MovieChat Forums > Roots (1977) Discussion > A Defense For Missy Anne Reynolds

A Defense For Missy Anne Reynolds

posted 14 years ago by vivflow
61 replies | jump to latest

Okay, just hear my argument. Then you can kill me. Yes, I am defending Missy Anne Reynolds. I know she is probably one of the most hated characters in Roots. Cheers probably rang out when Kizzy spit in her water. It has been said that Missy Anne essentially ruined Kizzy's life and betrayed her. In fact, I've even read where some viewers had a hard time ever liking Sandy Duncan again after seeing her play the "evil" Missy Anne.

Okay, let's just hold up. The first time I saw Roots I thought the same thing about Missy Anne. I couldn't believe she was letting Kizzy be sold and was not trying to save her after she promised Kizzy she was protect her. I thought she was no friend at all.

However, when I watched Roots again I began to see it differently. Missy Anne was the one who was actually betrayed by Kizzy! Missy Anne and Kizzy promised each other that they would never reveal that Kizzy knew how to read. Guess what. Missy Anne never did reveal that. She kept the secret. Missy Anne knew it was wrong to teach Kizzy to read. Granted, she shouldn't have done that when they were little. But, she did. And what's done is done.

Kizzy knew she could never let anyone know she knew how to read. Missy Anne trusts her because Missy Anne's ass is on the line too. Missy Anne offers Kizzy what she considers to be a great offer: to be her personal slave and them live together forever. What does Kizzy do? She betrays Missy Anne and uses what Missy Anne taught her against Dr. Reynolds when she copies the travel pass for Noah. She stabbed Missy Anne in the back, and that's why Missy Anne doesn't try to save her. She feels betrayed and feels like she can't trust Kizzy anymore.

Given the time period and circumstance the offer Missy Anne gave Kizzy was actually a good one. Living with Missy Anne would have provided a good life for a black slave in 1806. Kizzy was going to live her whole life a slave so why not make it as good as possible? She would have had a relatively easy life living with Missy Anne. Missy Anne probably traveled to Europe and elsewhere, and Kizzy might could have gone with her. AND, Missy Anne was not going to come in during the night and rape her. Kizzy was too much like Kunta. For him it cost him half his foot. For her it cost her losing her virginity to a white rapist and never seeing her parents again.

If she had not betrayed Missy Anne none of that would have ever happened. Kizzy would have lived her life at least close enough to be able to see her parents from time to time. Missy Anne would have allowed her to visit. She said she would.

And think about how much trouble Kizzy got Missy Anne in. Missy Anne had to face the wrath of her uncle and her father. Her ass was grass once it was found out she taught Kizzy to read.

Can anyone see my points?

[–] activista 8 years ago

@vivfflow

How the hell was Kizzy trying to help another slave stabbing her mistress in the back? Give me a break---life for slaves was horrible, no matter how some people try to make like it wasn't. It's been a long time since I've seen ROOTS, but I recall that scene when Kizzy got sold,and was screaming and crying for help, and Missy Anne acted like she didn't give a damn, that was just plain out cold. Screw Miss Anne---it didn't matter how "nice" the masters supposedly were to their slaves, if they were gonna be sold and never see their family again, that's what was going to happen.

[–] rndgurl-971-654277 8 years ago

Good Evening, everyone

I am glad the OP started this thread and expressed his or her opinion, it started some good discussion of the kizzy/Anne story..

I was only 10 years old when i saw Roots on tv.. as a little girl it was the Kizzy/Anne story that I focused on.. I was happy at the end when Anne is shown as an unhappy, miserable old woman, while Kizzy though her life was hard, had a son that she loved and was proud of.. I felt as a little girl that Anne got her karma from that.. As a kid, Kizzy was my favorite character in the series..

[–] xthe_shiznitx 8 years ago

there is no defense for supporting slavery. only excuses.

[–] reyea 8 years ago

Unlike most of the people here, I agree with you. Kizzy was the one who totally screwed herself over. If she had just listened to Missy Anne, She could have lived a much better slave life and would still be able to see her parents from time to time. She wouldn't have eventually been raped by her new master and would probably have had fun times hanging with Missy Anne but she obviously wasn't thinking logically so maybe Missy Anne teaching her the alphabet didn't do anything.

[–] jackbnimbleharvardblue 8 years ago

She would still be a slave is she didn't help Noah. Being a slave is never good!

[–] Educator07 8 years ago

Kizzie was going to be raped regardless. If she had been given to Missy Anne it would have been Missy Anne's future husband or a guest or an overseer. White men had unfettered access to black women and took full advantage.

Where are the Asian characters DC CW? #MoreAsians

[–] mark.waltz 8 years ago

I admire Sandy Duncan for taking on this role, probably one of the most difficult she had to play. Under the cover of "sweet, Miss Sunshine" is this bigoted southern belle, even worse than Scarlet O'Hara, making Kizzy think that they were best, best friends, then betraying her. Even many years later, Kizzy wants to forgive her, but an old, embittered Missy Anne denies knowing her, and that is what causes Kizzy to spit in her water. It's another slap in the face, and even as a young little white kid, I applauded her. Sandy was brave in the face of playing such a passive/aggressive character, ultimately pretty hateful, taking the chance of ruining her image as the sweet girl next door that she had been on stage and screen for well over a decade. It's about the challenge of taking on something different, and she scored brilliantly!

"Great theater makes you smile. Outstanding theater may make you weep."

[–] marktayloruk (2502) 3 years ago

Perhaps Missy Anne had genuinely forgotten. She looked rather sad in her old age.