One Good Thing about The Help

The Help and the One Good Thing

Readers, and I am assuming movie-goers, quickly learn that Skeeter, Hilly and Elizabeth were in a sorority.  My sorority.  Skeeter I can relate to - the other two mean girls - not so much.

I emailed National Headquarters and asked about our member demographics in general and when the first woman of color was initiated at Ole Miss – the University in The Help.  I got a talking point and a “we don’t keep records about that.”  I don’t believe it.  My sorority was OCD about records and “firsts.”  Every pledge memorizes the “14 Firsts.”  Apparently they need a 15^th – Ensure individual chapters and the Governing Council reflect the diversity on our college and university campuses and not its flower – the White Carnation.

I could go on for pages, citing articles, studies, scholarly works and the like on this “phenomenon” and what schools are doing to change it.  It just surprised the hell out of me and was a source of great anger, embarrassment, and disappointment.

My own sisters are a diverse, wonderful bunch o’ women.  We in the land of beer, cheese and Bob La Follette can at least be proud of that.  One positive that may come out of The Help will be if other women (and men) take a look at their Greek-lettered underpants and demand change.

This soapbox about frats and sororities however, is not the one good thing from The Help.    The one good thing was a reference in the book to the integration of Ole Miss.  This resulted in finding a really GOOD book - Charles Eagles’ The Price of Defiance – James Meredith and the Integration of Ole Miss.   

In addition to being an amazing read and a real page turner, Eagles work highlights the need for people of good conscience to take action and persevere; challenging any "system" is never easy - but it is worth the price.  It was true for James Meredith and the people who assisted him in demanding change and it is true today.   

It reminds us why recent comments from Tom Coburn must be held up in the bright sunlight and why he and others like him must be held accountable.