First off, for those who haven't seen or plan on seeing the film, Precious, this post may be a spoiler for you. With that said, if you want to see a film about a morbidly obese 16 year old black girl, who is already a mother of a down syndrome child, with another on the way, with both fathered by her own father, and is beaten and verbally abused by her welfare cheating mother, and ultimately finds out that she and her newborn child have AIDS, please go see Precious.
I stated this to frame the disgust and anger that I felt after I viewed this film. I did not come out of the movie theater feeling "Hopeful" as many critics have written in their reviews. I saw this film, not as a film critic, but as a person of African decent who is tired of seeing Black people as a segment of society to be pitied and perpetually looked down upon. Don't get me wrong, the acting was tremendous by the primary and supporting cast, and the story was well put together. But for me, I see this film as a reiteration of the vile images that have been glorified within our mainstream music, television, and films that continue to degrade American society.
The triumph of this film comes when the lead character, Precious fights back against her abusive mother and pushes to gain control over her life and her children. Sadly to say, that is the highest the film goes in terms of a positive outlook on the life of Precious. She still remains a morbidly obese 16 year old black girl, who still must attain her GED, while taking care of a child with down syndrome and one with AIDS, along with having AIDS herself. Where is the bright spot in this equation? What does this girl have to look forward to in her life? And how is she going to make it?
I know that some people reading this may be angry at my pessimistic view. But since I have lived and worked in and around New York City for over 9 years, I've seen far too many Precious Jones. I've seen the morbidly obese teenagers walking around with strollers without the ability to speak with good diction. I know that in New York City, you are lucky to have 50% of the African Americans and Latinos graduate high school within 4 years. These numbers aren't much better in other cities and metropolitan areas around the US either.
African Americans are considered the poorest people in the richest nation of the world. African Americans are considered the most illiterate in the wealthiest country of the world. African Americans are the most unemployed in the United States. And there are more African Americans in prison, than any other race or ethnicity in this country. African Americans are viewed, stereotypically as being on welfare, lazy, and criminal. Images of African Americans as drug dealers, gang bangers, and having a multitude of children with different parents out of wedlock, are the normal representation within mainstream media.
Why aren't the majority of the images portrayed of Whites or Asians, of the most violent and derelict of them? Why are Whites automatically viewed as the leaders or heroes? Why are Asians automatically viewed as the most intelligent or hard working? Such stereotypes make it easier for Whites or Asians to navigate within society, whether it be through the job market, education, or simply walking down the street. When most media perceptions of a people are positive, many individuals have a positive perception that particular group of people. This can also be said for the self-perceptions of that ethnic or racial group. Seeing positive images of your own people allow you to to also feel good about yourself.
In the late 1980's and early 90's, the Cosby Show, and the spin off, A different World were a part of a pervasive and influential part of mainstream media that promoted African American life in a positive direction. Having been a teenager during this time period, I can say from experience that these images had a progressively positive effect on my personal outlook on life. To see Black man as a doctor and Black woman as a lawyer, together as husband and wife on television, changed perceptions of what Black people were supposed to be. And to have a show showing Black people successfully matriculating through college was another milestone for advancement. These, along with the hip hop of the time promoting education, self reliance, and pride in being of African decent pushed the expectation of being great.
I want to see optimism and true hope represented again within mainstream entertainment. I don't want to see the glorification of poverty, obesity, violence, and lack of responsibility. I want to see the successes emulated on TV and in the films that have surrounded me throughout my adulthood. I want to see the stories of my African American high school friends, who have become doctors and lawyers. The stories of my African American college friends who are business owners, executives, professors, architects, doctors, artists and so much more. To know African Americans who have come out of poverty, defied racism, and succeeded without becoming today's stereotypes. These are the stories of HOPE that need to be seen and felt! We all must take the responsibility to demand and create works that uplift and progress the existence of a people that have been portrayed at the bottom for far too long! We cannot bear anymore stories about Precious. Our society cannot survive anymore degradation.
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4 comments:
I wholdeheartedly agree. I, too was a teen in the Cosby era and found The Cosby Show and A Different World to be extremely uplifting. I also had the good fortune of being raised in a 2 parent home as well as having had access to the set of ADW while I was actually in college.
So my reality is nothing like what is perpetually portrayed on the screen as normal black life. When I mention the disparity between the two, the repsonse is that there are plenty of "Precious" people in this world. Well, must we see each and every one of them?! As soon as somebody says downtrodden black woman, up comes Oprah (and now Tyler) to shine her spotlight on the project. Does she ever endorse anything happy or uplifting? I guess letting Will Smith come on her show to add some sunshine will have to do, but wo unto you if you read one of her book picks. Dang, how depressing are pretty much all of her picks.
That was a little off topic, but long story short, I am not spending $10 of my hard-earned dollars so I can come out feeling like the world is terrible and that black folks will never get ahead- unless of course, they portray black folks who will never get ahead. Then, let the good times roll!
James most impressed, great write up about “precious... Read More” man. I believe that the black and white experience in watching “precious” can be impactful in very different ways. To me personally as a white anti-racist male the film brings attention and is in the face of what mainstream society loves to not care about or think about. Historically and today Most of white culture is complacent, cold and callous to the realities and horrors of what some blacks experience in this country. I can see why some blacks might share your view; I can see why this story could be too hard, too dark and too hopeless. But from my point of view and some African Americans like Oprah and Tyler Perry I see more merit in the film than not.
