Hello Meltingpot Community,
As you all know, I live with two male demons teenagers who can make my life feel like a constant battle of wills. It’s a struggle, people. Almost every day. But like my mother before me, I persist.
Let me explain. Even though I’m not totally convinced that my boys know that the sun doesn’t rise and set on their smartphones, I still maintain hope that I have the power to influence their minds. As such, when I hear about a new book, movie, conference or heck, even a restaurant, that I think will be beneficial to their development, I do my best to have them experience it. Enter, Harriet, the movie. Yes, the biopic about Harriet Tubman.
Harriet Had Me at Hello
As soon as I saw the trailer for the Harriet movie, I cried. (This was particularly embarrassing because the first time I saw the trailer, I was standing in front of classroom of college students.) Finally, an inspirational film about a historical African-American figure that doesn’t center on slavery, but rather on freedom and the agency of individual Black people. Bonus, the historical figure is a woman! I knew I was going to see the Harriet movie and I knew I was going to take my 15-year-old son. Not only is the child taking African-American history this year in school, but he’s also a history buff. Also, he’s Black so, in my book, he had a responsibility like every other Black person in America above age 15, to support this film. (Kidding, not kidding.)
So, when I told my son that I was taking him to see Harriet, he grumbled. He protested. He said he didn’t want to watch a slave movie. He asked if we could see a different movie that also had Black people in it instead. Needless to say, he really wasn’t interested in going to see Harriet. I ignored him, because, like green leafy vegetables, most kids don’t know what’s good for them.
On the day of our excursion, to sweeten the deal, I bought my kid a giant tub of popcorn and a man-size, black-cherry slurpie, so he would be well-fed while watching the film. The lights went down and we fell into Harriet’s world. It was phenomenal. There are no spoilers regarding what happens in the movie because, hello, read a history book, but the film was still filled with suspense, drama and heart-wrenching emotion. I cried many times, including at the end, but they weren’t ugly tears like I cried while watching 12 Years a Slave. I cried tears of gratitude for the life and spirit of Harriet Tubman. She literally brings meaning to all of the ubiquitous hashtags we use today to honor our women, #Blackgirlmagic #girlboss #blackexcellence. The movie was really well done, beautifully shot, well-acted and (mostly) historically accurate in a way that still managed to make a familiar story feel new and exciting.
Take Your Teens on a Date with Harriet
And what did my son think? He wanted to act like he didn’t like it, but I kept sneaking peeks at him while watching the movie. He was totally engaged, rooting for Harriet. He wouldn’t admit that he “liked” the movie, but he couldn’t help chatting with me about all the things he didn’t know while we drove home – like her Civil War experiences and the fact that she lived to be 91 years old. I didn’t get a big hug and a thank you, which I didn’t actually expect, but I did get the satisfaction of knowing I put some important information and images into his head. What he does with that information, I won’t know, but at least I know it’s there. Mission accomplished. It’s the thankless work parents must do if we want to raise empathetic world citizens.
And not for nothing, I think every parent in America – Black, brown or white – should take their teens to see this movie. This is the kind of “revisionist history” we need to expose our youth to so they know what really happened in America. They need to know that Black people resisted. That Black women were leaders and warriors before any laws gave them the right to be so. That there were white people who risked their lives for Black liberation. And so much more.
Take your teens to see this movie. Even if they resist. Just buy them a bucket of popcorn and a slurpie and tell them it’s good for them.
Has anybody else taken their teens to see Harriet? What did they think? I’d love to hear from other parents and/or teachers. And if you still need convincing, check out the trailer below.
Peace!
#LiveFreeorDie
