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Rhoda Walker
| Is the Film, "Precious" Damaging to Black America? |
Runaway Slave
by Rhoda Walker
Since Emancipation, black people have been completely guided by the opinions of
“those” that count. We have always, even with our forged freedom, been limited by the
wrong master’s plan. How mainstream America sees us is often how we see ourselves. The
news, sitcoms, videos, and films are the means from which we form our images. The
traditionally negative portrayals of blacks are historically due to the inaccurate notions of
whites. When we, ourselves, create, parade, and are then rewarded for horrendous, dark
pictures of blacks, we lose generations of progress. The film, “Precious”, is a modern, utter
misrepresentation and degradation of the African American image.
Many black actors argue that they have as much right to express their range of
creativity as whites by taking on various negative and positive roles. The problem with this
is the general white population doesn’t have to overcome a lifetime of damaging
stereotypes when they play murderers, thieves, and whores. Like it or not, blacks are not
yet viewed as individuals.
The movie was a haunting, potentially psychologically damaging, repugnant portrait of
black society. I couldn’t even allow my young daughter to continue watching the DVD
beyond the first five minutes. I had anticipated viewing this work that had been so highly
acclaimed and rewarded only to be shocked into despair. I literally had nightmares. The film
was so shamefully, painfully one-dimensional, reeking of inescapable devastation.
Precious takes me to the lowest time in black entertainment. I’m referring to the era of
black-face minstrels. Negroes got rich worsening their own image over a hundred years
ago. They would justify this tasteless, self-denigrating art form by affirming it was the only
opportunity blacks had to be seen on stage. WRONG! There were other entertainers like the
Fisk Jubilee Singers who chose to perform with dignity and pride.
I remember in 1985 when black audiences weren’t ready for the harsh reality of the
“Color Purple”, but it presented a perfect balance of conflict and resolution. It actually
possessed the full elements of a story – not a horror flick! There was much hope and
triumph in that movie. Unlike the “Color Purple”, “Precious” has nearly no redeeming
qualities. The author, Sapphire, of the book, “Push”, which the film was based on,
expressed in an interview that the character, Precious, was not a depiction of one person. It
was a compilation of tragic, dysfunctional students she had taught in the past. Therefore, it
was fiction, and she, the screenplay writer, and the director definitely did not have to create
such an intense, unnaturally low existence for the character.
Black people didn’t need a film like this one. It still matters very much how we are
viewed by others and how we view ourselves.
The worst thing yet about the movie is that it was wholly created by blacks. The fact
that Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, of all persons, would back “Precious” is bewildering.
They took a stereotype and stretched it completely out of bounds. Why couldn’t this young,
dark skinned, unattractive (in the traditional European sense), overweight girl be treated
with more respect? There is no place on the big screen for her unless she is utterly
destroyed, that’s why.
Oprah and Tyler both endured awful experiences growing up, but sanctioning this film
was the wrong way to air their personal pain. Don’t get me wrong. I love and am immensely
proud of these two magnificent, stratospheric figures. I’m just so very disappointed in them
for convincing so many millions to swallow this ghastly, toxic production. Winfrey and Perry
need to be mindful of the fact that black children still look down on their dark-skinned, super
curly-haired selves. They still tease one another for being black. This is a travesty! They
learn this from us adults and films that depict dark-skinned children as sad, self-hating
individuals.
We need in some way to convince our children that being black was not meant as a
curse but a pure gift and blessing from the Creator who designed us for the life-sustaining
sun! White people’s origins are from cold, unfertile, desperate climates, and they had to
fight and struggle every step of the way to survive. Africans and other indigenous dark
peoples around the world did not have to contend with this. We had everything at our
fingertips. Of course the opposite is true today, but it doesn't have to remain so. The fact
that we were once great and powerful means that we still are, and what was taken is still
ours to be taken back; at lease some of it. We start by clearing our minds, and we cannot do
that with cloudy, negative images and perceptions of ourselves.
Precious implies there's no hope for blacks on this earth, which was once our
playground, our paradise. If the traditional enemy does not defeat us, our families will,
according to the film. Overall it was a failure. It also offended some white folks. Even they
can get tired of seeing us negatively portrayed.
It bothers me. It really bothers me that after all these years blacks continue to be
honored for the great nigga roles. We all remember the year Follywood gave Denzel and
Halle the self-maligning Oscar stamp of approval. Before “Training Day” and “Monster’s
Ball” the actors were known for playing decent or honorable characters. Mo’ Nique, on the
other hand, deserves additional notoriety for giving life to one of the worst characters in the
history of black cinema. What has happened – and this is some scary stuff if anyone’s been
paying attention – is that in the past decade, black actors have had to be the best at their
worst in order to gain so-called respect from an industry that profits from making us doubt
ourselves.
What tears at my soul the most is “Precious” punishes lower class black society. It
reminds the audience that there is no place for the poor in America. Here’s something
interesting and true. Most of the poor are actually productive, moral people and can even
manage to be happy. They’re not all headed down a path of destruction. What most people
don’t realize or care to realize is that capitalism exists because of this very demographic.
Without a certain reliable percentage of slave wage jobs and unemployment, many of these
corporations that have existed since slavery would be less than half as profitable.
