by Gwen Jimmere
I work in an office full of highly educated and intelligent Black people, many of whom are women in their late twenties/early thirties, like myself. I love walking the hallway and not feeling like an anomaly amongst a bunch of balding middle-aged men who I have nothing in common with . My coworkers come from backgrounds similar to mine. They can talk the talk and still talk “my” talk. They look like me; they dress like me. They understand the struggle, but they don’t use the struggle as a crutch. They made it happen for themselves and we get each other. It’s a fantastic space for me to be in.
But the one thing I don’t get are the water cooler convos about various Black films and how we are more often than not being portrayed in a bad light. The Tyler Perry movie of the month always seems to start off the conversations, and somehow we end up talking about Precious and Big Momma’s House. Then it turns into a sidebar about one of the many Black dance films (e.g. Stomp the Yard, You Got Served) and how “we should be doing more than shucking and jiving all the time.” These morning latte-laden conversations typically last throughout the day and in this one instance, I think I just might be the anomaly.
I do not feel a deep personal connection to most films; perhaps that is why I don’t see what the big deal is. Frankly, I think some folks are just too sensitive. Martin Lawrence and Tyler Perry dressing up as women does not upset me, and yes, I think it’s funny. So what? It’s only a movie. I watched Precious and loved it. The consensus amongst my friends was the film was an embarrassment to all of Black humanity. That it made us look bad to the rest of society. Personally, I did not feel as if people suddenly looked at me as an overweight, illiterate teen mom; nor did I feel as if I had to walk with my head hung low because the white lady next door had also seen Precious and may have perhaps assumed all Black women were true-to-life reenactments of Precious’ plight.
I don’t see other cultures complaining that their movies portray them poorly. They simply go to the movies, grab some popcorn and watch the film like everyone else. I’ve yet to hear white women complain that Pretty Woman makes them all looks like golddigging prostitutes. Or that Indecent Proposal solidifies a pseudo-notion that white folks will sell out the closest thing to them for a buck. Homosexual men haven’t been protesting that Brokeback Mountain aired out the dirty laundry of down low men worldwide. And David Spade, Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy love talking about and portraying the stereotypical “redneck” and backwoods-living white guy, and their real life counterparts don’t make a fuss.
But not us. We tend to feel such an emotional and very personal connection every single time someone makes a movie that isn’t singing our praises. The reality of it is that life happens. And movies often portray life. They also often exaggerate reality to make us laugh, to make us think or to make us feel a certain emotion.
I’m pretty sure I’ll get some flack for this, but the way I see it, it’s really not nearly as big a deal as most make it. Not to beat a dead horse, but it’s just a movie. Let’s relax a little.
Gwen Jimmere is an award-winning and nationally syndicated editor who authored the relationship manual for young women, If It Walks Like a Duck”...and Other Truths My Mother Taught Me. She blogs about relationships, dating, marriage and parenting at The Duck Walk and works in social media/digital marketing.
Totally agree with this article!!! It is just a movie! But keeping it real, we have a history in this country that was not so long ago that make many people sensitive & I understand their viewpoint.
I also agree with this article! How can we as a people move forward, if we constantly allow every tidbit to make us lose focus? It’s a movie, for goodness sake! Usually, when a person makes a big deal out of something, it’s usually because it hits too close for home. In that case, I recommend then that that person change their own surrouding…..
I’m with you on this Gwen. Just sit back and enjoy or choose not to watch them.
I definitely see why people take issue with a lot of those films. A bunch of them are modern day shuckin and jivin and I’m definitely not for black men having to put on dresses in order to get a laugh or a big payday.
You don’t see mainstream culture complaining about films because they have so many. There are bunches of films for and about them being released every weekend so while you may have something about rednecks you’ll have a romantic comedy, then a horror flick, then a sci-fi thriller. There are really only a handful of big budget black films released each year. On top of that TP probably is releasing 60% of those so he’s gonna catch flack because currently he is the primary person that’s releasing image of us in that form.
People have the right to be upset about how we are depicted my only problem is when they don’t support other projects that do show us in a positive light. Then we have a problem. Put your money where your mouth is.