And I agree with everything that you said except one thing: “I don't want to see the glorification of poverty, obesity, violence, and lack of responsibility.” –James
There is nothing in this film that glorified any of those things; in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong I completely agree with the need for more responsible images of African American’s in the main stream media! Stereotypical images and characters of African Americans since the minstrel from the dominate white main stream media continues today to demean and disparage African Americans. “Precious” in my opinion is not one of those films, much like John Singleton’s films I also do not view as one of those films, from “boys in the hood”, “rosewood”, and even “menace to society”. All these films like “precious” show the hard reality of what some African Americans experience in our post slavery but largely white supremacist nation. These films like “precious” are not just stereotypes but instead they are much more, because they tell and show the human side of theses largely neglected and forgotten members of our society. Thus by telling and showing a human story the stereotypes are defeated. Another point is that “precious” did show other positive images of successful African Americans like the teacher and her friends. But thanks for your essay about “precious” because as a white person I did not realize how and why “precious” may be very hard for some black folks to view.
So, yes we need more films with positive African American role models, because people need hope and knowledge. And I’m glad that the Cosby show helped give you hope. Personally as someone who has suffered from abuse and that has struggled with weight most of my life- “precious” the film brought me hope, it was refreshing to see a human story about a poor, morbidly obese, dark skinned, black teenager. It was actually hopeful and therapeutic for me to watch it. We live in a society full of “isms” and prejudices, and it’s because of prejudice, classism, racism, elitism, and sexism that our main stream society does not care about: the helpless, the sick, the obese, the defeated, the hopeless, the abused, the illiterate, the neglected, the poverty stricken, the mentally ill, the homeless, the persecuted, the uneducated, etc. Thusly as artist using this powerful art form called film, if we do not tell these folks stories then we would be irresponsible and actually contributing to the neglect and complacency that our society has for them.
James most impressed, great write up about “precious... Read More” man. I believe that the black and white experience in watching “precious” can be impactful in very different ways. To me personally as a white anti-racist male the film brings attention and is in the face of what mainstream society loves to not care about or think about. Historically and today Most of white culture is complacent, cold and callous to the realities and horrors of what some blacks experience in this country. I can see why some blacks might share your view; I can see why this story could be too hard, too dark and too hopeless. But from my point of view and some African Americans like Oprah and Tyler Perry I see more merit in the film than not.
And I agree with everything that you said except one thing: “I don't want to see the glorification of poverty, obesity, violence, and lack of responsibility.” –James
There is nothing in this film that glorified any of those things; in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong I completely agree with the need for more responsible images of African American’s in the main stream media! Stereotypical images and characters of African Americans since the minstrel from the dominate white main stream media continues today to demean and disparage African Americans. “Precious” in my opinion is not one of those films, much like John Singleton’s films I also do not view as one of those films, from “boys in the hood”, “rosewood”, and even “menace to society”. All these films like “precious” show the hard reality of what some African Americans experience in our post slavery but largely white supremacist nation. These films like “precious” are not just stereotypes but instead they are much more, because they tell and show the human side of theses largely neglected and forgotten members of our society. Thus by telling and showing a human story the stereotypes are defeated. Another point is that “precious” did show other positive images of successful African Americans like the teacher and her friends. But thanks for your essay about “precious” because as a white person I did not realize how and why “precious” may be very hard for some black folks to view.
So, yes we need more films with positive African American role models, because people need hope and knowledge. And I’m glad that the Cosby show helped give you hope. Personally as someone who has suffered from abuse and that has struggled with weight most of my life- “precious” the film brought me hope, it was refreshing to see a human story about a poor, morbidly obese, dark skinned, black teenager. It was actually hopeful and therapeutic for me to watch it. We live in a society full of “isms” and prejudices, and it’s because of prejudice, classism, racism, elitism, and sexism that our main stream society does not care about: the helpless, the sick, the obese, the defeated, the hopeless, the abused, the illiterate, the neglected, the poverty stricken, the mentally ill, the homeless, the persecuted, the uneducated, etc. Thusly as artist using this powerful art form called film, if we do not tell these folks stories then we would be irresponsible and actually contributing to the neglect and complacency that our society has for them.
James--I completely agree with you and am relieved to read an honest criticism. I appreciate Jorge Moran's assessment of the film and I know most people who are not African American will agree with him and consider this film 'art'.
What concerns me is the notion that seeing a film like 'Precious' about a disadvantaged young black girl with no happy ending can make anyone feel better about themselves. That is exactly what is so disturbing about it. We all know that feeds into the 'thank god i'm better off than they are' mentality. My question is who are the 'they' we are referring to? It's certainly not disadvantaged young white children. Jorge makes this point as if it's redeeming when in fact, it's only redeeming to anyone who is not African American. We have plenty of feel-good stories to aspire to, Oprah herself being one of them.
The fact is that this is not the reality for most African Americans. We are not bound by these hurtful stereotypes and they do not define us contrary to what Tyler Perry or Oprah wish to portray in 'Precious'.
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