The Help - My Opinion

Last night I had the opportunity to attend an advanced screening of the movie The Help. I saw television previews for it and had decided it was a movie I'd wait to see when it was released on DVD. The previews made me think, "Oh here we go...another po' sad black lady shall overcome story..." Well, it is a po' sad black lady shall overcome story and it is one that should be told.

Everybody has a story and most will never make it to print or the big screen. Most will get passed down through generations and get changed to suit the teller or stop because people are tired of talking about it. Stories like The Help make me think of my ancestors and what if it were me. A movie that's entertaining, gets the point across and makes you think is a winner for me.

The movie The Help is based on the book, The Help, released in February of 2009 by Kathryn Stockett. I didn't read the book and probably won't, but I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The story is set in Mississippi in the 1960's and centers around maids who work in white folks homes. Hey, in the 60's South there weren't many job opportunites for black people, let alone women. A writer, Skeeter (Emma Stone) comes home from college and wants to write a book from the help's point of view. Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Minnie (Octavia Spencer) are the maids who get the stories rolling. And boy do the stories roll!

Cicely Tyson has a small role and you know Miss Jane Pittman delivered. The movie is humorous, courageous, poignant, and so very thought-provoking. The Help reminded me of the Color Purple, another story that had to be told. I judged the preview on the we all look alike (somebody said that on the boat so it must be true) (oh, Wanda, bad black girl...('-')assumption. I won't give the story away, but will say if you have a choice to see one good movie this summer and this type of movie is your flavor, check it out.

The audience applauded at the end and was a mix of black women and men, as well as white women and men. Seeing the audience made me realize that the movie wasn't made to degrade black women or show them as less deserving or ignorant, but instead to tell a story that belongs to all of us - history. We've come a long way baby; stories like The Help prove and reiterate the fact that we need to keep on going.

I luv you.

Are You Better?

It's said when you know better you do better. What if you know better, but because of "situations" you keep doing the same thing? I say an excuse isn't a reason for anything but failure. Can it be that sometimes in life an excuse is the only reason you have?

If you keep doing things the same way you keep getting the same results. Do you get the same results if you do them in different situations or with different people? It didn't work once or twice so you know better right? Maybe...but the third time is the charm. Ahhh, failure makes you continue to try. The question is when do you decide you know better? When do you try to do it differently?

Something as simple as crossing the street made me think about how I can do better. A few weeks ago I saw a story about a mother who faced jailtime because her son was killed while they crossed the street. Instead of crossing at the crosswalk they jaywalked. You can read the entire story here - Raquel Nelson Two days later I had to cross the street with my daughter. Did I go to the crosswalk? No. I crossed at the middle of the street seeing the building I wanted to enter was right there. I knew better but didn't do better. Excuse? Explanation? Failure on my part?

Parents who stand on the curb with their child in the stroller in the street. Will that make you cross the street faster or make your child get hit sooner as the car speeding down the street tries to beat the light, or swerves, or has a tire blowout or you fill in the blank__________.

Looking down the train tracks to see if the train is coming. Does that make you get to your destination faster? What if you fall on the tracks? Where does that get you? Leaving your kids in the car while you just, "Run in to get one thing." What if another car hits yours? Maybe someone will decide at that moment to steal your car. How about, "Oh we're only going around the block, so you don't need your seatbelt." Did you ever consider the other car that's coming in the oposite direction around the same block that's speeding and not paying attention to anything else?

How many times have you known better, but continued to do the same old thing anyway? Check your actions, relationships and behaviour. How many times has a mistake made by someone else given you one more chance to do better? The death of a child usually makes us pay attention, but for how long?

Am I judging the mother who had to go through this ordeal? No. My heart hurts for her. She lost her child trying to do better. She wanted to get her family home as quickly as possible. I wonder though if you fail when you try to better yourself do you give up and stay in your rut? I don't but the opportunity to repeat the action has happened many times.

Think about how many times you've said this is the last time that I'll ever blah, blah, blah. One time it just might be your last time. Evaluate you and ask Are You Better? Go deep with it; your answer will surprise you.

I luv you.

Luv Me - Because Everybody Needs A Little Luv

EXCERPT - What I have is more than a simple crush. It’s a luv sickness that consumes me. My stomach flips, my eyes flutter, and I have nearly fainted when he passes. He changes his cologne often and each time the scent pulls me closer to him. He is the leader of my mind. My nostrils inhale him deeper and deeper until a passionate confusion kisses me. This dark man was meant to luvme...

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Miss Luv's Books
C/O Wanda D. Hudson
PO Box 6248
Albany NY 12206

Wait for Love: A Black Girl's Story

EXCERPT – There were times when we were a good five minutes into physical activity when he did manage to obtain an erection and he'd go limp. He'd shrivel up to the size of a miniature raisin that had been soaked in rum overnight. One time he was drunk when it happened and he garbled, "You not suckin`it right! You only get an honorable mention! Go for the gold!" Then he farted. I thought I didn't turn him on anymore.

Click on over to Wanda D. Hudson to order your autographed copy today!

Can't order online?

Miss Luv's Books
C/O Wanda D. Hudson
PO Box 6248
Albany NY 12206