'Precious' Fails the Black Community

If you dont know about it you shouldn't have an opinion because what you are saying doesn't make sense.

I'm sorry but you are crazy to believe that a Precious does not exist. I don't know where you were raised at, but where I was raised at children deal with a harsh reality every single day, the problem is that they are taught "what goes on in this house stays in this house". I know of children that have been raped by a family member both boy and girl children. I know of someone who is infected with the HIV virus. I know of someone who was abused terribly as a child and the mother to this day brags about it and is proud of what she did. That same mom knew of 3 of 6 children who were raped or molested and told her daughter she trying to take her man from her despite the fact that the girl was only a child and her son was also molested by a gay family member and she told her son to get over it. There are too many Preciouses in our communities that are not being identified because people don't want to believe that it is happeneing in our own back yard. Look at the Holocaust, the Jews were being killed and the citizens didn't want to believe it and that's why it was able to go on for so long. Listen and you will find these victims and learn their story and may be able to save them.

congratulations

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I'm Black. Never met a Precious.

I think that often times we, as a people, become especially sensitive to the way we are protrayed in the media. We fear that non-black America will look at it and think that Precious's experience is the same for all of us- that she represents the majority and not the minority, so we get all in a hissy fit when a movie/book/whatever comes out that shows us in a less than favorable light. You don't come off screaming "this isn't us" so much as "this isn't me."

I agree with the assertion of "We choose not to know her." Because it's true. The abused are not the happy shiny people so why would we associate with them? We run into a Precious everyday- on the subway, at the diner, at a strip club, wherever and we (read: upwardly mobile black people) overlook her, disregard her, because she's not like "us."

So maybe you don't talk with a Precious- maybe she's not a part of your inner circle, and truth be told, most likely she's probably does not represent the majority of young black women today but does that mean we should ignore her? Should we toss this movie out- a movie that may be able to inspire and encourage the ONE Precious out there? I don't think so.

Despite the overly graphic scenes and despite the way this movie may be received by non-black America, if it has the ability to encourage one abused child to speak up about her situation or cause one parent/teacher/friend to identify the signs of abuse and save a child, then this movie has NOT failed the black community.

Anthony, you look gay as hell in your photo, and my gaydar says you probably are - not that there's anything wrong with that.

If so, I'm sure you know plenty of gay men like I do, and a LOT of them, more so than straight men, have been sexually molested and/or abused just like Precious. You might even be one of those people who had an unfortunate childhood.

Whether you are or aren't, you have molested the readership on this site with your own intellectual and social dishonesty beginning with your first sentence: "The central themes in black communities across the U.S. and in Harlem are not ones of incest, rape, teenage pregnancy, physical and mental child abuse, obesity, poverty, welfare, illiteracy, and AIDS."

Except for the part about incest and rape, the rest ARE central themes, making you a liar so you could to justify the rest of your movie review.

Your contempt for your own people oozes through, and no matter how hard you try, you cannot dismiss the unlucky among us with your keyboard.

Your disrespect to our race to pleaing to Hollywood to make movies that pander in a way reminiscent of the "sweep the problems of blacks under the rug" mentality of the Colored Class in the Apartheid days of South Africa was appalling.

I hope they ignore that misguided advice, and that you work on having more integrity in your public opinions and privately work on your own black identity issues. Good luck.

mr. smith

no one misconstrued your comments. (see mr. smith's denial on brent lang's blog) at:

http://www.thewrap.com/article/precious-sparks-debate-over-depiction-bla...

when you say:

"...let me be the first to say that I do not know Precious, and I have a hunch that most other black Americans do not know her, either."

you are clearly implying that people like precious do not exist. this, by extension, implies that the type of abuse portrayed in the movie does not exist either.

i can appreciate your attempt to distance yourself from your idiotic comments, however, simply denying the content of what you have written implies you think we are stupid enough to buy your horseshit at face value.

so, now, you are a coward on top of being a ham-fisted writer.

ps - i wonder what type of reaction The Wrap would get if smith were a white man. is The Wrap a venue for insulting injured people? is The Wrap the place to go to find idiotic racist commentary?

the brother might not explain himself right, we all gets tire of bad image of our people. if it was on regular t.v. it wouldnt be question but this is national. color purple unfit balck man., now unfit black women. dont forget their is a picture in the movies showning a white women taking a black boy with low self esteem and giving him love and he become famous. this might be a message to black children. They will be treat better with whites. They dont put other race on national movies like this. only local movies. just think we all know this happen in all races.lets not let our emotion get played on.our blacks, that makes money on our hurts should stop, and make good movies something i would be proud to take my childern to see. movies supose to be a place you can go and enjoy your self.

Quote:
Tyler Perry equates light-skinned black characters as friendly, virtuous saviors, working to counteract the ugly, evil, stupid and animal-like dark-skinned characters. What a shame!
Quote:
The American people should heed this warning
Quote:
Winfrey has earned her immense wealth... and America loves her.. black America, white America, straight America and gay America.
End quote:
You sir are an idiot. No wonder you haven't been extended an invitation to join the Oprah team. You are calling blacks by the very name that they all hate to be called in your words and the word they hate starts with N and you know the word I am talking about. That is what I read into your words.
I am the white American that you mention but I don't love Oprah. I think she is a great benefit to what she brings to women and men of all color. Your comment about white America just put me outside of all the work that Martin Luther King, Jr. worked so hard to bring together. He would not be too happy to hear that coming from me I suppose. All of my best friends are all Americans and of all kinds of color, light and dark. I happen to be a light skinned white guy. Pick a color and you will understand my meaning. I am glad that we raised our children, my wife and I, to teach them not to read this kind of garbage and believe it.
You are a bold face racist liar hardship case. I wonder if anyone else noticed besides myself.
I hope you do interview, you may need a new job, and this one is not for you.
From that white guy in Sacramento who just read that you called the Black Americans the N word.
How sad to read your views. You just took the whole black movement back 40 years to the first day it started on that bus. You need to check your inner self. You hate your own kind. I have seen it before and I am sure I will see it again. But this time it has a name, and that name is Anthony Smith.
By the way, we Americans don’t believe in American’t like you do. You just don’t get it I guess.
Chillaxx, no harm no foul, we cool my nigga,
TerryZ

Mr. Smith you seem to be blind to events that happen not only in the Black community but thru all races.
I am 56 years old and I remember while growing up in Philadelpia friends telling me of their sexual and physical abuse by family members. I had a friend who had 3 children by her father before anyone would listen to her.
Today I am the co-founder of Teen Straight Talk and sometimes you would be amazed at some of the stories that youth will share with you.
Teen Straight Talk deals with all concerns of teens and parents but mostly due to sexual activities and emotional
issues.
As we watch many stories on TV on variouos channels you hear about sexual abuse by family members, especially fathers, teachers who are abusing their male and female students.
Many could relate to Precious either thru their own experience or that of someone that they know.
A story like Precious is not about a certain race but about a situation that people of all races have encountered over the years.
I do not take offense to it but applaud it for bring out real life situations that many deal with on a daily basis.
I appreciate you not wanting to see another movie coming out that depicts Blacks in a negative way, but this to me is not about a Black person -- it is about the situations that are encountered in the movies.
As far as the dark skin vs the light skin we need to get over looking at ourselves according to the color of our skin. To this day I have dark-skin people in my family who act as though they are bothered by their beautiful dark
skin. We need to be proud of who we are and stop looking at outward appearances.

In view of the recent abuse, rape and murder of two innocent African-American little girls caused by their parents, I think this movie is right on time.
What if these two girls had not died but continued to grow up in this same type of life style especially in some communities that turn their eyes and have a "don't snitch" mentality? They would be Precious.
I think this movie will open our eyes and hopefully make people
more pro-active.
I saw it at work as a Philadelphia community came together toward the arrest of a shooter whose bullet came through the outside wall to kill a mother asleep in her bed.

This is a film that can't and won't be ignored. We can close our eyes to child abuse, but it still happens. We can (and have closed our eyes) to the growing AIDS cases among communities of color and yet our people will keep dying. I don't always agree with Oprah's opinions and suggestions, but as she's been public about her own abuse as a child, one can understand her reasoning for pushing this project forward. To all those that haven't seen it, and are afraid of what stereotypes are being portrayed I say, your opinion means little, but I will say the film also demonstrate educated, compassionate people of color (of many skin tones) that go the extra mile to help a young woman in the worse of circumstances. If you are afraid of what does occur, not just in the Black community, but to many innocent children, then they will always be at risk.
Mr. Smith, I feel as though you could not go pass your own personal needs to feel represented, and see a portion of reality. 'Precious' does not fail the Black community, it challenges the entire country to see people in circumstances that we'd much rather ignore.
Gil

It seems that some of us rely on our personal experiences to paint the picture of child sexual and physical abuse as a widespread "problem in the black race". Child abuse occurs in all RACES, regardless of economic status. However, those who see this movie as a negative portrayal of blacks have valid points as well.

The problem I have with this movie is that it's another Color Purple which, at that time, was derided for portraying black men in a negative light. This is something that Hollywood and the Media has unfortunately done to blacks, for as long as I can remember (and I'm close to being a senior citizen). It's the image that is disseminated throughout the world.

I will not see Precious. However, I do spend my spare time working to help brothers and sisters in need. TALK is cheap. When we all ACT, in love, to help one another, it will make a difference.

say-no-to-precious.blogspot.com/

Brotha Anthony,

*U* Miss it home boi'''

Its noble to be a defender of da "Hood Image Status Quo"

But Dayuummm Kid,

Hiden tha Truth or feigning ignorance of OUR challenges compounds the Problem.

& as *U* can see earns the irk & mire of the Peepz

Check ya self home team

& make an adjustment

Just wanted to share a link about children of incest. It tells the whole story about your disillusionment with regard to "Precious" girls. Research Anthony, Research!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_youngest_birth_mothers

For the author of this "article" to say that he doesn't know this woman is beside the point. Just because you do not know "this person" does not mean that she doesn't exist and that others like her do not exist. For you to say that a book written by a black woman, who taught women like "Precious" when she was a literacy teacher, is not showcasing real life is ridiculous. For you to try to invalidate this movies depiction of Precious' life as not a true experience when both Mo'nique and Oprah have come out and said that they were the victims of sexual abuse as children is denial. Or are you just trying that hard to be contrary? How can you say that these things don't exist (and isn't a real black experience) when there are so many children in foster care (sometimes with abusers) and living in poverty and other dire circumstances? When a little black girl was just raped and murdered in NC? When there are thousands upon thousands of little girls and teenage women around the world being forced into prostitution and working as sex slaves because parents put them there for money? When a man was just found to be keeping his daughter locked up under his house for years while he raped her again and again had children with her? A twisted world where women and girls actually see sex and prostitution as a way out of a bad circumstance? Seriously, what are you trying to achieve here? Do you even realize how many people that this movie is going to help? How much this movie will bring to light about not just a segment of the black community but about the larger society? There are thousand of girls of every race going through circumstances like this. Thousands! Yes, this is one fictional story and you may not like it but there are real stories out there that are like this...and worse.
My cousin was one of these women and it lead her to drugs and eventually death two years ago at 27. I can not imagine what she went through(I can't imagine what her daughter went through and will go through as a result) that she chose not burden me with by "not telling me everything". I think that she didn't want me to see her that way...the way that we see Precious in the movie. Which could be another reason you do not know this girl...maybe she didn't want you to know her.
Oh by the way, in case you hadn't noticed...the story is based on a book! So for one the story was already out there for anyone who was interested. So maybe you should read the book before you go into analyzing how unrealistic the movie portrayal is and how the transitions are unrealistic, and how there is no explanation for things...it's in the book. You and everyone else who is talking crap about the movie should do something crazy and try reading the book the movie was based on before you talk about how it's not accurate or whatever. It is a very moving and hopeful story in spite of the fact that the book is far more graphic and detailed than the movie.

The fact remains , that this is a true case file, and a true story, and it should be told, regardless of what race it is about. I am tired of hearing people saying that we shouldn't say this or that because it makes us look bad. Well, according to government census taken from 1975 to 2005, on the number of felony crimes committed in this country, and with an percentage of error of 5%, which is very high for any known census taken in the past 20 years, we, black Americans committed 67%, Mexicans committed 22%, and all other nationalities combined, had committed only 11% of all felony crimes. This tells me that the issue of a true, factual, crime file, or article making us look bad, is pretty much a stupid issue at this point. We have made ourselves look like immoral idiots already. It's like saying that we don't have Muslim terrorist issues in this country, when you never see, or hear of any southern baptist, catholic, or any other religious group in this country, going around and killing other people, for the sake of their religion. Your article, seems only to try an say that it is a racial issue, and it shouldn't be told because we are black, and it makes us look bad. What B.S. We have made ourselves look bad for many, many years already. I think it is time that we, as black Americans, start taking responsibility for our past, and current uncivilized, and immoral actions, that have labeled us as second class citizens, more than the long past, slavery of our ancestors, could have ever done. There is no more racism against black Americans, from English, or Mexican peoples, than there is from black Americans against all the other nationalities in this country. Maybe if we really want others to like us so much, and there not be so much negative news about us, we should start acting like decent, moral, honorable people. We currently say that people don't like Obama because he is black. The reason most don't like him now, even people like me that voted for him, is because he isn't very good at the job we elected him to do, and he hasn't, to date, completed even one campaign promise, that we elected him to get done. As far as the Nobel Peace Prize, he completed no accomplishments, stipulated in the criteria of any of Mr. Nobel's prize awards. I guess if Ronald Reagan had only made his famous, tear down this wall speech, and had not negotiated the deal, and it had not came down, and millions of Germans had not been freed from Russia socialism, and 1/3 of the worlds nuclear arsenal had not been dismantled, he should have still gotten his Nobel Peace Prize. I think not, and not according to the criteria of Mr. Nobel's last will in testament. Words, good intentions, wants, or desires don't get the check wrote. Actions, accomplishments, and completed achievements do. I think we all intended, and wanted to have flying cars by now too. Maybe we should give George Jetson an Nobel Science Award, after we elect him as our new commander and chief. Maybe we, as black Americans, should start accomplishing some good things, so we don't even have these stupid discussions to begin with.

most of the people that are blogging have not seen the movie. Oprah has never produced a movie that shines a positive light toward the black community. this is a horrible depiction of the black community.

So...All of your acquired Experience of residing in Harlem and Pacing the Bedford Courtyard has allowed you to self anoint yourself as unabashed authority of Black society. How do you know what is failing the Black Community? Your “hunch that most other black Americans do not know her, either” is totally untrue. Your perception that this picture offered no true explanation of events, no link between cause and effect, no solution and no opportunity to deliberate is laughable considering with your perceived background, you should picked on those points WAY before anyone else. But, alas, I can certainly see your point what with the overt urban decay that Marina Del Rey is experiencing. Do you consider the "central Themes" of the black community to be close-mindedness, mental disruption and divisiveness from snooty Ivy League cinema wannabees? Instead of fishing on your wooden dock trying to figure out ways to divide us, why don’t you do Mr. Daniels and Ms. Winfrey a one-up by trying to unite us artistically and culturally for a change? Stop worshipping Dick Cheney and start commenting on Babies like Shinaya Davis, a young light-skinned, unloved victim of an inhumane act of violence. Or…. maybe that’s just not your reality.

IT TRULY AMAZES ME THAT EDITORS, COLUMN WRITERS AND CRITICS IN GENERAL FAIL TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE IN MOTION PICTURE ACROSS AMERICA. THE MOVIES THAT ARE DISPLAYED IN THEATRES ACROSS AMERICA AND INTERNATIONAL ARE FOR ENTERTAINMENT ONLY. THOUGH THERE ARE MOVIES THAT ARE BASED ON ACTUAL EVENTS, ABOUT 65-85 PERCENT OF THOSE TYPES OF MOVIES ARE BASED ON TRUE STORIES AND THE REST ARE FICTITIOUS AS SAID AT THE END OF THE CREDITS.

IT ALSO AMAZES ME HOW SOCIETY CONTINUES TO BE NAIVE ON CERTAIN ISSUES THAT ARE OR HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN MOVIES THEN AND NOW. FOR EXAMPLE, THE RECENT RELEASED OF "PRECIOUS": MANY PEOPLE ARE OUTRAGED THAT PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS AND CAST MEMBERS ARE PART OF A MOVIE THAT "FAILS THE BLACK COMMUNITY". FIRST OFF, PLEASE BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU THAT I AM NOT WRITING THIS TO CHANGE ANYBODY'S OPINION ON ANYTHING. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO WHAT YOU WANT TO THINK, SAY AND BELIEVE BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE GET CARRIED AWAY OR OUT OF LINE BY SAYING STATEMENTS THAT ARE TRULY IGNORANT AND PROVE TO BE NAIVE ON THE SPEAKER'S OR WRITER'S PART. YES, MANY ISSUES IN "PRECIOUS" ARE HEARTFELT AND SENSITIVE TO THOSE WHO ENCOUNTER THEM DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY. IF YOU WAS NOT PRECIOUS OR KNEW SOMEONE WHO WAS IN PRECIOUS SHOES, DON'T SPEAK ON THE MOVIE. PLEASE BELIEVE THAT INCEST, RAPE, ABUSE, MOLESTATION, OBESITY, PEER PRESSURE AND OTHER ISSUES THAT TEENS (BLACK, WHITE, HISPANIC, ALL NATIONS) FACE THEN AND NOW ARE STILL ONGOING. MOST ARE NOT ADDRESSED TO SOCIETY BECAUSE IT IS NOT ONLY SENSITIVE TO THE VICTIMS BUT IS AND HAS BEEN RATHER HARD FOR WOMEN TO FACE THOSE ISSUES PUBLICLY AND TALK ON THEM TO ANY AND EVERYONE BECUASE THEY FEEL THEY MAY GET JUDEGED ON THOSE SITUATIONS OR FEEL THAT IS THE BEST METHOD TO COPE WITH THESE ISSUES. THOUGH I WAS NOT THE GIRL PRECIOUS, I, AS A WOMAN, NOT JUST A BLACK WOMAN, BUT A WOMAN, CAN EMPATHIZE WITH HER AND GIRLS AND WOMEN IN THE WORLD. NO I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTER ALL OF THOSE ISSUES DIRECTLY, BUT I DO KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AND ARE CURRENTLY IN HER SHOES. TO IGNORANTLY SAY THAT THE MOVIE "FAILS THE BLACK COMMUNITY" IS INSENSITIVE AND DOWNRIGHT OBNOXIOUS. WHY MUST BLACK AMERICA SPEAK ON THE NEGATIVITY OF THESE FILMS, WHEN THERE ARE MOVIES SIMILAR TO "PRECIOUS" WITH CAUCASIAN CAST MEMBERS THAT DO NOT RECEIVE THE SAME FEEDBACK FROM

"The central themes in black communities across the U.S. and in Harlem are not ones of incest, rape, teenage pregnancy, physical and mental child abuse, obesity, poverty, welfare, illiteracy, and AIDS." THOUGH THESE ISSUES MAY NOT BE CENTRAL IN ALL OF AMERICA, THEY ARE CURRENT ISSUES THAT IF NOT ALL WOMEN, MOST WOMEN WILL ENCOUNTER.

