A movie and music tops this year’s Black History Month at MCCC.
Sponsored by Student Government, a movie entitled The Help was shown at the Whitman Center and the Little Theatre on main
campus last Wednesday.
The member of the diversity committee and advisor of student government said that Black History Month is about honoring those with African descent and the struggles they have been through.
The film “The Help” is based on the 2009 novel by Kathryn Stockett. It is set in the segregated city of Jackson, Mississippi in 1962 where blacks and whites hadseparate drinking fountains and toilets.
The 2012 film documents the lives of domestic servants Aibileen and Minny who are both African-Americans working in upperclass white households.
They assume several roles in the household which includes taking care of the family’s children, cleaning and cooking.
Skeeter, a budding 23-year old reporter for the Jacksonville Journal, follows and writes about the lives of African-American domestic
servants.
Skeeter was raised in an affluent family with a servant named Constantine, who raised her when she was a child.
As Skeeter delves into the maids’ stories, she realizes the gaping disparity with how black and white employees are treated.
She also realizes that a profound humanity exists beyond the apron and dress of a maid.
A Middle College student and a Student Government member viewed the film as positive and uplifting.
“I really loved it. It was a great
movie. It was inspiring,” Samantha Brooks said.
“The Help” proved to be a lot of help to others.
“This movie could improve a lot of people. The whole mode of the movie was captivating. Unfortunately,we only had this chance to show it,” Student Government President Christopher Holmes said.Holmes, who is African-American, is also a member of the newly formed MCCC club the Black Student Advancement Association. Holmes said that it’s rare to have a film so meaningful.
“It blew me out of the water,” the third year student said.
Holmes said that the movie showed a different side of the Civil Rights Movement. Violence was in the background and the focus was centered on the domestic
aspect.
Overt segregation may be a thing of the past but covert racism is still being played out today, he said.
Brooks believes there is still a form of racism, but not as it was in the past.
Brooks added she has great friends who are African-American.
Holmes explained that the situation is not as bad as African Americans
make it out to be, but people do segregate themselves.
“Racism exists today and it always
will. Our children just have to understand it and overcome it,” Holmes said. “The only way to change the future the better is to change our youth,” he said.
After all, skin color is only the
surface. “It doesn’t matter what’s on the outside but what’s on the inside,” Brooks said.
Bookmarks, pencils and other
items commemorating various African-American figures are available free of charge to students at the Administration building table.
