PUSH, harder.
I didn’t like the book. I was underwhelmed by it even as an eighth grade student in 2002. I thought it a bootleg version of The Color Purple circa 1989. But as a young, African-American woman and independent filmmaker, I decided that the adaptation of Push by Lee Daniels was too important to miss.
So, on a rainy Saturday, I made my way to a movie theatre in North Philadelphia to watch Precious with the target demographic. They loved it. I did not. I cringed. I cried. I cursed. But even more I was offended. Oh how I was offended. Let me count the ways.
Offense #1
Light, bright or just plain white.
Everyone that aids Precious in her journey to literacy and success is white, light, or ethnically ambiguous. Everyone who harms Precious is dark skin. So, people of African descent can’t do anything of merit without the help of a white person? Yes, light skin people are Black too but these Black actors (Paula Patton, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz) all have a white parent. And let us not forget about the benevolent white principal who stands outside in the rain pleading with Precious to further her education and the compassionate white math teacher that travels from his comfortable home to do his part in the inner city. Even as Precious’ mom begins to better herself she also becomes lighter most likely through skin bleach. I take issue with a film that promises to uplift, demonizing people that look like me and praising the very people who created the society that we are meant to FAIL in. God bless the beautiful people who saw fit to love a fat, black illiterate like Precious. Nothing like some black pain and white sympathy to get Oscar buzz.
Offense #2
Mary, go round.
I’m a stickler for continuity and many of Mary’s actions seemed unwarranted. Who could see it coming? Her mother (Precious’ grandmother) seemed well adjusted, she was attractive in her younger days, and bordering on intelligent. Her responses (especially to Precious) to me seemed unprompted and existed only for shock value. I would have loved to have seen actual character development with Mary. Afterall, we see her everyday and everywhere- black, poor, single, female, mother, hopeless. In reality we do worse than hate Mary, we ignore her. So did Monique do Mary justice by making her an object of hatred and disgust? Or should we sympathize with the Mary(s) in our neighborhood? I’d go for the latter. However, the Oscar will go to…Monique, for her amazing performance as a woman with no redeeming qualities. I propose we add the “Mary” to the list of stereotypes in media. Mary: brutal, undersexed, infuriating Black mother.
Offense #3
Daydreaming, and I’m thinking of my light skin boyfriend
I love me some Lenny Kravitz but what was he doing in the film. Was he an effort to show that all Black men aren’t all lascivious rapists? Or was he a materialization of Precious’ dream guy? And why was he drunk at the party? Why was he in attendance at the party? Some many unanswered questions. Ladies, I need answers.
That’s my beef for now. Remember to watch with a critical eye and more importantly, remember just because Oprah backs it doesn’t mean it’s golden. Deuces!
55 Comments – Add Yours
Latest Articles
Most Popular This Week
Recent Comments
-
MySister'sKeeper on
Meagan Good Tells Life & Style She & Her Fiancée Are Waiting For Their Wedding Night
So nice until the "homo test." That's not cool.
-
thinkpink on
School Psychologist Under Fire for Twitter Rant About Killing “Young Black Male Thugs”
It terrifies me how many of you guys are missing it. Why do "some" black kids glorify thug life? Because it is there to glorify. Because it...
-
James on
Pregnancy Weight Loss and the Public’s Betrayal
She could'nt pick a more appropriate outfit? Lets not even mention how horrible and vulgar her performance was. What a hot mess she was.
-
TypicalBlackWoman... on
When You’re A White Straight Comic, Bigotry’s All About the Joke
Okay, I'm hearing from more than a couple people that his tweets are meant to be taken sarcastically. But praytell - how is it all...
Khari,
This is one of the better online reviews I have read thus far; great title.
Since you have read the book and now seen the film, I would have loved your analysis of the offenses in relation to the book and movie.
While you make some good points, I had to wonder if the offenses you noted should be attributed to the writer or screenwriter. From where does the color/shade and character development issue stem? Maybe it is only me, but this query seems significant to me.