THIS MOVIE WAS PRODUCED TO SHOW THAT THESE ISSUES ARE OUTSTANDING AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. IT ALSO SENDS A MESSAGE OUT TO YOUNG WOMEN THAT NO MATTER WHAT OBSTACLES WE FACE, IT WILL BE TOUGH IN THE BEGINNING AT EACH STEP TO A BRIGHTER LIGHT. THE CLOUDS WILL OPEN UP FOR YOU. DESPITE WHAT OTHERS MAY SAY ABOUT YOU, YOU HAVE TO DUST THOSE HATERS AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT.

IN CLOSING, SOCIETY NEEDS TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE THAT: 1)WOMEN, YOUNG AND OLD, RICH OR POOR, BLACK OR WHITE FACE THESE ISSUES. ALSO, PLEASE DO REALIZE THAT MOVIES, FOR THE MOST PART, ARE FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

What a crazy mess!! My story could turn a few heads also. I am an African-american woman. A man exposed himself to me daily before I even went to kindergarden. Then I was molested by a one-legged man... yes.. I was in 2nd and third grade. Then went on to be molested by a cousin, then an uncle and my fathers best friend whom I had children by and my father is a preacher-man who beat me daily. Yes.. I was a run-away and have often thought about giving my story up for the movies.. it is a roller-coaster ride and so incredibly crazy and filled with pain that I know Mr. Smith would be tortured from the moment the movie started with me being beaten at 3 years old for wetting my bed. More and more true life stories are more shocking and intense than anything fiction can produce. Monsters come in every shape, color and form preying upon the weakest of all "OUR CHILDREN".

I am glad the story of precious is being told. I have not seen the movie yet. I know that it is possible that I may cringe, cry and feel real rage while watching it but, this is what art is about....making us feel something! Waking us up and pulling our heads out of the sand to feel something; pulling us from our comfort zone to make us realize that our fellow woman (whether black/white.. whatever)and males as well, have lived through traumatic experiences at the hands of cruel men and women. Surviving the traumatic events that happen in our lives makes us who we are.

This movie makes us aware that we need to pay closer attention to our children and men (women too!)around our children. Paying closer attention to what goes on in our childrens' lives may save them from the horrors of sexual abuse. We must SAVE OUR CHILDREN!!!!

Mr. Smith need's to stop whining about his feelings and worry about the feelings of children who are right now going through the horrors of sexual abuse and have no way out except to run-away or commit suicide! Been there, left there.

Signed: Shocktrauma..the bane of life!!

What lilly white world did you grow up in?! Let me take that back because to say that would put me on the same level with you, a dumb ass! I'll simply say, what planet are you from? I have not seen the movie yet but judging from the previews, it is real. I know this girl! I am this girl! You, jackass, know this girl too. This girl has no race. How dare you take this movie and reduce it to a race issue. Are you jealous because you are not smart enough to put something like this together, something that touches all races and nationalities alike? Yes, that it's Anthony Smith. You are a hater. Thank you Oprah and Tyler for bringing this out. You know, as I was growing up, it was a forbidden subject. It was, "whatever happens in this house stays in this house". I'm sure all people who are victims of abuse have heard that before. And even though what's his name here wants to be in denial, we all know someone who has been abused in one way or another. No, it is not a black thing...it's a living in the real world thing. I hope that by this movie being released, it will open the way for many young people out there that are being abused to see their way out. I hope that it helps them to see that they are not alone and give them the courage they need to speak out about their abuse/abusers. I hope that they do not allow people like Anthony to stop them from seeking refuge from their abusers. Anthony...YOU STUPID. Are you feeling it yet?

you sound as if you have some personal issues of your own that need to be resolved. attacking oprah and perry, is just another example of hate. did you vote for obama because he's black? you sound like jessie jackson when he made that comment about cutting obama's balls off just because he said that blacks should get off their asses and take care of their families and not use the govornment as a crutch. this book/movie is what is real. you must spend your day watching rap videos and glorifying their false lifestyle. you my friend are leaning on a broken crutch.

you sound as if you have some personal issues of your own that need to be resolved. attacking oprah and perry, is just another example of hate. did you vote for obama because he's black?

WOW. Obviously this writer has some serious problems. Not only does he seem to be paranoid, he shows the kind of anger that you would only find in someone who is racist. He comes out attacking everyone who put this film together soley because the people portrayed in this movie are black..or african american...my point is, it is just a movie that tries to send a message that there are serious problems going on in the world that come from home sweet home, and the sad thing is all the problems at home end up being taken out on the kids. So before this prick of a writer starts playing the racist blame game lets look past the color of skin and look at the expression of the people these actors are portraying and understand that there are struggles out there white or black. black community white community orange community gold community ruby red community.......see wut i mean???!!!! get it now!!!

You know, we are so intent on proving that African Americans don't fit the stereotypes, that we become stereotypes. We are notorius for keeping secrets (see the "No Snitch" Campaign), and we are notorious for denying the truth. With this article, Mr. Smith perpetuates this attitude. What is wrong with us where we cannot hold a mirror up to our own faces. We deny that we are misogynists, yet music videos proves us to be hypocrites. We deny that we don't commit all that much violence, yet members of our community succeed in killing one another every single day. Now, we suggest that we should keep the door closed on the abuse our children suffer everyday by saying 'this movie should not have been made, it sheds a negative light on our community.' The movie isn't doing anything that we, ourselves don't do or go through everyday.

There are a lot of girls and boys I know from the Af-Am community that have been assaulted, raped, beaten, and all around abused on some level. There are also alot of children from the barrio, the trailer park, and yes even the suburbs who have suffered the same abuse. Everyone knows someone who has lived through this. Everyone. Sweeping it under the rug isn't going to make it go away. Pretending it doesn't happen will only make it worse. What is wrong with us, as a people, as humans, where we would agree with this attitude? All across the board in every community, no matter where we come from, we should be aware and we should want, need to prevent this from happening to our children.

They say what separates humans from animals is the evolution of thought. With everything that has happened as of late, such as Caylee Anthony, Anthony Sowell, Shaniya Davis, and the Bush Administration's handling of intel, specifically Dick Cheney, I don't know.

I'm sorry, but you people just won't stop complaining. I have to say I agree with this article. Or rather, I would agree, if this movie clearly stated that this is a racial problem. It would be VERY insulting to me, were I African American. But truthfully, it just seems to be another depressing, emotionally masturbatory sob-fest. Free of racial commentary, from what I know. This IS just a pointless story about a sad, pathetic victim. What does it matter that she's black?

I have read the articles and the posts related to this article. I have read the book and have to admit that I found it troubling. The most troubling part of this article is the fact that yet again we find another self-proclaimed critic wanting to come forth and show how "Blacks" in America have been cast in a negative light. Why is it that anything with someone of African decent is always considered representative of the entire race? When the "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th" movies were released were we supposed to look at them as a representation of all young white males?
Sometimes life has an ugly side. How irresponsible would it be to only show African-Americans as grinning fools who walked around without a care in the world. I too have relatives who have been visited by incest. Denying it exists does not make it go away. Do you remember the pinnacle scene from "A Time to Kill" when Matthew Machoney's character was delivering his closing argument and he described the torture that Samuel L. Jackson's character's daugher suffered? He ended the message by challenging the jury to image the child was white. Audiences who are going to see this movie are being challenged to do just that. Potentially every person viewing this movie will see someone they know.
As for some of the more vicious comments made by some in response to this article, is it really necessary to attack Ms. winfrey and Mr. Perry's characters? Could your jealousy be the real inspiration for you dislike of them and the work they have done? Everytime a prominent African-American figure steps out there are always those from within the community that wish to destroy everything being done. I have heard it said we are like crabs in a barrel.
They don't put lids on them because the crabs at the bottom always pull the ones on the top down. Unless they are willing to put a few dollars personally into your pockets you find fault. If you don't like what they are doing then put your money, time, and effort where your mouth is and do something. Start youth groups and provide mentorships, start self-improvement seminars for young women who have been exposed ot domestic violence. Put together discussion groups to sit down and work on the issues in your community. Criticism is cheep and easy and serves no real purpose. Provide the example for the change you want to see.

As a WASP, I am most impressed by the author’s professionalism and ability to articulate the African American perspective of the movie plot with out using WASP references to prove his point.

ANTHONY SMITH - Your reference to Opera and Tyler Perry selling out to the Black community is very similar to how most white Americans feel about corporate America and our elected officials. They used the sensation of familiarity and locality to ultimately defy all citizens of the true sense of "real America".

I have not seen this film but my hat goes off to the writer for putting the awareness out there. You sounded so hostile now would that be because you molested your little cousin, sister, brother? Maybe you were the one abused. Open you eyes little boy, this has been going on for generations in all cultures. Many of your family members screamed into their pillows nightly as daddy, uncle, brother,cousin etc. had foul sex with them. Sadly enough it is shame that has kept most quite for so many years. Wake up little brother.

These are stories that need to be told. They can only help the victims and other potential victims regardless of race. The columnist lack of empathy is glaring. He sounds as though he is ashamed of our Black community, it is what it is and his denial is not helpful. We have successes and as well as failures in our community, this is universal. If we don't identify our failures, how can we do anything about them. Someone needs to shine a light in the dark.

Bad things happen to innocent people, including children. The plot of the movie Precious (which i haven't seen) reminds me of The Color Purple.

Many people were upset because of the way Danny Glover's character was portrayed in that film, as it denigrated African-American men.

Yet, i have no doubt that Mister was based on truth, ultimately, although not the truth for every single Black man, of course. This was one person's experience yet it does occur more than once.

i had clients like Precious when i was a social worker in East and West Oakland, and West Berkeley for the County Welfare Department.

My take was, and is, that poverty, poor medical care, lack of prenatal care, oppression, racism, terrible housing, not enough truly nutritious food, lack of childcare, consistently inadequate grants, no work training or education, untreated substance abuse, and all the horrors that accompany Genocide were to blame for the suffering i saw and tried when possible to alleviate.

Most of my colleagues felt the same way. And acted accordingly. But we were not empowered to do very much to change anything, and that was deliberate, just as the clients were sabotaged and their efforts undercut by the Rules.

And for this i place the blame where i believe it belongs: on the Ruling Class, both political and corporate.

So far as i can see, not a lot has changed in this wretched world, when it comes to treatment of poor people, and their children...Katrina was a vivid example of allowing Mother Nature to do the genocidal killing of the helpless and "unwanted".

Man's inhumanity to man...

These are stories that need to be told. They can only help the victims and other potential victims regardless of race. The columnist lack of empathy is glaring. He sounds as though he is ashamed of our Black community, it is what it is and his denial is not helpful. We have successes and as well as failures in our community, this is universal. If we don't identify our failures, how can we do anything about them. Someone needs to shine a light in the dark.

You are failing the "Black Community". How can you deny the experiences of another person. How can you call what someone else went through a lie. I worked in social services for over 15 years and what you saw happens everyday. It happens to little black girls and boys. Some children don't make it out at all. You are correct , this is not the best representation of our community, however it is a part of our community.

Although our community is full of great success, including yourself we can not pretend that there are things that we can work on. Any story that can motivate someone to ask for help, or to know that they are not alone in the struggle is a good thing.

You may want to pray about how you are using this blessing of reaching the masses. We all have our own work, but you are reaching many people. Be careful what you say. Don't intentionally lead the flock away.

In response to mighty whitey, you and Smith sound like your on the same page. what you don't under stand is, when your type of whiteness compares me to an APE. Your only complimenting my intelligence. If you believe you came from Adam and Eve, and I from an APE. I can see why you feel threatened of my race. After all, you did say that we are not human. I always thought that we were all equal. but now you tell me that as an APE, my development has surpassed the human race. Now that we've an Ape in the white house does this mean we will some day rule the world??? I've a lot of intelligent white friends, but you.., You are Mighty white Trash. may be you should try eating the Banana instead of sitting on it, I hear its good for the brain. And you can learn how to spell whitey. As for Mr Smith, after you've read all these peoples response and still feel the same way, you should unzip your color and be the wolf that your are.

In response to mighty whitey, you and Smith sound like your on the same page. what you don't under stand is, when your type of whiteness compares me to an APE. Your only complimenting my intelligence. If you believe you came from Adam and Eve, and I from an APE. I can see why you feel threatened of my race. After all, you did say that we are not human. I always thought that we were all equal. but now you tell me that as an APE, my development has surpassed the human race. Now that we've an Ape in the white house does this mean we will some day rule the world??? I've a lot of intelligent white friends, but you.., You are Mighty white Trash. may be you should try eating the Banana instead of sitting on it, I hear its good for the brain. And you can learn how to spell whitey. As for Mr Smith, after you've read all these peoples response and still feel the same way, you should unzip your color and be the wolf that your are.

Abuse, incest, is a HUMAN ISSUE, NOT a race issue! This is an issue about abuse against girls and women that scars for life! It is NOT a race thing at all!!!!! Period!!! People so need to get that!!!

Over the years I was shocked, for after having spoken to so many women (mostly white) I have learned that most of the women I have met have had the disgusting experience of incest or of being violated by a man in some manner while they were young!

I have also read that incest is a huge problem in Germany. Then there is all the child prostitution in Asia. This may not be incest, but young children being forced into sex falls under this problem.

I had a cousin whose father violated her, and I had a family member that crossed the line with me in what could be considered a ‘small’ manner. For those of you who have not had this occur in your life, even a small, minute crossing the line can leave disgust in one for decades. The thought of his crossing the line can still piss me off, and make me wonder about all men I meet. The same male who violated boundaries with me was also abusive in other ways. I have chosen to not have a relationship with this person.

I have not seen this movie, but I wish it was not considered a 'race' issue, for it is most definitely not!!! From what I saw from the trailer it is about all types of horrible abuse in the worse way against the most vulnerable in our society, and that is children.

Anyone who has been neglected or abused in some manner by biological family members and has worked hard to heal from this knows ALL TYPES OF FAMILY ABUSE OCCURS in ALL RACES across ALL ECONOMIC LINES.

There are no human barriers to abuse and to disgusting incest. If there is any fault to this movie, it would be in not illuminating this as a HUMAN PROBLEM! And it is around the world!!!

THIS IS A HUMAN PROBLEM!!!! THIS IS NOT, NOT, NOT A RACE ISSUE AT ALL!!!!!!

Oh, and the ‘black’ hiding the family secret ‘thing’….. that is NOT a ‘black’ issue either. It too is a ‘human’ problem!!!

I hope this movie does accomplish one thing. Get people talking and find ways to prevent this awful thing from occurring, which destroys girls, women, boys, men and connections to others for life.

Briefly, I was intrigued enough to want to see the movie just noticing that the main character is being played by a non-classical looking darker skinned large woman. I'm not saying that Gabourey isn't beautiful in her own, but she falls outside of the Haley Barry beauty standard set upon by the industry. (BTW I love and respect Ms. Barry's work and accomplishments.)

Yes, there is extreme prejudice in the African American community on the various shades of skin color so don't blame white people for keeping us down. We do it to each other.

And as a victim of abuse and molestation within my own family, let me tell you it does happen, people do look the other way, and we are left to pick up the pieces and try to get by for the rest of our lives in one way or another. It effects every thing you do for life, including how you feel, what you eat, how you dress, how you view the world, and no amount of therapy can ever wash it completely away, you just learn to move on and understand where the pain comes from.

My wife works in the court a court room in a big Missouri city. She is one of few whites in that building and newer to the the black mindset in the inner city. She is constantly being shocked by the type of abuse that these young girls are being put through. There are a disturbing amount of cases where the man thats supposed to be protecting these girls are sodomising and raping them. They blame it on drugs and alchohol or that they are being deprived of sex. The most disturbing part of the whole thing is that the mothers of these girls are defending the man. How fucking sick is that?! So yes, the community is failing these innocent girls. Anthony Smith, you are wrong, so wrong. Yes I know it happens in all races. But this girl is apparently black. Take a minute to think of the damage this kind of trauma has on these young, innocent girls and boys. For a couple of minutes of selfish, sick satisfaction. This needs to be brought to the front.

My wife works in the court a court room in a big Missouri city. She is one of few whites in that building and newer to the the black mindset in the inner city. She is constantly being shocked by the type of abuse that these young girls are being put through. There are a disturbing amount of cases where the man thats supposed to be protecting these girls are sodomising and raping them. They blame it on drugs and alchohol or that they are being deprived of sex. The most disturbing part of the whole thing is that the mothers of these girls are defending the man. How fucking sick is that?! So yes, the community is failing these innocent girls. Anthony Smith, you are wrong, so wrong. Yes I know it happens in all races. But this girl is apparently black. Take a minute to think of the damage this kind of trauma has on these young, innocent girls and boys. For a couple of minutes of selfish, sick satisfaction. This needs to be brought to the front.

I will be honest, I did not, could not, read past the second paragraph of Anthony's writing. I was automatically taken aback by his intro. I am not only a social worker, but I am also a minister who is very involved within communities, especially the Af-Am community. It grieves me to see that the very things he listed as not being central issues are in fact THE central issues, and more. The biggest issue with them, however and quite unfortunately, is that many of those in the Af-Am community feel or think the same way as Anthony. The result is that their denial keeps them from reality and therefore they and others are kept from freedom; real freedom. I look forward to the day when we can truly talk about what is happening in our community so that we can get over our own issues so that someone else just might not have to go through any of these things that are at the center of the silence.

Mr. Smith

You think "Precious" is not real. Just query some of the millions of children in this country's foster care system. As a child welfare professional I know "Precious" is real, I've met "Precious", I've had to break through the layers and layers of abuse and neglect to many "Precious'" I have met. The book (which I'm currently reading) and the movie which I saw are real depictions of the experiences of some African Americans in this country. Generational dependence on the dole, illiteracy, mental and physical/sexual abuse have been hallmarks to the experience of many in the AA community. I deal with these personalities every day. You must consider before taking a critically negative opinion of this work of prose the “raw” truth intended to be delivered. As I am writing this comment a child is being abused, neglected or maltreated somewhere in this world. “Precious/ Push” speaks to this notion in brilliant intelligence and honesty. You might be good at what you do, however in this instance you are wrong, I should know I’m too am a “Precious” survivor of the system that fails children like “Precious” daily.

It just dawned on me...Mr. Smith got exactly what he wanted!! Money!! this site generates income for advertisers! To write such a story that has provoked so much interest from people; has only generated "clicks" and counters to help generate income for the advertisers for this page! Clever!

but then again...its freedom of speech...

