December 20, 2023 • 36 mins
The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.
As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming musical adaption of The Color Purple, I’m sure I’m not alone in deciding to rewatch the original film in preparation. From the iconic sisterhood between Celie & Nettie, the showstopping beauty of Shug AVery, and the lessons we learn about trauma and resilience, it’s clear why this film still resonates with so many of us today. For this conversation I was joined by TBG’s Community Assistant, Nyesha, to discuss our memories of watching the original film, our favorite characters and moments, and what we’re looking forward to in the upcoming adaptation.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly
conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small
decisions we can make to become the best possible versions
of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor Joy hard and Bradford,
a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or
(00:32):
to find a therapist in your area, visit our website
at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you
love listening to and learning from the podcast, it is
not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with
a licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much
(00:57):
for joining me for session three thirty eight of the
Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our
conversation after a word from our sponsors introducing our new
Therapy for Black Girl's holiday gift collection. Our new ensemble
of drinkwaar totes, journals and sweaters were made to remind
(01:19):
you of the importance of centering your mental health. Purchase
your tvg gifts at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash shop.
Happy holidays, y'all, remember to take good care and give
good gifts. As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming musical adaptation
(01:42):
of the Color Purple. I'm sure I'm not alone in
deciding to rewatch the original film in preparation, and whoa,
I'm so glad I did. From the iconic sisterhood between
Celi and Nettie, the show stopping beauty of sug and
the lessons we learn in trauma and resilience, it's clear
why this film still resonates with so many of us today.
(02:04):
I spent some time for this episode with TVG's community
assistant Naisha, to discuss our memories of watching the original film,
our favorite characters and moments, and what we're looking forward
to in the upcoming adaptation. If something resonates with you
while enjoying our conversation, please share with us on social
media using the hashtag TVG in Session, or join us
(02:27):
over in the sister circle To talk more about the episode.
You can join us at community dot therapy for Blackgirls
dot Com. Here's our conversation.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
All right, Well, thank you so much for joining me
again today, Niasha, Doctor Joey.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I'm excited to get into the subject to the topic.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yes, it's always so fun to have the team with
me to chat about things that are happening in pop culture.
We were last chatting about the Renaissance. So many of
you will remember Naisha from that the Nation. If you
would just introduce yourself and tell people which do on
the team.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, so hi everyone, I'm Naisha. I'm the community assistant
here with TVG and I helped run our sister Circle
and I'm so grateful for the TBG community.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yes, yes, So we are both anxiously anticipating the release
of the Color Purple film that would be coming out
on Christmas Day, and so we took this opportunity this
week the past couple of weeks to rewatch the original.
So I'm curious to hear from you now you show
what were your memories of watching The Color Purple the
first time?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Oh yeah, so I was young, unfortunately. I remember the
just the tough moments, the rough moments, and of course,
you know, social media popularize the negativity and it's so crazy.
I remember when I saw Seay spitting in a cup
and I was like, that is so bad. Why would
she do that? I thought it was a family member
she was talking to, and I was like, why would
you do that to a family member? So, just like
(03:52):
the small clips and then you know the things that
are on social media. So I'm so happy I took
the time to watch it again.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I don't remember how old I was when it originally
came out, but I don't remember like fully seeing the
film in its entirety. I feel like I saw bits
and pieces here and there. I think it used to
come on BET pretty frequently, and so I think I
would catch clips, but I don't know that I had
ever sat down to like watch the film, and so,
like you, I took the opportunity to watch it for
(04:20):
the first time in a long time, I guess, and
it was really struck by the storyline. And you know, again,
I had seen like some of the more popular clips
and those things that people repeat very often. But it
was very interesting, I think, to see the film in
its entirety, especially as an adult. Okay, so, since you
watched the film recently, if there was one clip or
(04:41):
scene that you feel like was really memorable for you,
what would you say it would be?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Yeah, So, as I was watching it, the part when
shook Avery came and mister was just enthralled by her
being in his presence and he was trying to cook
and this is when Seeley sat down. She was like,
mm hm, you're gonna try to work that catchen yourself.