Offenses 1 and 3 are both attributed to the screenwriter, Sapphire never described Ms. Rain as a pretty red bone with good hair. Offense 1 is contemporary tragic mulattoism; it’s significant to note that while Precious’ light-skin saviors are somewhat successful they’ve hit a glass ceiling. Kravitz is a nurse’s aide instead of a Dr. Carey is not a Psychologist but a Social Worker, Patton is not a professor but a remedial teacher at an alternative school. So we’ve moved “forward” from bi-racial person portrayed as the being in limbo to the bi-racial person as the pacifier. The powers that be can say “hush now, we gave you something”.
Offense 2 is attributed to the novelist, the story was written in first person through Precious’ eyes. It would’ve been interesting to hear Mary’s story in her own words. I hear there might be a sequel!
yes the book does describe ms. rain as light skin. I have read it a couple of times. I loved the book and loved the movie. Lets not forget her friends, the darker ones were the ones who helped her in the book, that light skin girl was disrespectful to her. Precious story is told threw her eyes, thats what people need to understand. Not that many black teachers come to urban areas to teach, y is that?? I personally think people are over analyzing things. Black people are always trying find racism in stuff, its not that serious. As long as you keep screaming racism then people gonna start thinking its racist
I would like to say this is a wonderful review of the movie, Precious. I am or have never been more proud of a student, than I am now. She was a shy, very interspective, intelligent young woman, who I always thought had a lot to say about the world. She has taken the skills that I taught her and said something with substance to the world. Please listen to what she has to say. She has made me proud to work in the District of Coumbia Public Schools. This is what teachers produce. Job well done Khari!
Great job Khari. In the midst of the hype, Oscar buzz (and wait, most of Black America has yet to see it because it’s only showing in “select theaters”), you bring our attention to some critical issues in this film. Thanks for PUSH(ING) us to think harder.
“more importantly, remember just because Oprah backs it doesn’t mean it’s golden.”
EXACTLY. Thanks for saying this!!!!
my how you have opened my eyes with such a powerful review. You shine light on issues that seem so cliche but are still so prevalent in the African American community. Watching the movie, one might not even understand that we are being reintroduced to stereotypes and complexes within our community that we would like to believe we have eliminated some decades ago. Everything you say is so on point and accurate. Good job. As a young african american woman, you are the voice of such issues and you definitely are using your voice to say something. Two thumbs up for the review… None for the movie.
this movie has everything essential for oscar-worthy buzz:
1. the ‘hood’
2. angry black women
3. light vs. dark
4. singers and comedians in acting roles.
5. oprah
an assimilated slam-dunk for sure!
great review… cultural critics are a dying breed…
You hit the nail on the head brother!
Fantastic online review!
I read the book before seeing the movie (yesterday). I am so happy to read a review that someone was watching the movie with a “critical eye”. I could not help but, ask the same thing. Why Lenny Kravitz (which I didn’t mind) was placed in the movie….sort of lingering around in a way…. SMH… But, all in all I have to say that Monique played her part very well….almost too well to a point that we could see any of those “Marys” around the community. I think the movie opened up alot of issues within our community that we dont like to discuss example: Light vs Dark, abuse ect…….And though they showed the lighter skinned and white characters being the “heroes” in the movie, you’re seeing the movie through Precious’s eyes which means in a messed up way: Precious believes that light skinned and white people are her “personal saviors”
Now, that’s not to say that’s right because its not but, the character Precious was abused in every way that you could think of. She lived in personal world where “lighter the skin the prettier” Mary (her mother) was a prime example of that concept.