Kodos for this article. As you said, the reality of some movies hits home for some folks. I don’t have a problem going to the movies because it’s entertainment and family time. However, I do have a problem with the quality of some mostly all black movies. The story line is always the same and predictable. I love black history movies showing how strong and versatile we are, but they hardly make it to the big screen. But comedies and relationship movies putting black women and men against each other and dissolving the black family…hey that’s a hit. Ummmmm
Kodos for this article. As you said, the reality of some movies hits home for some folks. I don’t have a problem going to the movies because it’s entertainment and family time. However, I do have a problem with the quality of some mostly all black movies. The story line is always the same and predictable. I love black history movies showing how strong and versatile we are, but they hardly make it to the big screen. But comedies and relationship movies putting black women and men against each other and dissolving the black family…hey that’s a hit. Ummmmm
Kodos for this article. As you said, the reality of some movies hits home for some folks. I don’t have a problem going to the movies because it’s entertainment and family time. However, I do have a problem with the quality of some mostly all black movies. The story line is always the same and predictable. I love black history movies showing how strong and versatile we are, but they hardly make it to the big screen. But comedies and relationship movies putting black women and men against each other and dissolving the black family…hey that’s a hit. Ummmmm
I understand the viewpoint in the article, however, I also understand why there are concerns with the protrayal of Black people in movies. If there were a variety of movies featuring Black people there probably would not be as much discussion about this topic. My suggestion is find the positive in movies featuring Black people and spread the word about great acting performances or incredible success stories such as what Tyler Perry has accomplished in his film career.
But they are just movies. You know? No one is saying that here is the blueprint for African American lives. No one looks at Hangover and thinks that all white men do that when they go to a bachelor party.
No, they are not Just movies. the media is a very powerful tool that is used to control all of us who are not aware of the history of it. People look at white movies differently because there is a large variety of white movies and their people are portrayed in a variety of ways. We, however are always portrayed in the same old stereotypical nonsense. And yes they do look at those movies and think that we are all the same. (all over the world)
I think we give too much power to movies. The black community doesn’t need the movies to make us look a certain way. One need onlynwatch the news, that’s where the perceptions come from. You can turn it on any news station in any city an you’ll see real life reasons why we are portrayed the way we are. But who is openly complaining about that? People want to be all upset when the blakc man gets ahead in life but what about the kids down the street acting a fool day in and day out. Let’s openly protest that which is truly reality.
I have to agree with @3532ab90480e1b0f5645822b25af6eea:disqus They are JUST movies. No one really thinks that people live the way they do in the sit coms.
We are not portrayed stereotypically either. You cannot say Jumping the Broom is in the same vein as Madea. They’re all just different stories. We should hear them all.
I understand the viewpoint in the article, however, I also understand why there are concerns with the protrayal of Black people in movies. If there were a variety of movies featuring Black people there probably would not be as much discussion about this topic. My suggestion is find the positive in movies featuring Black people and spread the word about great acting performances or incredible success stories such as what Tyler Perry has accomplished in his film career.
YES! YES! These are the exact sentiments I have been trying to articulate to many of my sisters and brothers. Kudos to Tyler and Martin. Get your money, boo boo!!!
I think we should be more concerned about how these movies portray a lot of things that actually occur in the black community rather than being concerned about the movies putting black people in a bad light. Black people have a habit of hiding things such as family secrets, and these things can be damaging. I’d personally rather the movies show reality than to give me (and others) some fairy tales that I know don’t actually exist. I’m sure most people know someone exactly like the many characters in Tyler Perry’s movies. A lot of people can easily relate to his movies, whether you want to admit it or not.
I think we should be more concerned about how these movies portray a lot of things that actually occur in the black community rather than being concerned about the movies putting black people in a bad light. Black people have a habit of hiding things such as family secrets, and these things can be damaging. I’d personally rather the movies show reality than to give me (and others) some fairy tales that I know don’t actually exist. I’m sure most people know someone exactly like the many characters in Tyler Perry’s movies. A lot of people can easily relate to his movies, whether you want to admit it or not.
