Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Monday, March 2, 2009

Through no will of my own, I found myself watching Diary of a Mad Black Woman with some friends and associates. This was the first time, ever, I watched a Tyler Perry movie. I am not a cultural, film, or art snob. I hate any sense of exclusivity regarding culture, there's something for everyone - I believe. However, I do prefer, and enjoy foreign films compared to the putrid "entertainment" distributed by Hollywood: that rancid racist/sexist Industrial Media Complex.

In short, Diary is about a woman, Helen (Kimberly Elise), so devoted to her upper class lawyer husband, Charles (Steve Harris) through eighteen years of marriage, that when he abandons her for a light, nearly-white woman!, she apparently loses her sense of self. This situation makes her an angry black woman, and in case we didn't realize it she tells us!

However, Helen quickly finds a new love (insert eye roll here) named Orlando (Shemar Moore); a pretty light skinned iron welding, working-class brotha! He keeps dropping so much truth on her about herself! He's edjumucated with street knowledge. If only she could see how real Orlando is.

Unfortunately, Helen has to temporarily abandon this down-to-earth-working-class-keepin'-it-real-brotha when she is able to gain some measure of revenge on her wicked mean husband. The revenge scheme doesn't last longer than a hot minute, and Helen's able to find a new spirit of self through forgiveness. Or something like that.

Why, there's even a church scene near the end, where all will be well. Everyone gets to holler, I mean sing, about Jesus and will find redemption.

Apparently, Tyler Perry man is the only living and breathing black American to have his own movie studio. I thought Oprah has one too, but maybe I'm looking at the wrong definition of being able to produce entertainment for the small (TV), or big screen (movie distribution deals).

He has had incredible success with a character named Madea, which I suspect is something of an alter-ego for this man. Madea gets to be, along with Joe (played by Perry also), offensive, vulgar, obnoxious, pathological, morally and physically unattractive, which is the funny. The pistol packing, wild behavior, morals free, anti-social Madea, gets to do all and be all, and is so hilarious in doing so.

Being an older black woman supposedly makes Madea free to do as she pleases. Say what?

This character, the obnoxious black woman, started with Eddie Murphy. I know people want to point to Geraldine by Flip Wilson, but I can say that the character was fussy, classy, sexy, coy, attractive, and truly funny. Geraldine was about being desirable, and still doing what she liked without breaking a nail.

There's really no comparison to what was then, and what gets portrayed now.

I know people who love all the creative works by Tyler Perry; I can't find fault with them. It works for them. Not everyone is looking for highbrow, intelligent, serious or thought provoking film. I know I don't.

Yet, I draw the line at many of these tired, highly influential, and constantly negative portrayal of black women. It's a sore point for me: it robs me of my humanity. These images carry worldwide influence. Trust me, they do.

Until every other television program and movie shows black women as the attractive and desirable girl next door to rebut the uncouth, unsociable, harridan - I'm not contributing to these creator's bottom line.

Next time this film, or any other like it, comes up, I'll have other things to do.

Labels: angry black woman, black women, Hollywood, Kimberly Elise, Madea, media, Media Industrial Complex, Steve Harris, Tyler Perry

posted by GoldenAh

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