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Anita: Speaking Truth to Power
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Riveting docu may inspire discussion of sexual harassment.
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Anita: Speaking Truth to Power
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What's the Story?
ANITA: SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER tells a story that begins in the fall of 1991 when Clarence Thomas was nominated by George H.W. Bush to the Supreme Court. A former coworker of his, Anita Hill, was subpoenaed to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee to talk about her experiences being sexually harassed by Thomas. Her testimony, in front of a group of older and all-white senators (Hill, like Thomas, is African-American), created a firestorm of controversy that led to unprecedented levels of discussion of sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as relations between genders and races. This documentary explores that time, how Hill was thrust in the middle of the controversy, what Hill has been up to since then, and the positive effects of her testimony in the years since, as Hill has come to be seen as an icon in the feminist movement.
Is It Any Good?
This is an incredible documentary chronicling an extraordinary moment in America's history. It was a time when sexual harassment was supposed to be kept in the closet and a group of older, all-white senators seemed incapable of comprehending what they were hearing.
Watching Anita: Speaking Truth to Power is a somewhat maddening experience, as the audience revisits the blistering criticism Hill endured during those hearings in the fall of 1991 as she stepped into a political firestorm, but it ultimately gives us cause for hope, as so many women since then -- as a direct result of Hill's testimony -- now are elected to higher offices, report sexual harassment when it happens in the workplace, and consider Anita Hill a hero for her bravery in stepping forward to speak out about the harassment she endured.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how information is presented in Anita: Speaking Truth to Power. How does footage from that time and interviews with those who were there work together to tell the story?
What surprised you the most about this chapter in America's history?
If supporters of Clarence Thomas made a documentary about these events, in what ways would it be different?
How does Anita: Speaking Truth to Power promote integrity and courage? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: March 23, 2013
- On DVD or streaming: March 21, 2014
- Cast: Anita Hill
- Director: Freida Lee Mock
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: First Run Features
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models , History
- Character Strengths: Courage , Integrity
- Run time: 77 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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