The weekend approaches and naturally presents as a good time to take a look at the new movie releases. I scan the movie listings and notice that it is on par with most weekends. I can choose between the white guys that overcome wealthy car manufacturer, or the three women that fight crime where they show diversity but never tackle it, or the crazy white guy that torments a community, or the slap stick funny white guy with the black side kick. Not a lot of diversity or uniqueness. But this weekend a movie stands out because it is not only highlighting the strength of a black women but it is even directed by a black woman. I look at the reviews of Harriet and find that most of them find fault with either the casting of a Nigerian woman in the lead, or claim that the movie falls short significantly in part due to the “white savior” in the story. But is this truly how the movie represents or is this a misrepresentation by the media?
A movie that I was excited to watch became less enticing as I read review after review about the faults in the screenplay and casting of Harriet. As a feminist, I didn’t want to support a film that either misrepresented black women or perpetuated the white savior nonsense. Time and again we see black women represented as hyper sexual, physical, uneducated and out of control. Rarely do we get to see a film that portrays black women as a source of strength, intellect and serious perseverance. But then I came across a review from Ms. Magazine that was essentially a 180 degree difference from what I read in the mainstream. How could this be the case? Perhaps it has to do with the divisive culture in our current political climate that continues to magnify the white nationalist platform. As it turns out, the studio releasing the film is owned by Comcast and is “in partnership with the Trump administration to chip away at civil rights protections” (Hobson). This disparity in viewpoints highlights the power of media bias and the perpetuating of colonialism mentality. This power and influence is so strong that even a chapter of the NAACP canceled a viewing of the movie.
In the release of this one single movie we witness the power of the media to perpetuate colonialism by devaluing a black women that is historically significant, attempt to erase her story, and they cloak their racism around false accusations against the movie, the director and actors, while using their platform to manipulate audience attendance to ensure a failure at the box office. It is still a rarity to have true representation in entertainment but when it is achieved the results are typically on point. Harriet appears to be authentic and persuasive which presents as a threat to the images portrayed and valued by those in power. A move to not only continue the misrepresentation of black women but to also harness and deter future interest in black centric movies, the media giants opted to take this film out at the knees to maintain order in their colonized society.
Sources:
Hobson, Janell. “Who’s Afraid of Harriet Tubman?”, Ms. Magazine, November 5, 2019
