Saturday, November 21, 2009

Color Purple Part Two - Why I Won't See the movie Precious


Been there – done that – seen that. I will not see Precious, because I've already seen the Color Purple.  Look at the plots of these films and see how similar they are:
“The Color Purple follows the life of Celie Johnson as she struggles through life in the early 1900s. The film begins with Celie about 17 years old, giving birth to her second child, sired by her father. Her father takes the second child away from her and tells her never to tell anyone about it. Time passes and a local farmer, "Mister", comes by to marry Celie's younger, prettier sister, Nettie. Her father refuses to let Nettie marry and gives the man Celie instead. Mister neglects and abuses Celie until Nettie comes by asking to stay with them, because the father can't keep his hands off her. When Mister is unable to lure Nettie, he sends her away, leaving Celie more distraught than ever.”
source - www.imdb.com

"Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece "Precious" Jones, a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother, a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write."
source -www.filmjabber.com


I understand that pathology and degeneracy exists among all races*.  However, it often appears that film producers receive worldwide acclaim and accolades, when they produce movies that portray blacks in a negative light. 

*Here are published statistics on child abuse (can be a bit difficult to find).  These statistics are from Orange County 2008/2009 (source -  orangewoodfoundation.org):

In fiscal 2008/2009, there were 38,900 cases of child abuse, neglect or abandonment reported in Orange County.
Child abuse cases occur in every area and every ethnic group in the County:
North Region                   32%                    Caucasian        30%
South Region                   21%                    Hispanic           58%
West Region                   19%                     Black                 4%
Central Region                24%                     Asian                 5%
Out-of-County/Unknown   4%                     Other/Unknown 3%
                                     100%                                            100%



Books on the African-American image:
Framing Blackness: The African American Image in Film
 Television's Imageable Influences: The Self-Perception of Young African-Americans
Black Rainbows: The Colors and Self Images of African American Girls

The Color Purple DVD and book:
The Color Purple  
The Color Purple (Musical Tie-in)