Comments on: Katie Couric Interviews Sapphire

By: Mod 2

Mod 2 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:16:47 +0000

I am so disturbed by black people’s undiscriminating taste when it comes to how we are portrayed in film and TV…I’m just going to have another glass of wine…

And black women REALLY get screwed over in Hollywood. I’ve seen so many aspiring bw actresses say that they are not working because all they are offered are prostitute/ghetto/addict/baby mama roles, and the occasional supporting actress role.

They gotta get their Monster’s Ball on in order to get an Oscar.

On the flip side, there are so many black films that portray us better that had to be made on shoestring budgets.

By: Taye' Foster Bradshaw

Taye' Foster Bradshaw — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:04:45 +0000

I must say I haven’t read the book and haven’t decided on watching the movie. Like a lot of comments here, I have problems with the assault on black women in the “arts.” As an example, I am an avid reader, yet when I go to the bookstore, I can not find books about women like me – married, educated, mother, suburban dweller. Not all of us are dysfunctional. Not all of us are in the hood. And in the end, it is all about $$$$ and like publishers, movie makers only want to do what will sell. Black women have always been portrayed as dysfunctional – tragic mulatto, mammy, whore, or extremely overweight, dark skinned, asexual woman.

Perhaps this movie will bring some things to light and that fact that this type of abuse happens in ALL communities.

I am just tired of the lack of real “art” portraying real black women.

By: Eva

Eva — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:33:15 +0000

I will wait until the movie comes on cable. Though I didn’t grow up abused, I know many people, black and white, who did. I’ve been in 12 step groups for over 20 years. If white people seem horrified by watching this movie, it might be because it triggers something that happened to them, or something they heard about.

Sometimes the worst dysfunction happens behind those nice, white picket fences.

By: siditty

siditty — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:08:31 +0000

“‘Cause colorism definitely runs heavy throughout the book…that’s not a Lee Daniels creation – Sapphire wrote it as such.”

Precious’ teacher in the book was a dark skinned lesbian. I don’t think Paula Patton fits into that role well. The character played by Mariah Carey was a white woman. Lenny Kravitz’s character didn’t really even exist in the book. If I recall the nurses in the book were females. Colorism was prevalent in the book “Push”, but it wasn’t in the manner that Lee Daniels represented. He didn’t stick with the book in that regards.

By: gem2001

gem2001 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:35:21 +0000

MIght I add that I’m so very TIIIIRED of Black people that insist that the systemic degradation and indoctrination of Black women isn’t taking place through “art .” Just because you signed up for stupid duty doesn’t mean we have to join in the ignorance.

By: gem2001

gem2001 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:32:55 +0000

Wait a minute? You’re coming to a blog that was started to speak about images of Black women in popular culture and you want to decree that we can’t speak out about a movie that is being MARKETED as some universal Black experience? Move along.

I love people who want to demand that the movie speak, yet declare critics or those expressing concern should shut up. Whatever!

We’re not going anywhere. Might I also add that we are one of the FEW blogs that even bothered to publish this interview with Sapphire. Yet you EMPLOYEES keep coming on here whining because we won’t duplicate the Movie’s press release. Whatever. Be gone already.

By: saraj jones

saraj jones — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:11:51 +0000

I am so tired of Balck folk Blackening everything! Yes the film is gritty and dark and sad,those are the realities of a lot of lives in the ghetto,black,poor white and hispanic. Truth be told abuse,incest and violence knows no economic,social barriers,BUT it is prevelent in poor folk who are angry,illeriterate and hopeless,in SOME CASES.
My point is this,the movie should serve as a teaching tool and a means to open dialogue in communites were this is hidden and not talked about,period.
The Director and his issues,are not a problem for me,and truly not relevaent,the issue is child abuse and violence,stay focused people,and stop playing the Black card,the hollywood card,the colorist card,the good hair card,and let the movie heal and teach!

By: Azalea

Azalea — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:15:05 +0000

Oh and the colorism, UGH. The teacher being dark with locs was a HUGE part of the book when considering the things Precious thought of people who were dark and people who had locs. From the trailor it seems at least she’s still a lesbian but I doubt it.

By: Azalea

Azalea — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:07:46 +0000

Considering that the most recent real life breaking news relating to the abuse that Precious/Push speaks of was done by WHITE MEN to their WHITE DAUGHTERS and it made national and in the case from Australia INTERNATIONAL news I don’t see the underlying “this is all a black women’s problem” thing. I see it as a HUGE issue. I can put up links right now showing the rape of daughters by their fathers from infancy to adulthood in white, latina, black or just about any other race of people. Rape and abuse is not colorblind by ANY means. Though not everyone experiences rape and abuse it does not mean that rape and abuse are negligible or should be hidden and shamed and forever hidden from the eyes and minds of all. Lots of people in India had HUGE issues with the movie Slumdog Millionaire but there was still a huge group who thought it was HIGH time the world had a full view of India and not just what tourists saw from the comfort of their 5 star hotels.

Many people saw the trailer of Precious and thought she was having consensual sex with someone or some people and that is how she ended up pregnant. As if it just wasn’t a possibility that she could have been raped. They blamed her for being overweight as if she was just greedy as all hell and her size was all her fault. Not genes, not being forcefed, not that maybe healthy foods were out of her reach (as we know, you can’t get a $1 salad anywhere but several fast food chains offer an entire dollar menu). The book post-trailor showed some people their own prejudices against others and revealed just how ignorant assumptions can be.

By: Ann

Ann — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:22:50 +0000

I totally agree with the ladies that noticed the so called “saviors” were fair skinned. What the duck is that all about? I like Oprah but, even she should have noticed the colorism in the movie. If Oprah was listening to Tyler then we now have our answer. He has this thing for lighter tone people.