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Womens History Until the second half of the twentieth century women were strongly discriminated in the society. Since the nineteenth century the feminism movement inspired women to fight for their rights, but it took a very long time before women were considered equal to man both socially and professionally. During the racial segregation and discriminating in America the women of racial minorities had even lesser chance for decent life. In the movies Salt of the Earth (1954) and The Color Purple (1985) there were told two stories of women from the racial minorities and their struggle in the society of discrimination. The Movie Salt of the Earth is a social drama about the strike at the zinc mines at the middle of 1950 es.
When the Mexican miners decided to strike against the discrimination of their rights, they did not want their wives to participate in it. Or why don't you just put a sign outside? "No dogs or women allowed!" (Ruth). When women decided to join the strike, their husbands were ashamed of them. Women were discriminated by men and it was not better in the white society. When wives countered their husbands in public the latter felt ashamed. The main character of the story is Esperanza, the wife of the miner Ramyn.
Esperanza was discriminated in the society and at home as any other woman but her situation was worse because her family and friends were Mexicans in the society of white Americans. Esperanza and other Mexican women wanted to support their men in their demand of equality with the white, but were denied the equality with their husbands. When the strike started only one woman from the neighborhood participated in it because she had no husband to stop her. Other women could only help by bringing food.
Esperanza had shown tactic of not coming to the strike place until Ramyn was left eager for her arrival. This tactic became more effective in bringing what she desired than lengthy fights. It made Ramyn valued the care, which had been earlier given to him unnoticed. In return Ramyn started to care for Esperanza's needs and tried to protect her when creditors had come to take her radio.
The scene with the radio is very essential as the turning point of their relationships, when Ramyn begins to understand that his wife has right for wants and pleasures. The accidental law catch, when women took place of their husbands in the strike is the turning point of the movie. It shows that women were legally underrated and not banned to strike, but their husbands suddenly understood that women were equal people and could fight in their place. When the men planned the strike, they called themselves brothers and the union. At the end of the movie the people are called brothers and sisters and it became the real acceptance of womens equality.
The story is narrated by Esperanza. The rare choice of Mexican woman as the main character and the narrator of the story symbolizes the social changes of the society when were happening at that time. The Color Purple is the movie about emotional and social empowerment of African-American woman Celie who experiences great tragedy throughout her life, but learns to overcome the cruelty of surrounding reality. For a long time in the South women, especially African-American women were not protected from domestic violence and rape. The law was not intruding in the family matters of white people and it completely ignored the problems of African-Americans. All the legal structures in the South were directed on protection of white people from black people.
The murder of an African-American by a white man was not seriously punished, and the abuse of an African-American woman was unworthy of any notice. Celie had no rights or abilities to seek protection from her abusive step-father and no less abusive husband. Celie had two serious problems: the racial discrimination and the gender discrimination and these two factors were the reasons of abuse. Such situation left woman with no social role apart from bearing and rearing children and being an occasional toy for a man.
Being considered a third-rate person (after whites and after African-American males) and being lonely in the world of male domination Celie had no other choice then to remain a silent victim of her step-father and then of her husband. The situation could have continued for Celie until the end of her life if life had not brought two remarkable women, Shug and Sophia into her life. Celie's life and her character changed as these two women taught Celie love, respect, self-esteem and self-defense. Celie takes steps gradually and learns about the world outside her shell where she was put by men. Celie's relationship with people also changes; she seems more in control of the situation. The apogee of the change became the scene when Celie was leaving her husband.
Alfred tried to stop Celie and she stabbed him with the fork. The title of the movie The Color Purple closely relates to its context and message. The idea of the symbol gradually transforms during the movie along with the transformation of its main character, Celie. In the beginning of the movie purple symbolizes the red color of blood as the result of abuse and rape and the red color of shame and dishonor. In the middle of the movie it symbolizes Celie's anger and growing aggressiveness. By the end of the movie Celie undergoes full spiritual recovery when she has Shug by her side and her sister Nettie returns from Africa with Celie's children.
For Celie having the loving family means the real beginning of her life. At the end of the movie the purple color again symbolizes blood, but this time it is the pure blood of birth and reborn, through which Celie had undergone. Bibliography 1. Salt of the Earth.
Dir. 1954. Videocassette. 1987. 2. The Color Purple Dir. Stephen Spielberg. 1985. DVD. 2004.
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Research essay sample on African American Woman End Of The Movie