I ain't doing or nothing. And I feel like that
was her moment, so like she knows. She's like, I
got this, I know what I'm doing, but now I'm
gonna look at you. You're treating someone else way better
(05:07):
than you treated me, so let me see what you
can do about this. And then it was so funny
he grabbed the keroscene because he couldn't light up the
stove and she was like, oh, I'm out of here.
And so that overall that moment, and again I've seen
that on social media with her just smiling, but since
I had not seen the film and so long, I
didn't really remember what that was symbolizing. So that was
just her moment like you know, you're not as powerful
(05:28):
as you think you are. That's how I don't.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah, So I feel like Shug was also part of
one of my favorite clips from the movie. One of
my favorite scenes was her singing the song to Seely
and the Duke Joint.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
I guess right.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
I just thought that was a really beautiful moment and
an example of her rely seeing Seely for who she was.
I feel like only in her experience with Shug was
she really seen as an individual since she had been
separated from Neddie, and so I just.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Said that there was a beautiful point of pen for
them both.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
It definitely seemed like they got off to a rocky
start right when she first was introduced to the family,
but then seeing how their relationship grew and how she
really had admiration and love for her by singing that song,
I thought it was just a beautiful moment in the film.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Agreed one hundred percent. And as you mentioned, you know,
it was a little rocky, but sug Mansion. She was like,
I was just jealous of you because you were with
mister also known as Albert, which I thought was also funny.
She was like, Albert, who's this? So she was just like,
it's all love. I was just jealous, And you know,
of course, coming off of the highest sisterhood heels out
such of this later on. But the movie was full
(06:36):
of sisterhood, and I didn't realize that. I only took
away the negative parts because of course the media and
social media, but everything was just love through black women,
and I'm so grateful I got to experience that now,
and I'm excited. I didn't think I would be leaving
my house on Christmas Day, but maybe if I got right, maybe.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
You gotta check it out. You gotta check it out right.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
So one thing that I did want to check in
with you about just to see what you made of
this moment. So when Shu gets first introduced into the film,
it seems like she is like in her room as
a recluse for a couple of days, which to me
pointed to maybe some mental health concerns going on.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
What did you make of that?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
What did you think was going on there?
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Yeah, So immediately when she came in, I'm like, oh
my gosh, she got off tour, she had a rough night.
I was just giving her the benefit of the doubt.
But when Mssu's dad came in the picture, he was like,
what are you doing with her? Nobody wants her. So
then it made me put it connected together, like she's
just she needs a moment to recoup, she's trying to
find herself. She's always on stage. Is that truly her
character on stage? I was making this up in my head,
(07:39):
but just because we don't have we didn't know behind
the scenes of her life. Truly, we were just going
by what the rumors were within the town. So made
her moment and then Ceely was happy to take care
of her because she was showing her love. And that's
kind of when their relationship as far as sisters began.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Right right, So what did you think was the story
behind why her and mister did not actually get together?
Because it seemed like she was interested. You know, I
think she made a comment about if I would have
married anybody, it would have been him. And clearly he
still has this like un dying love for her and
like really sees her as.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
The one that got away. So why do you think
they didn't.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Ever actually get married or get together?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
And this I didn't even think about that when she
did come back with her husband, obviously you could tell
this this guy who's I don't know, has more money
than mister. I'm not sure, but maybe mister had he
had a bunch of children, He had a bunch of children,
you know, he had his wife. Maybe because he has
so much children here, you know, who's gonna watch his children?
And also he was that's the parent in me. But
(08:42):
he was also so interested in other younger women. He
was going to church and when he was ay and Nettie,
I don't feel like he wasn't on the level that
she needed. And she's like, but don't worry, I'm going
to come back for you. This is what I have
in my mind. She's like, I'm going to come back
to you and we'll figure it out from there. Maybe
got it, got it.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
So we talked about some of our most memorable kind
of scenes. Who would you say is your favorite character
from the Hill?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yeah, Miss Sophia. Miss Sophia. She wasn't having it. She
wasn't having it when someone hit her, when someone made
her upset, and the whole town was like, oh goodness.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
No.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
So when she went to slap the white woman, the
mayor's wife, I thought she wasn't going to do it,
but she was like, no, how dare you? Hell no,
so sorry. She didn't slap the why she punched her
husband because he slapped her right, thank you. And I
was like, you did it. You said, you know you're
going to stand up for yourself because you had to.
