Against a background of racism and discrimination, the dystopian fictional novel Noughts and Crosses, written by Malorie Blackman, and American period drama film The Help, directed by Tate Taylor, present the idea of racial inequality amongst society. To contrast society’s idea of racial equality during the 21st century, the society in which Blackman envisions, is a radically reversed world; ‘the Blacks’ being the elite race, and ‘the Whites’ being inferior. The Help is disparate to the Noughts and Crosses parallel universe, a contemporary approach of injustice and discrimination within society. However, both texts explore racial inequality and the effect of denied opportunities for educational or professional advancements. These issues of racism and prejudice are conveyed through techniques of characterisation, metaphors and colloquial language. These techniques provoke feelings within the viewers, such as anger and sadness, that lack within society during the time of publication and century in which both texts were based.
1960’s – 21st century- What has changed?
During the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement in Jackson, Mississippi (Washington, 2018), The Help, portrayed society when under the influence of Jim Crow-era laws; state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States. Jim Crow-era laws were used to show non-whites where they could legally walk, talk, drink, rest, or eat.During the beginning scenes of The Help, such actions as indicating the specific amount of toilet paper available for non-whites to use, demonstrated the segregative behaviour of the whites. This film beckons attention to these issues of culturally-embedded inequalities that constricts non whites to experience prejudice and injustice within society. In the alternate reality of Noughts and Crosses, individuals from African heritage had societal power over the Europeans’, challenging the social hierarchy of the stereotypical Europeans’ power. During the 21st century in which this novel was based, slavery had been eradicated and was no longer socially acceptable. Comparable to The Help, similar laws to Jim-Crow-era laws were maintained in order to keep ‘the Crosses’, those from an African or coloured background, in a superior social situation to ‘the noughts’, the Europeans. Both of these texts were created and released during the years 2011 and 2001. These texts challenged and showed the perspective of those on the bottom of the social hierarchy and how they were treated; with violence, segregation and overall mistreatment. Particularly in America, there is still political discussion regarding racism, however laws have been passed under the Racial Discrimination Act to create a harmonic society in which there is now minimal discrimination. Due to the published Racial Discrimination Act in 2011, there was topical discussion around the rights and discrimination by legislation which is evident throughout the text The Help. Making and enforcing these federal human rights and discrimination legislation had a profound effect in ensuring that domestic laws can be understood and followed, impacting the transforming social attitudes of race. The year of publication for Noughts and Crosses was significant in terms of the release of the Anti-Discrimination Amendment Bill 2001. This act passed a number of laws, aimed to protect African Americans from experiencing discrimination when interacting with police, applying for jobs and being paid equally in the workplace. These laws were created and passed to create a harmonic society in which there is now minimal discrimination, to strengthen protection against racial vilification and reinforce the social unacceptability of such conduct.”
Audience
Throughout both texts, racism is deeply embedded in old-fashioned and narrow-minded values and beliefs within society. Although the world has reduced racial and ethnic conflict through the use of new laws and regulations, racism still exists today. Blackman challenged social views and preconceptions such as which race was superior within society. This allowed the audience to identify a dramatic reversal of power, and their preconceptions of European’s being dominant were challenged. Controversial depictions of mistreatment, such as Callum’s father being placed in jail although innocent of the suspected crime, triggers an emotional response in viewers, specifically those from a European’s background. A personal and emotional connection is created with specific characters such as Callum, as the novel is following the mistreatment of the viewer’s own race. Scenes of misconduct towards African Americans, triggers emotional responses in the viewers, with the violent and emotionally damaging scenes. Exploring domestic and workplace violence creates scenes that are triggering for viewers; Leroy's beating of Minny, Elizabeth's beating of Mae, and stories of being raped and brutalized. Violent scenes in both texts are sensitive for the viewers, specifically those from the same ethnicity as the characters being mistreated.
The act of forbidden and rebellious love
Acts of forbidden love and relationships are impacted by racism and current social climates throughout both texts. The Help follows Skeeter Phelan’s loving nature and friendship with an African American maid, Constantine, and the unspoken rule of society regarding both races and their forbidden socialising. This socially unacceptable bond was unfairly complicated by the structures of a racist society. Skeeter’s acquaintance, Hilly Holbrook, demonstrated her inequitable treatment towards the black domestics through the creation of a bill. In a bid to avoid contracting germs from the maids, the bill required every white home to have a separate bathroom for the coloured help. In the scenes regarding Skeeter’s reaction towards the creation of this bill, Skeeter’s speech demonstrated the traditional white dialect of Southerners from Mississippi, pertaining to formal and non colloquial language. The use of informal language was also evident throughout Noughts and Crosses with the character Sephy saying, ‘We'll always find a way to mess up, doesn't matter who's in charge.’ Using informal and colloquial language creates a conversational feel, allowing the viewers to sympathise with the characters situations and beliefs, such as the rejection of racist bills.
Skeeter did not conform to stereotypical treatment of the opposing race, rejecting the idea that the coloured maids are at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Counteracting harmful prejudices, such as coloured individuals carrying diseases, Skeeter reduced segregation and unequal treatment. This resulted in the development of a rebellious act of forbidden love between the maids and herself. A preacher of a coloured background confessed to Skeeter "we love you like, like you’re our own family”. This showed the determination of Skeeter to cross this racial divide in society and show that love is not limited to relationships or blood relatives. Using the technique of mise en scène, Skeeter was shown on the left of the scene placing her hands on Aibileen, sitting down on the right of the scene. This positioning allowed for the visual representation of forbidden love that was formed in spite of the racial divide, showing the viewers that not all individuals are constricted to following the actions of the majority of the discriminative society. Contrary to The Help, Noughts and Crosses demonstrates the act of forbidden love in conjunction with romance, and is not limited to friendships.
