Tyler Perry’s latest movie “For Colored Girls”, recreated from the book of poems and stage play by Ntozake Shange “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbows Is Enuff”, raked in $20.1 million and claimed the #3 spot despite opening in fewer movie theaters across the nation. And with much success comes criticism.
The movie has sparked some controversy over its portrayal of how black women are treated by black men. Although, the movie attempts to touch on sensitive topics such as physical, emotional and sexual abuse, promiscuity, abortion, religion, men on the “down low”, sexually transmitted diseases, monogamy, and mental health, for many, the movie portrays black women are wounded and victimized by the black men in their lives. Doing very little in provided a positive outlook on the way black men and women relate to one another.
There was one character, however, that reminded us that yes there are loving and supportive men who do know how to treat the women in their lives with respect.
Here’s what Perry had to say on adding actor Hill Harper to the film,“The biggest add-on for me was Hill Harper’s character because I thought it was very important to show a different side of what a black man is. I just didn’t want there to be these images of who we are as black men without showing that there are black men that love their wives, that take care of them and are faithful and are good people, so his character was very important to me.”
One interesting fact? Shange’s original play, traveling from Berkeley, California, to off-off Broadway, then to off-Broadway, and then finally Broadway in 1976, was made up of 20 poems, recited by seven female characters that are only known by a color, such as Lady in Red or Lady in Blue; colors of the/ rainbow….
Sound off! What are your thoughts?
Do you think the movie portrays black men in a negative light? Black women?
