Mo'nique's Oscar is a Victory and a Setback - Editorial comments by Julianne Malveaux

For the entire editorial go to:

http://www.northstarnews.com/columns/dr_julianne_malvea... /

The comedienne, talk show host and actress Mo'nique became just the fifth African American woman to win an Oscar last week. Her portrayal of Mary Jones, the revolting and depraved mother of Precious, was arguably masterful, and she now joins Hattie McDaniel (who played a maid), Halle Berry (who played a sex-starved fool), Whoppi Goldberg (who played a medium in Ghost), and Jennifer Hudson (who played a singer). I mention the roles that African American women played to win their Oscars because the roles African American women get in Hollywood are too frequently stereotypical, and it is these stereotypical performances that are often lifted up. While I am glad for Mo'nique's victory, I did not relish the Precious story of welfare pathology making it to the screen. Why not more positive roles for African American women?

<snip>

I know, I know, it's all about the Benjamins, and those who have the power to "green light" films don't think that people will go see a movie with positive depictions of African American people.
Precious, for all its pathology, didn't have an easy time getting produced and, indeed, has twelve producers, including Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, who helped promote the film. The movie had a small, $10 million, production budget, and has earned only about $50 million, recouping production costs, but underscoring the modest level of resources available for this movie.

<snip>

I don't begrudge Mo'nique her Oscar. She took the material she was given and she worked it. She made Mary Jones a repulsive character with absolutely no redeeming social value. I am simply frustrated that these are the only kinds of roles that Hollywood offers African American women, the only kinds of roles that Oscar chooses to lift up. I am frustrated that some may consider Mary Jones' bestiality as typical, not atypical of African American women.

When African American women's characters in film are more reflective of our reality, and when these characters' performances are lifted up by Oscar, then we will have come a long way, baby.
Until then, Mo'nique's victory is her laudable personal success. It is a black community setback.

Seems like the author wants to put a singular definition on 'black community'... It is much more complex and diverse than 'one' 'positive' image could possibly show.

Besides when does anyone win an acting Oscar for playing someone positive? When was the last time? Ben Kingsley for Gandhi?

There are some positive performances in the best actress category, but I don't think they are even the majority: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Actress

this is very much subject to interpretation.
I posted it as a messenger, because I found it thoughtful and written from the perspective of a life long black woman, who is now President of Bennett College.

As a woman I can relate to some of what she is saying, and not being a black woman I can't possibly feel all of it.

As I read it, it makes enough sense to where I would bet the opinions of Oprah and Mo'nique, along with those who struggled to put on the movie that was brought to life with twelve producers and a really tiny budget, more parallel Ms. Malveaux's editorial than you might imagine.

I have a close friend, a family member in spirit, who is a producer of African American Theater in a large NC city.
I have over 3 decades witnessed the trouble talented black people have to be recognized, appreciated, valued and funded.

This is not some kind of bullshit assessment claiming discrimination.
This is to be taken seriously, and thought about.

:) kinda jumped out at me there..

Not wanting to be combative here, but there are moccasins and skins I have not walked in, and some points of view I do not have enough background about to do any more than listen to those who do.

a role (similar to something like the Aileen Wuornos role that won a few years back) and get acclamation over it... It is important to remember for all of its feigned liberalism, Hollywood is a pretty conservative place. Think about the film Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

Imagine the Civil Rights movement had crested and yet Hollywood made a 'controversial' film about an interracial relationship... Seriously, think about the Poitier character! And Hollywood patted itself on the back despite being about 15-20yrs behind the curve.

At the same time, Hollywood needs independent films like "Precious" as a breeding ground for new talent. There was nothing safe about casting Mo'Nique in a dramatic role, but she nailed it! She channeled something very dark in herself that touches all kinds of nerves (not just in the African American community). If anything, it goes against the 'Gone With the Wind' stereotype of the good 'mammy'. At the same time, she also did not play into the Jezebel stereotype either. She created something new, real, and frightening. That is art and what I want to take from any piece of cinema.

Oprah and friends were spot on... what Hollywood needs are producers and directors who can nurture new talent through independent films which have always served as an incubator for acting talent.

She will get dramatic roles now if she wants them...

If anything she and the young star of the film are going to face massive size discrimination because Hollywood is still stuck in the age of anorexia.


I don't buy the Oscar as a setback argument. Hollywood is STILL about 20yrs. behind the curve.

Shouldn't write, talk about and perform them?

I guess Dickens stereotyped Brits.

Artists find what moves them and they create.

so they make movies that people will go to see whether its the blind side, precious or lotr.... they are in the business of making money..

OK, is it just me, or did that editorial seem kind of racist and demeaning? I saw the movie, it was outstanding. This movie could have been a WHITE family too IMHO. Yeah, so maybe the characters in this film had an urban "black" type dialect, but so what? I haven't read the book, but I am assuming this is how the author intended it to be. None the less, to truly appreciate this movie, you have to look past the color of the characters, and the way they spoke, and see the story that was being told.

I wouldn't give a shit if the characters were Chinese or German and spoke with those types of accents/stereotypes, the story itself was very captivating, real, and emotion filled.

The editorial author CLEARLY has no taste or appreciation for something most movies nowadays seem to lack in... a damn good story line.

Her so called critique of Mo'nique is unwarranted.

it's absolutely clear that what I have seen of the clips could be anyone's family, any color.
But it's an American family, and the color is black.
And the author of the editorial is a black woman in America, who is educated and aware of things I will never be because I am neither.
So I grant her her opinion, suspect it has merit, and look forward (with trepidation) to seeing the film.

has merit. You are correct. As much as people want to embrace post-racial America,
It hasn't happened yet. I will hazzard a guess it never will,
except in the minds of those who truly can't/won't see the racism inherent in Hollywood.