You know, all my life I had to fight. And
she just kept going. So then we saw her in jail,
(09:42):
we saw her come out, and we just we saw
her story more than I remember. And then of course
toward the end, as his father says, the dead has risen,
and I laughed because I'm like, oh, snap, here she is.
And she was ready to rekindle that whole household for
the children and help them and then help Harpo, you know,
just keep his duke join going.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah, sos. Sophia definitely was my favorite in the film too,
And like you, I hadn't remembered her having such a
central role in the film, I think because we mostly
see neddie and Seely in like clips, and so I
didn't know that Sophia had such a big role. But
I love that she came in at a time when
it clearly was not okay for like women to have
(10:24):
their own thoughts and opinions, and that was like negatively
but down on. She came in with a very clear
sense of who she was, which she brought to the
table and the words people used today, And was really
looking to Mary Harfall because she genuinely wanted to be
with him and thought that it was going to be
like a blending of their families, right, and you know,
(10:45):
you can see Harfal getting all this awful advice about
like how to treat her and how to tame her
so to speak right, and so it really did feel
like there were several people Seely included because of how
she had been treated, thinking that to tame her and
to break her spirit, the only way to do that
was through hitting her. And so I love that, even
(11:06):
during that time when it wasn't okay for women to
be as assertive as she was, that a character like
her was a part of the film. Now, sadly we
saw how she was treated because of that, but I
did appreciate that they showed her coming in with a
strong point of view and a strong vantage point. Then,
like you, it feels like sisterhood has been a few.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
For there before Black Girls.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
This year with the book coming out, the sisterhood between
Seely and Miss Sofia, I thought was really strong. I
think we saw it in moments when she and Harper
were still together, but definitely when Miss Sofia had been
released from jail and they had this interaction in the
store and Seely helps her to like get the shopping
lists together, and then we see that carried out and
you know, the ways.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
That they took care of one another.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
It felt like throughout the rest of their time together,
and so I really appreciated Miss Sophia as a character,
but also the relationship that she had with Seely.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
And it's so funny when you talk about the store scene.
It reminded me in Sisterhood shameless plug here when you
said when a parent is in the airport and if
a black woman is there, they got you. They're going
to help you out, your daughter or your child. You
know it's gonna They're gonna be well. So she was
in the store. This is when her eye, like when
you know, when she came through left jail, her eye
was just like totally damaged. And Celi saw her in
(12:17):
the store trying to squint and read the list. She
was like, I got you. Don't worry. I got you.
And then when it got in the car, you know,
after shopping was done and she signed to her, she
was like, keep your head up, and I was like, yes,
she's there for you, She's there. And I really enjoyed it,
and I didn't even remember that at all.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
So I think there have been lots of conversations just around,
like lots of old classics, like the color purple kind
of getting remade and people have been different feelings, but
you know, the color purple is one something that feels
like it has stuck with people for a very long time.
Like people feel very moved by the original and by
the musical, and now even the early reactions that we're
hearing from people who have got a chance to see
(12:54):
that the movie have really really enjoyed it, and it
sounds like they're a fresh thin What do you think
has really made the color purple something that has stuck
with audiences for so long?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
The character seeing Oprah and of course Whoopy and where
they are now where they began, because literally that was
the movie for her and she didn't think she was
going to get the role. She thought she was too
fat for the role of Miss Sophia, and she got
that role. And that was back then, and I look
at her now so that you know my thoughts. It's
the characters and you know, just seeing Whoope go and
just level up in so many different areas. She still
(13:25):
has her opinion as herself, but that is what made
her and because of them, that's why black culture is
so strong. It's because you can start from one place
and then pivot into so many different businesses and ventures
and you know, help the COMMUNI in a variety of ways.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I think about and again, because we both don't have
the greatest memories of seeing it in real time, it
definitely feels like it has probably been so impactful to
people because it probably was one of the first experiences
of black women's stories and lives being shared on the
big screen in that way. So I think that there's
something about out seeing yourself on film in that way
(14:03):
that I think really is memorable and impactful for people.
