Movies: A Window into the House of Diversity
By: Calvin B. Ball, III
Often we are afraid, unwilling or unable to look outside of ourselves. For those of us who fall into the last category it can be frustrating trying to reach the destination of appreciation without transversing the roads of knowledge and awareness.
It is often easier to empathize with a culture when one is able to enter the culture without facades up because an ‘outsider’ is watching. We, the viewer, can peer through the window of another ‘house’ and see what we didn’t know we didn’t know about another culture. Although I do not suggest that by watching movies one can become an expert on the subtle idiosyncrasies of a culture, I do suggest that open-minded examination and empathy, without the burden of prejudice, can allow one to elevate awareness and subsequently grow closer to being influenced less by bias.
I have compiled a list of movies that speak to society in voices of diverse cultures. This list is by no means intended to be all encompassing or the finish. Instead this list is to scratch the surface and to be the start of a great journey.
Calvin’s Diversity Night at the Movies
| American History X | Cocoon | Gandhi |
| American Me | The Color Purple | Gattaca |
| And the Band Played On | Crossing Delancy | Glory |
| Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman | The Crying Game | The Godfather |
| Avalon | Dances With Wolves | He Said, She Said |
| How Stella Got Her Groove Back | Do the Right Thing | Babe |
| Beaches | Driving Miss Daisy | Imitation of Life |
| Billy Jack | El Norte | The Jazz Singer |
| Boys on the Side | Europa, Europa | The Joy Luck Club |
| Bronx Tale | Eve’s Bayou | The King and I |
| The Bruce Lee Story | Fiddler on the Roof | La Bamba |
| Children of a Lesser God | Four Friends | La Cage aux Folles |
| A Chorus Line | Fried Green Tomatoes | Lawrence of Arabia |
| Lean On Me | On Golden Pond | Sophie’s Choice |
| Like Water for Chocolate | The Other Sister | Soul Food |
| Little Big Man | A Patch of Blue | Stand and Deliver |
| Look Who’s Coming to Dinner | Paradise | To Kill a Mockingbird |
| Malcolm X | Rainman | The Wash |
| Mambo Kings | Regarding Henry | Waterdance |
| The Merchant of Venice | Scent of a Woman | The Wedding Banquet |
| Mississippi Masala | Schindler’s List | West Side Story |
| My Left Foot | Shine | White Man’s Burden |
| Never Cry Wolf | Shogun | Yentl |
This list is a small piece of movie history. It is an excellent exercise for reflection on multiple dimensions of diversity woven throughout the same movie. Step beyond exclusively race or gender and be open to all of the other dimensions of diversity from age to education level to sexual orientation.
Any elucidations are greatly appreciated. Send them to calvinb@diversitydtg.com, and feedback will be carefully considered for upcoming lists. Calvin B. Ball, III is a Senior Principal with The Diversity Training Group and enjoys good movies.
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