Exactly Peachy! I just watched For Colored Girls this past weekend and boy-oh-boy did it ever finally make sense to me. We want to hide stuff, but how can you heal if you hide?
Totally coming from the opposite side of the page on this one. Coming from a white family, I can tell you…it is a very big deal. We all know how stereotypes are built and what fuels racism…the media. Our entertainment is part of that media. Now, the problem isn’t that films with negative images (like those of Tyler Perry) are out there, but that they make up so much of the media portrayal of black folks. It’s not just Perry…it’s the papers, the news, music videos, etc. There are so many media outlets and many of them are flooded with negative stereotypes about black people. Now, you sit here saying that this is “reality”…but what about the other side of reality? Are poor, drug-using, cheating, ill-educated black folks the only ones out there? H no! So, why aren’t we telling more about the other side of “reality”? Why is it that everyone says the Cosby Show wasn’t reality…you can bet it was for someone and we need more positive stories like that out there. Families all over the country are eating these stereotypes up by the spoonful and trust me, they don’t often stop to ask…”is this reality?” Believe it or not, there are a lot of white people so far removed from black culture and set in their segregated communities that they won’t think twice about taking a Tyler Perry movie or the 9 o’clock news as their indicator of the FULL “reality” of black values and limitations. Churning out negative images is a very big concern and black folks are smart to want to do something to lessen it….especially black folks, because in many many ways…as you admitted yourself…they are seen as outsiders in much of America.
Your point is a valid one, however when those positive movies are made (i.e. The Great Debaters, The Longshots, etc.), they flop at the box office. The images are definitely out there. People (white, black and everyone else) simply choose not to patronize them.
True. I actually saw those as well. =)
True! I agree with that wholeheartedly and while I don’t appreciate Perry’s depictions, the real trouble is that there’s very little out there to counter them.
Those movies flop, because black film makers have not done a movie to catch white audiences attention. typically Action, adventure, suspense, fantasy, supernatural, or paranormal are genres most popular in this day and age. Black film makers have avoid these genres. Until they stop avoiding these kinds of movies, only then will they catch the attention of white audiences. Once they get their attention, some might even be open to watching movies like The Great Debaters.
Nice…by this logic, I suppose filmmakers should just turn to making adult films, since that’s where the real money is…right? The problem is that people are being marketed content by wealthy production companies that don’t care about black issues. There is most definitely always a connection between what studios WANT to sell and the DEMAND for it and that goes right along with white privilege and who can afford to pay for the media attention that will bring the demand.
Lol, Nice Try! way to avoid the point. I said those movies flop, because they are heavily promoted as only for black people to see. Its not about “Black Issues”. This is why, Black people are not seen as regular people. I’m a black 19 year old girl. Could you believe, I listen to rock/pop music, I watch Asian dramas, I like anime, and I love fantasy, supernatural, and paranormal stuff like a lot of people my age (This could be found in every race.) All the big budget media movies are being targeted toward young people (Of course some older people may watch as well). I’m tired of being put in a box. I don’t have “black issues” and neither does my people we have” issues” and part of that issue is not opening up to the way things are now.
Another thing the whole wealthy production don’t care about “black issues” what makes you think they care about “white issues” because they have white actors playing in most movies. Is this why you think that? Yes this bothers me to no end. But, take into account, how many black actors are actually willing to do these roles? I actually feel sad for Black actors when they take the time to try to a non-stereotypical role. Many see it as unrealistic, What is realistic then? Your porn example has noting to do with the BIG SCREEN! which is what we’re talking about.
I agree with you Chantilly. I respect TP’s hustle, but I have personally never been a big fan of his movies, because I think he paints too narrow a view of the “black experience”. I can honestly say that for the most part I can’t relate to his point of view, when I watch his movies I do not see a reflection of my story. My experience growing up more closely mirrored the Cosby lifestyle (with a view twist and turns of course) , so I too would rather see that portrayed on the big screen. When at work I tend to keep my opinions about his movies to myself though, because there are alot of die hard fans of his who simply won’t tolerate people with differing views and would accuse me of being a hater and not being supportive……le’sigh. A difference of opinion does not make me a hater.