I am just happy that movie came out where as we (African Americans) are able to discuss and talk, critique this movie: Whether we hated it or loved it. :)
you so eloquently went against the grain with this one, pointing out things that im sure a lot of us missed while shedding tears of pity for precious in our theater seats. because we dont often see our stories portrayed on the big screen is all the more reason why we should take a more critical eye to what is released to the mainstream. job well done khari!
i understand where your frustration comes from with regards to the debate on light. vs. dark, but i do not necessarily think they chose light skin people to suggest they were the saviours of the darker skin. they may have just perhaps been cast becuase the director felt they portrayed the essence of the character well. furthermore just because you feel that the feel is purporting a stereotype of the black community does not mean it is not a good film.
what is considered ‘good’ typically revolves around someone’s personal experiences with race issues or what they have learned from those fully able to articulate their experiences.
without the context of american (and world) history, the light-skinned characters all being benevolent could just be a coincidence. but our stories do not exist in a vacuum and the fact that RACE PERCEPTIONS are integral to the storyline suggests that stereotyping (intentional or not) played a key part in the way this movie was cast.
hollywood is littered with great movies that didnt intend to offend black people, but still did. it’s the job of cultural critics to examine context and intentions before weighing in on content. this is how cultural freedoms are advanced in a progressive society.
Eh I had some things I didn’t like about the film, primarily the lack of Mary’s background story and how she got to be who she is and as mentioned no redemption was given for her. And didn’t like the actresses place in the movie, some were needed because that’s how the book depicted them but not all, Ms. Rain was a woman with locs in the book I believe brown skin not light skin.
However Precious represented people that thought that way during the period of time the book represented. And it still exists actually, just not voiced as openly in terms of wanting to be white or light skin. It’s one of those topics I feel can no longer be discussed when they’re no longer relevant. And that people should feel uncomfortable about their existence, not the fact that it’s portrayed on film.
I haven’t seen the movie yet so I can’t weigh in on what was good or bad about. I will say though that if you are waiting for a hollywood movie (a movie, of all things!) to portray black people in a way that is actually useful for black people, then you’ll be waiting a while.
The entire medium wasn’t designed for what you seem to want it to do. If you feel so passionate about it, and disbelieve me, go and make a film chockful of black characters that smash through stereotypes. Give it good production value, get a great DOP and great actors and actresses to boot and then sit back and watch in complete disbelief as everyone accuses you of a film that “doesn’t ring true”. They won’t even be able to tell you why. Either that or only black people will think it’s a great film. Sad but true.
Invent your own mediums, people.
Eloquent, but very wrong. The book is good and so is the movie.
how so?
I also agree with Megan. This was a great piece..but I think it is relative & more importantly subjective.
I too, was offended by this movie. My first question to the screenwriter and author is “point-of-reference” please? I cannot believe that any black woman, be she sane or insane, would ever ask her daughter to finish her off. I was appalled at the depth of the portrayal of hatred of a mother to a daughter. I don’t think that I’m that sheltered to be shocked, mortified and utterly disgusted when the mother character threw her grandchild down and then attempted to kill her own daughter and child. Once again, I cannot believe for one moment that a black woman would do this. This portrayal of Us in this movie is deplorable. To me, it’s as if the author or the screenwriter really hates black women. I have never seen any other race displayed in this manner, on the big screen or other wise. I do know Monique would probably be awarded an Oscar for such a movie but we all know it’s because this movie deeply degrades Us as a people. Just like Training Day and Monsters Ball, these movies portrayed Us as nothing but “base”, sub-humane, acting totally from an animalistic mind-set.
I don’t care who totes this movie as brilliant, Tyler Perry or Oprah both, this movie is an insult to my intelligence; an insult to women who may fell that they do not have a voice; women who are poor and have struggled for generations but still are able to take care of their children and give them hope for a better tomorrow; those women who have tried to get off of welfare only to be thrown under the bus by this society because she doesn’t fit into their mold of success; to our women ancestors, for if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be here today. I can go on…(this is such a feeble attempt for me, trying to describe the way I feel).
And I hate the fact that Hollywood thinks that they can do to Us what they like when they like it. Black women are women of substance and I urge all Black women to stay out of the theaters. Boycott this movie. It is reprehensible and vile.
