Re- visiting "Precious" - was it a cinematic masterpiece or a movie full of Black self-hatred, obesity,and greed?

"Still. at least to me, the issue of obesity should actually be attached to the much larger problem of emotional/sexual greed, much less the violence - due to Male Supremacy - against females. that fosters that whole social/health epidemic (i.e., obesity) and helps it proliferate."

Dear friends,

Seeking happiness is, perhaps, the main reason for which, as individuals, we tolerate the burdens, inequities, and inconsistencies of life in an advanced civilization such as ours. That is, it seems worth it. Additionally, in dealing with the aforementioned burdens, inequities, ad inconsistencies, we devise a variety of ways to internally run from ourselves, as opposed to confronting problems..

Consequently, passive entertainment like watching thoughtless Hollywood television and movie productions, instead of pro-active entertainment such as engaging our physical and mental powers through exercise of some sort – from running to reading, leaves most folks in this country in a constant state of apathy and confusion.

Moreover, it is to the benefit of those who control our society to make sure, as much is possible, that we, as a population, maintain homogenous thoughts and tastes about as many circumstances and towards as many things as possible. It would not be in the interests of the rulers, if our thoughts and tastes just mentioned were too heterogeneous, after all. We would be tough to manage and control.

So. through advertising conglomerates and a variety of cultural institutions like schools and government- and corporate-controlled media, the aforesaid rulers make certain that they stay in power, at all costs, for generations on end. And they legitimize their unfair existence by using the threat capacity of the police and military. Let’s face it; as Adam Smith put it so adequately and eloquently in his classic volumes that are titled The Wealth of Nations: For every rich man there are five hundred poor ones, and he wouldn’t get a night’s sleep if it weren’t for the local magistrate.

In any case, it has been interesting how, other than the exceptional Jen Armstrong of the Philadelphia Daily News (who also happens to be a very dear friend of mine), most journalists and other such opinion-makers who I’ve recently read have skillfully circumvented discussing that disgraceful cinematic expression of Black self-hatred based upon a book called Push, by the director of that movie, along with its executive producers and actors. Was the author of the book, or were any of the other “Black” folks who I just noted being greedy when they made this film? Who knows their intentions? Was either Stepinfetchit, or his spritual descendant Eddie “Professor Klump” Murphy, being greedy when he made/makes films? Who knows? In fact, no one ever knows the intentions of another, unless you subject the person to some kind of torture. Even then, you may only be told what the victim thinks you want to hear.

I do know that Black actors in this country continue to make plays, movies, and other performances that either invite us to come laugh at ourselves or make “white” folks feel sorry for us.

Nevertheless, up tp this point, aside from the fact that, other than a male transvestite named “Divine”, I’ve never heard of a morbidly obese “white” actress starring in a single Hollywood production – television or movie. Yet, “Precious” featured a young African American female who fit that bill named Gabourey Sidibe. Why is that?

Still. at least to me, the issue of obesity should actually be attached to the much larger problem of emotional/sexual greed, much less the violence - due to Male Supremacy - against females. that fosters that whole social epidemic (i.e., obesity) and helps it proliferate.

Paradoxically, the greed mentioned above is directly related to the fact that people in our society are starving from a lack of emotional/sexual fulfillment. Therefore, because the pursuit of happiness discussed earlier is so personal and always ongoing, folks are easy to manipulate, especially since, again, most citizens choose a passive route to satisfaction, as opposed to a pro-active one.

And so, obesity results from something that could happen to anyone who uses food to satisfy herself or himself in any way - for whatever reason(s). So why is there so much hype about people in our society being overweight? We all need food in periodic intervals or we will succumb. Everybody knows that.

However, from the Tiger Woods syndrome to the “Big Losers” television program, the insatiable market (conveniently claiming to be based on "supply and demand") takes no prisoners. Instead, voyeurism and consumption lead the sheep to the slaughterhouse of emotional/sexual greed. And, of course, greed is always short-sighted. That’s why it’s so hard for people to control their appetites of whatever sort, in this country. Hence, again, the obesity.

But, to me, the real educationally-useful point of “Precious” should have been about violence against females, including incest (which few people are willing to honestly discuss).

Violence against females was trivialized as being the personal problem of a Hollywood movie character, instead of what it really is: the number one human problem in the world today, over the “economy” - and even worldwide nuclear war.

As a matter of fact, as far as I am concerned, First Lady Obama should be focusing more on the aforementioned issue of violence against females, as opposed to an inescapable problem in an advanced civilization that thrives on power and emotional/sexual greed. She does have two daughters, by the way. And Male Supremacy along with the violence of all kinds that it brings against females already affects those two little girls – and Michelle too. Therefore, one may ask, “Does Mrs. Obama stand on genuinely moral grounds to be criticizing obese people?” Let’s keep it real, folks.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus