelen]

This was amazing. You're so brilliant, always.

[@imanicartwright4463]

I think white people have a genuine issue distinguishing between domestics and the "mammy" characterization of black women. Now I'm curious about how Kim and honestly the black community as a whole feel about the Color Purple

[@ForHarriet619]

The Color Purple is one of my favorite movies.

[@CeliniacForLife]

For Harriet But why?

[@msmelissxo33]

I really enjoyed the movie, but I believe it was due to the performances of all these amazing actresses coming together. I've yet to read the book, but yeah as someone who loves history, the author along with the history of how the book was created... really hurts my love for the movie, but not the actresses. Though many actors who are supposedly playing "real characters", are encouraged to not research too much into the person they're portraying. Apparently it hurts the actors freedom while in that character, mean while the best depictions of real historical figures usually come from method actors who dive into that research and literally transform into said figure. Still much love for all these actresses, and I'm down to watch any movie they partake in. Anyways, that's my 2 cents on the matter. Much love from Canada, you just got a new subscriber xoxo

[@genshinstan8726]

her voice has changed so much over the years!! she seems sm more comfortable and at home now.

[@dzauthor]

Thanks for giving your insightful analysis.