The weekend, "MHP" took a look at two films nominated for Academy Awards tonight: yesterday, Best Picture contender "The Help" -- and today, the documentary short "The Barber of Birmingham." The Oscars start at 8:30pm ET tonight, and we want to hear what you think of these two films, as well as the others.
Consider this an open thread to not only talk about who looks good in which designer's dress, but to continue the conversations Melissa began on the show over the weekend. We're looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Before it all begins, check out today's segment on "The Barber of Birmingham," embedded below -- Melissa interviews the co-director, Robin Fryday, and Darren Armstrong, the grandson of the documentary's subject, the late civil-rights "foot soldier" James Armstrong. Yesterday's segment on "The Help" is embedded after the jump.
Enjoy the show, #nerdland!
Melissa Harris-Perry honors James Armstrong as her "Foot Soldier" this week as a documentary commemorating Armstrong's life, "The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement", is nominated for an Academy Award. Armstrong's grandson Darren and the director of the film Robin Fryday, join the show to share the life of this influential barber.
Melissa Harris-Perry shares her grievances with the Oscar-nominated film 'The Help'and its portrayal of domestic workers. Author Micki McElya and Barbara Young of the National Domestic Workers Alliance join the panel to review the topics covered in the film.
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if Viola loses, it better damn well be to Streep!
From among the nominees, I had no favorite pick as I did not watch all of their performances.
The wonderful thing about the Oscars, from my own selfish standpoint, is I now have a list of the years' top appraised movies and performances. So far, the only movie I have taken the time to watch is The Help. And I thought several of those performances were stellar.
Most interesting is how throughout much of the 20th century in America the underlining tone across various industries including 'film' remind African Americans and those of other ethnicity that they should never forget their place in the white society. The political discourse today makes it even more evident. And that is 'subordinate'. White became identified in popular literature, films and the mass media with intelligent, good, pretty, and successful while those of other ethnic groups identified as the opposite especially African Americans. An unfavorable portrayal of African Americans I would say. In saying this, the movie 'The Help' in my opinion is borderline racist nostalgia. They want their 1920's back?? But on the other hand some may feel the movie was more about women from different backgrounds empowering one another to be more than what society thought they should. Let me go beneath the surface 'subliminal manipulation'. ('Footnote: A conditioning factor - Love who you work for even if the pay is not enough.) Of course there are different perspectives, and VERY different realities. Let us not withdraw from the conversation. @ThinkerBenjamin
What most are not hearing is the 'initial interruption' of the transmission. @ThinkerBenjamin
I would like to know what everyone thinks of Billy Crystal's opening in which he dons dark makeup to impersonate Sammy Davis Jr., a character he has been impersonating for years. There is a debate going on on another website asking whether it was racist, and I would like to start a dialogue regarding this.
=|
I'll claim exemption privilege from this discussion, as I am predominantly white.
I enjoy your show, but does Michael Steele have to be a guest? I'm sick and tired of hearing him defend the indefensible. It's like he has to be on every show on MSNBC.
He works for them, so I guess they're trying to get their money's worth.