‘The Butler’ reminds us all – racism still exists

By Amber Counts
acounts@campcountynow.com
I recently had the opportunity to see the movie “The Butler” starring Forrest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, an African American man who served as butler to eight American Presidents, first ladies, and their children over three decades. Though I usually find dramas boring and unsatisfying, I walked out of the theater with a new respect for the genre after this film.
Though there were moments when tears freely flowed down my face, (one of the reasons I don’t like dramas), as I walked out of the theater, I experienced a myriad of emotions which ranged from nostalgia to pride that our society has come to this point to a renewed sadness at the complete disregard in which the black community was treated with during this time frame.
I have always had a fierce belief that racism is a sickness in our country (and the world) that has not only caused detrimental impacts on society -time and time again- in our country but it has eaten away at our very humanity’s soul to the point that it may take centuries more to relieve the inflicted pain and heartache.
In watching this film - like so many before it  which have touched our hearts and reminded us of the many injustices faced by the black community- I was struck by the thought that so many people still pretend this prejudice has dissipated. The fact is, our society has swept this portion of history under the rug, the impacts of prejudice continue to be an issue.
Case in point: In the theater with me, there was one black couple in their fifties, two couples in their mid to late sixties, a group of teenagers, and a group of two couples in their late thirties to mid forties with a “country” look to them.
During the ending of the movie, there was a touching scene where Forrest Whitaker, as Cecil Gaines, becomes overcome with emotion regarding the election of Barack Obama as the first black president. A man in the ”country” group, laughed out loud at the man’s pride in this feat in African American history, making derogatory comments about the president, not only disrupting the movie goers around him (causing the rest of us to miss some of the movie) with his loud comments, but in my opinion, providing a prime example of the blindness of some of our society to the emotions of others – especially those of other races.
Now, maybe I am wrong, but in my humble opinion most people who intentionally buy a ticket and sit through a movie which focuses on a controversial issue in our society, like this one, would have had the decency to at least keep their opinion to themselves. Then again, most Americans would not have the audacity to blatantly disrespect the Commander in Chief of the United States of America – no matter what you think of him as a president. (He is still the president.)
But the sad fact is, there was/is/will always be  a few – like the jerk  in the theater- who completely disregard the feelings of others, and show their own ignorance by way of prejudice of others.
Now don’t get me wrong, though that one man made a butt of himself, the rest of the crowd seemed to walk away having learned something, as I did. And, while there will always be those few who continue to allow prejudice and racism to rule their lives, I believe if we parents continue to combat that ignorance with the positive teachings of compassion, acceptance, and loving our fellow man to our children, maybe the future generations of our society will continue those teachings - slowly pushing out the ignorance and filling it with love.
Another note, the film touches on many other issues plaguing our country, including alcoholism, domestic abuse, and sexism, but nothing more blindingly obvious than the complete ignorance of many members of society pretending they don’t see the problem with the mistreatment of the black community.
I was also impressed by the quick peeks into the life of Louis (played by David Oyelowo), and the varied views of the civil rights leaders of the time, including the many who followed the teachings of Martin Luther King,  and the contradictory  group, the Black Panthers.
I believe this is a film everyone, especially our youth (teens, not young children) should see, as it is a witness to the true nature of racism, prejudice, and the effects of such on the black community and our society’s history.
I give it four out of five stars - only keeping the last star because it nipped out or inadequately portrayed some of the more significant moments of history.