Agreed!
Because it is easy to stomp on each other. Plain and simple.
When TP tells the stories that made him a millionaire, we’re mad because we say they are caricatures.
When he attempts to tell the stories of women, we say he doesn’t have the chops to handle it.
When he turns sideways, we say his head is oblong.
Enough. Frankly I finally had enough this weekend when black people said “Jumping The Broom” did not go far enough. Will we ever be satisfied? Or have we been totally sold on the idea that black people have a difficult time doing anything that we have literally become that mouthpiece?
It’s incredible to me and I’m sick of it.
Madea on the screen is far funnier to me than Jennifer Anitston any day. *shrug*
I agree. And we do indeed complain no matter what. I’m not personally offended by the characters of Big Mamma or Madea, and the same folks that complain about them manage to fulfill other stereotypes in the black community so…
I loved Jumping the Broom and I think I will take myself to see Madea’s Big Happy Family. Before I started hanging around people who discourage his movies so… I hadn’t missed one. I think the Family that Preys was from a completely different angle and portrayed black men in a completely positive light. It does seem that no matter the story. We are not happy.
I understand Lamar and Chantilly’s comments about the volume of movies, but I think the solution would be for other people to create other movies that tell a more ‘Cosby’ like story if that’s their experience rather than to eliminate Madea from the entertainment world. Tyler’s movies always deliver a message, but then, I’m a person who seeks the lesson in everything.
I guess if you seek the value in a film you will find it, and if you seek something to complain about, you will find that as well.
This topic is a sore spot for me. I honestly think it’s about jealousy, because TP came in and took over the black movie industry the haters are out in full force. And true to form, most of them are his own people. Thats one of the major barriers to us making real strides in this world. We live by that crabs in a barrel mentality and it’s holding a lot of people down.
Someone posted that the media is powerful tool, yes it is, but it’s not because of the 1 or 2 black movies that come out. We are perceived the way we are because we prove others’ perceptions on the news every day. Killing, robbing, gang banging, selling drugs, doing drugs, dropping out of school, and all sorts ofother nonsense. Where are the protesters to at? Not enough of us complain or take action to e everyday occurrences but as soon as a silly comedy comes out we are up in arms about it saying it makes us look bad. Well guess what, little Roderick down street is doing a darn good job of it daily. So if you want to be upset, be upset about reality not some silly movie.
The bigger problem is a mainstream society (and some black folks as well) who decide to put all black people in a box based on something they saw on TV or on a movie. Why is that I, as a black man, am supposed to feel embarrassed by Tyler Perry but the average white American doesnt have to feel embarrassed by movies like “The Hangover†or “Dumb and Dumber� What does Martin Lawrence dressing up like a woman have to do with my black masculinity?
The real tragedy here is not the films or how they make us look. It is that we black people are not given the space to be three dimensional human beings. What is often implied from this conversation is any African American in the media needs to be as stoic as Sidney Poitier, as articulate as President Obama, as culturally aware as Maya Angelou, and as graceful as Angela Basset. Apparently, anything less confirms all the stereotypes about us. How is that even logical? The truth is most black people are simply regular people. Regular people have relationship issues. Regular people have money issues. Regular people dont always make the right decisions. Some regular people could stand to lose a little weight. Some regular people dont speak the Kings English, etc.
We push ourselves further and further into that proverbial box by demanding perfection in exchange for being called normal. I understand our nations history and why it happens, but that doesnt make it right. That doesnt mean it is not psychologically destructive. I dont think we need “better†images of black Americans in movies and TV. We need more ACCURATE images of us. In an attempt to get away from dysfunctional images we sometimes get overly sanitized images. Both are equally destructive. We black people should be allowed to be three dimensional human beings. And the images in the media should reflect that, not some positive or negative agenda.
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The real tragedy here is not the films or how they make us look. It is that we black people are not given the space to be three dimensional human beings.”
~REALLY great point!