And I think a lot of people have sadly connections to.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
These characters because there are.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Often histories of assault in our families, or women being
talked down to, or you know, kind of all.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
The fighting that women have to do, right.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
I think that's why the line of till you do
right by me, ain't no good go come to you
is often something that we find ourselves repeating, right, because
I think a lot of us have felt in those ways,
maybe not the same exact experiences, but I think that
there are lots of experiences in many of our lives
that feel similar to what we've seen depicted in this movie.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
And I wish doctor Jack and asked this question to
both of my grandmothers. One grandmother, she saw it on
Broadway and she with Fantasia. She was so excited. She
had the playbills actually signed. I believe I have it
in my garage. But I would wish I could ask
her that question, like how did you feel seen the
movie and how did you feel seeing the Broadway show?
And what do you think it did for black culture?
Not even that. I would just ask for that, just
(15:02):
to keep it simple, because she will probably say, our
stories are being told on the big screen in nineteen
eighty five, You know, I would love to ask that.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Question more from our conversation after the break.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Something else that I think was impactful and I think
memorable is that the relationship between Sugar and Sealy, I
feel like was one of the first experiences we saw
of like a queer relationship between black women on film.
Why do you think that was so important?
Speaker 3 (15:40):
It was nineteen eighty five. We brung this up in
a sister circle. You were not walking into your mother's
house saying that I have an interest in a woman
and still be there. Possibly a large majority of women
would not be able to share this with their father,
their mother, or their grandmothers. So just seeing it on
the screen and show the equality in the beginning. It
was a hint. And I also believe it wasn't a
romantic relationship. It was like a passionate loving like, you know,
(16:04):
you even want to hold when we're best friends, we
want to lock arms with our best friend. I think
that's how I saw it. I didn't really see it
as a romantic even a sexualized relationship. I didn't see
it like that. It was just a loving situation. Even
we saw when Nettie and Celi were reunited, they kissed
on the lips, they loved each other. It was just like,
thank you, I'm feeling braced, thank you, I'm so happy
to see you.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Yeah, you know, I agree with you. And I think
though what it did for Cealy, like should kissing her
and then having that exchange the way that they did,
it feels like it did unlock something for her in
that clearly there had never been these loving feelings towards
mister right, like that was not at all a loving relationship.
And so it does feel like the experience which should
(16:48):
really opened her eyes to somebody can care for me
in this way, and like I can have this kind
of connection with somebody else.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
But you know, and I think that was.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Really depicted well on film, when she was planning to
leave with Sugar and then like when that moment doesn't
happen and she just passes out in the street, right,
So I really think she was holding on to that
moment to feel something, because it does feel like again.
Jake was the first person I think that had really
seen her in that way since the connection between her
and Eddie had been lost.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Yeah, and it was tough for her, she said she
passed out. She was I was like, go ahead, get
on and get in the buggy, get on the go ahead,
go and she couldn't. But then, just because of course
we know the timeline, I was like, it's okay, y'all
gonna be reunited. I didn't know how they will be
reunited because I didn't remember, but you know, eventually it
came about.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
You mentioned that your grandmother saw the musical. Have you
seen the musical?
Speaker 3 (17:42):
I did in New York. I saw it three times
on Broadway. It's so crazy. I saw with Jennifer Hudson
as Shook Avery and I'm in New York and so
I used to we stood in line with one of
the cast members from The Color Purple who played mister
I don't remember his name, but I feel so bad,
but he was like, you're gonna enjoy it. And we
stood in line early in the morning. We got orchestra
(18:02):
seats for like fifty bucks, and I did it three
times and we enjoyed it, and we had a talk
back session with Jennifer Hudson. It was fabulous. My wife
is a big fan of Jennif Hudson and The Color
Purple and she didn't even see Beyonce at all, but
she's like, I'm going to see The Color Purple.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
She's not in her renaissance.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
This is a renaissance.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
I love that. So I have not seen the musical,
so I am curious to see, like how the musical
is going to be different from the film. So what
can you share about your experience with the musical and
how it was different from then what you saw in
the original film.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
When Celia had a pants shop in the musical, it
was a big galore, like it was. They made a big,
big thing about it. So you saw Ms. Sophia and
Harple they tried on pants, but like the women of
the town, everyone had their size. Because one size fits
all and it was just so happy for her. So
they made it bigger in the musical. And then also
(18:59):
obviously when Shook Avery was performing, that was a big thing.
