I have seen the 1985 interpretation of the historical fiction cinema version of The Color Purple, originally written by Alice Walker, directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by Quincy Jones, and starring actors like Oprah Winfrey several times. It always makes me cry and laugh, and cry some more. I bought this classics book several months ago, not knowing when I would be brave enough to read it. Finally it landed in my hands and I have to say that this book could not have been translated as it is, in 1985 but they did what they could. I plan to watch the 2024 version of the movie tonight. I am excited that the same team of Jones, Spielberg and Winfrey worked together again and I know now we can accept the full story about black culture, feminism and even LBGTQIA+ ways at a time that is more open-minded.
“I’m getting tired of Harpo, she say. All he think about since us married is how to make me mind. He don’t want a wife, he want a dog.” said Sofia. “I don’t like to go to bed with him no more…Used to be where he touch me I just go all out my head…Now I feels tired all the time. No interest.”
Celie said: “But I say this just to be saying something. I don’t know nothing bout it. Mr. ____ clam on top of me, do his business, in ten minutes us both sleep. Only time I feel something stirring down there is when I think about Shug.”
Sofia say: “The worst is I don’t think he notice. He git up there and enjoy himself just the same. No matter what I’m thinking. No matter what I feel. It just him. Heartfeeling don’t even seem to enter into it. The fact he can do it like that make me want to kill him.”
In this world some things can make us feel trapped. Marriage can be one of them. If you don’t know what a good one is and you don’t know you can expect more, you are stuck. In the early 1900’s women, especially black women didn’t have many options, even in fiction. Celie was uneducated and unloved by the men in her life. But between her sister, Nettie, and then by Shug, Celie learned love.
Celie said: “What God do for me?…he give me a lynched daddy, a crazy mama, a lowdown dog of a step pa and a sister I probably wont ever see again. Any how, I say, the God I been praying and writing to is a man. And act just like all the other mens I know. Trifling, forgitful and low down.”
Shug said: “The think I believe, God is inside you and inside every body else. You come into the world with God. But only them that search for it inside find it. And sometimes it just manifests itself even if you not looking, of don’t know what you looking for. Trouble do it for must folks, I think. Sorrow, Lord. Feeling like shit…Everything want to be loved…Man corrupt everything. He on your box of grits, in your head, and all over the radio. He try to make you think he everywhere. Soon as you think he everywhere, you think he God. But he aint. Whenever you trying to pray, and man plop himself on the other end of it, tell him to get lost.”
It’s funny how, everyone judged Shug but she was the one that knew the most about love. You need to read this Pulitzer Prize winning book.
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of The Color Purple by Alice Walker on Amazon.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a story of a black woman in the early 1900’s learning what can’t be taught in school. That she is loved. That she can make choices. That being honest has virtue. In fact written words can give us hope to create our future. Celie learns with the help of a few good friends that that which was taken from her, will return, if she is faithful. This story is so important for sisters, for women for people.
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My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Jesus Follower, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Jesus Follower…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
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