The Help was effective in communicating the gestures of forbidden love through the use of cinematic techniques. However, the novel Noughts and Crosses alternatively manipulates techniques such as symbolism and personification to show the act of a prohibited romance. In both texts, the protagonists have a mutual desire for experiencing the act of rebellious and forbidden love, which is symbolically represented. To symbolise the peace within Sephy and Callum’s lives, both individuals congregate at the local beach in order to support one another through hardships and adversity. Figurative language is evident within Callum’s dialogue, ‘But at that moment I felt as if I might as well stand on the beach and command the sea to never move again’. This presents the idea that the only form of peace within Sephy and Callum’s life, was ultimately taken away from them due to the racial divide in society. Ultimately, this bildungsroman novel presents the idea to the audience that Sephy and Callum were separated by death for no reason other than forbidden love. Through the use of figurative language and mise en scène, the texts demonstrates to the viewers that acts of forbidden love are considered rebellious in a world brimming with racism and discrimination.
Lack of idealistic world
When enforcing and upholding institutional segregation within society, racist social practices and beliefs belittled the individuals at the bottom of the social hierarchy. In both texts, the social climate consists of one race that is superior to the other. Contrary to The Help, Noughts and Crosses’ social hierarchy contrasts society’s idea of racial equality during the 21st Century, with blacks being superior. Blackman used symbolism and figurative language as a mechanism to present the characters’ status in society as black or white. The word “blanker” is used by African Americans as a symbolic nickname to distinguish the whites as idle beings in regards to their contribution towards society. Similar nicknames are given to individuals on the bottom of the social hierarchy within The Help, with black domestics commonly known as ‘the help’, as it is believed that their best use is helping the white families. Individuals from a European background nicknamed the blacks ‘daggers’, symbolising the potential psychological and physical damage that African Americans can cause to those around them. Callum states that in an idealistic world, these stereotypes would be non existent, 'I dream of living in a world with no more discrimination, no more prejudice, a fair police force, an equal justice system, equality of education, and equality of life.’ However, the use of these symbolic nicknames allows the viewers to understand the unfair and discriminatory behaviour within society. Descriptive writing and imagery creates the mood of heartache and hopelessness throughout the novel, with Callum stating ‘I dreamt about a palace with golden walls and silver turrets and marble floors, I opened my eyes and looked again at my house. My heart sank. I closed my eyes again.’ Imagery allows the viewers to visualise Callum’s home and discontentment with the lack of his idealistic world that he is dreaming of. Evidently, Callum and his family do not have an idyllic home, the use of imagery evokes sympathy towards Callum and the issues that ethnic minorities have to deal with on a regular basis. In both The Help and Noughts and Crosses, individuals at the bottom of the social hierarchy are denied opportunities for educational and professional advancement. African American individuals within The Help must perform repetitive work and use separate facilities to cater for the demands of the necessary superiors. It is evident that through the informal speech of characters, such as Aibileen stating ‘You is kind. You is smart. You is important’, individuals from an African American background have not been provided with adequate educational opportunities. This technique is used to create a realistic film, allowing the viewers to create a personal connection and understand the lack of idealistic world and educational opportunities provided to the individuals. Being mercilessly affected by the racial conflict in society, individuals from both texts are denied basic human rights and therefore have a lack of their idealistic world.
Violence against races within society
Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent activity, both novel and film provoke emotions such as anger and sadness within the audience. Altering the social hierarchy throughout Noughts and Crosses created a novel contrary to society in the 21st century, in which the audience can see the events that would have occurred if the Europeans’ did not have societal power. Blackman allowed the reader to look at life through a different perspective, effectively using a range of narrative such as colloquial language and descriptive writing to engage the audience's attention. Violent scenes were prominent throughout Noughts and Crosses, with political conflict arrissing at Heathrow Primary School when classmates do not accept Sephy’s association with a nought. Individuals of a higher power in the school were equally upset about the association with the opposing race, saying "If you're black, that's where it's at. If you're brown, stick around. If you're white, say goodnight". Showing the discriminative and brainwashed mindset within society, the informal language assists with showing the lack of educational opportunities provided to the noughts. Rebelling against the actions of Sephy’s fellow race, an individual within The Help demonstrated the consequences of ‘accidentally’ rebelling against the stereotypical behaviour of his peers. When unintentionally using a European’s bathroom, ‘Two white men chase him and beat him. He up at the hospital. I heard he blind”. The use of imagery concerning the blind and beaten man, allows the reader to gain a closer view of characters and their treatment when making minor mistakes within society. Violence against races within society was evident within scenes that are triggering for viewers, such as Leroy's beating of Minny and Elizabeth's beating of Mae. Acts of violence in both texts allows the authors and directors to instigate feelings such as disgust and anger within the viewers, as they are seeing non publicised events of violence against race within society.
Successfully presenting the idea of racial inequality and conflict within society, both texts engage the audience through the use of literary and stylistic devices, such as symbolism and figurative language. Both texts successfully educate the audience on events that are not commonly published within the media, specifically events concerning the unfortunate mistreatment of ethnic minorities. A critical knowledge on the historical and literary realism within The Help, allows for viewers to expand their capacity of empathy as it is the observation of real-life situations. However, Malorie blackman influenced how the readers perceive situations and construct a mental illustration of the novel Noughts and Crosses. In conclusion, both texts were successful regarding the presentation of racial inequality amongst society against a background of racism and discrimination.