For sure. It was musical, so it was it was
orchestra and it was music, and it was everything there here.
It was like she didn't have no mic. This is
what they had. It was just her singing. Obviously it
was a great performance, but everything was just so much bigger.
So this is what I look forward to. And even
seeing like you know, interviews and clips Shook Avery, you know,
she was it, so I looked forward to seeing that
(19:21):
and I'm here, Fantasia Brino is singing I'm here when
Seeli left, she was like, I'm here and not maybe ugly,
I may be a woman, but I'm here. That was
totally different in the musical. That was the song we
were standing ovation. So again I look forward to that
in the musical the revamp, and then Fantasia also said
that was the hardest part of the movie for her.
(19:43):
We were in the sister circle. We were watching an
interview with them and they were like, what was the
tough moment? And of course they shared the labor you know,
being up standing up late, but Fantasia said that was
hard because it really hit her and her cast members
all worked so hard together to bring that to life.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah, I'm really excited to see musical version, and I'm
curious to know whether I will like that one better
or not, because I do feel like the film it
feels like a very heavy, serious though there are morements
of joy and like love and that kind of thing.
It felt like it was done well on film, and
so I'm curious to see how that translates to the
(20:19):
musical version. So I want to know what that's going
to feel like, if it's going to have that same
feeling of seriousness, or whether the tone will change a
little because it's more music added.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
And the benefit of people who cannot watch the film.
I know a couple of people who could not watch
it because it was so heavy. I hope the musical
adaptation helps them and I don't want to say enjoy it,
but be able to just actually sit down and receive
such a wonderful project because this is what it is like.
It really set the stone for black women's stories, so
I hope it gives When someone shared that with me,
(20:51):
I said, I hear you, they could not watch it
because it was so heavy, and that was a different
experience for me.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
Right right, More from our conversation after the break, So.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
We know that for the original film was directed by
Steven Spielberg, there was lots of criticism of course him
being a white man. And so this newest adaptation is
directed by the Gdanian filmmaker Blitz Basawulee. So what do
you think will be the different vantage point that he
will bring to this film that, of course, Stephen Spielberg
was not able.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
To goodn'tess gracious? I thought it would be an easy question,
But that's a little tough because I feel like Steven
Spielberg was such an ally because of the film that
he put together. And that's hard, doctor, I'm not gonna
lie to you. That's a little hard outside of just
updated scenery and more things for the cast to work with.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Yeah, I also find it interesting that I don't know
who did the first Broadway adaptation, but it's interesting to
me that both of these have been like none of
them have been black women, right, And so it's interesting
that I'm sure Blitz of course has a very different
advantage point than Steven Spielberg does, But what would it
look like for the story to be interpreted through a
(22:12):
black woman's eyes, and like, what might they do differently?
I think would be really interesting.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
I'm sure Oprah had a really big stamp on a
good portch because people want to honor her character as
well as Whoope. I'm not sure how much will be
attributed to the direction portion. I don't think much, but
I know Oprah she was a part of behind the
scenes very much so, so right, it's them together in
my eyes because I was looking more of it on
Oprah Sam.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
Very good point.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Yeah, she has clearly been very involved in the promotion
of it, for sure, and I'm sure in making sure
that the film kept the spirit of what they wanted
to share. So we've already touched on this a little bit.
But there are clearly some very big, heavy hitters that
they've casted for this new adaptation. So Hayle Bailey, isn't
it her? We already talked about Fantasia Danielle Brooks, So.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
Who are you I was looking forward to?
