Free Screening on Film About Iconic Harriet Tubman the Focus of a New Online Column: “Lavielle’s Public Service Announcements”

Cynthia Elviro starts as Harriet Tubman in “Harriet.”

Welcome to the first installment of a new online column by Lavielle Hibbert, a Bulletin staffer attempting to juggle a full-time job, a full set of classes this semester, and some semblance of a personal life. Strapped for time as we all are, she’s decided to do her part by clueing readers in on events, organizations and other campus-related doings that she thinks are of great benefit.

By Lavielle Hibbert
Staff Reporter

According to its mission statement on the university’s website, The Rose Black Resource Center (RBRC) aims to “provide a safe and inclusive space that promotes the academic, cultural and social development of Black students in order to increase enrollment, engagement, retention, and graduation rates.”

The word inspire isn’t in there, but that seems to be what the RBRC is doing with a special event it’s holding Nov. 5: a private screening of the major feature film “Harriet,” at the Cinemark theater in Carson. The Harriet in question is Harriet Tubman, the legendary conductor on the Underground Railroad who escorted scores of people to freedom before the Civil War.

I haven’t seen the movie, which stars Cynthia Enviro and which was released nationwide Nov. 1, but if it is faithful in any way to Tubman’s story, I can’t imagine it disappointing. Tubman’s life was too remarkable to not make a fascinating biopic. (The film has a 97 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes; though, like any big-screen epic, it has generated some controversy).

I also can’t imagine a more fitting figure from that era of American history to give students of color, and all students for that matter, inspiration to stay in school, graduate and then make their mark in the world like Tubman. Because Tubman certainly did, without a formal education or even freedom the first part of her life.

Born a slave, she escaped to freedom but courageously threw herself into the battle to gain freedom for others. Not through words, but action. She physically led scores of people the network of safe houses and secret routes and into the northern states—all while carrying a bounty on her head. But her story didn’t end there. She was also a nurse, a Union spy and a vocal supporter of women’s suffrage.

Just like Hollywood had to change to get a film like this made, it is only through actions of individuals, whether on their own path or in conjunction with others, that substantive change can be made on the many issues confronting America in 2019. Tubman’s story is a perfect reminder of how that change is possible.

According to RBRC, after attending the movie, students will be able to identify the role and contributions that Tubman made to the abolition movement, explain the purpose of the Underground Railroad and how the Underground Railroad operated and to compare and contrast the events depicted in the film to real-life events.

The film begins at 6:45 p.m. Nov. 5. All interested students must RSVP in person at the RBRC (LSU132). Make sure to take your student identification.

Students must arrive at the Cinemark Carson theater no later than 6:45 p.m. with their CSUDH student identification and off-campus guests are not permitted.

To contact the Rose Black Resource Center, stop in at their office, in LSU 132, email them at [email protected] or call (310) 243-3668.