On Monday, 23 February, a screening of The Help took place in the lecture hall during lunch as an event to honor Black History Month. The event was organized by a partnership between the Black Student Union (BSU) and the Diversity and Inclusion club, led by the ASB commissioners. Last year, Hidden Figures was shown in the spirit of Black History Month. 

The Help is a drama set in Jackson, Mississippi, during the 1960s. The movie follows Skeeter, an aspiring white writer who risks her social standing to write a book from the perspective of Black maids. She writes the stories of Black maids working for white families. The movie explores racism and segregation. Through the experiences of the maids, the movie addresses injustice and the courage it requires to speak out against racism.

The screening was organized by senior Lael Mc Clay, alongside Ella Myers and Tomer Fine. 

“I picked this movie because it really represents the progression of Black culture and how certain things were a little bit too hard to come by,” Mc Clay said. “You have to make a change in even the smallest ways.”

Mc Clay said she hopes students view the film as more than just entertainment.

“I hope they see it as an opportunity of what a community, even if it’s a hidden community, and what impact it can have if people were to be more unified,” she said.

Senior Ariana Marcarian attended the screening and said she had not seen this movie before.

“I just think that it’s important to watch movies like these and better understand Black stories, especially during Black History Month,” Marcarian said.

She added that students can benefit from watching movies similar to The Help.

“I hope that they can feel that it’s important to understand stories like this and get points of view that they might not usually get from movies they watch,” she said.

The event allowed students to reflect on history and culture. The organizers hoped to create a space for awareness and diversity on campus.