Speaker 2 (23:01):
You said you liked the Fantasious song on when you
saw it on Broadway.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Are you looking forward to that again or something else.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
So, oh my goodness, Daniel Brooks. She did such a
great job as Sophia on Broadway, and I pulled up
the cast really quick because I was looking. I was like,
where does her come in? She's squeaked. I'm looking forward
to it because I've never seen her perform. But I
don't want to be biased, but the top three characters
Miss Sophia, Nettie, and Sealy Shuck. Avery was Jennifer Hudson
(23:30):
on Broadway, but definitely Taraji. I haven't seen her in
this role. She's always well, yeah, she's always a headhunter
in some type of way, but just being you know,
just being in another role. I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Yeah, yeah, I'm excited for all of it.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Like I said, because I have not seen the musical,
I think the casting has been superbed. It feels like
great choices for the cast, and I really am enjoying
seeing how the cast has grown as a family unit.
It feels like in a lot of ways through the
press runs and I'm sure through the filming. I I'm
so so excited that the strike is over because people
(24:03):
are getting paid with their worth and that the writers
seem happy, and that the actors seem happy. But I'm
also really glad that we're actually getting to have a
pressure run for this film, because it feels like it
deserves to have that base to really be celebrated and
for people to get really excited about it, and so
I'm really glad that we've been able to kind of
see them do the interviews in the traditional ways that
we typically see the actors do pressure runs. So I
(24:26):
don't know that there's any one person that I'm excited
about seeing. I think I'm just excited to see what
the musical version feels like versus the film adaptation.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Undred percent, and I look forward to seeing the nominations.
They already got some nominations. I said, Wow, that was
behind the scenes we didn't even see, right, right.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
That's interesting. I guess I don't know enough about how
timelines work in terms of stuff being insered because it
isn't out for the public yet. But maybe because they'd
had so many advanced screenings it qualifies. I guess. I'm
not sure.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Yeah, I wasn't sure, but I was like, Okay, good
for them. So I'm looking forward to more because this
is to just put the step up above for all
the cast members. And I wanted to touch on something
I was in the Sister circle. We were looking at
three different interviews together. Daniel Brooks said, you know, she
definitely came about on Orange and Black cheers. I'm so
happy for her, and I was an extra Orange and
Black for a couple of seasons. So seeing them, it's
(25:17):
like great, Like now so her, they're so hor on
Broadway and now I'm going to see her here again.
She said she felt like an imposter when she was
nominated for which was it a Golden Globe?
Speaker 4 (25:25):
The Golden Globe.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Nominated for a Golden Globe. She said she called out
the next day sick because she was nauseous, and Oprah
said why she was like, because I thought she was
like she had imposter syndrome. And again in the Sister's Circle,
we were like, it's not just us. Celebrities have it too,
this is not just us. I'm happy she shared that
with us and being what she was vulnerable. It was
an interview with Oprah and Gail and the rest of
(25:48):
the team, and it was like, wow, you know you
got this.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yeah, I hadn't seen that interview, but I appreciate you
sharing that because you're right like I do feel like
with every new level, some of that same doubt creeps in, Right,
So it's like, Okay, I've done smaller things and maybe
I feel comfortable there, but now clearly her platform is
much larger, her star has risen much higher, and so
she's introduced to a whole new audience of people.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
And so I think it.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Is normal sometimes said that, like, oh, do I really
deserve this, or do I really.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Know what I'm doing?
