The Nuances of Harriet

I almost didn’t see Harriet in theaters, and that would have been a mistake. The film is inspirational, perhaps especially moving in these times — a reminder that even when you can’t see your way out of oppression of any kind, there is still, in fact, a way out.

There are also, in some corners of the Internet and beyond, compelling and true statements about the way that Black American actors are passed over in favor of Black actors from other parts of the African Diaspora. I, personally, want actors from the United States to be prioritized in casting, because that, to me, is only fair in the ongoing fight for representation and portrayals.

However.

It is also true that Cynthia Erivo does justice in a magnificent way to Harriet Tubman as a freedom fighter led by faith, deeply motivated by her belonging to her family, the way that her life is bound up in the lives of her husbands, her parents and everyone who wants to be free as much as she does. Here are some other thoughts I had after seeing the movie, which felt like just the right length at just under two hours:

• Cynthia Erivo can sing beautifully & she can run; she has been trained clearly to do both with an exceptional amount of grace & skill. You can tell because she makes it look easy. When she began to sing initially, I held my breath because I worried the insertion of…