One of the most popular period dramas detailing the life of Black Americans throughout the civil injustice of the 1960s is The Help. This drama was adapted from Kathryn Stockett’s novel and is set in Jackson, Mississippi, amidst the civil rights movement. The film intertwines the lives of Black maids working for white families and a young aspiring writer, Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, who decides to chronicle their experiences. Skeeter, played by Emma Stone, challenges the social norms and racial segregation by compiling the stories of these marginalized women. As the maids, notably Aibileen Clark, played by Viola Davis , and Minny Jackson, played by Octavia Spencer , share their personal narratives, the movie confronts themes of racism, discrimination and the struggles for dignity and respect in a deeply divided society. The impact of The Help led to a multitude of award nominations/wins, including several Oscars. For those looking for similar films that tell the story of real-life or...