I completely agree T. Rogers and Gwen. I am not a fan of TP’s movies for the most part, not because I think his movies are like the plague for Black people, I just don’t find them interesting. As Black people we like to think of ourselves as a whole all the time. Either “we” should like Tyler Perry or “we” shouldn’t and it all has to be based on an agenda. Maybe it’s just time that we all recognize that Black people don’t all like the same thing and that’s okay.
I didn’t go see Jumping the Broom and I probably won’t see Jumping the Broom because White or Black, I don’t like romantic comedies. I prefer either really gritty dramas or really stupid/funny movies like Talladega Nights, and I feel like I will almost never see either of those things in “Blackâ€. I completely agree with T. Rogers – we arent allowed to be 3 dimensional human beings with flaws. In an attempt to only show all black people as one thing, whether positive or negative, creativity when it comes to Black film has been stifled. If we have an issue, then it isnt with the filmmakers, but with the people that will only put money behind one story of Black people.
Please, tell me what is a more accurate image of us? I’m from the “hood” as some will say. I’ve seen all kinds of range in personality and ethics in us. In, my neighborhood you have what is consider black, and nice hand full of other who want to progress in life and move forward. These black people are not represented or shown say you will. These people are considered acting “white” or “selling out”. So what is the accurate image? isn’t asking for a more accurate image, the same as making us non-three dimensional? and how have the media not painted us accurately. You’ve never met an ignorant, violent, and knows no bounds black people? I have and that is how they project us for the most part. They fail to show the other half. I agree with you, on why should have to be the people you’ve named, to prove stereotypes wrong.
However, You missed the point. The media has flooded the mind everyone and not showing positive image will make things stay the same. Not that showing postive will change everyone mind. But, I do believe more positive images will balance the negatives. And, in return people will see us as people.
Honestly there are MANY black families, in ALL economic levels, that can identify with some issue, character, moral to the story, or all of the above, in the Tyler Perry movies, and YES there are real life Precious girls out there, maybe without the morbid obesity but still with the dysfunctional and gory personal lives, and they are right in the cubicle next to you, you would never know.
Black people do have more dysfunction going on in their families and lives than any other group in the country, that’s reflected in the 70% born out of wedlock and 70% of black women unmarried (as in black men not stepping up and marrying them, or anyone else, for that matter) statistics. So let’s not act like whites and blacks are OVERALL living the same lives. Only at the very top of the food chain where the income is in the 6 figures does that happen. And some of them still have Madea type skeletons in their closet!
That said, black people do need to present a 3d version of themselves out there if they want to stop being seen as this mass uni-colour group. A lot of blacks act like a severe case of groupthink has struck them for GENERATIONS on lots of important issues where it is more and more vital to think INDEPENDENTLY and CRITICALLY. And as someone said makes no sense to complain how the movies portray blacks because the NEWS, that is 100% REAL, portrays blacks much worse. Improve THAT.
Also, do we give credit when black filmmakers do something other than a black film, and just make a movie? I didn’t hear many, if any, black people gushing about Summer of Sam, a Spike Lee joint. We pigeonhole the black filmmakers and then get mad when they find a niche that makes them money and do their job with it. Nobody looks at me in the real world and thinks of Madea.
And I will say the one thing that might make assumptions that all blacks are the same so prevalent is the way black Americans speak seems to transcend all socio-economic levels. Spanish people from different areas and different levels of life speak differently, West Indians from different regions of their country speak differently…around the world different levels use different slangs, different intonations…black (American) people from all walks of life in America sound just like southern white people…why is that? The only connection I can observe between the two is slavery! Only a few who were raised in an all white environment DON’T sound like that… It does make people think whatever the culture is that raised all speaking alike, is going to have similarities across the board for all as well. Sounds petty but think about it. 9.5 times out of 10, you can tell a black american different from every other american on the phone. And the issues faced by the black community in the south seem to be shared by the black community everywhere else in the country. It seems to be a unique case of the entire group sort of fitting in the same shoe on a macro level. It’s not the movies doing that!
