Is White Media Hating on Tyler Perry?

By Monica Medina

Tyler Perry’s new film is a classic American film. But it seems that some White media outlets are on a mission to classify Perry’s film as strictly a “Black film” and to belittle its impact on the country by writing as many negative reviews about the film as possible. I actually just read a NY Times movie review that made some pretty racist remarks in the article. Sometimes the bold racist remarks of publications makes me wonder if it is a requirement to be a racist to work as a journalist at some of these publications. Despite the fact that Oprah Winfrey is an American icon, I also believe that on many levels society has resentment towards African-American women-especially successful African-American women. Case and point the CW31 interview with Tyler Perry and Janet Jackson. The interviewer on the surface was grilling Janet Jackson with “Superbowl, wardrobe malfunction” questions. However, you could sense the interviewer was extremely upset that Janet Jackson was able to make a comeback on a major level. Perhaps the interviewer is upset because he thought or took pride in the fact that the “ powers to be” had blacklisted Janet’s career indefinitely due to “nipplegate.” But I’m pretty sure if this reviewer were interviewing Madonna he would have been in awe. He probably would have overlooked all the racy controversial sexually public over the top things that Madonna has done in her career. Perhaps the interviewer is upset and uncomfortable because Black female sexuality, even on a positive healthy level is something that America fears tremendously. When White Americans embrace Black females as beauty icons and sex symbols, there are many people who are extremely fearful, uncomfortable and resentful. After all, it has been indoctrinated in us since the African Holocaust that Black women are not beautiful and our beauty is not to be appreciated. Our sexual awareness is dismissed as nothing more than “whore-like behavior.” Meanwhile Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian make sex tapes and they become all the rave in White media. I’m sure you see the double standard here.

*Note: Before anyone dismisses me as a radical angry Black female. I will have you know that I have many Caucasian friends and I’m not angry. However, when things like this happen we have to “call it for what it is” as they say. I believe in the American dream but I’m not blind to the obvious double standard and some segments of society’s hatred towards Black women.