"I'd cry, if only I had the time to do it." -Kathryn Stockett, The Help
Congrats to Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer on their Oscar nominations for their roles in The Help! Viola Davis has been nominated for Best Actress and Octavia Spencer has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress. The Help also grabbed the Best Picture nomination. The movie, The Help is the adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s bestselling novel about a young white woman in early 1960s Mississippi who risks her social status to write a book about the lives of local maids. I read the book and supported the movie in theaters; however, I did not feel the movie fully captured the story. I am also very biased when it comes to comparing books to the movies. The book is usually better in most cases.
But on another note, why does Hollywood continue to give nods to Black films depicting Blacks as mammies and maids, and every other Black stereotype? In 1939, Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American to be recognized by the academy, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. Roles for Blacks have changed very little since then. Blacks are depicted as coons, servants, mulatto Jezebels and criminals. When will more Black films get recognized? When will production companies start investing in films portraying Blacks in a positive light? When will mainstream roles open up for Black actors and actresses? Within the 84 year history of the academy not one black film has won Best Picture. I would like to see Black men and women playing more interesting roles and WINNING!
But on another note, why does Hollywood continue to give nods to Black films depicting Blacks as mammies and maids, and every other Black stereotype? In 1939, Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American to be recognized by the academy, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. Roles for Blacks have changed very little since then. Blacks are depicted as coons, servants, mulatto Jezebels and criminals. When will more Black films get recognized? When will production companies start investing in films portraying Blacks in a positive light? When will mainstream roles open up for Black actors and actresses? Within the 84 year history of the academy not one black film has won Best Picture. I would like to see Black men and women playing more interesting roles and WINNING!
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| Octavia Spencer & Viola Davis, Photo via UPTOWN |