For one, I have not see the movie, because it is not showing in my market. That should tell you something, at least on part of the owners of these movie theatres. Second, playing a neutral party, what would the author propose BlackHollywood to do interms of shooting films?
My opinion, frankly if books and movies like this are not written and shown then how do the problems of Black society get attention (if this is a Black issue) Seriously, Black families are natorious for keeping family secrets, not wanting to shame the family or put our buisness out. What ever avenue one has to take to get people talking is what should be taken. I am a health care worker and have close ties to social services, some one has to be living in a box on the moon to say that abuse is not an issue in the black community, never mind across all races.
I won't bash the author for his opinion, but really, there are a lot of White, Asian, Hispanic films that have the same themes, why did you not use any to compare how it affects these groups?

This is a sad story in ANY community. I don't KNOW this girl, but I'm certain she exists. My problem with this film and MANY other so called "Black" films is that these slices of life are sooo dire and predictable. They lack the humor and joy of our everyday lives and overlook the broad range of inspiring and enriching stories of our people.
Moreover, if we look at ENTERTAINMENT and MEDIA closely, we'll understand what an effective propagandist tool it has ALWAYS been. We have to be smarter than these knee jerk reactions whenever a black/african american (whatever)film comes out.
As with previous Oscar winners like, "Monster's Ball" and "Training Day"....who cares about someone else's awards!?...and their definition of excellence!!??

Knowing ourselves better is one of the keys to preventing others from defining us in any form.

Pecola Breedlove revisited.

Are you serious about this article??? Anthony Smith looks like a damn pedophile himself!!! I absolutely wouldn’t leave my child, or any child for that matter, in a room alone with him. Just like an ignorant man to ignore the struggles that women have to endure. It's much easier to say these issues don’t exist than to own up to them. Anthony Smith looks like he has molested a few women in his day. Anthony, please don’t try to make excuses for your Pedophile-Molesting- Brethren !!!

Are you serious about this article??? Anthony Smith looks like a damn pedophile himself!!! I absolutely wouldn’t leave my child, or any child for that matter, in a room alone with him. Just like an ignorant man to ignore the struggles that women have to endure. It's much easier to say these issues don’t exist than to own up to them. Anthony Smith looks like he has molested a few women in his day. Anthony, please don’t try to make excuses for your Pedophile-Molesting- Brethren !!!

You. Guys.

As a sixteen-year-old black girl (choose whether or not you want to believe that, because it won't change the truth of my post), I am annoyed that this is seen as failing the black community. WHAT THE HELL. If Precious were latina, white, or asian, would the point of the movie--to educate us that things like this DO happen, that 1 out of 4 women will in their lifetime be molested in some way, 86% of those women by their own family members--would her race change this?

GET THE FUCK OVER IT. You should be happy that a black person chose to convey this horrible truth first. My sister is personally a victim of MOLESTATION BY A FAMILY MEMBER and stuff like this happens EVERY DAY to women. Not different sections of women but women in general.

But because Precious is played by a black girl you want the message to be hidden?

FUCK YOU if you want that. FUCK YOU.

I havent seen the movie nor read the book but have heard things about it. I'm a 27 year old African American male that have dated numerous women that have been molested and abused. I'm not saying that MOST african american women have been molested but to say that this doesn't happen in our community is not only unrealistic but doing more harm than Oprah and Tyler Perry combined!! You need to speak for yourselve and try not to speak for everyone because it makes you sound stupid!!

Why are people still using the term black? I really hate this term I think the term is racist. Same with white obviously these "terms"are not a race. We should start calling people by their heritage and not by what we assume is the color of their skin.

You don't know anyone like precious huh? I do. People just don't want to talk about it. Or few do anyway especially the ones that are involved. Wake up you are blind. I will post a story here that happened here just recently.

http://www.startribune.com/local/69620292.html

That is the link you can copy and paste above. Here is an excerpt;

"A Minneapolis man beat his son with fists and an extension cord, and burned him with a hot iron before the boy sought refuge in the family's oven, according to criminal charges filed Monday.

The charges allege that William T. Hurley turned on the oven with his 10-year-old inside. The boy climbed out after it began to get warm, the complaint said."

I am not black, nor have I ever aspired to be. My wife is african-american, and has never wished to be white. Why are we stereo-typing people? Why must this be a 'black film'? This girl does exist, across many different genders, sexual orientations, and ethnicities. I agree with the Columbine reference earlier, I also would like to correlate this to the young woman who was raped/imprisoned by her father in Austria. These things DO happen, and maybe they DO need some light shed on them. Maybe people should get more involved in their communities; get to know your neighbors, your friends, your church congregation. We can prevent these things. We can intervene. We can stop looking the other way when the man next door beats his wife. We can stop ignoring the evil in this world, and chose to fight it. Maybe that's the message?

Let me also say this:

1: Keisha Bridges - "Oprah put your money where your mouth is". Let me apologize on behalf of Oprah, she is too busy spending that money opening schools for under-priviledged girls in Africa to stop and put some of it in her mouth.

2: Tyler Perry's movies are COMEDIES. It's called satire. When we make fun of ourselves, we become more comfortable, we can address issues normally sensitive. His SATIRES about the african-american community are meant to soften the blow of his real views of the involved parties (i.e. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern). People laugh at Madea and when the message (about family, about community awareness, about love) comes across its easier to swallow.

Thank!

so...if this movie was based on a white (or other race) family it would be ok??? this is what i gather from not only the article, but some of the comments posted. the comment that this movie is a disgrace to the black community is like me saying that beverly hillbillys is a disgrace to the white community. come on people, it's just a movie, and to some a movie that dipicts real life (regardless of race).

This is a well known story within my family. I started ease dropping on adult conversations at a early age. That is how I first learned I had an aunt who had two daughters who were a year apart in age and their father alternated between which one he would sleep with each night. Relatives learned that the girls father was sleeping with them by making unannouced visits to their home. He stopped sleeping with their mother when the oldest daughter turned ten years old.` He felt no shame when a visiting family member saw him leaving one of the girls bedroom half dressed. In addition to ease dropping I learned about my cousin and uncle's sleeping arrangements after my mother was late picking me up one evening. I woke the next morning to find myself in bed with my cousin and uncle. My cousin was completely nude and laid between me and her father. My cousin was thirteen while I was around seven years old. My aunt and uncle were confronted by her family. My aunt told them that a female had a right to refuse and if she didn't no one else had a right to get involved. Their father told his in-laws the story from the Bible of Lot and his two daughters. He felt that nothing was wrong with what he was doing. As ashamed as I am to admit this, as far as I know, no adult in my family did anything more concerning the girls circumstances. As I learned later, the girls were able to cope with their lives with the help of alcohol. The family members who knew seemed more interested in protecting the girls mother, which was their sister. I remember the oldest daughter was able to break free of her father and became involved in another relationship before she died. Both girls grew to be alcoholics and died at young ages. Neither had children although I heard the youngest daughter reportedly had two abortions which left her unable to get pregnant a third time. The youngest daughter never had a long term relationship with anyone other than her father and they stayed close until she died. Like the movie Precious, I don't believe that this is a typical story in the black community, but it did happen. My world may have remained perfect too, if as a child I had not eased dropped on every adult conversations I could. You may find that you do know someone like Precious or my uncle if you check with older family members. They maybe more open to share with you now if they think you can handle it.

so...if this would have been based on a white family it would be ok??? that is what i gather from this article and many of the people posting comments. that's like me saying that silence of the lambs was horrific because it portraid a white man killing and eating people which is a disgrace to the white race. come on people, it's a movie.

Personally, I found the main charachter compelling and I felt empathy and compassion for her. Perhaps those who are offended by the movie believe that many people stereotype the plight of "Precious" as being strictly a black experience. But that assumption is over-stepping and racist.

Although I do not deny that racism is still alive in America today, I think the negative appraisal of this movie is ungrounded, or at least slanted and hyper-sensitive. Many people of all races, classes, etc. can identify with Precious. It is a heart-rending story of a young woman's plight that trancends race, or even gender. It is not every wo/man/child's unfortunate experience, but let's not delude ourselves into thinking that this is not reality for many, regardless of color or money. Look a little further and you will see the bigger picture.

Sir, what is you problem with movie? is it that you are ashamed to admit that this do go on in our and other communities? I know people like precious who lived this life. This is one of many issues we as a people and community must deal with even if you dont. I think that you need to do some very serious self examination. By the way, leave Oprah and Mr Perry out of this( I am no fan of theirs), but enough is enough. Shame on you.

Ok, so according to you, African Americans are being degraded by this movie? I'm a young, BLACK WOMAN. I'm degraded every day by TV, images in magazines and people at my school. This book inspired me my sophmore year and your article just inpired me to see the movie.

I smiled halfway through your article and laughed to myself. There's a part of me that is this girl. She lives in every person I know. We're all abused on a daily basis and if you honestly believe a MOVIE, a piece of fictional reality, changes any of that you are an idiot.

It's not a race thing. It's just another thing. No socio-economic terms and backwards political talk. It's just raw emotion; you either get it or you analyze it in hopes of finding some twisted meaning. (Welcome to America <3)

Why is this a movie? I realize whites and black folk need and rally around things they consider positive and feel good, but on a deeper level does this movie serve
that purpose?

This movie has some characteristics of the Color Purple, which I believe Oprah was involved, but Perry hadn't gotten the attention of those folks who wish to keep us asleep and white folks energized with racism as yet.

Truthfully, do we really need to continue to see, in the movies, on T.V. out our windows, how black people abuse (especially pointing to black men,) other black people? We all know how hateful we can be towards one another and if it's the "redemption" part of this movie that allows you to accept the overall negativity of this movie, then why not set Precious during enslavement where an entire cultural (race) of people overcame abuse? BTW this time period set the stage for the root cause of the abuse Precious supposedly suffered today by family and society. I think she was illiterate too.

But why will this movie be a hit? Because Precious is more appealing to the accepted social norms promoted today by the white controlled media. It's and ideal fit for the psychology of belief retention.

Tell me, in real life, how many black men do you know have children by their daughters? Would a white movie based on the same theme garner this much attention? If the answer is none or maybe one insane freak, to the first question and no, it's not unusual to the second, why would black people flock to see themselves so negatively? Because we like to confirm what white supremacy has made true for us. we are less than them. Oh and most telling of all, does that closet homosexual (maybe flaming to some) Perry wear a dress in this movie? Very funny!

belief retention:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23498.htm

Oh please. This is by far the most ignorant review/opinion of this film that I have read yet and it is beyond sad that it comes from a black man. You may not know this girl, but plenty of people of all races do. If you've lived your entire life without hearing the older people in your family talk about suspected incest and abuse in your community, your childhood neighborhood, than you have been either oblivious or extremely sheltered.

As far as your comment about equating light-skinned with good and dark with bad, you should know that this is not Tyler Perry's doing or Oprah Winfrey's doing. It is a part of the book "Push." The stereotypes that the black community has pressed on Clarice Prescious Jones are just as much to blame for her lack of self worth and low self esteem as her abusive home situation and indifferent classmates are.

So Mr. Smith, maybe you should go immerse yourself in the black community just a little more, open your eyes, and read the book again (if you ever did to begin with) before you say this movie has failed the black community, because all I see failing the black community I'm a part of, are brothas like you.

I have read your comments and as an African-American woman who is a social worker and I must say that you have to have lived a sheltered life. Everyone knows a Precious, she may not be African-American, she may be white, Latina or Asian, but you do know her. Just because you don't bother to look beyond the scope of your world doesn't mean it doesn't exist. There are girls out there who's mother have turned their backs on them or have blamed them for their man not being happy with them. There are girls out there who have been impregnated by a father/stepfather/uncle. If it didn't happen states that are against abortion would not make exceptions for victims of incest. Instead of bad mouthing Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, why don't you go out into the real world, my world and see the types of damage that these young ladies go through. As far as the young lady that said that Oprah and Tyler should donate money to charity or use it to provide social services in poor neighborhoods, well the already do. It's easy to point fingers, but reality is incest does happen, rape does happen and those of you who have made it out of poverty either by your parents, your education or your job need to go back to these same neighborhoods that you say are being exploited and help provide a solution instead of whining about the problem.

My misguided brother, as a semi-older brother i'm still trying 2 find my black community, is that the community that lets my sister sale herself 4 a hit of crack from her equally black brother next door? Is it the same community that let them buglarize my house, but, didn't try to stop them or at the very least call the police, because they didn't want to be labeled as snitches? Or is it the community you fled from to secure your illusions of making it? Or just a better place 4 your family? 4 me my brother my black commuity would have told somebody that my mothers boy friend was rapeing my sister, my black community would have got my mother diapers 4 my little brother rather than that dime bag she overdosed on, my black community would have got me into pop warner sports after school rather than being a runner for the dope man that sold the death 2 my momma. I don't have any idea of the "black community" you come from, so how could you try 2 explain "the black community"? You don't know my life, my experiences. With your blanket statement of "black community" you have put us all in the block, as the europeans have done for years. I feel it would be better served if you would've said I feel or where lived, in my town, anything, because if you don't know anyone that that has happened to... you didn't grow up in the "black community" that I did.

Peace

This article proves something I've always said. Education can't fix all forms of ignorance.

As an advocate in this area for several decades, I can tell Mr. Smith that:

A. Issues of sexual abuse know no color, specific community or nationality.

B. Whether you choose to acknowledge it on a perosnal level or not, these problems do exist and perpetrators should and must be held accountable, regardless of race.

C. As a man, you have a responsibility to our communities to help end this by speaking out (among male peers) against abuse of women and children and all forms of violence.

D. You obviously need to get out among real people with real problems to get an understanding of the challenges some must face to survive.

E. There are many women from black communities all over this nation who are working tirelessly to end the abuse of women and children in all communities, regardless of the color of the occupants. Your editorial is an insult to their dedication, compassion and mission. Think before you write.

The profits from this movie are going to charity KAREN JONES. You must read up b4 u speak out. Its not about putting "OUR PEOPLE" on blast. Its about being real. what this girl went through i know people first hand that went through it. My mother was rapped and had a baby my oldest brother by her stepfather, and was also abused. So you cant sit up there and say this is not real it real to so many people who you dont know and urself not trying to help so please before you sweep around somebodys front door sweep around ur own!

My daughter and I saw Precious this evening. It was shocking, horrific, sad, funny, tragic and yet, to me, seemed very "real". I know this girl. I am white, but even us white folk know this girl. Gosh, if not by the grace of GOD above, I might've been this girl. My daughter could've been this girl. We don't live in Harlem, but we do live in one of the largest cities in the South. Trust me, this girl is everywhere. We should all learn that color has NOTHING to do with this issue. Color is simply that...a color. It doesn't define us...unless we allow it to. Maybe it is because I'm white that I feel this way...but I know no other way to feel, being as how I can't change my color. I give props and two thumbs WAAAAY up for this film. Was it graphic? Oh yes. But guess what? ABUSE IS GRAPHIC. Just look at the "precious" 5 year old girl, Shaniya Davis, that was sold (by her MOTHER), used as a sex slave & then dumped on the side of the road like a bag of garbage. But hey, that stuff doesn't really happen, huh?

I agree, this movie is a disgrace; straight up!! Again, it is another negative portrayal for black people. The only message Oprah is sending to world about this movie is that black women look and act disgraceful. As a black woman, I am sick and tired of being negatively stereotyped in the same melting pot, when I am not like this at all. Unfortunately, we are all labeled the same way, even by our own race people; especially black men who have given up on us and think white women are better, when they are not. If Oprah and her rich friends want to help people like Precious, they should create solutions instead of more problems. How about establishing more schools, drug rehabilitation centers, and community centers in disadvantaged neighborhoods nationwide. Talk is cheap Oprah, put your money where your mouth is.

I agree, this movie is a disgrace; straight up!! Again, it is another negative portrayal for black people. The only message Oprah is sending to world about this movie is that black women look and act disgraceful. As a black woman, I am sick and tired of being negatively stereotyped in the same melting pot, when I am not like this at all. Unfortunately, we are all labeled the same way, even by our own race people; especially black men who have giving up on us and think white women are better when they are not. If Oprah and her rich friends want to help people like Precious, they should create solutions instead of more problems. How about establishing more schools, drug rehabilitation centers, and community centers in disadvantaged neighborhoods nationwide. Talk is cheap Oprah, put your money where your mouth is.

I agree, this movie is a disgrace; straight up!! Again, it is another negative portrayal for black people. The only message Oprah is sending to world about this movie is that black women look and act disgraceful. As a black woman, I am sick and tired of being negatively stereotyped in the same melting pot, when I am not like this at all. Unfortunately, we are all labled the same way even by our own people, especially black men who have giving up on us and think white women are better when they are not. If Oprah and her rich friends want to help people like Precious, they should create solutions instead of more problems. How about establishing more schools, drug rehabilitation centers, and community centers in disadvantaged neighborhoods nationwide. Talk is cheap Oprah, put your money where your mouth is.

As a white male with no real close interaction with other ethnic communities I always had my pre-conceived ideas about “Blacks” and other minorities in my country. I fell on this blog by mistake and read all your comments out of curiosity.

One thing I learned is that African-Americans are as diverse as any other community I know. From all these comments, I gathered that there are the well-educated and not so well-educated, the conservative and the liberals, the white collars and blue collars, the embarrassed of their heritage and the proud ones, the ones with a happy childhood and others with a traumatizing one.

Like in my own community there are the racists, the bullies, the peacemakers and the morons like this Marshall guy. All this to say, it seems that the African American “community” is as rich and diverse as any other one I know. So why would a fictional movie gather such a debate about its merit and its representation of a community?

Movies seldom come close to depicting the accurate reality. Movies tend to dramatize the story and exaggerate the good and bad characters in order to make the storytelling more entertaining. So even though I have not read the book or seen the movie, I disagree with the generalizations Mr Smith is making in his blog.

I want to thank him though for triggering all these comments that enlightened me.

If Oprah and Tyler Perry wanted to help young women like the one portrayed in the "Precious" movie, create more centers and social worker jobs in poor communities to protect children such as this. It is easy to talk about it, why not be about it, Oprah and Tyler. As usually, you have put your own race of black people on blast by looking bad like and acting ignorant in your plays and movies. Why not put your money where your mouth is and invest in poor communities to help disadvantaged children who are being abused. I bet you would not do that. You only want to profit off of exploiting blacks negatively. Why not use all of the profits from the movie to help other people.

What you fail to address is that while the characters are African American, the soul of the film crosses all ethnicities. We all can relate to the problems that the characters in this film are facing. You may not like the fact that the family portrayed is not like the COSBY SHOW, but you have to APPLAUD the FACT that the film is putting this STORY OUT THERE for everyone to see!!

YOU ARE PROBABLY USING REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY TO GET PEOPLE TO WATCH THE MOVIE

Anthony Smith, Congratulation, you have succeeded. You have earned yourself a moment of glory on the internet. You are probably sitting in your big house, counting how many people are responding to your article, which is stupid and yet not so stupid.

