Comments on: Precious: Bigger, Blacker & Deffer!

By: Quirky Black Girl

Quirky Black Girl — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:03:46 +0000

Interesting take. Precious does have issues around the color of her skin which is why folks have tried to draw attention to the casting decisions and how they differ from what is described in the book. another take by a black woman that i find really insightful is here http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2009/11/lost-in-translation-a-response-to-precious/

By: Monica

Monica — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:07:42 +0000

My godmother gave me the novel PUSH to read over a year ago and it was a lurid tale. Not superb in its execution, but a shocking read. I couldn’t wait to see this movie as I work in the field of domestic violence/child sexual abuse and neglect. There are precious girls all over the country. This movie failed in depicting its characters as persons in circumstances with any complexity. The director instead chose stock characters to carry out the message in his agenda. It villanized this population of victims without ever once pointing the accusatory finger at our villanous society which undereducates and turns a blind eye to our populations most in need. The danger of these horrible depictions of people in the community who are suffering is that people in power to assist turn a blind eye to helping. (ie Mariah Carey as the social worker who manipulates Precious into telling her all of her business and then cuts off her mama’s check, offers no assistance beside a listening ear, and is unable or unwilling to assist her in leaving her horrible situation. Where was Child Protective Services???? Why werent they called????? How did the service provider sit in a chair across from a 16 year old child carrying her father’s rape baby and call no-one? Why did Mariah Carey look high? The closeups of the pigs feet and lurid shots of dad humping his daughter were sordid and made all inhabitants look like animals which then validate the lack of assistance. It also made this sick behavior look cultural. Mama is the stereotypical welfare mama sittin on the couch smoking kools and joints fat, lazy, lying to the government, and living for a man to love her even at the expense of her own child. And the truth is that they are all wards in care of the welfare system which pays $276 per month for the care of a child. That’s $9 a day. So who’s really abusing who?

The caption read, “Nothing less than the rebirth of a soul.”
They lied.

By: Fanon Che Wilkins

Fanon Che Wilkins — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:40:19 +0000

Once again thank you Nicole. You continue to bring it every time. I have not seen the movie, but I read the book and connected with Sapphire (the author) back in the day at the Black Arts Festival in Atlanta in I think 94 or 95. I love the Biggie reference. Your review is the first that I have read, but A. White and Uncle Juan Williams don’t surprise me. I hope to see the movie next week. Keep’em coming:)

By: sharon

sharon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:22:34 +0000

Well done, Nicole.

I never read Push because, quite honestly, I didn’t want to deal with the brutality of it and similarly I ‘ve been a little on the fence about seeing the movie. The triunvirate of lightskinned goodness as saving grace posed a problem too, especially the teacher. The book’s teacher from what I understand looked dramatically diferent from Paula Patton and it was integral to the story. I wonder what motivated the casting difference.

Thanks for your review. I might even check it out.