I had an invitation to see Anita: Speaking Truth to Power in connection with an event being held by the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School, but could not go so I added it to my queue when I realized that it was available on DVD. My mom also wanted to see it so we watched Anita: Speaking Truth to Power over the course of two nights: one night to see the feature and another night to see the special features.
What initially struck me was the vast contrast between my mom’s reaction of Anita Hill’s allegations during 1991 and now. I remember that mom cautioned me to always tell people about harassment when it happens so people will believe you. Around twenty-five years later, we have a self-professed sexual harasser in the highest office in the land and another one winning an Oscar so progress, though incremental, seems non-existent. Even though Anita: Speaking Truth to Power has an optimistic tone with the titular scholar as a pioneer and champion for women’s rights, watching the documentary now left me concluding that there was no substantial change. Sadly my mom was preoccupied with the horror of the sexual content and empathized with Hill’s elderly parents being at the hearing, which seemed like the wrong takeaway, but one that I am sure some viewers could relate to. Maybe she thinks that speaking up isn’t worth it.
Anita: Speaking Truth to Power starts with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing then discusses her origin story, which felt backwards to me. I understand that Anita: Speaking Truth to Power may have wanted to focus on the media image of Hill then pull back to humanize her to the audience, but I prefer a chronologically told story. For those unfamiliar with the Congressional hearing, it became less about Thomas’ qualifications to become appointed to the highest court in the land and more about a trial of Hill’s character. So people blamed the victim. In other breaking news, rain is wet, fire is hot and Trayvon Martin is still being characterized as a victim on the anniversary of his death at the hands of a man with multiple mug shots and no consequences, but I digress.
Anita: Speaking Truth to Power condemns Democrats and Orrin Hatch, for failing to call corroborating witnesses, particularly Hill’s male friends. Our 44th Vice President and then senator Joe Biden is shown asserting that men don’t talk or come forward when they are treated badly, but no one asks them why they did not. Ted Kennedy is also shown sticking his neck out, but in the end, they still failed.
Anita: Speaking Truth to Power has extras that are almost as long if not longer than the featured documentary. One extra is an amazing lecture by Hill with awful camerawork probably shot by a student about the meaning of home and undervaluing women’s career. Hill argues that to truly be equal, we should move from talk of acquiring a home to a community. There was also an Eve Ensler and friends theatrical production inspired by Hill’s role in the hearings.
Anita: Speaking Truth to Power is a must see documentary. Though Anita Hill is vindicated by history, and truth is never forgotten, Anita: Speaking Truth to Power shows that power does not listen, and the wicked still prosper.