I strongly disagree. And please speak for yourself when you say most black people sound like southern white people. Clearly thats who you socialize with. Black Americans that I’m around don’t sound like that. And we’re not just a few. I notice that thanks to the media, uneducated Black Americans think they’re typical black people and make false generalizations. The nine-o clock news does not portray most black people. Did it ever occur to you that the news is biased? That it can be filtered and selective? The media is constructed. Somebody chooses what to cover and their choice doesn’t neccessarily reflect reality, but their own biases. Don’t be so naive. We DO NOT have more dysfunction than other groups. That’s just what the white media wants people to think. The problem is that the media does not expose the dyfunctional problems within other groups, but likes to put blacks under a microscrope. It’s all perception. A well created one. There seems to more positive coverage of Black Americans recently, but there’s a ways to go.
And as far as dysfunctionalism is concerned there are loads of wacked up white families out there, but you won’t hear about it much because the white media chooses not to stereotype white people as a whole. Quoting statistics of out-of-wedlock births doesn’t give the whole picture. Out of wedlock briths have risen for Americans overall, not just blacks, due to the sexual revolution, abortion rights and the rise in cohabitation. Black Americans inherited a lack of family structure from slavery. Overlooking our history is doing a disservice for a proper diagnosis. While I do concede that there are unique problems within the Black community due to our history, Black and White Americans are more simliar than you think.
I strongly disagree. And please speak for yourself when you say most black people sound like southern white people. Clearly thats who you socialize with. Black Americans that I’m around don’t sound like that. And we’re not just a few. I notice that thanks to the media, uneducated Black Americans think they’re typical black people and make false generalizations. The nine-o clock news does not portray most black people. Did it ever occur to you that the news is biased? That it can be filtered and selective? The media is constructed. Somebody chooses what to cover and their choice doesn’t neccessarily reflect reality, but their own biases. Don’t be so naive. We DO NOT have more dysfunction than other groups. That’s just what the white media wants people to think. The problem is that the media does not expose the dyfunctional problems within other groups, but likes to put blacks under a microscrope. It’s all perception. A well created one. There seems to more positive coverage of Black Americans recently, but there’s a ways to go.
And as far as dysfunctionalism is concerned there are loads of wacked up white families out there, but you won’t hear about it much because the white media chooses not to stereotype white people as a whole. Quoting statistics of out-of-wedlock births doesn’t give the whole picture. Out of wedlock briths have risen for Americans overall, not just blacks, due to the sexual revolution, abortion rights and the rise in cohabitation. Black Americans inherited a lack of family structure from slavery. Overlooking our history is doing a disservice for a proper diagnosis. While I do concede that there are unique problems within the Black community due to our history, Black and White Americans are more simliar than you think.
Also, I think there are plenty based-on-true-story movies out there that make white people look INSANE crazy and blacks are so busy accepting the stereotype that whites live automatically okay lives that they completely ignore it. Monster? That other movie about a small town mother who was torturing a foster child in her basement and getting her children to help torture and rape her? Sleepers with Brad Pitt where 4 boys accidentally killed someone in Hell’s Kitchen back in the 50s or something and were sent to a juvenile prison where they were raped and abused by the guards and got them back later as adults? The Hills Have Eyes? Etc! All based on true stories! Get it together and be glad the most shocking bad press in the hollywood world about black people has been Precious. It’s way worse what’s being put out there about the other side! And it’s still not changing people’s opinion. Real life, people’s bosses at their jobs, people’s coworkers, people’s state and local government, people’s public school resources and staff…and the nightly news…these are what make or break people’s perception, the things that affect their actual life in particular.
In and of themselves there is nothing wrong with TP movies, or the people who like them. The “haters” as you choose to call them would not be so vocal if Hollywood would take chances with films that showed another side of the black american experience. Of course this might not be obvious to people who are not into film, or breaking into film as a possible occupation, but I noticed a long time ago, that if I wanted to watch a film about any aspect of european culture, or white American culture from heroin addicts to multi-millionaire movers and shakers, and every sub-culture in between I could find a film about it. Every year at least this is what the majority of films are about white lifestyles. If you pick a genre of film you like odds are you can’t find a black film in that genre, or a film with a black protagonist.
