See: Precious

I finally saw this movie! I can remember uttering the words "wow" several times during and after this film. I must say the performances in this film were absolutely incredible! In other words, wow! This was probably one of the only films this year where I was so profoundly moved with emotion, disturbed, repulsed, angry, proud and sad at the same time. Precious did this to you. I read some reviews that angrily protested "Precious" as just another bad name for Black women. But honestly, I did not walk away from this film feeling in any way offended or feeling that this film put Black women in a bad light. I felt, rather, that this film was a portrait on what this young lady struggled through daily...her joy, her pain, her suffering, her resilience. I think also because the film portrayed the characters and their struggles through such powerful performances through its actors, it gave the film quality.

Everyone in this film was literally stripped of makeup, hair pieces, and jewelery (Yes, even Ms. Mariah Carey). Everyone was stripped of their artificial glamour in some sense, illustrating the raw, real beauty of everyday people. Precious wasn't just her physical appearance. Her dark skin and weight slowly began to become less evident as the audience was abruptly being reeled into her life. Precious was a human being. We sympathized for her, we felt angry for her, we shed tears for her. We wanted her to succeed and to break free from the chains of abuse on all levels. We loved her.

It was Precious, "a character that everyone wanted to hate," who was the protagonist. It was she who broke her own chains. It was also the women of color in her classes that supported her, laughed with her, cried with her, loved her. For once, in the image of the poor, black and impoverished youth, Precious was not saved by a white savior. She was saved by images of herself. And, that was love.

-Sophia

See: The Souls of Black Girls

"The Souls of Black Girls" is a documentary speaking on the societal pressures that Black women have to face in order to be beautiful. Celebrities such as Chuck D., Regina King, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gwen Ifill, Michaela Angela Davis and Daphne Valerius gave insight on their own personal or interpersonal struggles in a society that enforces the European standard of beauty. Michaela Angela Davis describes how the image of Black women has been hyper-sexualized as well as degraded, particularly in music videos. Whereas now the use of chocolate brown women is becoming more common in videos, they are usually presented sexualized fashion, dancing and gyrating to the rhythm in less than there clothing. Black women in videos, Davis says, are presented as prostitutes. The documentary also takes you into high schools, where young women of color are asked how they feel about themselves. One young lady replies, "I can't stop looking in the mirror. I have my T.V. here, and my mirror there."
The documentary also gives you a historical analysis, focusing in on slavery and its roots to the stereotypical images of Black women. It also depicts that we as a community are continuing to perpetuate these vulgar images of Black women by supporting these artists, for example. Michaela Angela Davis says in closing that it is no one's responsibility but our own to protect the image of Black women by protesting as a community. I believe in that case she is right. This is definitely an insightful and informative watch!
-Sophia

Film: This Is It

I recently saw the Michael Jackson documentary, This Is It. What can I say about it? I felt like how I did the very first time I saw Michael Jackson on TV. Awed. Awed at the sheer talent and creativity the man possessed. He was a true artist. Every ounce of passion and energy were devoted to perfecting his craft, his talent. He knew how everything was supposed to sound, look and feel. He didn't need any queues - he would simply "feel" the queues, in his words. He was the King. When he rehearsed Billie Jean, his dancers with their baggy sweats, tees, piercings and tats were like the children they once were, when they saw MJ moonwalk for the first time. Mouths hung open, eyes wide as quarters. It was at that very moment of their childhood that they knew too they wanted to dance. It was as if Michael reconfirmed for them that this is why I want to be here. Michael was frail, but he still had that magic, that "je ne sais quoi." That magic brought me back to my childhood trying to imitate the moonwalk, in my white socks gliding against the hardwood floor... doesn't work as good on carpet.
His magic will live forever in his music. Because, his music is our white socks, our busted up heads from trying to moonwalk when our feet lost its grip, the jheri curl, the band-aids wrapped around the fingers (for my sister)... his music is our memories. And memories are alive.


-Sophia

Read + See: Precious

Check out the film Precious, based on the novel Push by Sapphire, coming to select theaters November 6. I would definitely encourage reading the book before seeing the movie. The book is wow on so many levels. A must read!

-Sophia