Integrity ain’t cheep, but thanks, Spike Lee. Thank you for being one of the last, proud,
determined dinosaurs.
“those” that count. We have always, even with our forged freedom, been limited by the
wrong master’s plan. How mainstream America sees us is often how we see ourselves. The
news, sitcoms, videos, and films are the means from which we form our images. The
traditionally negative portrayals of blacks are historically due to the inaccurate notions of
whites. When we, ourselves, create, parade, and are then rewarded for horrendous, dark
pictures of blacks, we lose generations of progress. The film, “Precious”, is a modern, utter
misrepresentation and degradation of the African American image.
Many black actors argue that they have as much right to express their range of
creativity as whites by taking on various negative and positive roles. The problem with this
is the general white population doesn’t have to overcome a lifetime of damaging
stereotypes when they play murderers, thieves, and whores. Like it or not, blacks are not
yet viewed as individuals.
The movie was a haunting, potentially psychologically damaging, repugnant portrait of
black society. I couldn’t even allow my young daughter to continue watching the DVD
beyond the first five minutes. I had anticipated viewing this work that had been so highly
acclaimed and rewarded only to be shocked into despair. I literally had nightmares. The film
was so shamefully, painfully one-dimensional, reeking of inescapable devastation.
Precious takes me to the lowest time in black entertainment. I’m referring to the era of
black-face minstrels. Negroes got rich worsening their own image over a hundred years
ago. They would justify this tasteless, self-denigrating art form by affirming it was the only
opportunity blacks had to be seen on stage. WRONG! There were other entertainers like the
Fisk Jubilee Singers who chose to perform with dignity and pride.
I remember in 1985 when black audiences weren’t ready for the harsh reality of the
“Color Purple”, but it presented a perfect balance of conflict and resolution. It actually
possessed the full elements of a story – not a horror flick! There was much hope and
triumph in that movie. Unlike the “Color Purple”, “Precious” has nearly no redeeming
qualities. The author, Sapphire, of the book, “Push”, which the film was based on,
expressed in an interview that the character, Precious, was not a depiction of one person. It
was a compilation of tragic, dysfunctional students she had taught in the past. Therefore, it
was fiction, and she, the screenplay writer, and the director definitely did not have to create
such an intense, unnaturally low existence for the character.
Black people didn’t need a film like this one. It still matters very much how we are
viewed by others and how we view ourselves.
The worst thing yet about the movie is that it was wholly created by blacks. The fact
that Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, of all persons, would back “Precious” is bewildering.
They took a stereotype and stretched it completely out of bounds. Why couldn’t this young,
dark skinned, unattractive (in the traditional European sense), overweight girl be treated
with more respect? There is no place on the big screen for her unless she is utterly
destroyed, that’s why.
Oprah and Tyler both endured awful experiences growing up, but sanctioning this film
was the wrong way to air their personal pain. Don’t get me wrong. I love and am immensely
proud of these two magnificent, stratospheric figures. I’m just so very disappointed in them
for convincing so many millions to swallow this ghastly, toxic production. Winfrey and Perry
need to be mindful of the fact that black children still look down on their dark-skinned, super
curly-haired selves. They still tease one another for being black. This is a travesty! They
learn this from us adults and films that depict dark-skinned children as sad, self-hating
individuals.
We need in some way to convince our children that being black was not meant as a
curse but a pure gift and blessing from the Creator who designed us for the life-sustaining
sun! White people’s origins are from cold, unfertile, desperate climates, and they had to
fight and struggle every step of the way to survive. Africans and other indigenous dark
peoples around the world did not have to contend with this. We had everything at our
fingertips. Of course the opposite is true today, but it doesn't have to remain so. The fact
that we were once great and powerful means that we still are, and what was taken is still
ours to be taken back; at lease some of it. We start by clearing our minds, and we cannot do
that with cloudy, negative images and perceptions of ourselves.
Precious implies there's no hope for blacks on this earth, which was once our
playground, our paradise. If the traditional enemy does not defeat us, our families will,
according to the film. Overall it was a failure. It also offended some white folks. Even they
can get tired of seeing us negatively portrayed.
It bothers me. It really bothers me that after all these years blacks continue to be
honored for the great nigga roles. We all remember the year Follywood gave Denzel and
Halle the self-maligning Oscar stamp of approval. Before “Training Day” and “Monster’s
Ball” the actors were known for playing decent or honorable characters. Mo’ Nique, on the
other hand, deserves additional notoriety for giving life to one of the worst characters in the
history of black cinema. What has happened – and this is some scary stuff if anyone’s been
paying attention – is that in the past decade, black actors have had to be the best at their
worst in order to gain so-called respect from an industry that profits from making us doubt
ourselves.
What tears at my soul the most is “Precious” punishes lower class black society. It
reminds the audience that there is no place for the poor in America. Here’s something
interesting and true. Most of the poor are actually productive, moral people and can even
manage to be happy. They’re not all headed down a path of destruction. What most people
don’t realize or care to realize is that capitalism exists because of this very demographic.
Without a certain reliable percentage of slave wage jobs and unemployment, many of these
corporations that have existed since slavery would be less than half as profitable.
Integrity ain’t cheep, but thanks, Spike Lee. Thank you for being one of the last, proud,
determined dinosaurs.
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