There are no bright spots in this movie only mayhem and mess. I’m disgusted and my soul has been violated.
Black woman love yourselves, protect your daughters and never forget that “no nation can rise any higher than its woman.”
I LOVE YOU!!!
Peace
So you’re saying that it’s impossible for a black woman to be abusive to her child? I didn’t know your race made you abusive.
So you didnt read the book because all of that was in there…the film mirrored the book quite well i believe…umm and you havent been watching the news lately huh?? you know that little story about the black mother who sold her 6 yr old daughter to this man that murdered her and tossed her body aside?? It happens and you do sound sheltered.
I am amazed that you would be so horrified that a movie would portray a mother that could be so gruesome to their child. Inquire information about childhood sexual abuse from a Social Worker and I am positive that they could give you stacks of examples that would mirror that type of horrifying abuse. It is good that you recognize the monstrosity of this woman’s actions but it is naive to think it could never happen in your community
Obviously you don’t watch/read the news. Yes, these things happen. Maybe not in your family/circle of friends but they happen. Esp. in broken situations like these….BLACK male (uncle,father,brother) molesting a BLACK female relative. BLACK mother killing their babies (i.e. leaving them in abandoned apts, drug-addicts) C’mon sweetie….stop looking at it from a standpoint of White hollywood poking fun at us…these unimaginable situations really happen…and they happen across the spectrum of race.
You all may be interested in the commentary below from the Washington Post. The writer had the same view of the movie as this writer did.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/17/AR2009111703465.html
[...] PUSH, harder. | Clutch Magazine: The Digital Magazine for the … [...]
i was VERY irritated that they made the teacher blu rain (paula patton’s character) a light skinned woman. in the book the teacher was a dark-skinned black woman with locs, and that was important because it helped precious’ self confidence by giving her someone to personally identify with and proved to her that dark-skinned people can be confident and accomplished.
No, in the book Ms Rain was light skinned
No Brandie, unfortunately many Black women abuse their children and we all need to become involved and help. We are not immune to such behaviors but what I’m saying is that these images are a detriment to Our society and is a horrible statement against Black women that I feel are not true. The depths of the acts of these characters-a mother masterbating then telling her daughter to “come take care of mommy”, is unheard of and I’m sure unfounded. Fiction or not this act alone totally goes against humane morality. I don’t believe it and something so far from the truth should not be placed on a screen for mass consumption. This world already strips the Black woman on a daily basis of her dignity and strength, having to work hours upon hours away from the home and not being able to give her family most of her precious, invaluable time. Being paid less then her white counterpart for the same job etc… i can go on and on!
This forum is to small to fully express all of the atrocities that have been systematically placed in the Black woman’s consciousness but know this we don’t need films like this to further steepen Our hill for Us, when most of Us are continuing to strive for human excellence, irregardless of the caucasian’s popular belief.
Just a side note: don’t you see, by you commenting as if these behaviors are common, how deep your soul has been altered and jaded. Oh whoa is me. We have a lot to do to help Our women that need us. We need to help to heal each others pain not look away as to say ‘oh well!’
Rosheena sorry but saying that a child “finishing a mother off” is far from unheard of. As a social worker you hear about this and a lot worst.
smh
Is it wrong that i watched the movie for the story it told and not for the color of the actors/actresses??? I dont think so. You do have a great writing style but for once I just sat and watched a film instead of analyzing it. You analyze it but how are you going to change the issue?? not by ranting on here but by taking action. We do alot more talking then we do acting.
I recently saw the movie and I enjoyed it although it was a bit overwhelming due to the issues it touched on that most people would rather not even think about… but I do think you raise some very IMPORTANT and excellent points about the flaws in this film (these same flaws can be pointed out in many other films where a white or light person saves a black child (or children). I would like to see a black person (one that you don’t have to wonder whether they are fully black) be portrayed as a hero in the black community in a film without the help of a white person.