What?
This past weekend, I
went to the movies for the first time in what feels like a century. Okay really it wasn’t that long ago but let
me first say, the price of a movie ticket is ridiculous. I saw a matinee and it cost me $9.00,
seriously!!! I mean back in the day, it use to cost $6 at the most and they
aren’t offering anything more than they were back what a year or so ago.
Ok wait, I
digress… So I went to see The Butler,
a movie loosely based on a former White House butler. The movie follows the life of Cecil Gaines as
he serves from the Eisenhower administration to the Reagan administration. The movie provides an
unusual opportunity to view the White House through the lens of the
butler.
So What?
As we study diversity
in a global society, this movie highlights many of the historical aspects that
impact discussions around diversity. The
movie begins
in the 1920’s, after slavery ended but highlights the struggle
between whites and blacks. The director
makes a point to connect events of the day, such as the student-led lunch
counter sit-ins, school
desegregation, and Freedom Rides.
The movie also examines class issues and underscores
the tension between those with power versus those who serve. As quoted in the movie, “the black domestic
play an important role within our history.”
They in essence defy racial stereotypes and gain the respect of those in
which they serve. Cecil used his
position to fight for equal pay while his son took a more radical approach in
order to fight for all men to be seen as equals.
Although the movie is loosely based, it challenged
me to think about who has power to make real change within our country –
the leader or the common everyday individual.
Often we expect the leader to take the stand and force change but clearly
our history has taught us the real power often lies in the hands of individuals,
who have taken action and made a difference in the direction of our
country. There are countless heroes who
sat, stood, rode, spoke up and even died to provide us with many of the rights
we have today. However, I wonder what
impact a president’s action or inaction potentially has in determining how long
another American has to suffer injustice.
Now
What?
As I left the theater, I was quite inspired. It amazes me that someone who has such a
background role as a butler can impact history.
Presidents and their political beliefs come and go; but the butler stays
on for years. They have a unique
opportunity to interact and challenge leadership in ways we will never fully
understand. Although, I am not a butler,
in essence my work in diversity is often seen as the behind the scenes work
within higher education. The movie
challenges me to push forward, to continue to do the work, to defy stereotypes, to challenge, and support another generation.
As I read the higher education articles assigned for
this week: Higher Ed:
Engine of Inequity and Separate & Unequal , it reminds me of segregation. The fight for integration enabled a few
“token” students through the door – in an attempt to dispel the myth that we
are no longer functioning in a separate but equal paradigm. Some claim we live in what they call a
post-racial society –"a country where race no longer matters, where racism no
longer exists"1. There is a
thought that if a few people have made it, the rest shouldn’t have an issue making
it too – without really addressing systematic issues. (Some crazy pull-yourself-up-from your
bootstraps mess.) 
