Many of us remember the
Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearing in 1991. We remember believing Hill's testimony of Thomas's blatant sexual harassment. And we remember the disgust we felt with how she was treated at the hearing, only to see
Clarence Thomas go on to take a seat on the Supreme Court, appointed by George H.W. Bush.
I still cringe when I hear the name, Clarence Thomas, knowing how he turned the tables around on Hill and did his best to vilify her, while whining about being racially attacked himself. Other women came forward with similar allegations, but they were not allowed to speak at the hearing. Thomas has done little to improve his reputation over the years. Attending and presiding over the wedding of his buddy, Rush Limbaugh did not help his credibility.
The documentary is called, Anita. It was directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Freida Mock. In the trailer we see Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, John McCain, and many more familiar faces.
The documentary not only gives a fresh account of the Hill/Thomas hearing 22 years later, it also honors a woman who was more than scorned for speaking out against sexual harassment. We are indebted to Hill, as her trial set the stage for new laws protecting women (and men) from sexual and gender discrimination, on and off the job.
Why did Hill come forward?
“My concern was that I had information about the fitness of an individual who was going to sit on the highest court of the land,” said Anita Hill in an interview.
During a Georgetown University event and discussion about the Hill/Thomas hearing, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) stated:
“Sexual harassment was something women didn’t even want to speak about. They felt cornered by it. They felt trapped by it, “Norton said. “Something had to be done. We had to talk about it.”
And talking about it wasn’t the only thing women did. After realizing their lack of representation in Congress, more women were inspired to get out to the voting polls, and run for office.
Here is the ‘Anita’ documentary trailer:
The documentary is due to be released this spring, March 21, 2014.
H/T Hillary Crosley/Jezebel