Elizabeth H. sent in the trailer for the movie Precious (based on the novel Push), which should be released later this year:
As Elizabeth says,
It seems to reinforce…negative associations [of] underclass or working class African-Americans: poor education, single motherhood, teenage pregnancy, abuse, child obesity, etc.
The trailer brings up some interesting issues about skin color as well. Precious’s desire for a light-skinned boyfriend highlights the emphasis placed on skin color as a measure of attractiveness: a light-skinned boyfriend would indicate her own success in the world, just as fame and wealth would. Elizabeth points out that all the “good” adult characters are light-skinned (and thin) as well.
Also see our posts on kids’ perceptions of skin color and attractiveness, an ad for skin lightener, a club letting light-skinned girls in for free, Malaysian anti-racism parody of skin lightening cream ad, and an ad that shows darker skin as more exciting.
Comments 15
Alicia — July 19, 2009
It's hard to say whether this movie will speak to the stereotypes it surely holds (but that surely exists in portions of our society)... but I don't know if I can bring myself to watch this painful movie anyway. Even the trailer is pretty heart wrenching.
I'd -really- question the movies of the movie if just Perry's name was attached without Oprah's.
Glen Venezio — July 19, 2009
Without having read the novel PUSH, or knowing the background of the book's author, Sapphire, all of your comments on stereotypes do not hold. You have to read the book and know a bit of the author's life (you can find many articles and interviews dealing with Sapphire and her work and life, especially
from the time the book came out in 1996) to know the context. The film alone and even less so, the trailer alone, there is no context to talk about stereotypes and "light-skin" etc. All of that
is explored in the novel, etc.
Gwen Sharp, PhD — July 19, 2009
Glen--
I think you misunderstand my comments. I'm not saying the portrayal of the skin issue is an unthinking aspect of the novel or movie, but rather that it may be used to intentionally bring up very real issues in the African American (and other) communities in terms of skin color. The desire for a light-skinned boyfriend strikes me as a very realistic thing a young girl would want, as a way to know that *she* was attractive by being able to attract a guy other women would want. So I'm not arguing that the book and/or movie are un-self-consciously using these stereotypes, but rather that, whether they are or not, it could be a useful way to start talking about prejudice, beliefs about attractiveness, and skin color.
Glen Venezio — July 19, 2009
These may not answer your questions, but try these for a bit more background:
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/6104 (video)
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_n6_v26/ai_18450196/?tag=content;col1
Sue — July 19, 2009
I wish that we were at a point in our culture where such associations would be puzzling, but there are a lot of poor black women who resemble the character. Based only on the trailer, I can't say that the movie seems to be propelled only by stereotypes. I also doubt that Oprah Winfrey would have lent her name (and perhaps a lot of money) to a project that maligned black women.
It is incredibly painful to watch.
Glen Venezio — July 19, 2009
I understand now Gwen.
and again, yes, all of that is explored in the book, I have not seen the film so I don't know how much of the conscious examination makes it in there, probably not a lot?, but the book explores what underlies the stereotypes to some extent.
Glen Venezio — July 19, 2009
good review of the book with some long quotes from it
http://thebookbook.blogspot.com/2009/01/sapphirepush.html
Sue — July 19, 2009
Glen:
Gee, thanks for spoiling the movie for me. Do you know how to type
**SPOILER**?
Gwen Sharp, PhD — July 19, 2009
I took out the comment that contained some spoilers, so that those who haven't read the book wouldn't stumble upon it.
Glen — July 19, 2009
Sorry for the spoiler but the bare fact of the story that I mentioned is in all the materials of the movie, in all the reviews, etc., so it is not quite a "spoiler" (at least the way I see it, knowing the whole story and knowing which parts are the REAL spoilers and which are not). This is the kind of story/film where the real "spoiler", if you want to call it that, is in how it all plays out, but sorry if you thought I posted a spoiler.
There is some discourse about the light skin color stereotype and how it relates to the character on this page:
http://www.grin.com/e-book/107894/traditional-african-american-female-quests-described-from-an-urban-perspective
see under the section
3.1.1. Precious′s quest for a positive selfhood
Glen — July 19, 2009
Please note that if you really are indeed worried about spoilers, the link I just posted:
http://www.grin.com/e-book/107894/traditional-african-american-female-quests-described-from-an-urban-perspective
does indeed have "spoilers", because it details points of the plot, although, again, I do not think this is really the kind of story/film that is based upon crucial plot twists and turns that would be "spoilers", this is more like an emotional experience of a character, the only real plot-driving device is the character's journey of self-esteem/redemption really.
opminded — July 21, 2009
Looks like a very powerful movie. Yes, it's not the Cosby Show, but then wouldn't most folks on this blog complain about Cosby too?
Julia S. — July 21, 2009
Unless the movie is 180 degrees opposite from the book, it will not "reinforce" skin-color prejudice among black people, but rather explore and problematize the existence of said prejudice.
Sue — July 21, 2009
It's OK. Please watch for spoilers in the future. In a way, you did me a favor. I didn't really want to spend $12.50 on this film in the theater.
Again, based only on the trailer, the world of African Americans and blacks living in this country is a lot more expansive and varied than that depicted in "Precious," but I can't deny that it seems to contain a certain emotional truth about certain parts of "Black America."
I see sad (to me), really fat, "underclass" black ladies on the streets of NYC every day.
alana — July 22, 2009
Thanks Glen for all the info!