ACTIVITIES
REPRESENTATIONS
How are the following groups represented in the film? Answer in one to two full sentences for each, using evidence/examples from the film. You should be focusing on the character traits that we are made to see.
- White females (young): e.g. Young white females in the film are shown to be.... This is shown through the character of... who is...
- White females (old)
- Black females
- White males
- Black males
- Police
- Politicians
- Children
- Wealthy White society in general
- The Black community
EVENTS
Using this website, summarize one of the Civil Rights events between 1955 and 1965 (you can do this in dot points):
http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/index.html
Then write a letter of at least 150 words, describing the key events and reactions to those events. Pretend that you were there and you are describing it to someone who wasn't there. Try to focus on improving your descriptions of locations/scenery/people/emotions.
http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/index.html
Then write a letter of at least 150 words, describing the key events and reactions to those events. Pretend that you were there and you are describing it to someone who wasn't there. Try to focus on improving your descriptions of locations/scenery/people/emotions.
FINDING A WRITER'S VOICE
Aibileen, like Skeeter, finds her voice as a writer during the events of the film. She starts by writing prayers in her journal and then writes down her story in her words to share with Skeeter when they start the first interviews.
Imagine that Aibileen writes about one of the significant scenes in the film, such as: Mae Mobley using the black bathroom, the night Medgar Evers is assassinated (when she has to get off the bus); the special church meeting at which she is celebrated by the black community, or the day that she is accused of stealing and she leaves her job as a maid for Miss Leefolt.
Pick one and write the journal entry that Aibileen might have written in her prayer-notebook (at least 1/2 page of writing).
Imagine that Aibileen writes about one of the significant scenes in the film, such as: Mae Mobley using the black bathroom, the night Medgar Evers is assassinated (when she has to get off the bus); the special church meeting at which she is celebrated by the black community, or the day that she is accused of stealing and she leaves her job as a maid for Miss Leefolt.
Pick one and write the journal entry that Aibileen might have written in her prayer-notebook (at least 1/2 page of writing).
ESSAY HELP
SAMPLE INTRO
Living during the 1960s was incredibly challenging for African Americans. Whilst they had technically been freed from slavery, racism was still highly prevalent, and speaking out against this was dangerous. The Help not only details the daily difficulties of life as a maid, but also the risks one had to go through if they were willing to speak out. Furthermore, it in turn highlights though, the potential gains that could be made for themselves and society.
HOW TO INCLUDE A QUOTE EXAMPLE
The quote I used: Hilly Holbrook: A disease-preventative bill that requires every white home to have a separate bathroom for the colored help. It's been endorsed by the White Citizen's Council.
In the essay:
Hilly demonstrates her racist prejudice (attitude) against African Americans when she wants separate toilets to fix the 'coloured situation'.
Living during the 1960s was incredibly challenging for African Americans. Whilst they had technically been freed from slavery, racism was still highly prevalent, and speaking out against this was dangerous. The Help not only details the daily difficulties of life as a maid, but also the risks one had to go through if they were willing to speak out. Furthermore, it in turn highlights though, the potential gains that could be made for themselves and society.
HOW TO INCLUDE A QUOTE EXAMPLE
The quote I used: Hilly Holbrook: A disease-preventative bill that requires every white home to have a separate bathroom for the colored help. It's been endorsed by the White Citizen's Council.
In the essay:
Hilly demonstrates her racist prejudice (attitude) against African Americans when she wants separate toilets to fix the 'coloured situation'.