What you fail to understand and see is the inequity inherent in a system that believes that the entire planet is able to relate to any subject through the eyes of one race and not another. All my superhero films, adventure films, sci fi films and historical dramas have to be told from a white perspective. We get dumb comedies, and films that show benevolent white people helping blacks out of a bad situation. Doesn’t matter if it’s based on a true story or not, if you watch enough movies you begin to see the pattern. Certain types of black movies get the green light, but whereas white filmmakers get to experiment, black filmmakers are given a very narrow space in which to work. Nobody hates on Tyler because he makes money, he’s just very good at doing what Hollywood allows him to do.
In and of themselves there is nothing wrong with TP movies, or the people who like them. The “haters” as you choose to call them would not be so vocal if Hollywood would take chances with films that showed another side of the black american experience. Of course this might not be obvious to people who are not into film, or breaking into film as a possible occupation, but I noticed a long time ago, that if I wanted to watch a film about any aspect of european culture, or white American culture from heroin addicts to multi-millionaire movers and shakers, and every sub-culture in between I could find a film about it. Every year at least this is what the majority of films are about white lifestyles. If you pick a genre of film you like odds are you can’t find a black film in that genre, or a film with a black protagonist.
What you fail to understand and see is the inequity inherent in a system that believes that the entire planet is able to relate to any subject through the eyes of one race and not another. All my superhero films, adventure films, sci fi films and historical dramas have to be told from a white perspective. We get dumb comedies, and films that show benevolent white people helping blacks out of a bad situation. Doesn’t matter if it’s based on a true story or not, if you watch enough movies you begin to see the pattern. Certain types of black movies get the green light, but whereas white filmmakers get to experiment, black filmmakers are given a very narrow space in which to work. Nobody hates on Tyler because he makes money, he’s just very good at doing what Hollywood allows him to do.
I only agree with Lamar, and especially when considering how black males, in particular, are portrayed. If I were white, I would not complain about being portrayed poorly in movies because the portrayal of people in my race bracket is diversified. For every despicable morally-depraved white prostitute character portrayed in a movie, there is a lovable moral-minded white woman character portrayed in another movie. For every degenerate white murderous gangster criminal portrayed in a movie, there is a good natured, white hero-type role-model character played in another movie. But for every ten disgustingly ignorant, morally-depraved black male characters portrayed in a movie, there may be one half-respectible, and somewhat good natured black male character portayed in another movie. And lets, be honest, can you actually name ten movies with black male characters that you would like your son to emulate? Think hard. Kudos if you can accomplish that task because its not as easy as if that male character were white. But I digress. The sad thing is that Americans, regardless of their race, take what they see on the television to be a true representation of life and the society that they live in. This causes them to act in ways that correspond to the characters on tv, and if the real-life you corresponds to the character they just saw on the big screen, guess what, they will interact with you as if you represent that character. Its not fair, but thats the way it is. I personally dont like the idea of dealing with someone who thinks of me in the same light as a child-molesting, gangster of low intellegence. So, yea, I think its only right to be upset about how you are portrayed on the big screen. Message to Tyler Perry: I liked your original stuff (except the Madea crap) because it was bretty balanced. You had lovable black guys and you had deplorable black guys. It was balanced. I understand that you are an artist and you have a story to tell about the this low-life degenerate black male thats out there in society. I get that. I also get that your probably under a lot of pressure to do so. But here is the million dollar statement, that guy’s story has already been told in the media a million times over. Telling it again in another of your movies is like beating a dead horse. Your audience doesnt really care to continue seeing it. I already stopped payying to see your movies, no buying movie tickets, no paying pay-per-view, and no rentals. i only watch them if by chance, its on the tv and I happen to be sitting on the couch and its the most interesting thing on at the time. I know many other black people who do the same. I will patronize and support your movies again, though, if you make some changes. Before you completely lose the connection with your audience, how about balancing the scales a little. Thats all I have to say.