The Mixed Matters Journal

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Precious the Movie - Reactions

Very few movies can touch emotions the way Precious, executive produced by Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey touched most of its viewers. I found this movie touching, moving, and also very sad, as it was very difficult to fathom that someone so young would have to endure so much pain delivered by the people that should care about her the most.

Even more moving, or at least interesting, are the reactions I have seen chronicled over the past few days. While this movie has generated critical acclaim from the mainstream, it has also generated anger from many African-American people.

My first thought about the anger was that it was ridiculous. Many of us see Precious everyday as we go about our daily lives - on the bus, in the supermarket, walking home from school as we speed by in our vehicles, whether it is from a distance or under the judgment microscope of people that we see but don’t truly know.

I also do understand the shame and anger that this movie has apparently produced. Before I experienced any truly traumatic experiences in my life, I would have probably had the same reaction to Precious. She was abused, overweight, depressed, and her situation seemed completely hopeless. I would have cringed as I watched her image dominate the silver screen with her ham hocks and double chin, her fried chicken greased fingers and her illiteracy, revealing to the world what they probably already think about most black girls and black women - that we are worth very little, except to serve others.

Precious is my hero. I’ve experienced a few setbacks in my life, but nothing I could ever compare to what this character endured in her young life. During those dark periods, however, I found out what I was made of, and most importantly how to stand on my own two feet without worrying about what others thought of me and how I was living my life. This story gave us a straight-no-chaser, full-bodied portrait of human suffering and how attitude won’t necessarily guarantee that our suffering will subside, but will help us make it through.

Precious, although a character in a movie, is about as close to real life for many as you can get. There are young women worldwide who suffer the same indignities simultaneously, regardless of color. Instead of experiencing shame over this portrayal of a segment of our society, how can we begin to use the experience to develop more compassion? American black people are as diverse as any other group of people, but I’m not so naïve to think that people won’t look at her and think of all black women, or all black people as being the same way. What others think of us, however, is truly none of our concern as mature adults. Most of us can barely keep track of our own thoughts, what makes us think we can control what other people make up their minds to believe?

Precious often envisioned herself as a white girl on those occasions when she needed to escape from her daily troubles, and made it crystal clear to her audience that she wanted nothing more than to have a light-skinned boyfriend by her side, which undoubtedly highlights the preoccupation many African-Americans have with being too dark-skinned or ‘too black’. I realize that at this point I’m probably beginning to step on a few toes, but let’s face it - the truth hurts. We have allowed ourselves as a whole to remain victim at the hands of mainstream society and refuse to look in the mirror and embrace who we are, warts and all. Until many African-Americans disturbed and shamed by images of Precious can embrace themselves, they will never be able to garner the respect they seem to crave, and young women like Precious will remain commonplace instead of becoming the exception.

Chandra Adams
Author
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