FOR COLORED HYPOCRITES LIKE COURTLAND MILLOY!
Washington Post
On Monday, November 8, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. “concerned” Washington Post Staff Writer Courtland Milloy took to the internet with his review of For Colored Girls. His review appallingly titled “For black men who have considered homicide after watching another Tyler Perry movie” presented itself as having taken issue with Tyler Perry’s depiction of black men in the film. Mr. Milloy wrote, ”Can anyone name a movie that came out recently starring a black man who wasn’t a sociopath?” Presenting himself as a black man very concerned by the way black men were being represented in the media via Tyler Perry’s film adaption of Ntozake Shange’s work.
But, riddle me this, if Mr. Milloy is as upset with the sociopathic depiction of black men in the film as he says he is, why would he choose the title that title for his review? Surely he knew that the review was going to be read by thousands of people? (At this moment the review has been liked by over 11,000 people). I have to ask the question, how can Courtland Milloy criticize Tyler Perry for demonizing black men when his title suggests black men respond to problems by killing? It seems like the pot calling the kettle black if you ask me.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I take issue with hypocritical men like Mr. Milloy who cannot criticize patriarchy without reinforcing it at the same time. It would have been easy for Mr. Milloy to write about his dissatisfaction with the film without making an allusion to violence, especially in the form of murder. I have to believe for my own sanity that Mr. Milloy didn’t have to resort to his own stereotype of the black male as violent aggressor while reviewing the film and or feeling negatively about what he had seen on screen.
There’s no excuse for someone of Mr. Milloy’s stature or anyone period to resort to such disgusting tactics to express their dislike of a film. I’m concerned about the way black men are presented in the media, and the last thing I would have done was titled my film review “For black men who have considered homicide after watching another Tyler Perry movie.” Isn’t it possible to criticize one limiting standard without trading it in for another? I can think of a number of ways to title a review of the film without alluding to male violence, even if you are “deeply concerned” about black men being presented as sociopaths.
I’m not impressed by hypocrites like Courtland Milloy, who throw Tyler Perry under the bus for demonizing the black man, while doing the same thing themselves.
For black men who have considered homicide after watching another Tyler Perry movie [Washington Post]
Posted on November 11, 2010, in Breaking It Down!, Double Standards, End Patriarchy. Bookmark the permalink. 6 Comments.
I am shocked that a black man would write a review with such a title full stop. I would expect that from a white man.
I haven’t yet seen the movie as it is not out in the UK but maybe when I have I will have more insight.
Great post.
I don’t know why anyone would get offended by a movie like that. And I am suprised Tyler would do a movie like that considering other movies he made were completely teasing/making fun of Black Woman. Ya know?
Gwen
http://www.slimgwen.wordpress.com
I just read the article, because after you made such a fuss about it, I thought he must have said something about busting a cap in Tyler Perry… But he didn’t.
Sure, it’s an unimaginative, exaggerated, and unsubtle title, but I think you’re reading way too much into the race angle. For example, I know a lot of Asians are frustrated with the way Hollywood uses white actors to portray characters who were originally Asian (e.g., in Avatar the last Airbender, or Dragonball Z). If an article came out titled “For Asians who have considered homicide after watching yet another whitewashed film anime adaptation,” would you say that’s due to the author’s own stereotype of Asians as violent aggressors?
As for the patriarchy argument you make, I suppose that’s reasonable. When I step back and think about it, it is kind of unsettling to see how we’ve been conditioned such that when someone offends us, our first thought— even if we don’t act on it— is retribution through physical violence.
I agree with Alex—the title is just use of the creative license. It’s a non issue relative to the issue Milloy is trying to make, and has validity. However, We need to talk constructively about the portrayal of the black woman and man in relation to each other, not always in contrast or mutual exclusion of the other. That’s not biologically possible, it’s short sighted, wrongheaded, and so often the frame of debates of this type. If one loses, so does the other.
Another thing, I hate always framing the black popular narrative from whatever Tyler Perry does and doesn’t do. How about that for a change? Let’s end that too. There are other black people making very good films, that speak about the complexities and beauty of blackness. The sooner we recognize this the better.
Thanks,
HA
Helen – what exactly are you talking about? “However, We need to talk constructively about the portrayal of the black woman and man in relation to each other, not always in contrast or mutual exclusion of the other. That’s not biologically possible, it’s short sighted, wrongheaded, and so often the frame of debates of this type. If one loses, so does the other”
I am lost and want to know what you mean by this, ESP in relationship to the blog post.
Thank You.
I loved Courtland’s piece. While I love that Tyler Perry has been able to create work and present some very beautiful images of Black people and their struggle across the country, he is selling poison. It will take a decade or more to undo the damage that he is doing to Blcak men. In the game of domino’s… we often say, “All money ain’t good money.” The same applies here. It seems that Tyler Perry is only concerned about himself. Just because White folk are willing to pay him for peddling these various, social and cultural themes that women love, images that continue to castigate Black men as demonic beings who have no love for their women and children does not make it alright. Sista’s need to understand that he is talking about their fathers, brothers, husbands and sons. The chickens will come home to roost. Prostitution takes a toll on all who participate.