Now you are planning your next move, maybe find yourself on some TV talk show or maybe right a book.

I analyzed your face and your article. Your look like someone who has been called a sellout by black for dealing mostly with white people or maybe for sounding like one. Your luck with women has not been very good since most of them come after you only for money. Unfortunately, your luck among white has not been that great either. So you grew up a little bit confused. Remember this, you are a kind person, but you try too damn hard to get attention.

About the article, you refer to Oprah as "Oprah Winfrey" when talking about the production of the movie (so you have respect for her), in the next paragraph you refer to her as "Winfrey" you are denigrating her (sign of jealousy on your part?). The third time you mention her you refer to her as Ms. Winfrey" and this time you are asking for an interview. You might claim that you were being sarcastic, but I can read right through you. You meant every word. PLEASE OPRAH LET ME BE ON YOUR SHOW...I PROMISE TO BE A GOOD BOY...Pathetic...

You are just like the producers of the movie. You are both looking for an opportunity. Honestly, the producers have done a better job, which is talking about things no one dares to discuss(the truth), they have balls. Do you know how many people have been touched by this movie including yourself? You, in the other end are an opportunist of a very poor test. You don't even know yourself so how can you tell about someone else?

If you want to fight racism, do not bring fuel to extinguish fire, that what you have done. Then again, you don't care about reality, you prefer to leave on a cloud. Racism, molestation, abuse (mental, emotional, physical), murder, aids, war, famine...these are real. You want to pretend everything is ok, fine, but don't drag everyone else in your foolishness.

This is not about black, it is about the unspoken truth...

PLEASE ALL GO WATCH THE MOVIE

An African Girl

I know this girl... and she's white.

I know this girl... and she's asian.

I know this girl... and she's chinese.

I know this girl... and she's german, she's irish, she's real!

And...

I know this boy...

His name is Eric Harris
And Dylan Klebold.

Seriously, how much can one person go through?? Because this is NOT about race (as the elitist, out of touch, columnist would have you believe) - because it's not, we can look closer at the faces of those who we simply dismiss every day... Isn't he right, the producer and director, Lee Daniels? Don't we "choose not to know her.”

But maybe we can step up and be that person who gives a damn... Put all our 'stuff' down, as tedious as it is and keep asking the questions, keep investing in that someone we, in our hearts, know is tormented...and love them just a little...

This movie breaks my heart.

Mr. Smith, your article says a lot more about your own gender bias than it does anyone else's racist streak. You feel assured in speaking fully for black women, and yet you have no clue what women (everywhere) experience? That tells me you've never taken the time to ask, to think about life from a woman's perspective, to question your own actions and assumptions, etc. There's a lot more going on in this world than just race. Sounds like you need to clue into that fact and do some work on yourself this time.

Truce, everybody! It takes all kinds to make a world. I only saw "Precious" as a chaperone. I must hear all viewpoints to agree with or oppose another. So, here I will my reactions to "Precious", a film that otherwise I would have not viewed, because I have a mind and imagination from which to visualise what I read or hear. I read for knowledge and prefer to view the positive for entertainment. That being said, does anyone remember "Peyton Place", "The Learning Tree", "The Rabbit-Proof Fence" and other films tha t addressed serious social ills without graphic protrayals?

This oldster was so unnerved by the cruelty that she had to have seltzer whe we got back home. I was a nighttime chaperone for my three college coeds in their 20's! This is an "R" film, no doubt, so I would hesitate to accompany anyone not out of high school to see it. I do feel that its messages could have been conveyed with less profanity, violence and sexual content.

There are many real people at community programmes, other books and films that can persuade and motivate children with their parents and family about not taking life or priveleges for granted. I prefer entertaining theatre, both stage and cinema!

More than recalling my parents' lack of showing open affection to us, I try to understand that they were children of the Great Depression that had parents born during the Reconstruction Era which paralleled the Victorian Era worldwide. Children were "seen and nit heard". My oarents and others equated providing support with love, so if they did not hug or kiss their children it was alright. Compared to Precious' struggle, we were indeed fortunate to raely get any kind of touch.

The film recalled several unforgettable memories for me. I had to break out of a trio of friends when one of the girls got involved in a consensual affair with her mother's policeman boyfriend when she was 14. Yes, my parents wondered about her when she died her hair "ash blonde" with her mother's permission. They did not forbid the friendship, but when she bragged about this man coming into the bathroom when she bathed, and then her loss of virginity while her mother was gone. I knew she could never be a real frend to herself or anyone else since she betrayed her mother and disrespected herself with this man. Years later, she married and became my widowed mother's nearby neighbour with her husband and young children. It was painful for me to see her again and force myself to never tell her secrets to my mother who would disapprove. Who was I to derail her now stable life? I avoided her the rare times I saw her, so the termptation to ask about her mother and family or hear about her mother would never arise. It was like being around a reformed Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, not feeling endangered, yet not wanting to influence unknowing people or hurt innocent others.

Since becoming divorced I had a friend with a gambling addiction that had a violent fight with her young adult daughter about a clandestine relationship with her live-in boyfriend, before I lived in that community. We had the same landlord, who promised to evict me after he was about to evict her from the house they damaged in the uproar, if I let her move in with me. She and her daughter reconciled. I felt awkward with her daughter when she would be around seeking her mother. Yes, there were children involved - the daughter's two children and her mother's youngest child, the daughter's half-brother who witnessed the battle after the revelation of the lust triangle.

In elementary school. I had a friend with a lisp that got called to the office like Precious. She was in special education like any child with any disability years ago, so we knew each other from the playground and cafeteria. The school nurse whispered loudly to other staffers that she had contracted an STD. I still played with her that day and got reprimanded by my full name with "What are you doing playing with a girl like that?" by a teacher. She was still the same sweet friend I knew, and she had to leave our school! Didn't anyone care how she got an STD by age 12?

My first memory of a young mother was another 12 year old that got impregnated by an older teenage boy whose family owned the local Black taxi company. Of course, he was not charged with statutory rape, because she came from a poor family and was "fast".

The saddest not so precious momemt for me was telling my daughter she could no longer associate with a classmate of her I recalled from her preschool age. The girl's mother was the mistress of a divorced former neighbour who had two daughters with his ex-wife. I knew years ago that my child's schoolmate and the younger of her two half-sisters were born the same year due to the father's infidelity. The young ingenue's older half-sister had been raped by this man, her own father, at age eight, "by penetration", according to criminal court records. (That explained why she never visited. He could not visit the other girl without supervision, i.e., her mother being a certain range from them. The guy was given probation only due to the intervention of his MD godfather!) The mistress-mother seemed to always bail him out of trouble with his then-wife. (I always check out the parents of children my child played with in the court files, a habit my parents had that I vowed never to, and inherited without hesitation as in "famous last words"!) Yes, "payback is a b----!", because my daughter's friend and her mother stayed around this man with the girl's other (maternal) half-siblings. You guessed it. He raped this child, too - another biological daughter. This unfolded when I went to get my daughter at school, and the monster was in the office quarreling publicly with one of the lady assistant principal's about seeing his "daughter", depsite the order of protection presented to him. By the way, this was a professional man. I remembered the faces and knew it was the same family, because my child had exchanged sophomore photographs with the other girl. Her mother was on the photograph too with a new boyfirend! My daughter understood.

My last school was an alternative one, in which all the students had been expelled and/or in a detention center of some kind! Some were sexual predators and/or victims.

God bless the children, but not these cruel adult beasts in themedia anymorethanin real life!

Thanks for the perspective on the complexions. I am indifferent about the teacher's appearance in the film, because the author made a cameo appearance and was given artistic and technical advisor input. However, if there is a real "Precious" alive she should be compensated for her life story being put in a book and on film.

Other liberties taken in this film included locations. The diner had its real name, located on West 125th Street where Morningside Avenue becomes Convent Avenue on the uptown side across from St. Joseph of the Holy Family Catolic Church. The community where "Precious" lived was not Harlem, but Inwood, which is way uptown past Washington Heights. That grungy Dyckman Street station is there, not in Harlem. The 167th and Grand Course subway station is in Bronx, not Manhattan. Only one of the classmates at the alternative school in the former Hotel Theresa office building was from that area. The 1 train goes to both areas, however for "Precious" to get to the Hotel Theresa, the station at West 125th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue would have been the one for her to travel to and from. The hospital corridors looked like those at Harlem Hospital. The director, Lee Daniels, lives in Harlem, and if one has to arrange transit and traffic details with both MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) and NYPD, I wonder why the locations were not accurate.

P.S. The M&G DIner has been closed mostly in recent years for various violations, although it has been in the same site for years! It is a famed chicken and waffles restaurant.

Could it be that bro'boy is having difficulty dealing with what his "white friends, lover" perceives of the "black community or black folk? Or jes' mebbe he is dealing with some reality check issues after having spent toooo much o' his time try'na be acceptable--to caucasian perceptions? cause black folk and black communities are in major crisies [always has been]. but most importantly, who gives a care about what "folks-caucausians" think 'bout us. they always have. it's gotta be about waht we think and what we need to be doing fo' us [whatevah "us" means anymore].

precious is a serious movie and damn it. i hope gabourey gets great recognition and awards. mariah, monique and all those othas done had dey time--let's give some applause to a beautifullly, talented, inspirational, courageous, intelligent, dark-skinned who is not 95lbs, black sista.

the content in this movie is serious and i'm so grateful that tyler and oprah had the guts and common sense to do what spike and the othas didn't.

yes, we do need diviersity of roles. the only problem this brother has wit' dis movie is now he has to show so tru regard for the experiences that impact too many black women's lives. gotta see em as worthy, valuable and real. Oh and yeah, we ain't white women so stop asking us to be.

One more thing, this is a movie about the black community and about a black female and not about someone "who happens to be black." nobody happens to be.

when i saw the precious trailer, I saw about 200 preciouses in the small northern kentucky town where i grew up, and i grieved...and grieved....and reached out and embraced all mah sisters who had to survive the onslaught of being told, on the streets, in their homes, from their fake assed lovers, from other sisters and that damn silver screen that their dark, dark beautiful skin and physical size was not worthy enough.

I agree with you!!! Every detail you have described in your article is true. Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry are sell outs! I will never understand how the both of them are always trying to make black people look bad. This movie does depict negative stereotype for black women, similar to the "Good Hair" movie. Unfortunately, Oprah has never helped the people in her own race in America. I once heard her say American Black children would not appreciate a new school built in their own community. She is a liar and fake. She has sucked up to white people, specifically to white women for years and has never helped her anyone except white people; remember the time she bought all of the white people in her audience new cars as a tax right off. Now, her friend Tyler Perry is jumping on the band wagon and bringing back the horror of modern day minstrel show depicting blacks as poor, ignorant, and uneducated, and unattractive. It is bad enough every time we turn on the television or go to a movie theater, the only black women they show are overweight, unattractive, and loud, with nappy headed dredlocks or with a bunch of tight cornrows on their heads. They never show neatly dressed head to toe black women with class and intelligence. It is definitely time for a change. However, there are rich Uncle Toms like Oprah, Tyler Perry, and Chris Rock that is still holding the black race back. I have never seen any other race of people who tear each down like black people. This is truly a race divided.

Mr.Smith, I understand what you are trying to relay; however your opinions are just that! Your sin and shame does not have to be mine. I am disappointed in your colom, becuase you of all people, with your wealth and so called intelligence should realize that this is not by any means only related to blacks! How dare you say that you would not want to know prcious, whether by choice or circumstance; what kind of human being are you REALLY! That happens to be one of the biggest problems with our society now, no one wants to know the dirty parts only the parts that; on the outside look good. Granted this movie may make some people in the black community upset or distrub their surenity; but these things don't just happen in "black communities", NO they happen all over the world. It is comments like yours, and attitudes such as yours that cause pople to have self loathing, cultural disrespect and shame. How can we encourage our youth when we have people knocking them down before they can get up? And another thing, you did not put one dime in my pocket, so you can not tell me what to see and what not to see! The movie roots was a blockbuster, everyone loved to hate that movie but, it was watched and for some; they may have felt awkward, but none the less; whenever it was black history month you can rest assured that it will be on! I bet you didn't give that movie such disrespect. My final thought; Mr. Smith, i can tell just by your comments in your colum, that you have issues that need to be addressed, you also seem like the type that would be in a town hall meeting, saying why don't our kids have this, and why are there not blacks in that, and the minute they do; you start complaining. A word of advice; don't pray for rain and then complain about the mud! Stop acting like this only happens in black communites, because when you depict them as only happening in black communites, you; yourself encourage the lie that it does, and contradicts what you are trying to relay!

Black people are not all monsters. That much is obvious, and it is impossible so many strong black performers would do a movie that portrayed such a world.

Neither should issues like this be avoided in a community just because it is a minority one. The "stop snitching" mentality where a person who commits a crime is a hero because they are black and the police villains for trying to catch him because he is black needs to stop, it hurts the black community horribly. Black people suffer horribly from the effects of crimes within their community.

How about we just take the movie for what it is. ENTERTAINMENT. I for one do not see this as a representation of a culture or race. I just see it as a good story based on one fictional individual. Just because it is of a black character does not mean it has to represent the whole population and way of life of african americans. You are making a big deal out of nothing. This is a movie NOT a documentary.

It has been interesting to say the least to read the review and even more interesting to see all the comments. I find it a sad comentary that people in this country are not able to express a point of view and not be put down harassed, cursed at etc. As a woman I find this to be an even sadder commentary on Human life than any move review. Freedom of speech, freedom to express ones ideas, I wonder. I think that maybe the point is that we all need to allow other people the freedom to express themselves without being cursed at put down etc. My grandmother used to say "I am sure that you can express your in a better way. Some of you you kiss your mothers' with those mouths. This could have a productive discussion. Another thing if I am not mistaken a "NOVEL" is a work of "FICTION". Not true!!!!

SO IF THE LADY THAT WAS LOCKED IN HER PARENTS BASEMENT FOR WHAT 18 YEARS I BELIEVE, AND FATHER 4 CHILDREN FOR HER FATHER WOULD THAT BE ALRIGHT? AND IF SO WOULD IT BE ALRIGHT CAUSE SHE IS WHITE? OR MAYBE YOU LIVE IN SPACE SO YOU DON'T KNOW SICK DIGUSTING THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN EVERYDAY!!!!!! THE HARSH REALITY IS THINGS LIKE HIS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, WHETHER YOUR WHITE, BLACK, ASIAN AND SO ON. SO GET OVER THE RACE THING. GOD!!!!!!

Man, Even if this story is as artistically developed as Ernest Gaines' "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" or Alix Haley's "Roots" it's still a story that must be told. I am one African American that is proud to claim and honor the film "Precious" as one African American story.

Mr.Smith, I understand what you are trying to relay; however your opinions are just that! Your sin and shame does not have to be mine. I am disappointed in your colom, becuase you of all people, with your wealth and so called intelligence should realize that this is not by any means only related to blacks! How dare you say that you would not want to know prcious, whether by choice or circumstance; what kind of human being are you REALLY! That happens to be one of the biggest problems with our society now, no one wants to know the dirty parts only the parts that; on the outside look good. Granted this movie may make some people in the black community upset or distrub their surenity; but these things don't just happen in "black communities", NO they happen all over the world. It is comments like yours, and attitudes such as yours that cause pople to have self loathing, cultural disrespect and shame. How can we encourage our youth when we have people knocking them down before they can get up? And another thing, you did not put one dime in my pocket, so you can not tell me what to see and what not to see! The movie roots was a blockbuster, everyone loved to hate that movie but, it was watched and for some; they may have felt awkward, but none the less; whenever it was black history month you can rest assured that it will be on! I bet you didn't give that movie such disrespect. My final thought; Mr. Smith, i can tell just by your comments in your colum, that you have issues that need to be addressed, you also seem like the type that would be in a town hall meeting, saying why don't our kids have this, and why are there not blacks in that, and the minute they do; you start complaining. A word of advice; don't pray for rain and then complain about the mud! Stop acting like this only happens in black communites, because when you depict them as only happening in black communites, you; yourself encourage the lie that it does, and contradicts what you are trying to relay!

I agree with you!!! Every detail you have described in your article is true. Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry are sell outs! I will never understand how the both of they are always trying to make black people look bad. This movie does depict negative stereotype for black women, similar to the "Good Hair" movie. Unfortunately, Oprah has never helped the people in her own race in America. She said American Black children would not appreciate a new school built. She is a liar and fake. She has sucked up to white people, specifically to white women for years and never helped her anyone except white people; remember the time she bought all of the white people in her audience new cars as a tax right off. Now, her friend Tyler Perry is jumping on the band wagon and bringing back the horror of modern day minstrel show depicting blacks as poor, ignorant, and uneducated, and unattractive. It is bad enough every time we turn on the television or go to a movie, the only black women the show are unattractive with a bunch of overweight, loud, ugly nappy headed dred locks or cornrows on their heads. They never show neatly dressed head to toe black women with class and intelligence. It is definitely time for a change. However, there are rich Uncle Toms like Oprah and Tyler Perry that is holding the black race back.

In the US, a woman is raped every 6 minutes; a woman is battered every 15 seconds. Countless number of females are molested/sexually abused/raped/beaten/degraded, yet are too ashamed to admit it. Take a look around you Mr. Smith, those smiling faces you encounter in your bubble of a life are probably hiding more despair than you could ever imagine. You probably don't know a girl like Precious because you are too blinded by your own narrow-minded views to really notice.

I don't personally know anyone like Precious but maybe I've passed her in the grocery store. These people do exist. No its not all blacks. Just look at the wonderful actors in the movie. Oprah herself was raped as a child,overweight,poor and not really considered attractive but look at her now. The moral to the story is to not let all those obstacles keep you down. As long as you are breathing you keep pushing on.

First, I'd like to say how totally refreshing it is to read some intelligent, thoughtful and well-written comments for a change. Seems like I read these days is hatred while and Empathy seems to have disappeared from society. That said, while i see your various points (and admit my sadness that we still live in a time where this incredibly moving and beautiful film is sold as a "Black" story, instead of a "Female" story) I must also respectfully disagree with your conclusion that Precious is not alive and (un)well in our country, as she most certainly is, and is represented by Every color, as illustrated by the Heartbreaking comments from my sisters above. As a woman who has also suffered from emotional and sexual abuse, we have a long way to go before events such as these could truly be considered "fiction." So, I implore you, Mr. Smith, that instead of denying the truth, to seek more and Stand Up For Us, as men have much more power over the minds of other men to change this behavior, just as white people have more power (and the responsibility IMO) to change the minds of other whites (re racism), as i have always tried to do, and will continue to do. In the meantime, I wish you Peace.

Mr. Smith,

All these dumb people who are attacking your column are really just scared. Deep down, they all know there's a conspiracy to breed black entertainment toward an abusive and self-hating identity, but they think it makes them "soft" to admit their real feelings about this issue. It's sad, because they earnestly believe that black people will recapture the greatness of the 1980s by watching misleading, overhyped movies like "Precious."

If you want to be uplifted, start listening to African pop or UK Reggae, and leave black Hollywood for the dumb, college-dropout crowd. Black America is basically full of gangsters and sellouts, and shouldn't be taken seriously by anyone.

P.S. Please don't let these crabs in a bucket sway you from telling the truth about black Hollywood. They're probably just brainwashed Tyler Perry disciples who think excessive suffering will lead them to heaven (the term "longsuffering" in the bible means "patience" not "long suffering.")

Blessings and Kudos!

Blacks are just like white people...will do anything for fame and fortune. You do anything for money. This is just another form of cooning to me. I guess she'll be the next fat excuse for it to be ok to be obese just like of alot of you use the excuse of sweating for not excersise. And before you go saying you got a lot of nerve...my wife is black and I love the ground she walks on but she is not your typical sister she is almost bald, in shape, and doesnt settle for second place like a lot of you do. This movie just validates that blacks will digest anything that gives them an excuse to use the victimology tattoo so many of you have. And I bet none of you know anybody like the girl in the movie and if you do shame on you for not doing something about it. Weak women disgust me and weaker men even more, quit using I was not a very fortunate child or I was abused and I cant function in life without complaining about everything. My family knows excuses are for the lazy and weak...Period.

It is great to see the comments by people of all colors who are thinking critically! Precious could have been po' white trash just as easily as a Harlem teen. Indescribably ugly things happen to people every day; this movie happens to be about a black girl. There is no underlying motive to make blacks look bad here. I wonder what you'd say about a movie telling the story of that white girl that got imprisoned in that white guy's back yard for decades.

Most white people really do want black people to be happy and have the same things we do, we just want you to get it the way we do, by working for it. We don't want to "keep you down"-such thinking is only in Jesse and Al's collective imagination. This is not a racist movie; for a black man with a public forum to suggest otherwise IS racist.

God bless you ALL! Christ made us is a wondrous variety of beautiful colors for His pleasure.

PEOPLE, we have to protect our children from child molesters and rapist no matter what race or gender. QUIT ignoring the real issues . . . the victims . . . it does not get any better once you are an adult and you think you are free from your abuser .... you are never free from the memories of ANY TYPE of abuse, no matter what color your skin is.

On this note i would like to let my cousin johnny SMITH in spring texas (boo boo) know that after years of nightmares, anger and addictions I have decided to come after you . . . and i'm COMIN' IN HOT . . . just as hot as you thought i was when i was 13 . . . THEY say he will answer to GOD .... i say he will answer to me on his knees.

PEOPLE, we have to protect our children from child molesters and rapist no matter what race or gender. QUIT ignoring the real issues . . . the victims . . . it does not get any better once you are an adult and you think you are free from your abuser .... you are never free from the memories of ANY TYPE of abuse, no matter what color your skin is.

On this note i would like to let my cousin johnny SMITH in spring texas (boo boo) know that after years of nightmares, anger and addictions I have decided to come after you . . . and i'm COMIN' IN HOT . . . just as hot as you thought i was when i was 13 . . . THEY say he will answer to GOD .... i say he will answer to me on his knees.

PEOPLE, we have to protect our children from child molesters and rapist no matter what race or gender. QUIT ignoring the real issues . . . the victims . . . it does not get any better once you are an adult and you think you are free from your abuser .... you are never free from the memories of ANY TYPE of abuse, no matter what color your skin is.

On this note i would like to let my cousin johnny SMITH in spring texas (boo boo) know that after years of nightmares, anger and addictions I have decided to come after you . . . and i'm COMIN' IN HOT . . . just as hot as you thought i was when i was 13 . . . THEY say he will answer to GOD .... i say he will answer to me on his knees.

To Shauna and every one else

It will ALWAYS be abour Race and the things that we do to

each other and Shawna I wlll pray for you beacuase you

insist to bury your head in the sand. From what I am

seeing, Black movies continue to have no substance and we

are ALWAYS portayed as gansters, whores and lots of baby

mama dramas. Its so old but that is what sells.

What black family, shown on television or in the movies,

show a husband and wife with now problems, always smiling

and lives behind a white picket fence. The husband is

always home and the parents and children are PLEASANT and

NICE to each other. They even say I love you to each

other. A black version of "The Brady Bunch" or "The Sound

of Music" Can you think of any.......? I know I can't!!!!

PEOPLE, we have to protect our children from child molesters and rapist no matter what race or gender. QUIT ignoring the real issues . . . the victims . . . it does not get any better once you are an adult and you think you are free from your abuser .... you are never free from the memories of ANY TYPE of abuse, no matter what color your skin is.

On this note i would like to let my cousin johnny SMITH in spring texas (boo boo) know that after years of nightmares, anger and addictions I have decided to come after you . . . and i'm COMIN' IN HOT . . . just as hot as you thought i was when i was 13 . . . THEY say he will answer to GOD .... i say he will answer to me on his knees.

PEOPLE, we have to protect our children from child molesters and rapist no matter what race or gender. QUIT ignoring the real issues . . . the victims . . . it does not get any better once you are an adult and you think you are free from your abuser .... you are never free from the memories of ANY TYPE of abuse, no matter what color your skin is.

On this note i would like to let my cousin johnny SMITH in spring texas (boo boo) know that after years of nightmares, anger and addictions I have decided to come after you . . . and i'm COMIN' IN HOT . . . just as hot as you thought i was when i was 13 . . . THEY say he will answer to GOD .... i say he will answer to me on his knees.

PEOPLE, we have to protect our children from child molesters and rapist no matter what race or gender. QUIT ignoring the real issues . . . the victims . . . it does not get any better once you are an adult and you think you are free from your abuser .... you are never free from the memories of ANY TYPE of abuse, no matter what color your skin is.

On this note i would like to let my cousin johnny SMITH in spring texas (boo boo) know that after years of nightmares, anger and addictions I have decided to come after you . . . and i'm COMIN' IN HOT . . . just as hot as you thought i was when i was 13 . . . THEY say he will answer to GOD .... i say he will answer to me on his knees

PEOPLE, we have to protect our children from child molesters and rapist no matter what race or gender. QUIT ignoring the real issues . . . the victims . . . it does not get any better once you are an adult and you think you are free from your abuser .... you are never free from the memories of ANY TYPE of abuse, no matter what color your skin is.

On this note i would like to let my cousin johnny SMITH in spring texas (boo boo) know that after years of nightmares, anger and addictions I have decided to come after you . . . and i'm COMIN' IN HOT . . . just as hot as you thought i was when i was 13 . . . THEY say he will answer to GOD .... i say he will answer to me on his knees

WOW.....Anthony, Anthony, Anthony. With all sincerity, how lucky you are to have had such a safe and happy life that the story of Precious seems outrageous and offensive to you. Please do not let your MBA and Marina Del Rey address further shelter and detach you from the realities of the world (not just black communities).

You can see from the majority of responses that you are not supported in your extremely clueless point of view. Use your education, help the black community which you feel has been so exploited by this film, and broaden your experiences by being a Big Brother, mentor a black youth in foster care (uh, beware....it might be Precious).

Ignoring and hiding the atrocities in life does not make them disappear, it simply creates more shame for those that have had the experiences. You have an MBA, you must have the ability to open your eyes and gain AWARENESS as well.

It is unfortunate that many Blacks in this country claim "they do not know anyone" that is has happened to. I am a Black woman and I know someone that has happened to. My mother was raped and abused and lived in the projects. Her escape was when she married my father who lived in the projects. With preservance and determination, they moved out and my father enlisted in the Air Force and retired with honors when reaching the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. Abuse has no color; it happens and people need to stop being ignored to that fact that this cannot happened or do not want to know this could happen. People need to educate themselves and stop critcizing people for portraying the truth regardless if it a Black woman living in the projects, White woman who lives in surburan America with a white picket fence ... this movie happens to portray a Black young woman who was abused by her mother and impregnated by her father, twice. She overcame her obstacles and had people believe in her. Stop judging and criticizing and start helping! Imagine if your mother came to you and told you the same thing? Will you judge her? Are you God to judge someone? If you are, then please pass your judgement to all of us and deliver from us the evil of man!

I loved the Cosby show for it's portrayal of Blacks as intelligent, sophisticated, and part of the upper crust. I think we did a disservice to Mr. Cosby by not supporting him when he was as honest as a black person should be. My issue is when we keep bring back this House negro/Field negro mentality or Dark vs. Light. Diary of a Mad Black Women had a dark women as a victor. I disagree that Tyler Perry has done us wrong. I think he tells the stories in the best light possible and shows that there can be victory in the end. I haven't seen "Precious" but I hope that the Black Community will support Black Hollywood because I think we produce Black love in it's best and worst light. If we don't someone else will and they won't be as considerate or cautious.

You're reading too far into this, Mr. Smith. I am a young African-American woman (age 18) who was sexually abused by her step father for four years. I'm beautiful, I'm intelligent, I'm a "light-skinned" sister and I went through pretty much everything Precious did. THIS HAPPENS.

YOU NIGGERS TALK TOO MUCH.

YOU NIGGERS TALK TOO MUCH.

YOU NIGGERS TALK TOO MUCH.

Ok certain scenes in the movie were a bit hard to swallow for people who have never had to encounter such situations. But to keep walking around with blinders on like this is not happening is irresponsible. This movie reminded me of the film "Bastard out of Carolina" (about a poor white family similar issues)... our (all) children are in danger from all kinds of abuse.. everyone is so concerned how this depicts the black community... but if this film helps one child to speak out for help... then I feel this movie has saved a life..and to all you people ranting and raving about the injustice this movie providing to blacks as whole you will have forgotten about "Precious" in a month or two and it wont even be a thought and your mind you would have moved on to the next flavor of the week... and children will still be tring to survive day to to day with abuse... instead of complaining about the movie why dont you get off your high horse and save a child

I believe that you are taking this movie out of context and placing it solely under the category of "black issues". I do believe you are correct that not even 1/8 of the black community faces all of these issues that are dealt with in "Precious"; however, these issues are alive and real and it is about time that they come to the forefront of the American discussion. The issues dealt with in "Precious" are not black issues, but human issues; they are problems in society all over the world, and they reside in all communities, and I think the directors and producers should be commended for taking such a brave stance and releasing this movie, no matter the feedback and repercussions. The issues dealt with in "Precious" are not pretty and not talked about on a daily basis, and for this reason the people dealing with them in real life most often than not don't get the help and support they need. It's time for us all to rise up, and support those who need help the most.

Kira you have alot to say. Too bad no one can understand what it is.

Every time I turn around I find myself wondering what this world is coming to. Everyone has something to say about everything. Everything has to be critiqued and analyzed. Freedom of speech is a right but when is enough, enough?

I am an administrator in an All girls alternative school and I hate to inform you Mr.Smith but "Precious" and her story does exist! This issue continues to grow daily. Why? Because no one wants to talk about it or confront it. This breeds the continuation of this problem.

I do not believe the intent of the book/film was to exploit the black community because it happens in all communitites! I cannot honestly say that if an Asian or European had this story based on their life that their community would tear the project down as you have.

How do we fix our problems? Deal with and acknowledge them. Maybe this will help us as a people to stop blaming everyone but ourselves. We are at a point in history where we have to acknowledge we are our own fate. Taking responsibility and working together to fix problems is the only way we will rise above the negativity.

First, I'd like to say how totally refreshing it is to read some intelligent, thoughtful and well-written comments for a change. Seems like I read these days is hatred while and Empathy seems to have disappeared from society. That said, while i see your various points (and admit my sadness that we still live in a time where this incredibly moving and beautiful film is sold as a "Black" story, instead of a "Female" story) I must also respectfully disagree with your conclusion that Precious is not alive and (un)well in our country, as she most certainly is, and is represented by Every color, as illustrated by the Heartbreaking comments from my sisters above. As a woman who has also suffered from emotional and sexual abuse, we have a long way to go before events such as these could truly be considered "fiction." So, I implore you, Mr. Smith, that instead of denying the truth, to seek more and Stand Up For Us, as men have much more power over the minds of other men to change this behavior, just as white people have more power (and the responsibility IMO) to change the minds of other whites (re racism), as i have always tried to do, and will continue to do. In the meantime, I wish you Peace.

Every time I turn around I find myself wondering what this world is coming to. Everyone has something to say about everything. Everything has to be critiqued and analyzed. Freedom of speech is a right but when is enough, enough?

I am an administrator in an All girls alternative school and I hate to inform you Mr.Smith but "Precious" and her story does exist! This issue continues to grow daily. Why? Because no one wants to talk about it or confront it. This breeds the continuation of this problem.

I do not believe the intent of the book/film was to exploit the black community because it happens in all communitites! I cannot honestly say that if an Asian or European had this story based on their life that their community would tear the project down as you have.

How do we fix our problems? Deal with and acknowledge them. Maybe this will help us as a people to stop blaming everyone but ourselves. We are at a point in history where we have to acknowledge we are our own fate. Taking responsibility and working together to fix problems is the only way we will rise above the negativity.

why is it when we as black are face with something real we dont want to see it.but put a thug up there shooting other black we run and go see it . but some thing that happen ever day we dont wont to see it. but this time we must deal with it and yes it hurt to see it. i myself have experience some of what she went thow in the this movie and yes a black man rape me more that one time and yes he was part of my family so all i have say is deal with it.there are so many men that rape member of there family and get a way with it. a lot of u see your self in the movie and dont wont to deal with it.........

I wasn't overweight and I didn't have a father to rape me, I just had to fight off "uncles". But everything else was my life. I'm black and it's real. And I'm glad that someone is putting it out there. I'm am 42 years old and I'm still in Therapy with messed up self-esteem, from the abuse. And I understand self hate when you grow up and nobody love's you. It's may not be everybody's experience in the black community, but I'm black and it sure is my experience.

I wasn't overweight and I didn't have a father to rape me, I just had to fight off "uncles". But everything else was my life. I'm black and it's real. And I'm glad that someone is putting it out there. I'm am 42 years old and I'm still in Therapy with messed up self-esteem, from the abuse. And I understand self hate when you grow up and nobody love's you. It's may not be everybody's experience in the black community, but I'm black and it sure is my experience.

This movie is true. We need to face fact these things do happen among the black community. Precious is representing all races. This movie is not about tarnishing the black population and it is about time we start making fuss about the right things and stop taking offence for foolishness. where are the articles about bad parenting among our people? where are the forums about getting our youngmen to stay in school?

I saw this movie today. Excellent. Oscar winning performance.

Instilled in our minds as kids was, "What goes on in this house, stays in this house". Now you know why.

You people are too sensitive! It's just a movie! Get over it! Why does everything have to be a race issue? Sheesh!

"Failed the Black Community?" Why is the author, producer or writer responsible to the black community? Being 50+ I remember being somewhat taken back by Spike always showing poor examples of black males and never showing positive role models. Then however, like now, it isn't about the "Black Community" it is about the "American Way" and turning a buck. It is a movie that apparently touches some controversial issues. If people are interested they will pay their money and someone will make a profit. We do ourselves an injustice when we attempt to draw social context or some sort of cultural Morale statement from someone's economic endeavor.
Everyone knows that Oprah has baggage and the fact that she let herself read too much into this doesn’t surprise me. It also means very little. She is just another rich powerful eccentric. She makes the rules in her world. That doesn’t mean she should set standards in ours.

So the bottom line is simply this; Incest occurs in the PJs just like it does in Trailer Parks and Beverly Hills. Is this movie going to fix it or perpetuate it??? No.... If Oprah feels that helping Black artists is beneficial or even derives some relief from her personal dragons by seeing rape by family members being discussed openly on the screen then so be it. Let us not however mistake this as a social snapshot of the Black Community. It is another brother tiring to make a buck. So if the movie sounds interesting go see it. After you do very little will have changed and life will go on..

One thing that I've learned about our BLACK community. We only DISAGREE when the UGLINESS is REVEALED from what we, as a people, try to hide. For example, incest, rape, in which MANY folks would consider as being, the FEMALES' fault. The older generation, and some younger, would say comments like, "what did you do?" or "you were being "fass". Then there are issues like, how we really do not uplift one another they way we should in our communities, but we would lay our life on the line for an ACTOR in HOLLYWOOD, who doesn't know we exist. Are we kidding ourselves??? Yes, if we think that disapproving a movie that was endorsed by BILLIONAIRES!.( Wow ). If I was the billionaires, who funded the movie, I would tell all the disgruntled black folks with the folded arms, to "Maybe, if you find out what's going on with the girls in your community, FORREAL, you could probably prevent MANY girls' lives from going down the 'Precious' path."

This is getting sooooooo old - when are we as a country going to get past this race issue??? I am so sick of reading and listening to both black and white people who make an issue out of situations that are clearly not - enough already!!! It is not all about you all the time. We should be celebrating this movie and the message it sends instead of making it a matter of insulting black america. With people writing and thinking this garbage, I can guarentee we will always have race issues!

I am a woman of color and happen to work in Hollywood on the Set and in the development department. On the one had I can understand Mr. Smith article and on the other I clearly understand what experiences I've lived. I feel that Hollywood has taken many liberties when the depictions of people of color in film. Yes these issues are within many of our communities Hollywood Executives would never allow a film to be released depicting european characters with all these issue in one movie and base it on a true story. I've set in the rooms where these decisions have been made and you would see the blunt disagreement on the faces of the powers that been say that it was not realistic to show their communities in some of the issues "Lets go for a more poverty stricken communities" that sells more tickets because its realistic. Great example, see if hollywood would allow the Ann Frank Story to be in a Precious theme. These Hollywood Powers that be would have you blacklisted and thats a fact. Let make The Gambino Crime family story one of the Precious story. If you seen the CNN Black in America series and you see the behind the scenes of the making of all this you would so understand. Soledad O'brien well for the series she produced. Understand that those real people that was being exploited in those series where not compensated. But enough of my ranting.

I can't disagree with this article more. Yes - this movie deals with people living in a reality that most of us cannot relate to. However, these things do happen all over the world every day. I agree with the others who say that while their experiences may not have been as harsh - we all have a little bit of Precious inside of us. If Mr. Anthony Smith has been privileged enough to not encounter any of these realities in his life then he is surely more lucky than I. The only "failure" to our race is the result of reviews like these that focus on denying the truth of these issues instead of using this movie as a way to show that these negative aspects of our world are not tied to race, but instead to social strata. We have to accept and identify the real problem if we really want to move forward. Let's all try to realize that there are Precious girls all over the world that are trying to keep pushing on. If we deny their existence we are just another abuser.

Anthony Smith, you are an embarresment to blacks.

Bill Cosby is a positive role model for blacks, and what do we do? We say he is an uncle Tom. God forbid we have an education and be successful without the government assisting us

Typical of a certain variety of black male denial. All movies should either be about how terrible whitey is or how virtuous black people are. Listen, brotha, this movie isn't telling whitey something he doesn't already know. Poorly written and petty.

I was raised to treat everyone equal reguardless of skin color, but after hearing black people complain about racism about the stupidest things day in and day out, i must say that i am now a racist.

Yes, the black community has turned me into a racist !!!!!

Mr Smith you are right and so are many of the rest of you, but we as black people need to stop being divided among ourselves because in the end we hurt ourselves when we can't express our differences without staying united. It is true that black women are abused by black men and it is true that white people exploit it to make blacks as a whole look bad so why produce or watch anything of such suffering. Showing it waln't stop it. Stopping it will. My love goes out to all of you beautiful black women and as a black man I'll take the first step to making it right with two words....Im Sorry.

I'll pay reperations to black people when they pay all white people who have been victims of black crime. Oh yeah and pay me back all my tax money from your fukin wellfare.

A woman puts her child in a microwave after drowning him. A woman sells her 5 year old child for 60 dollars for drugs to a man that rapes and kills her and throws her body away like trash. This, and much more in just the last week. So you think it's a stretch or unbeliveably for a story like "Precious" to happen. What planet do you live on?

Stop using your skin color as a way to make yourselves victims. Slavery was over 250 years ago. Your black not a victim.

racist racist racist racist racist

can we shut the hell up about racism. We have a black president. This is by far not a racist country.

Ok how about we reperesent inner city black communites. Let's make a movie about some thugs who kidnap a white couple rape and kill them. Or a movie about a prostitute who makes up a story about a team raping her and the whole black world buys it and sends in the blame whitey duo of Jackson & Sharpton. Or home invasions, murders, and robberies that happen within inner cities. Would that be more to your liking or would that be racist also. I have it a movie about a blck female who is kidnapped and raped in a toolshed. That will help your soap box won't it. For the moron talking about the Sandra Bullock movie it is a true story(in a hollywood way) about Michael Oher(plays for the Ravens now used to play for Ole Miss) look it up. All this crap transcends all races and is the trash of society and all you're doing is being a witch and stirring the cauldron. But I got you why don't you and whitlock join forces and found a magazine and blame and defend and make your money off of hate and ignorance.

If they wrote a more positive story then they would complain that was racist because your not showing the struggles that blacks endure. Everything is racist

It's amazing how we as black people will find a way to TARE each other down!! This brother obviously doesnt have a clue of what goes on in this world "GOD ONLY KNOWS" this story effects all RACES it's just being told through the BLACK EXPERIENCE. Anthony you need to wake up because you are still SLEEP WALKING!!!

Dear Mr. Marshall -

Often times, the truth hurts. And, yes, it can be embarrassing, even appalling. I think that was your experience: the movie, its story, content, and characters appalled... and embarrassed you. And I get it that the "truth" of this particular story is probably one of those things that some would like to keep the curtains closed on. In the interest of being "credits to our race," you might be right.

Problem is: it's a true story, on some level, if not all. I lived part of it (the physical abuse). Extension cords, backhandings, my sister's arm was broken by a 2x4. My story was closer to Antwon Fisher's (i.e., no incest, rape, welfare, etc.), but I am sure there are other Preciouses out there who've tasted it all. White, black, yellow, brown... whathaveyou. That this particular "Precious" happened to be black is, I believe, only a consequence of who the authoress happens to be: a black woman. Her story was compelling, obviously, such that some wanted to bring it to the big screen. Unfortunate, pehaps.

I, however, happen to think it's a GOOD thing: now that the cat is out of the bag, perhaps those who perpetrate such vicious abuses... will think twice. Their secret being out, perhaps they'll think twice when they pick up that bottle... to throw at or smack someone with it. Perhaps a father, brother, uncle, cousin... or other male family member... will think twice BEFORE raping his child, sibling, neice/nephew, cousin, etc. I know it won't stop ALL of them... but maybe, JUST maybe... one or two of them will see themselves in this film... and the abandon their desire, if not the act altogether. Maybe a mother will think just a second more before breaking her child's arem.

Know what I mean? What's done in the dark is now in the light... and if just ONE potential "Precious" is saved... then we should all be shouting "Hallelujah!" shouldn't we?

I get it that you don't know anyone of this ilk. But you are one man... in a country of millions. I get it that you would have been happier if the protagonist had been, say, a white girl. Or a Mexican. Because then, you wouldn't have had to squirm so much. But she was black... and I think it was GOOD that you squirmed. Because NOW, you just might look a little harder at what's going on around you and in doing so SEE the "Preciouses" in your world. I guarantee you: they ARE there.

I am sorry that your review received so much negative feedback but, in all truth... it was/is warranted. In saying that, I want to leave you with something my Freshman English professor said to my class some years ago. She wanted us to read a piece by Maya Angelou. In the piece, Ms. Angelou and her classmates were told in by their high school principal during his address at their graduation, that their future aspirations were only to be athletes and such. That being doctors, lawyers, etc., was not something they should even bother to reach for.

My class' assignment was to write a paper on how we felt about that. When the time came for the Professor to review the papers with the class, however, she only spoke after quite a long period of silence, during which she studied us, our faces, as we sat waiting, expectantly. When she finally did speak she said, "I told you when I handed out this assignment that if you DIDN'T know... then you should do what YOU needed to do... to FIND OUT. Apparently, most of you didn't bother to heed that advice. Because SEVERAL of you wrote that you didn't know HOW to respond because YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT... IN THIS COUNTRY... SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN OR THAT A PRINCIPAL WOULD SAY SUCH A THING. But I TOLD you, when I gave you the assignment... that it was a TRUE STORY. I did not give you a LIE. And so, if you DIDN'T know that things like this happened in our country's recent history... YOU SHOULD HAVE LOOKED IT UP. Everyone who gave me such a paper, therefore, will receive an "F" on this assignment."

It looks like you've received an "F" on this assignment, Mr. Marshall. And, truthfully, I think you deserved it. Because... you SHOULD have looked the matter up... so as to KNOW... BEFORE you wrote your column saying that such a person as "Precious" does not exist in our community... the Black community. She certainly does. More than you can ever know.

In closing, I'd like to say that I hope the responses you've received have given you cause to pause... and seriously THINK about what you believe is true... and is not true... within the Black community today. You have a great responsibility to be accurate, given that your writings are seen by, well, pretty much anyone who reads the website, let alone your blog. And that's quite a lot of people.

Step up, Mr. Marshall. And rather than continuing the Black "habit" of shutting the curtains on our "shame"... help expose it. Because it is ONLY when that which is done in the "dark" IS brought to "light"... that we AS A PEOPLE... can work toward eradication... and move forward with healing.

ok, so I agree with some of the points the author makes.. but would this picture have been such a "controversy" if precious were a white girl??

(the answer you know you should say is "no" because there's dozens of movies similar to this one with white people in it but heaven forbid a movie come out like this with a black girl in it, now it's a big-huge-unnecessary-racial-controversy. I'm so sick of this.

marshall - You are an absolute ASS.

I am a Mexican man (not that this should make a difference)...and it seems to me that race should not be a factor, but the author of this article seems to be way angry alluding to the fact that this cannot happen to black americans and the film is in no way a representation of what happend(s) to precious.

Someone in this forum already pointed out that it does happen in this day and age to white, asian and many other ethnic people. And "Precious" is well and alive even in just one place like in Africa where Female Genatalia Mutilation(FMG) is still practiced in this "Age of Civilization"

So does human trafficking and prostitution of little boys and girl. Sounds like this "Turkey" of a columnist has his head in the sand. I think this film goes beyond race and to the heart of injustice to people affected by it in one form or another.

Are we not our brothers keeper? I think this film is just bringing back to the front of our heart and mind that "If we have the ability to do something....we have the responsibility to do something" We do it....us the people....our government just backs us up...they work for us! We must take a stand against injustice...even just one event such as this.

Ask SARAH KRUZAN if "precious" is real or not.

I could tell when i saw this guys picture he was going to write some dooshbag Bull Sh!t. Dude, you made this movie about race in your own mind. Girls go thru this tragic form of life in any race... but since it is based on a book that is a story of a little black girl.. OF COURSE THE MOVIE IS. as for the lightskin blacks are good, the dark skin blacks are bad...dude, get a grip and a real reason to gripe. Just because you don't know anyone like Precious in your little glass box you call a life, doesn't mean this stuff doesn't go on.. In all communities. I've lived in the Urban North and Rural south. From the Ghetto to the suburbs, and there is a Precious in dam near every place I've been, regardless of COLOR. It's sad that young kids don't recognize it, unless they are going thru it, so they pick on these children, but that's juvenile ignorance. But for you, a grown ass man to write an article like this story is irrelevant is even worst. what if your relatives went thru this? you would know because you claim not to have ever been around this type of person in life, when they were probably at your family reunion. What a dumb a$$.
So if white people look at this you think they will think we all molest our kids. Dude, stop writing articles if this is the best you've got.

almost black

I must ask what are you thinking in saying that a true life story is not to be told, how dare you have this girl live that life, and say that she has not the right to bring it to light and that just because this horrendez tale,in the Black community it should be not be told, for what reason? Why is it that some of the higher ups in the Black community feel it is nessacary to hide, many of the crimes in the Black community and instead of facing the issues and trying to make changes, not only in a story like this but in many of the Black on Black crimes espeicially concerning the Black youth of today, where so many are killed over nothing, worth while, leaving families grieving.

Remmeber Always The Turth Will Set You Free, in all things not only in what you feel makes you look good!!

I actually feel that if so many people such as yourself, would stop linning your pockets by trying make your people feel that they are not accepted in the main stream, that they are somhow inferior, etc. , and that only you can show them the way, the everyday life of most Blacks would become easier, my reasoning for this is that if you and everyone else who does so, is able to live the life as a Black person, and a good life at that, why do you think that other Blacks will not be allowed to, quote make it?

By constantly telling people that thay are not good enough, their stories, cannot be told, etc. you create a feeling of seperateness, this can cause your community failure more than anything, a people should feel good about themselves and it seems to me that Black Leaders and Spokes People have a very funny way of keeping the people down, take off the pressure of their Blackness, and let your people live!! Learn from mistakes and correct them in the futher.

I'am so over Tyler perry right know!! Spike Lee is correct, when he spoke about tyler's movies...I don't know about you guy's but enough is enough!!! Hollywood has kept us down for so long and we still are holding ourselves back!!Danzel get's an award for being dirty! Hally get's one for showing it all! and I still haven't seen that movie. Show the world movies that are fun to see and it will encourge us to want more...Stop degrading us!! The writer has only written one book... precious isn't every black women..It's her

almost black

I must ask what are you thinking in saying that a true life story is not to be told, how dare you have this girl live that life, and say that she has not the right to bring it to light and that just because this horrendez tale,in the Black community it should be not be told, for what reason? Why is it that some of the higher ups in the Black community feel it is nessacary to hide, many of the crimes in the Black community and instead of facing the issues and trying to make changes, not only in a story like this but in many of the Black on Black crimes espeicially concerning the Black youth of today, where so many are killed over nothing, worth while, leaving families grieving.

Remmeber Always The Turth Will Set You Free, in all things not only in what you feel makes you look good!!

I actually feel that if so many people such as yourself, would stop linning your pockets by trying make your people feel that they are not accepted in the main stream, that they are somhow inferior, etc. , and that only you can show them the way, the everyday life of most Blacks would become easier, my reasoning for this is that if you and everyone else who does so, is able to live the life as a Black person, and a good life at that, why do you think that other Blacks will not be allowed to, quote make it?

By constantly telling people that thay are not good enough, their stories, cannot be told, etc. you create a feeling of seperateness, this can cause your community failure more than anything, a people should feel good about themselves and it seems to me that Black Leaders and Spokes People have a very funny way of keeping the people down, take off the pressure of their Blackness, and let your people live!! Learn from mistakes and correct them in the futher.

This article makes no sense to me. As an incest survivor myself I must tell Mr. Smith Precious does indeed exist. My own mother comes from a family where one of the uncles impregnated four od his nieces. It was a family secret for several generations. Just because you never heard of it happening in real life doesn't mean it doesn't happen. There's a lot of horrible things going on in families that we never hear about, especially when it comes to incest, in families of all kinds of backgrounds. I think the reason you don't hear much about it is because the survivors (refuse to refer to myself as a victim) are shamed into silence and when they speak up family memebers get more upset with the survivor that the perpetrator of the abuse! I know about that first hand. Instead of claiming no one experiences what Precious does maybe you can learn and get some insight about people who actually have and continue to experience these thing. Cover-ups never help anybody. It takes awareness.

Hi Anthony,

I think that you are reading too much into this 'color' issue. It's just a movie. It's not everybody's story but it is someone's story. Why can't you look at the cinematic quality, the quality of the script and the actors? Huh. We are in 2009. Breathe easy.

Bless.

I disagree with this article to the 10th degree because I do not feel that in any way, shape or form that this film attempted to “represent” the black community. I believe that this movie gave insight to the life of a girl who just checked out of life and the unfortunate truth is that this scenario is more likely to have occurred in a minority community. So no; incest, rape, teenage pregnancy, physical and mental child abuse, obesity, poverty, welfare, illiteracy, and AIDS do not “symbolize” the black community but are elements that we do encounter. Not to say that all races, religions and ethnic backgrounds to not experience the same tragic realities. There just appears to be a higher ratio of the number of people, to the number of these events in poverty ridden communities. So this film just tells a story of 1 girl, not millions of girls, who just so happen to be a victim of all of the aforementioned misfortunes. So a person who walks out of the theater is not supposed to leave feeling, “wow, this is how black people live??”; but leave feeling “wow, we need to respect each other as human beings because we may never know someone’s story”.

Has it occured to anyone that movies and books can be written about a character who's black without having to serve some purpose to open other's eyes to the "black community"? I think it's racist to say black people who write HAVE to write about something that serves some cause. Just because Precious is black means she has to be some representative for the inner-city black community? Can't anything just be an interesting, emotionally touching story without having to be for some cause? Some people are so obsessed with making everything out to be racist. I guarantee you there's white, latino, and Asian girls like Precious. The writer was black, so she made her character black, understandably, and wrote a story. Big f-ing deal. I know rich black people, rich white people, poor black people, and poor white people. Not all black people are the same, so how could a story represent all of them? So by saying that Precious fails the black community, YOU are being racist by assuming that one black person can represent the whole community because YOU think all black people are the same. Think of every movie you know with a white person in it. Is that person representing the entire white community? No. African-Americans are not a tiny minority that can be even partially defined by one character, but obviously a movie about any 'average' person in 'average' circumstances wouldn't be interesting. If you took an extremely tiny minority [in America] you might be able to show the average life of someone like that, to an extent. But African Americans aren't an unusual race, especially not in New York. I guarantee you they don't ALL live the same lifestyle. And to act like a black character in a movie should represent the entire black community in the US is ridiculous.

Wow - you just got schooled. Must be rough to have this many people prove you wrong on one page.

My black male friends say that lesbians are a big problem in the hood. As in there are way too many of them. What's up with that?

I grew up in a small town in Eastern Ky, a lovely little town with conservative, Christian, middle class families. Of course, we had our "poor county children" just like an urban school would have it's poor ghetto kids. I knew a Precious, probably a couple, but one definantly sticks out in my mind from highschool. She wasn't pretty, like Precious, actualy she was unusualy ugly compared to the rest of us. She was very poor, and never really clean, and she was so very sad. I remember how often she would cry in the bathroom, and come to school with black eyes. One time she told me that she was dating a man that was 35 years old, when she was probably 15 or so. You can imagen that she must have had a messed up family life to view such a thing as normal.
You know how we treated her? Like she was less than human. Most kids laughed at her and gave her lots of unflattering nicknames. I wasn't the laughing sort, but instead I would self righteously grace her with the charity of occasionaly exchanging a couple words.......but only to pat myself on the back.
I cannot wait to see this movie. I hope that it makes even one person take a second look at the strange kid in the neighborhood, if nothing else. We cannot make progress unless we acknowledge the wrongs in our society, and seek ways to right them. To Anthony, you do know a Precious, you just didn't pay attention to her. She was that overweight, or unattractive girl that you wouldn't give the time of day. She was that girl that your buddies would get off on being cruel to, remember? I know you do, because regaurdless of race or geography, every school has one.

What is your problem, man? It is a movie about an abused girl who just so happens to be black. Would it make you feel better if she was white, because I bet somewhere in this country, in this world, a white "Precious" exists. Why did you even have to turn it into something racial? The setting is in Harlem, and the author of the book is black so expect black people to be in the movie. Besides, Oprah got on board because its a powerful story and she probably wanted to be a part of it. So, pull your panties out of your ass and get over it.

Dear Mr. Smith

First and foremost you, as not only an African American but as a human being should be ashamed of yourself. Grant it there are many stereotypes regarding the black community, but the same applies to every other race as well.
The fact that you do not know “Precious” is all the more reason I think you should have been more selective of your comments. Yes the movie is based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire; but were of the fact that the novel is based on a true story? A story of pain and abuse and eventually peace; so I ask you what is so wrong with this young woman telling her story?

The movie “What’s Love Got to Do with It” was about how Ike abusing Tina; I supposed you think that movie failed black women. “Precious” is about Claireece “Precious” Jones who was abused by her mother and father. I see no difference.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so there is no right or wrong here. However, your comments are just that, your opinion. Just because things of this nature may have not happened in your “neighborhood” does not mean that they don’t happen. If you were as socially conscious as one would think reading your comments, you would know this.

Instead of attempting to degrade the characters of Mr. Daniels, Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, you should actually thank them for having the courage and foresight to bring forward and in the open what you and people like you try to pretend does not exist.

To Mr. Daniels, Mr. Perry (whose plays and movies have helped me and a lot of people I know through some tough times) and Ms. Winfrey please keep doing what you are doing. The world needs more people like you who, like President Obama, have the courage to say its time for a change.

In closing, not only do I think the film deserves an award but so does everyone involved in the making of this phenomenal motion picture production. I would like to thank all involved for keeping the world informed.

Hey Brah,

Hate to disturb your notions of all is well in Black America here...but Precious is a real depiction of what is happening to young African-American women in every economical and social statrosphere. Yeah....I said it damn it....it is true. The rap artist in their litany of rhyme, verse, beat and reason have been trying to tell America for years. Black women are abused as children and adults. In your face is the stories of Rihanna, Robin Givens, Dianna Carroll, Cicely Tyson, Halle Berry....in your face...the childhood stories of violence is there, I bet...but we embarrass Black women when they try to tell someone. Just like we tried to embarass Rihanna when she revealed what happened to her when Chris Brown assaulted her. On the internet, she was insulted and lied on...on numerous sites...remember? Let's look at males....famous males...what did you think about the biography of 50 cents.....umph!...okay...What happened to his mother?...okay.....still playing dumb....What about Tupac Shakur's mother?.....sorry...speak up can't here yaah. OH MY GOODNESS....DID WE FORGET....OPRAH ? Did we forget Donny McClurkin...acclaimed gospel singer? This is too embarassing....

The American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence statistics claim that out of all the groups of people, African-American women experience intimate violence, ( by boyfriend, mother, daddy, etc) 35% more than any other group of people on the face of God's green earth. The number one killer of African-American females between 15-34 years of age is murder from the hands of an intimate partner (intimate can mean anyone close to her, including so-called lovers). So with these statistics it is not hard to imagine, guess, fathom or believe...that they must be experiencing violence at home as well or trapped in a family or community system that perpetuates the violence that they are suffering...futhermore...they must not have adequate family and community support to resist, survive and escape this violence. In a study conducted by Tufts University in 2002, only 17% of sexual assualt survivors in America reported the crime to the police. Why? Because they are embarrassed by guys like you who say, "I don't know no one like Precious." So, they keep it hidden. They are shamed for the crime happening to them. They are marked and labeled and ostracized. Yall know who ostracizes African-American women like Precious the most.....THE CHURCH......then the community and especially family. Damn, no place to go...no place to hide..

Is this why Precious comes as a true shock to you and is offensive? You know why? Because it is happening next door to you, in church with you, at your job to other African American women all around you. Is it a shock to know this story And, I don't mean to get too real up in here....but it has happened to you and you are in denial....Okay I will leave that alone...we will not address that...we will not address those whose mother's and sisters have went through it, but have the audacity and nerve to get on the internet and act shocked at the depiction of Precious. It is in our face and we do what we always do and say...."I don't know anyone like Precious". Quit lying....African-Americans lying and acting like we don't have a serious issue... You look like fools to the Global community and nations. Quite lying....you dancing and swirling, crumping and jumping to the lyrics that paint violence against Black women every day. You about to bump that CD now...You about to turn on that TV now and watch Black women be degraded on MTV......So let me let you go.....

First, I want to say that I do respect and applaud Tyler Perry and others involved in the making of ‘Precious’. I believe that now more than ever African's who have the financial ability need to start telling our life stories. We need to tell our family trials and tribulations, our most inner cultural issues and family issues, and issues that are affected by society - like whites and others. We are constantly bombarded with the white agenda, that when our African brothers and sisters film movies, we become controversial and negative.

Mr. Smith’s statement ‘that we do not know people like ‘Precious’’, I disagree with. I know people like ‘Precious’ and I know her well, because I was ‘Precious’. I was abused, neglected, etc. We as African's know 'Precious' all to well. She is a cousin, neighbor, daughter, niece, friend...'Precious' is also in the form of man/boy as well, and we definitely know him. Therefore, to devalue a story such as this is a testament to our desensitization to the white agenda. What about the story of Woman Thou Art Loose, Why Did I get Married, or I Think I love My Wife, and the infamous School Daze. I see something more sinister in his commentary. I see racism and propaganda. Mr. Smith is like all the rest, blinded by White Supremacy (Racism). It never fails when we put out movies dealing with African issues, there is less media coverage and negative propaganda to outright attacking the filmmakers that make these movies. Yes, ‘Precious’ brings out the ills of our society; we have a lot of sick African men who are pedophiles, abusers, drug addicts, homosexuality, Down Low Syndrome. These ills need to be exposed.

We should be embracing those who are trying to bring awareness, advocacy, education, and empowerment, not create division and controversy, especially when the division and controversy does nothing to make definitive change in our society.

I am a white male, raised outside of Detroit, my roots are in the south, but I was never raised to be a rasist. I remember the Movie "Color Purple". It happens to be one of my favorites. The reality of what rural America can be in tough times. Very emotional film. For someone to condim a file simply because they feel like they are trying to "LABLE" black america it a little narrow minded. As stated in other comments, this story is very possible and very real. It can and does exist not only in Black America but in all cultures, any races. No one is immune from this. How many times have we been told stories that are so difficult to believe? Children sold to prostituion (Recently a 5 year old in NC) Children kidnapped and abused for 20 years (recently in CA). I believe you are only offended because it was portrayed in a black community. If it was white you would complain about blacks not getting their fair share of acting oppertunities. There is no pleasing someone like you. Get over it.

I am so looking forward to seeing this movie. I wasn't planning on being intertained or, to leave feeling good, but to learn about a subject I don't know much about. Will it be hard to watch,I think so. But I'm a big girl, I even watch the news. I, a black woman came from a "Bill Cosby" type family. As a young girl,I was blessed with all the good things in life, and can say "I didn't know a Precious". But as a grown woman, I hope I've learned that things are not always as they seem. re: the woman in Austria raped by her father for decades, the kidnapped young girl in CA. with two children from her captor, the child raped and found in a suitcase by a woman, and of course the most recent, Shaniya. I can honestly say "I didn't" know any of them, but someone did. They all had next door neighbors. They all went to the grocery stores in town, and the captors even had jobs. So none of us can say we don't know them. It's a secret. Thats the point, and the problem. We as a society have been blind to things right under our noses far too long.If this movie makes you talk, keeps you up at night, or in any way makes you think of a way too make a change, isn't that the point? Did it not do its job? We can walk out of the theater and go back to our lives of calm and beauty. But if we are so hardend that we don't have some sort of emotion, then we've missed the point. First comes the information, next comes the conversation, then change. It doesn't matter where you choose to make that change here or abroad. Our world may be big but we can all be affected by what goes on in it. Sometimes it has nothing to do with,jobs,where you live,education,married or not,man or woman. But it should always be about "people" and what we as a "people" can do for each other. Or as some, pretend it doesn't exsist until it happens to them. I for one, choose not to pretend.

Well, I really do not know where to start at with this comment. I do not know if I should start off by addressing the ignorance in this article or the people who made comments that agreed with Mr. Smith. I'll choose to start off with Mr. Smiths's article.

First, off the trials and depiction in this movie that you believe do not exist actually exist. The thing that you might have failed to realize is the point that these things happen, but the victims do not come forth about it. That is a part of the reason this film was made. This film was made to bring these issues to light and give 'real life' victims some form of hope that they can overcome what they have been through. That was part of the reason people like Tyler Perry and Mo'Nique supported and gave time for this project. It appears to me that you are the type of person who was just born black, but do not trully understand how hard it is being black. I do not know you, but it seems like you have been sheltered from this type of true imagery. We all know somebody or know somebody who knows somebody who has been abuse(physical, mental, or emotional), raped, victims of incest, or simply have ran away in hopes of a better life.
Second, the movie did the job that Mr. Lee wanted to do with the script presented, to use the emotion of the audience. The audience felt for Precious and wanted to do something to help her, which in return will move some people to help the 'real life' Precious in the world. The movie also wanted to show that these acts are vivid and disgusting to look it. I am sure when this is expierenced in real life that it is not some pleseant act to expierence. The movie accomplished all of the things it wanted to do. We, black people, talk about overcoming slavery, but for some reason we always bring it up. Now, it is one thing to remember what the ancestors went through, but to constantly bring it up only delays the process of trully overcoming. It's crazy to me. These violent acts aren't just true for black, but for all races and cultures. Some people do not support this movie because they say it is unrealistic with Precious having all of those events happen to her at once, which translates to: Do not support this movie because it is fake and that could not happen to anybody in real life. Well, then that one aspect should keep us from watching movies like Transformers, Star Wars, and E.T because if we haven't seen it firsthand, then it cannot be true; therefore DO NOT support those movies. Well, I'll just justify your logic with ignorance. I like those movies by the way.
Lastly, I am tired of people talking about the ways black are portrayed in film and television. This is my opinion and may not be accepted across the board, but it is mine. To have a movie casted with mostly black people is good. It is good because it is not a movie of black people trying to continue the life of the hood, being on drugs and being a thug, but trying to overcome the hardships of living in the hood. What kind of good light are we tlking about? Are we just trying to portray the good character as a black person, for example a doctor, or are we trying to seperate that struggle of being a black doctor from a white doctor or a yellow doctor? The fact of the matter is that due to slavery black people's struggled has to be portrayed differently than whites. Some directors struggled to get backing from production companies to have their cast to be mostly black. Black people continue to talk about how there aren't many black roles in Hollywood, but when they are made available, then you complain about it. There are plenty "white movies" of white characters being portrayed as drunks, rapist, druggies, jailbirds, failures, bad husbands and wives, etc., so if those are going to be portrayed by white characters, then why not be portrayed by black characters? Oh, I forgot, we just want all black characters to be the funny guy that makes everybody laugh, but we wonder why black people have a hard time winning Oscars. If you cannot except black people in roles, then why in the hell would Hollywood greenlight projects that their main characters own race is going to talk about? Write a column about white people complaining about negative white roles in Hollywood. Oh, I forgot, you would not have an research to go off on because they don't complain because they like seeing themselves on screen and making the money. Nope. They understand that it is fiction and that those roles could happen to anybody in real life. F.Y.I Mr. Smith there have already been movies made about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcom X, Denzel Washington played that role.

I am a teacher, and I have most definitely seen this girl. Maybe you CHOOSE not to know her or cannot see her?!?

However, points to you for calling Tyler Perry to the carpet. While it's great that he's trying to bring black families to the mainstream, the way to go about it is not to rely on stereotypes and shallow characterizations, but truly build strong black characters.

I am responding to Mr. Smith's comments. Not to either the book or the movie about Precious. I have not read the book nor have I seen the movie.

Several years ago, I commented to a social worker friend that I was surprised to hear so many reports of sexual abuse coming from students at the inner- city neighborhood school where I worked. I told him I didn't believe that behavior was a part of our community, the Black community.

He quickly assured me that I was WRONG. He told me that his caseload included many children who had been abused by parents, partners of parents, caretakers, and others.

In the ensuing years, I have learned that what he said was all too true. I have talked with Black adults who are struggling with the effects of abuse they suffered as children in African American homes. Especially tragic are the remembrances of children who were victimized by the boyfriend of the mother. I have heard stories from males and females about sexual incidents in such situations.

"Precious" may be a dirty little secret that we would prefer to keep a secret. But the reality is it's a wide spread secret.

Well, I really do not know where to start at with this comment. I do not know if I should start off by addressing the ignorance in this article or the people who made comments that agreed with Mr. Smith. I'll choose to start off with Mr. Smiths's article.

First, off the trials and depiction in this movie that you believe do not exist actually exist. The thing that you might have failed to realize is the point that these things happen, but the victims do not come forth about it. That is a part of the reason this film was made. This film was made to bring these issues to light and give 'real life' victims some form of hope that they can overcome what they have been through. That was part of the reason people like Tyler Perry and Mo'Nique supported and gave time for this project. It appears to me that you are the type of person who was just born black, but do not trully understand how hard it is being black. I do not know you, but it seems like you have been sheltered from this type of true imagery. We all know somebody or know somebody who knows somebody who has been abuse(physical, mental, or emotional), raped, victims of incest, or simply have ran away in hopes of a better life.
Second, the movie did the job that Mr. Lee wanted to do with the script presented, to use the emotion of the audience. The audience felt for Precious and wanted to do something to help her, which in return will move some people to help the 'real life' Precious in the world. The movie also wanted to show that these acts are vivid and disgusting to look it. I am sure when this is expierenced in real life that it is not some pleseant act to expierence. The movie accomplished all of the things it wanted to do. We, black people, talk about overcoming slavery, but for some reason we always bring it up. Now, it is one thing to remember what the ancestors went through, but to constantly bring it up only delays the process of trully overcoming. It's crazy to me. These violent acts aren't just true for black, but for all races and cultures. Some people do not support this movie because they say it is unrealistic with Precious having all of those events happen to her at once, which translates to: Do not support this movie because it is fake and that could not happen to anybody in real life. Well, then that one aspect should keep us from watching movies like Transformers, Star Wars, and E.T because if we haven't seen it firsthand, then it cannot be true; therefore DO NOT support those movies. Well, I'll just justify your logic with ignorance. I like those movies by the way.
Lastly, I am tired of people talking about the ways black are portrayed in film and television. This is my opinion and may not be accepted across the board, but it is mine. To have a movie casted with mostly black people is good. It is good because it is not a movie of black people trying to continue the life of the hood, being on drugs and being a thug, but trying to overcome the hardships of living in the hood. What kind of good light are we tlking about? Are we just trying to portray the good character as a black person, for example a doctor, or are we trying to seperate that struggle of being a black doctor from a white doctor or a yellow doctor? The fact of the matter is that due to slavery black people's struggled has to be portrayed differently than whites. Some directors struggled to get backing from production companies to have their cast to be mostly black. Black people continue to talk about how there aren't many black roles in Hollywood, but when they are made available, then you complain about it. There are plenty "white movies" of white characters being portrayed as drunks, rapist, druggies, jailbirds, failures, bad husbands and wives, etc., so if those are going to be portrayed by white characters, then why not be portrayed by black characters? Oh, I forgot, we just want all black characters to be the funny guy that makes everybody laugh, but we wonder why black people have a hard time winning Oscars. If you cannot except black people in roles, then why in the hell would Hollywood greenlight projects that their main characters own race is going to talk about? Write a column about white people complaining about negative white roles in Hollywood. Oh, I forgot, you would not have an research to go off on because they don't complain because they like seeing themselves on screen and making the money. Nope. They understand that it is fiction and that those roles could happen to anybody in real life. F.Y.I Mr. Smith there have already been movies made about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcom X, Denzel Washington played that role.

I am surprised and appalled that an educated African American man has his head in the sand and does not understand that the hurt and pain depicted in this movie not only exist in some black communities, but is an epidemic. I am a Social Worker working with abused andd abandoned children, most of whom are AA, and have seen and worked on cases far worse than one can imagine.Precious is a wake up call to action to the problems that exists in the black community to protect the children who are the victims of physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Instead of Mr. Smith being offended by the issues of the movie I implore him to step up and get involved by first understanding that the problems really exist, then finding a way through his work or volunteer efforts to help make a difference in some child's life.

Wow, I think we've all been played. I think Mr. Smith doesn't agree with himself and possibly he's using us to start some drama, to prove a point, to see how we would react to his comment, etc. Surely! Surley! Mr. Smith knows better. According to his picture, he appears to be a grown man. I think he's trying to stir up the pot and if that's not the case, he needs to stop smoking the pot.

I am a white, obese female who could have been Precious. I did not bear my father children because my older sister was brave enough to stop my father. I was beaten down and told I was worthless, a whore, and would never amount to anything. And since I was fat, no one could possibly love me. I do know this chick. I also know a black version of this chick. Beaten black and blue for any percieved misbehavior and treated like a piece of junk. Precious can be any color and at any social level. Get real. This isn't just a black story and it is a story that needs to be told. Because like it or not, most people will look the other way and don't really want to know. I am glad Oprah recommends this movie. Maybe she is enlighted enough to see past the colors.

While there is no need to write a novel, I feel one thing most of us agree on is this man's twisted view of the plot !
Focus on the issue that pains us all regardless of color, no color or simply the shape of a person's eyes ! Incest and rape and shame on you Mr. YOU MAKE others look bad my your own narrow minded ego self !

All I have to say is that you are pretty narrow minded Mr. Smith.

As an African-American in the United States it confuses me when I hear one
African-American choose to stand up for the entire race as if we are the
ignorant "children" that some ignorant people consider us to be. Movies are stories, fictional or non-fictional and someone can relate to the lives of
its characters. It is unfair for Mr. Smith to claim that "WE" cannot relate
to the story of "Precious" when I know of two women that shared the pain in
their family that is similar to this one. Wherever we go we seem to be
judged more by people of like race who want to be the spokesperson for
Black people and to sugarcoat our past experiences. I would like to suggest
to Mr. Smith that he visit more African-Americans than he has to get some
truth rather than getting on his soapbox bashing a valid reality in not
only the lives of African-Americans but a lot of Americans regardless of
race. Not all but some.

This could have been a very short piece had he simply stated, he could not relate to this situation for lack of experience and exposure. Then ask others to possibly share with him, either through correspondence or directly meeting to show him what he cannot see in his rose colored glasses, what other endure everyday of every year and have done so for decades if not longer.

While I admittedly don't know if the story is all fact or fiction, one would think that no one would be so blind, ignorant and arrogant to think that because it did not touch your life; and your life is the gold standard by which all people live their lives, that these things and worst could not and do not happen to anyone living or dead.

Come to think a little more of it all, I know think you would be akin to anyone who believes the Holocaust didn't happen and would likely say that slavery also never existed. As you never experienced being a slave or an owner of slaves.

These problems DO EXIST IN ALL COMMUNITIES.

How do I know:
1. I am a Black Woman and I have four sons of different racial/ethnic backgrounds and one daughter (whom I adopted from foster care); they WERE victims of sexual abuse and neglect.
2. My former co-worker (a Black Woman) WAS a victim of incest. She wrote a book about it, it's in Barnes and Nobles.
3. I see it

'Precious' shows how people can OVERCOME their circumstances.

Come on sir, open your eyes.

These problems DO IN FACT EXIST IN ALL COMMUNITIES.

How do I know:
1. I am a Black Woman and I have four sons of different racial/ethnic backgrounds and one daughter (whom I adopted from foster care); they WERE victims of sexual abuse and neglect.
2. My former co-worker (a Black Woman) WAS a victim of incest. She wrote a book about it, it's in Barnes and Nobles.
3. I see it

'Precious' shows how people can OVERCOME their circumstances.

Come on sir, open your eyes.

I was not at all pleased with the article on Precious by Anthony Smith. He shows just how ill-informed he is about social issues. Dozens of comments are being posted by probable workers in the social work field completely contesting what he says.

There should be a retraction of his statements or an apology on the point of what "does" and "does not" happen in the African-American community or any other community in America for that matter.

These problems DO IN FACT EXIST IN ALL COMMUNITIES.

How do I know:
1. I am a Black Woman and I have four sons of different racial/ethnic backgrounds and one daughter (whom I adopted from foster care; they WERE victims of sexual abuse and neglect.
2. My former co-worker (a Black Woman) WAS a victim of incest. She wrote a book about it, it's in Barnes and Nobles.
3. I see it

'Precious' shows how people can OVERCOME their circumstances.

Come on sir, open your eyes.

jkelly, you are wrong.

It insults me, as a white person, that you would think that white people love to see blacks in subservient, degrading roles.

I can't speak for all white people, like you seem to be able to do. But, as a white person, sometimes I like to see things that are real about deep human emotions, whether they are love, anger, pain etc.

I do not enjoy movies that show blacks as lesser humans.

But, I do love movies, such as Roots and Glory, etc., that show the brave struggle that a race of people went through, and how hard they fought for their place in a cruel world. I also loved The Ten Commandments showing the plight of the Jews, and so on.

You know, white people don't have control over what movies Hollywood wants to make. Hollywood makes what they think everyone wants to see. Sometimes they are right on and sometimes not.

Plus, the Hollywood elite are so out of touch with real people that it isn't even funny.

At least this movie didn't try to pretend to be something that it's not.

I'm like you, lots of times I want to see a light entertaining movie. But so many lately that I watch, expecting to be easily entertained, end up having some kind of insulting political message in it. Even in animated, supposedly children's movies.

Anyways, as I said, it is a disappointment to see people trying to make this movie about race, instead of a human condition that people struggle over.

There will always be people who view things as the glass is half empty instead of half full. So, I usually just accept it.

Untill they go so far as to use a talented young black actress as a platform to spout their racial agendas, without seeming to care about how this will affect her.

Here she is, having accomplished a great thing in her life.
Then someone like Anthony Smith takes it upon himself to show her the ugly side of fame, possibly crushing her spirit and self confidence.

I hope she has the faith and fortitude to ignore Anthony Smith, and accept and enjoy this wonderful moment in her life. And I pray she has many more like it, since it looks to me like she should have a promising future ahead of her.

Hey jerk, this movie is the story about one family. You think there has not been a family black, white, asian, etc that has not lived this story? Anthony you are only fooling yourself if you think this does not go on. Just because there is a half black Kenyon president in the white house does not mean you get to get mad when someone makes a shocking movie that paints black people in a bad light. You do not see white people getting mad about the great movie Deliverance! ANTHONY, GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE!!!

Why does everything have to be about race? Why, Anthony, do you and so many others assume that a film with all black actors is supposed to by symbolic of life for a whole race? Is Juno, a film with all white actors and a young high schooler who gets pregnant from her first sexual experience suggesting that teen pregnancy is more predominant in the white culture?? Get a GRIP man and stop thinking that everything is out to hurt the black race if it isn't all rainbows and sunshine.

I AM A 65 YEAR OLD WHITE, AMERICAN FEMALE. I was born into a middle class family. Physically abused by my father, beaten and mentally abused by my mother, abandoned, sent away as little as three, approached for sex by my grandfather, cruelly switched many, many times by grandmother, suffered incest by my uncle and aunt................You CANNOT tell me that the abuse depicted in "Precious" does not go on. It happens in all cultures no matter what the religion, ethnicity, educational background or prominence in society is. And while this is not an actual biography this kind of abuse is out there and to deny it is idiocy, no matter whether we are white, black, brown, red or yellow skinned. To have this story depicted on screen will prompt many people to be more aware, kinder and compassionate. and thus it will possibly offer some protection to those unfortunate girls or boys trapped in violence. You could make the same movie about any racial group. Good Lord, get over yourselves.

While there is no need to write a novel, I feel one thing most of us agree on is this man's twisted view of the plot !
Focus on the issue that pains us all regardless of color, no color or simply the shape of a person's eyes ! Incest and rape and shame on you Mr. YOU MAKE others look bad my your own narrow minded ego self !

Mr. Smith,
I am a teacher in Southern California and I work with several "precious" young ladies. This is not only an issue within the black community that we do not address, but rather an issue of the total United States. You may not like the hard truths that were presented in this film: however it is very real for some who live in the United States. Especially, young girls that do not feel that they have someone to tell their stories regradless of thehue of their skin.

As far as YOUR issue with color. I have lived long enough to know that evil can come from all shades. I am no longer confined by the walls of slavery that we attempt to enslave ourselves with. It is really time to move on, there are more pressing issues at hand.

"The Word" according to Benjamin

This Man; Anthony Smith is by all accounts, an Absurdly Frightening Uninformed Caustic Knowledge Impregnated Nearsighted Goon, Incomprehensibly Denying Issues Of Truth.

( If you striing together the capitalized first letters of the words I use to depict my feelings about Anthony Smith, the message should be clear).

It sounds like Mr. Smith is just burying his head in the sand. Sorry, but this happens everywhere, and is as just as of a problem in the black community as it is in the white community.

Scarlett, thank you very much for your in-depth, heartfelt and true input. You said it all. My very best to your Godsister. She sounds like the kind of person I would like and I salute her courage. In the end, we are all people; black, white, red, brown, yellow -- just people. And, people have problems, problems just as different as the people themselves. Thanks again.

Scarlett, thank you very much for your in-depth, heartfelt and true input. You said it all. My very best to your Godsister. She sounds like the kind of person I would like and I salute her courage. In the end, we are all people; black, white, red, brown, yellow -- just people. And, people have problems, problems just as different as the people themselves. Thanks again.

Anthony: How dare you!!! How dare you ask your reading audience to believe that Precious is not one of the many stories that represent the Black experience? You dont know Precious? Well look again... there but for the grace of God go Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey and me.

Please get your head out of the sand and do something constructive for your people......look around you and yours...and tell the truth. Please!

Did Mr. Smith really write this absurd article. apparently he is suffering from some dillusional illness.

I know a Precious, part of me is part of Precious. I haven't gone through everything she goes through, but i have been through some tough things in this life. He needs to wake up, it's people like him that turns a blind eye to the evils that are happening to our children in this society.

Mr. Smith this is not a black issue, it happens across the board to MANY of our children...which planet do you live on?

Further more this movie was not made to entertain you, it was made to open our closed eyes to the unhealthy things eating away at our children.

Go sponsor a child in an orphanage and dont write any more ridiculous articles like this one. If you are just seeking attention, go ride a balloon around the world in 8 days or something. I find your article insensitive.

A Smith - you are a confirmed, credible idiot and thx for standing on your pedastool to announce to the general public just how ignorant you really are. I'm sure your proud family and friends have thrown their hands up in the air out of pure disgust and saddened to learn that we, the general public, now know what they have known all along - about your comfort level of ignorance. I normally don't partake in blogs, but you forced my hand, and aim, at you. I am a black female, in my late 30's and though I have never encountered what Precious went thru, including where she lived, her life story, and the family that endured her worse betrayals in life, I cannot and will not disrepectfully, say none of this happens in "our" community or even worse, say that this story might be misinterpreted that all of the Black community lives like this. NONSENSE for you to even imply that and even worse, for someone to believe you! The next time you want to waste people's time, go sit in a dark cave and ponder your next move in life, without insulting any 1 racial group, especially your own, or victims as a whole.

And PLEASE, do not talk on behalf of other Black people. Keep you ignorance all to yourself you 1 stand, marching band. For some odd reason, if this were the 60's, you'd be picketing and boycotting on the wrong side of the sheet, oh excuse me, street, with some left field theory on why Blacks need to embrace that backward azz society of that era..

I thank Ms. Oprah and Mr. Tyler for shining the light on such heinous crimes in "our" community. For all you sick pervs out there still victimizing the Precious' of the world, both female and males, you're day will come. We are looking for you, and will find you. You might be our neighbor, co-worker, church member, a relative, or babysitter, etc. Your victims will hopefully have enough courage to start talking and more people will start listening and believing them.

And finally, in some of your own words of great wisdom, I think the American people should heed this warning not to listen to your stupid rhetoric, put your articles under the comic section and stop interfering with our thought process to respond to you.

PS. Whoever hired you should be shot. Rest assured I won't warrant a click of my mouse to read another thing with your name on it.

We must be pretty special for our race to be degraded like this. Fear makes people try and make other people look bad and that is what it is nothing but fear. Just a note to others we as a people is not trying to take anything from you so settle down and calm your nerves. We don't want your nation no nothing as you expect to discourage others about us. So fear not ok.

Mr. Smith stated "Moreover, Daniels, similar to the cinematic tendencies of executive producer Tyler Perry, equates light-skinned black characters as friendly, virtuous saviors, working to counteract the ugly, evil, stupid and animal-like dark-skinned characters. What a shame!"
Are you !@#$%% serious? First of all how can you call a movie which depicts the harsh realities of the unfortunate in every day life offensive. This movie isn't fiction it's reality and reality is offensive in itself. The only thing more offensive then reality and a thousand times more offensive then precious could ever be is this article. Mr smith I don't know where you grew up but if you haven't experience any part of this movie in one form or the other, then you truly have lost touch, and you don't deserve to be writing articles. This type of reality happens every day. YOU should be ashamed.

When you closely examine the history of African Americans, and the use of the same stereotypes prolific in the media until today, it is no wonder why the author of this article feels passionate about a (or another) movie that follows the same stereotypes about Black people since the beginnings of American history and media. Yes, the story of Precious is amazing and rings painfully true across personal, racial and cultural lines, but the impressions that stereotypes evoke - the mammy (usually dark and heavy), the seductress (usually light, also called tragic mulatto), are images that constantly come up as themes in Black movies and characters. The presence of Blacks in the mainstream media does not reflect a very diverse picture. There hasn't been a Cosby Show since the Cosby show. Diversity doesn't only mean bourgeois depictions of us either. Brad Pitt has quite a wider pantheon of roles to choose from than Wesley Snipes or Lawrence Fishburne. So a movie like Precious is always bound to reinforce, intentionally or not. It would be great to see this made into a documentary across social boundaries. This brother felt the pain of another blow to the already evocative prejudice of skin color, and the negative associations made towards African Americans in general. Should we continue to allow popular culture to define who we are? The study of African American history, as well as the many crimes of humanity and human exploitation, is very painful. We feel Precious's pain. Slavery has impacted this country more than people are willing to acknowledge and address. If there were a wider array of various depictions of African American and African people of the Diaspora on a mainstream level, then the response of this writer may have been different.

The real reason why issues in the black community don't get solved is cause we have people like this clown in denial. He said the film "Fails the Black Community" while I think his article fails the black community. The issues addressed in this film are not unique or exclusive to any community but they don't get talked about in the black community. Bottom line is the only way to raise up our community is to be honest that these problems exist. Sometimes the truth hurts and it appears Mr Smith has a problem recognizing these problems exist in our community. The real failure is that someone has given Mr. Smith a forum, albeit a "C" rated one, for him to continue to spout his denial to the masses.

Ok folks, I am openminded enough to see both points of view and I respect both sides but I have to agree I kinds see what Smith is trying to say and I have to agree... No one is denying that this stuff doesn't happen across all races, however, whenever a story is told about it, it seems to always be stereotypically centered around poor black folks and their communities.
I realize that this is the REAL for a vast majority of blacks in our country and I know none of us are so naive as to believe that it is not, however, why must we be saddled and burdened and bombarded by the images seemingly on a regulat basis everytime a black-focused movie comes out.
Does it not occur to anyone that sometimes we need to see the positive side of our community as well. I know it's
not "STEREOTYPICAL" of a black american to be successful at something but we do exist as well. Can someone make a movie showing some of the positive things we've been able to accomplish? I've had a pretty good upbringing/life and at 43y.o. and college degreed AND ablack male, I consider myself to be atypical of the stereotype SO make a movie about my life. WHAT... oh there's no money-making value to a life like mine? It wouldn't sell? I rest my case.

Ok folks, I am openminded enough to see both points of view and I respect both sides but I have to agree I kinds see what Smith is trying to say and I have to agree... No one is denying that this stuff doesn't happen across all races, however, whenever a story is told about it, it seems to always be stereotypically centered around poor black folks and their communities.
I realize that this is the REAL for a vast majority of blacks in our country and I know none of us are so naive as to believe that it is not, however, why must we be saddled and burdened and bombarded by the images seemingly on a regulat basis everytime a black-focused movie comes out.
Does it not occur to anyone that sometimes we need to see the positive side of our community as well. I know it's
not "STEREOTYPICAL" of a black amercian to be successful at something but we do exist as well. Can someone make a movie showing some of the positive things we've been able to accomplish? I've had a pretty good upbringing/life and at 43y.o. and college degreed AND ablack male, I consider myself to be atypical of the stereotype SO make a movie about my life. WHAT... oh there's no money-making value to a life like mine? It wouldn't sell? I rest my case.

Obviously this Anthony dude wrote the "messy" article for one reason and one reason ONLY.....Attention. First of all, who gave anthony the right to speak for the whole "black community" in regards to a review of the movie. I'm black and I have not seen the movie. I'm sure there are many other blacks who have not seen it as well. Who said that every one who has seen the movie agrees with anthony's views. His article should have been titled, "precious fails "anthony" cuz he can only speak for himself. But of course that's how attention seekers play ball.

I am a white, moderately conservative male, raised in a white neighborhood, educated in mostly white schools in Seattle, and through music and the arts, have had the privilege of interacting kith kids of all races. I am 66 years old. While I have neither read the book, nor seen the movie, I am familiar with the themes in Mr. Smith's review. And I am glad to see the tone and tenor of so many responses refuting his point of view. As a retired police officer, I know first-hand the trauma such abuse inflicts upon children. The scenarios describing the plot are pan racial. We must be concerned much more with protection of our children from such abuse and cultural decay, and less with race. While we need to, certainly, pay attention to underlying social pathologies, we also need to deal more realistically with offenders. Regardless of the offender's background and whatever caused his perversions, the abuses recounted in the book are worse even than murder, with the ongoing, slow emotional death that accompany them. One can say there is no right or wrong, black or white, but in our deep down basic gut, we instinctively know this is not true, and victims such as Precious are the evidence. A mind is a terrible thing to waste,and so is a soul.

Just a few comments:

Mr. Smith, unfortunately you are living in the dark ages. Incest, rape and HIV exists in all communities, but are more prevalent in the black community. It is up to the HUMAN RACE to find solutions against all of this. Sweeping it under the rug and denying it happens is not the way.

I am a RN and I have seen it and lived it (my mother died of AIDS and she was NOT a drug user). This movie is one way to get the word out that these are problems. We must help our future generation overcome this or we, as a people and as a society, will be lost. Even though this movie is being seen, these atrocities are still happening (example: little Shaniya in NC).

Mr. Smith, I hope you can open your eyes and see the problems and find solutions instead of berating this movie. It is simply telling facts that exists ALL OVER.

All due respect.....where do you live? My wife works in mental health and she deals with everyone from the super rich to the poorest of poor and precious is as common as the flu in ALL CULTURES, especially black. But what is strange is how us black folk choose to deal with it. As a black man, I have an issue with the whole "Madea" thing for many reasons. Why must we be clown and dress like women to entertain people? Also, I admit Madea does remind us of some people close to us but that behavior is not for the public to see. That is "in house" behavior. Now Tyler finally does something we need to address and you think it makes us look bad??? No, a man dressing in drag, playing a loud, out of control, obese black woman makes us look bad. I ask again....where do you live?.....God help us.....I sincerely hope you are never in charge of young people. As a coach, parent, teacher, leader in any way. Your thoughts are poison.

Ohhhhh...Tony. You must have lived a very charmed life, indeed. To believe that these things are NOT occuring does more disservice to the people who are the victims than you may know.
Maybe you are one of those who thinks the Holocaust didn't happen?
This type of "life experience" crosses all racial, cultural, gender, and economic bounderies. Yes, the story of Precious is extreme and shocking, but honey, that ain't the worst of it...In real life, some people actually go through worse. People ARE judged, people DO fall through the cracks, people ARE victimized, and whether it's the sign of the times or just the deplorable human condition, many people just don't care unless it's right under their nose.
I think you are a good writer, and everyone can have a bad day.....I suggest that you might get a Pulitzer if you stash the misconceptions, go under cover, and do a little more investigating into this. Call it a public service.

This movie is important because it creates compassion for those who have it so hard.
For the life of me, I can't see anything wrong with that.

How have you allowed the wool to have been pulled down over your eyes for so long? From your photo, Anthony, you appear to be very much of adult age to be so naive. Every single circumstance you mentioned in the first sentence of your statement has EVERYTHING to do with parts of the black communities. No, it is not the central theme of every black community, but who are we to turn our back on those parts that hold this struggle?

I've never seen so many individuals comment on one article to prove the opposite of what the writer declared. You should recant your whole statement; keep your opinion of you like. But do some research; visit other communities than your own - come out of your box, man!

Yes, Tyler Perry supports this film of hardship, struggle, incest, poverty, abuse, illiteracy and rape. He also makes films of black achievement filled with well-to-do characters with other every day problems like marriage troubles, absentee fathers, domestic abuse and the list goes on.

(My husband totally agrees [being a dark-skinned man] that Tyler has a bad way of casting the light skinned good guys vs. the dark-skinned bad guys) Yes, that's a small fault that he should pay closer attention to; it can start to become problematic.

I say, be more objective; not so close minded. You'll go a lot further and not make so many people feel offended and angry. You'll never develop a following that way.

Your post is so hurtful and off the mark. Just because a story is gritty, ugly, and painful doesn't mean it shouldn't be told. So what, if this story only reprents a small percentage of our community. They deserve to have their stories told too! Shame on anyone (African American or otherwise) that watches this movie and comes away believing that every African American person has this experience.

You DO know a Precious or TWO or THREE! How many victims of incest and abuse do you think are out there telling their story to everybody they meet? Hardly any! That is why this movie is so important! Incest/molestation is such a secret in ALL communities. The victims feel so alone and embarassed. Seeing a movie like Precious or reading a novel like Push will allow victims to see that they are not alone and that they can overcome. How many people do you think are walking around saying "Hey I'm an incest survivor. My Dad got me pregnant when I was 13 and my grandma raised the baby. Come and talk to me about your experience with incest." NO EFFIN BODY!!!! Who are these kids supposed to talk to? Well a movie like this shows possible ways to reach out for help and it helps to remove the ugly stigma attached. It is also a way to lift the burden that many survivors have been carrying around for years.

If this movie doesn't help you OR doesn't open your eyes to the lives of others then it just wasn't for YOU! But there are thousands of people out there (of all races) that NEED to see this movie. This movie is NOT a disgrace to African Americans! We should be proud that some of us are willing to go where NOBODY wants to go and tell the stories that NOBODY wants to admit happen. That takes courage! That takes humility! That in itself is noble and worthy of respect!

I hope this blog has made you OPEN your eyes and that you will go out into your community and find the Precious' out there and figure out a way to give your time, talent, or money to help them!

As a white person who essentially only knows other middle-class white people, no, I don't personally know a "Precious." Because I don't go places where Precious is likely to be. I doubt "Precious" eats at nice Thai restaurants or watches $8.50 vampire movies or goes to poetry readings. But according to statistics, the people you don't think exist are right here in my town, which has an absurd drop-out rate and sky-high illegitimate teenage pregnancy (as well as general illegitimate pregnancies).

I'm sure that if you go have some conversations with social workers and people involved in inner-city missions, you will find they encounter this kind of heartache every day.

Sure, the movie may have some exaggeration, that is the nature of Hollywood, but it is certainly representing a general reality, and it is certainly plausible.

I live in a bubble, but even I know that. You must have your head in the sand if you think this does not represent any past or present reality! Shame on you! Get involved in a very low-income crime-ridden area for a while, then report back.