Similarly, in 2011, The Help, was released, starring Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis. The film is about a young white woman, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, and her relationship with two black maids, Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis) and Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer), during the Civil Rights era in 1963 Jackson, Mississippi. Skeeter is a journalist decides to write a book from the point of view of the maids (referred to as "the help"), exposing the racism they are faced with as they work for white families.
In the film, Davis plays Aibileen Clark, described as a “loving and maternal” housemaid. In the film, viewers are told that Aibileen has taken care of many white children, only to see them grow up and away from her; yet Aibileen always ready to embrace another one.
Similar to Davis’ first Oscar nomination, she received her second for playing a character that was subservient to the status quo, throughout the film. In the film, she does eventually share the details of her job to Skeeter (Emma Stone) but is, ultimately fired for it. Though the black characters are said to lead the films narrative they are ultimately punished for speaking out.
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Many scholars, no matter their race or ethnicity, have focused on Stockett’s stereotypical portrayal of both black and white characters and her …show more content…
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