Discuss: PRECIOUS and Colorism

Now that I am sure most of you have seen the movie PRECIOUS, what are your thoughts? When I saw the movie I didn't quite feel right or back to my normal self for the REST of the day. I wanted to cry for Precious and for the REAL LIFE Precious' that are living like this every day.

But there are others who saw beyond the story's obvious hurt, and had opinions of the

movie that were not pleasing to them from a Hollywood perspective. If you recall in the movie, everyone that tried to help Precious in the movie (Miss Rain, Nurse John, and the Social Worker, played by Mariah Carey) were all of a lighter skin complexion. However, everyone that tried to hurt Precious (Her father and her mother, played by Mo'Nique) was of a darker complexion.

Many people feel like there is colorism in Hollywood and that some of these roles could have been played by darker skin actors. Especially since Miss Rain in the actual novel PUSH by Sapphire was a darker skin woman with dreadlocks. So her character's physical description was taken out of context. I have yet to read the heart wrenching novel, but I plan on doing so after the movie's images are not so vivid in my mind.

Listen to this NPR Radio broadcast with Fabulous Brown Girl, Jada Smith, speaking on the issue that concerns her. Also, what are your thoughts? Do you feel that the imagery was conscientiously taken out of context or is it not that serious and we should only focus on the issue of stopping abuse?

Also here is Sapphire, the author of PUSH, speaking about turning PUSH into PRECIOUS... Ironically, she is speaking about the very issue that is somewhat happening now.


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