Congrats Mo’Nique and Thank U
congratulations to Mo’nique for her golden globe. i was late in seeing the movie Precious. in fact, i just saw it the day before yesterday. i’ve been singing her praises ever since.
prior 2 seeing it, i had been hearing and participating in a lot of conversations with people condemning the movie for its subject matter. some didn’t want to put that image of black folks out there. a sentiment that makes very little sense to me. other just don’t like 2 face such a serious topic. some are avoiding the movie due to personal emotional constraints. at some point, the band aid has to come off. it’s not gonna feel good and it’s not gonna be pretty underneath. but it has to come off. and as Mo’nique said in her acceptance speech: “it’s now time to tell. and it’s okay.”
i remember being on a message board once and the topic of coming out stories was presented. someone starts a story about being 13 or 14 and having sex with a 27 year old woman. another story gets posted about someone being 15 and having a sexual encounter with a woman in her 30s. and the stories continued on and on. i was shocked and frozen. these were not coming out stories. these were stories of molestation. a few other posters were as appalled as i was and stated as such. many of these womyn who recounted these tales responded with anger and insult. they seriously didn’t feel that they were taken advantage of. i really am saddened 2 realize that u actually have 2 tell someone that they were molested. they not only didn’t know. but thought these situations were ok. they retold the tales with pleasant reverie. almost boastfully. i worried. if they thought that it was ok, then who’s 2 say that they won’t in turn at the age of 36 or 40 go by some high school and find themselves a girlfriend in hopes of creating a “coming out story” for someone else. they didn’t come out. their sexuality wasn’t realized at that moment some unscrupulous adult touched them in their private place. they don’t know that. and i know that ignorance is bliss sometimes. but not in this instance. not when there’s a strong possibility that the cycle will be repeated. it is not ok for grown folks to touch children! period. only cuz it didn’t hurt. or only cuz it was woman on woman. or only cuz someone is a teenager who thinks they’re grown doesn’t make any of those stories ok. i hate 2 b the bearer of bad news. folks always kill the messenger. that’s why Precious got so much shit. why so many people wanted to avoid the movie like the plague.
i’m glad Mo’nique got that award. i’m glad 4 as much attention as possible 2 be given to a movie like this. i hope all the Preciouses of the world see this and know that it’s not cool. break the cycle. don’t do 2 others what has been done 2 u. it’s painful to watch. and i’m sure 4 some, it’s even more painful to admit. but time heals all wounds. the wounds won’t heal properly underneath that dirty band aid. brace yourself. rip it off and get better. now’s the time to tell and it’s okay.
