For Coloured Girls: Extreme Feminism?

I think I can comfortably say this has been the worst movie I have watched in my life, even worse than the horrible movie Haemoglobin.

I understand the theme is to show the raw emotions of women and how they cope with struggles and traumatic events that occur in their lifetime, I also appreciate the cast ( I tip my hat to Thandie Newton, and I think she had the best performance) however, there were certain things I could not but disagree with.

Are men the enemy? I believe that there are men out there who have issues and women are usually the ones who suffer but can we get statistics please? Is it every man that beats his wife, rapes or cheats? I found some of the portrayals very unrealistic. It’s ironic that the director of this movie is male himself. In fact one could come out of the cinema thinking men are evil and can never change and that’s how most of the male characters were portrayed. How about the man who stood by his wife even when he found out the reason she couldn’t have children? His character was much downplayed! Are we saying such men don’t exist? And if this is the case should society just sit and fold its arms?

Another thing I could not agree with is the portrayal of religious people having double standards and this seems to be a trend in modern movies today.  The practice of religion is now portrayed as an avenue for hypocrites to masks themselves under the false guise of virtue, fervent Christians are all too often presented as lunatics and puritans, I strongly disagree. Not every person striving to be Christian is pharisaic. The fact that one is not perfect and strives for this is one of the beautiful aspects of being human, that’s what keeps man going, being motivated to reach ones ideal and if a few people get caught up in a glass house with a judging look and raised pointed nose, it’s their problem however those people do not make up the population of true Christians.

Even if one could identify with the hard core truth about modern black society, the movie portrays the vices of these men as incurable. The rapist was allowed to get away with his vice by being killed, he was stabbed but died a rapist, the man who murdered his own children was locked in prison given the excuse of being a criminal rather than someone who was probably portrayed as one who had  some mental illness. In reality, a man who kills his own children out of anger will not be sent to jail but a psychiatric home, especially one who experiences post-traumatic stress disorder. He would be placed in a mental hospital and receive therapy, not immediate jail term.

It’s very sad that abortion is seen as a very easy and convenient thing to do. I do not believe that it is an easy decision to make and the option of life is not even considered. I strongly think that one should always be able to face the consequences of ones actions; one always wants to have ones cake and eat it. Is being pregnant punishment? Is sexual irresponsibility to be celebrated?

The vulgarity of the poetry put me off! I do not believe sex is all about superficial pleasure; it is sacred and should be treated as such. It was portrayed as a crime and something used by men to exploit women. Although in some cases it is but how about the good sides? How about a wonderful and most enjoyable union between two people with equal love for each other? (This is usually best revered by a husband and wife on a matrimonial bed).

It is understandable that one’s feelings and experiences are usually expressed through writing. For instance Tyler Perry is said to have had an abusive father and so mostly spent time with his mother and women. Although he did not write the original script, it makes a lot of sense for him to have portrayed men in that manner and adopt a negative feminine view of things. I think he could have done better with the story line; the movie leaves no moral lesson or hope for anyone struggling in such a situation. I understand it’s a movie FOR COLOURED GIRLS but are we saying that all men are evil? And that they cannot change? Are we saying that women are always the victims?

I don’t think women are weaklings and don’t know how to handle situations in their lives. Not every black woman is oppressed by a man and not every religious woman is a puritan with double standards and I think this is what the movie tried to portray, as each character’s experience is supposed to mirror an aspect of a black woman’s life. This movie makes women look like they are always suffering and have no clue of what to make of life, we are stronger than we know and with God and good guidance we can definitely cope with the obstacles life throws at us.

The "Saw" Principle

The rain poured like it was furious, flogging his back and knocking his head, but he didn’t mind, he had experienced this many times that it dint matter anymore, he was used to it. The walk home wasn’t too far, just 30 minutes , he would make it home safe as long as it wasn’t  past 9pm, Sege and his gang emerged at that time and no one in sound mind should be out unless they wanted to join or die!

He was a very smart boy, his teacher advised him to go to Kings College for his secondary education or get a scholarship to White Sands but he feared his parents won’t be able to afford it and he won’t be able to fit in with the “aje butters”. It hurt him though, he knew he was very smart and deemed it unfair that a boy as intelligent as he was wouldn’t be able to get a good education, all because of money! Cursed thing!

