By Cheryl Mattox Berry
I have been an avid reader since phonics clicked in my brain. Like most new readers, I pronounced everything in my line of sight, from street signs to car names to billboards.
In high school, English was my favorite class, especially when we studied literature. That is, until we got to Shakespeare. My eyes glazed over when the teacher announced that we would be reading several of the bard’s works.
I had attempted to read Shakespeare one summer but found the plays corny and boring. Then came the good news. In preparation for reading Romeo and Juliet, the class would take a field trip to see the movie, starring Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey.
After seeing the movie, I had a newfound respect for Shakespeare and couldn’t wait to stage our own classroom production of Romeo and Juliet. Of course, I wanted to be Juliet.
I was reminded that movies can be powerful teachers when I saw Lee Daniels’ The Butler, which tells the story of a White House butler who served eight American presidents over three decades. The film traces the dramatic changes that swept America during this time, from the civil rights movement to Vietnam, and how those changes affected this man’s life and family.
When our children were growing up, we fed them stories about the civil rights movement, took them to black museums, and made them memorize important facts and the names of famous black Americans. However, I never got the feeling that they understood what really happened during the 1950s and 1960s, and how it shaped their lives.
The Butler’s star-studded cast puts a contemporary face on the civil rights movement. Young moviegoers can see how the movement unfolded on the silver screen. They can hear the racist taunts, see the violence directed at freedom fighters and witness the bravery of civil rights workers.
This movie helps young people of color connect with their past and should help others understand why we need to reject attempts to change laws that guarantee equal access for all people. It’s what I call a teachable movie, a film that explores the history and struggles of different races and ethnic groups. Here is a short list of my favorite teachable movies:
Hanna Arendt – A biopic of influential German-Jewish philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt. Her reporting on the 1961 trial of ex-Nazi Adolf Eichmann in The New Yorker was controversial for her portrayal of Eichmann and the Jewish councils. She introduced the concept of the “Banality of Evil.” Actual footage from the Eichmann trial was used in the movie, which spanned three countries.
The Sapphires – This movie follows four vivacious, young and talented Australian Aboriginal girls from a remote mission as they learn about love, friendship and war when their group entertains U.S. troops in Vietnam in 1968.
Boy in the Striped Pajamas – Set during World War II, the story is seen through the eyes of Bruno, the 8-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp. He develops a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence. It has startling and unexpected consequences.
The Help – A 1960s-era Mississippi debutante sends her community into an uproar by conducting a series of probing interviews with black servants who work for some of the community’s most prominent families.
Red Tails – The 332nd Fighter Group, an all-black World War II unit made up of the best escort pilots and known as the Red Tails, fights racism at home while fighting the Nazis abroad. This movie is based on the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen.