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.  

Yet, in marketing the motion picture "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire," the producer and director, Lee Daniels boldly affirms that, “I know this chick. You know her. But we just choose not to know her.” Rather by choice or circumstance, 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.  

This film is as dangerous as it is offensive, and it is not representative of any community, past or present. The narrative about a young, unloved victim is intellectually and socially dishonest. Daniels relies on overly objectionable imagery and perverse...