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

[Mira]

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?

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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.

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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.