He quickened his pace as it was getting late, he knew he stretched the time too far but how could he say no to a nice soccer match with the boys, especially when he knew he’s a very skilled player! Then the rain had to spoil everything and he remembered he had a curfew.  He definitely didn’t want to meet Sege neither did he want to worry his mum so he started running . He began to see lights turned on nearby and his heart started racing, “I need to make it on time o!” he ran faster and then he slipped and fell hard on the muddy floor.

He gradually stood up and tried to squeeze some water out of his clothes and as he squeezed all he could a black Jeep sped past and drenched them once more. He sighed loudly, he hated being poor, he wished his family was rich, at least he won’t have to walk and get soaked and dirty! He wouldn’t have to pretend like he didn’t care about the jokes his classmates crack, they teased and said hurtful things like he had only a pair of trousers and he walked to school because he had no money, they say they could buy his house with their allowance. He also felt bad because they take okada to school and he doesn’t.

He felt terrible now, the fall made it worse. At first he was happy about the correct goal he scored which made him forget about the rain, then he thought  of the nice things his teacher said to him and he felt better then he became scared because he was running late and now he regretted being poor!

He got home on time and just like he figured his mother was waiting for him. She shouted at him for taking time then told him she boiled hot water for his bath and Pounded Yam and Egusi was waiting for him. His little brother ran to hug him then showed him what he drew in the jotter Uncle Tunde dashed him. He sighed, he was happy he was home but was still upset he was poor.

The rain poured like it was furious, flogging the roof and banging the boot, he didn’t mind, all he had to do was put on his headphones and play some music. He took out his iTouch and selected “over my dead body” . He’d met Drake once at this concert where he got a V.I.P seat. As funny as it might sound he actually wanted to go with his dad but he was busy and had been for the past 3 years!

He wasn’t a straight A pupil and he didn’t care, he knew he could get into any secondary school he wanted, his mum knew principals and besides he was going to an English school in Paris, he didn’t have time for this country, it was too hot and too boring. He thought about this while taking a few puffs from his inhaler, cursed thing! He thought. He was off to the hospital again, his leg had to be checked. He hoped it was fine even though this was the 4^th in successive months he was going for x-ray on the same leg. The doctor said he had brittle bones and should be especially taken care of.

The driver missed a turn and found himself in a very dodgy area, he made a quick U-turn and sped past splashing some boy with muddy water.  He saw the pool of water soak the boy’s face and clothes, he felt sorry for him and told the driver to be careful next time. He kept staring at him and wondered what he was doing under the heavy rain, couldn't  he at least take a cab or something? The sharp pain on that leg reminded him that he had his own problems to take care of.

He was scared and wished his mother was there, he wished she read him a story or told him how hectic her day was while leaning  on her  shoulders.  He wanted to feel like a big baby for once, he was longing to feel like a big baby. She  was never at home and he was tired of always playing ps3 games with his governess or gossiping about his classmates to the driver. He wished his brother would drive him to school at least one day, preferably on his birthday so he could show him off to his classmates and say “hey! My brother drove me to school!” He couldn’t remember the last time he ever hung out with him, he was always busy either with his friends or going to some party. Sometimes he wished he was as old as his brother so that he could go out with him, he began to cry. He just wanted his parents, he just wanted love… He just wanted his family.

What will happen to them?

 I was watching a programme on television and it involved children, very cute, innocent looking children. They were on their way to a studio to learn something; something I was waiting to know about and then it popped up! a dozen stark naked men and women! they were learning sex education!!!!
I truly wonder how slapping naked men and women on television teaches children  about sex! apparently some people think that the stork or dolphins story is like telling a lie to children but honestly is showing children the graphic images of having sex the better option?
Children's minds are developing, in my opinion they are fragile and need to be treated with care, yes they will ask such questions at a point in time and the stork story might not be good enough for them but there are also milder ways of explaining these things to them. Children grow too fast thanks to the media and this sex filled world but we could help them enjoy childhood by making them enjoy each stage of life. We all remember and probably miss the times when we did not know too much or care too much about "adult" things, can't we allow children enjoy childhood for once in their lives??
I am highly heart broken that parents and other agents of socialization are not letting children be children and that is why the world is turning into a hell hole!
Please let children BE children. Yes, tell them where little Jimmy came from but innocently and not with illustrations nor diagrams!
Thank You and God Bless!!!