With the BLM movement highlighting the importance of education in combating racism, it is not surprising that many have turned to film in order to educate themselves. However, streaming services report an increased watching of ‘white saviour’ movies. Whilst they may be well intentioned, these films often send the audience the wrong message.
White saviour cinema does what it says on the tin: presents a white character heroically dismantling an oversimplified racist system and credits white people for the successes of people of colour. A ‘Hidden Figures’ scene in which the fictional character Al Harrison dramatically desegregates the toilets, demonstrates this perfectly. In reality, Katherine Johnson herself instigated this change by simply using the nearest toilets.
Ironically, ‘The Help’ illustrates why white saviour cinema is problematic. Just as journalist Skeeter uses the maids to advance her career and is credited for ‘giving them a voice’, it is the white director of ‘The Help’ that was credited for (and profited from) reviving this voice.
Arguably, white saviour cinema helps white viewers avoid guilt or more difficult questions about benefiting from a racist system. Let’s finally ditch this trope and question whether the media we consume really creates meaningful discussions surrounding racial injustice.
Maddie Oliver
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