Speaker 2 (26:19):
But again, from all of the early accounts I have seen,
people have loved it, have loved the cast, They have
really appreciated the adaptation, even though it was already adapted
into the musical. I think this is another version of
an adaptation, and so it feels like they've done some
really cool things with it. And so I'm just really
glad that they are being celebrated in the ways that
(26:39):
they deserve for again having a black woman's story, a
story about black women that really censors I experiences in
the limelight in this way, I'm.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
So excited for them. We had Beyonce, we got the
color purple. Let's top up the charts. Okay, so just
to see, you know, our faces and the theater is
at this level. I'm so excited.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
The other thing that I'm thinking about is are there
other films maybe from that eighties early nineties genre that
you think or do for the remake or some kind
of new adaptation.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
Absolutely, if Beal Street could Talk, If Bill Street could Talk,
one hundred and over was in that. But because again,
the sisterhood and just the stories that were told on
Beal Street, let's bring it back and doctor joy. Let's
see if this is going to really come, if it's
going to happen, because it deserves too, because black women
hold one another down, and sometimes I feel like, you know,
(27:34):
with reality TV, we don't honor it so much, we
do hold one another down. We see the negativity very
often with reality TV shows sometimes. So I'm like, let's
see the joy of black sisterhood. So if Bill Street
could talk, in my mind, that would be a good one.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
See I think mine would be waiting to exhale. And
I feel like we've had versions of it right and
I feel like even Insecure was a little bit of this,
But Insecure was a sitcom, so we got twenty twenty
five minute episodes. I would love to see a longer
version of what would those four women look like if
they were placed in the twenty twenties, right, and how
would their relationships be. While I think there are opportunities
(28:13):
for us to kind of remake some of our Black
women classics, I also hope that other films get an
opportunity to be made right because new stories are also important, right,
And I just think that there's so much to say
from the black women's vantage point. There are so many
things that I think have gone unexplored about the interior
pieces of our lives that I really hope get some
(28:34):
new shine so that there can be more, like there
can be more of a celebration of the fullness of
who we are as Black women, and not just like
only the pieces about trauma or only the pieces of
our relationships, but but you know, all the things that
I think really go to make up our lives.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
I'm ready, like overall, when it comes to a Black
woman on screen, I'm excited. Like I remember when The
Other Black Girl came out on Hulu. Everybody's on it.
Now I can say not everybody enjoy it all, But
I'm happy that we had the chance and opportunity. And
I feel bad for saying that, but just.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
See that's the thing. I think when there is more
of the stuff made, then it's okay for us to
say like, oh, we didn't like this as much, right.
But I think because we are so protective of the
few things that we have, it feels like you don't
want to like say like, oh, I don't know that
I love that so much. But I think that's why
we need a variety of So it's to be told
because everything is not for everybody, right, And so with
(29:26):
more stories being told, then we can have an opportunity
to see ourselves and have content that we really enjoy.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Thank you for making me feel better about that, because
that's what it is. It's like, no, but since I
got you, but it wasn't really my realm. But I
know there's so much more common, So I'm ready let's
do it.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
So we've touched on this a little bit, but I
am curious to hear if there are any other sisterhood
moments that felt really poignant to you from the color
purple that you want to make sure to highlight.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Yeah, so again, going back to Sophia when she was
like it was time for her to leave harpall all
the women and they didn't have really speaking roles. All
the women, they were getting her children. And then when
she was let go from jail and she got to
go visit her family for like an hour on christ
not even it wasn't even an hour on Christmas, and
they were all there and welcoming her, and it was like,
this is that sisterhood they got one another. And then
(30:17):
when we saw shook Avery. I know, I'm jumping around
when we saw Shook Avery, of course to show that
Ceely she got it within her, she can literally live
up to her potential. That was like boom sisterhood. And
then we saw that all of them were in the
house at the end when Nettie and Celly were reunited,
it was like, look at all this. I want that
picture on my wall because that was something like that.
I'm like, come on, that is just joy right there.
(30:39):
And we see snippets of individual experiences they had outside
of the woman who were helping miss Sofia, which I
thought they were very important to the film.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Yeah, and you know, I think that dinner scene when
Celia feels like finally finds her voice, right, like she's
found all these letters that Neddie has written her. There
clearly she didn't know that all of that was still happening.
She didn't know that all these letters have been hidden
from her and once she is able to read those
through Should's assistance. Right, I really feel like that set
off this beautiful domino effect because I feel like Should
(31:11):
was somebody who had the opportunity to kind of lean
into the fullness of who she was.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
Right.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
She was able to step into her gifts and go
on tour, which means she had been exposed to lots
of different things, whereas Celia, it feels like, had never
left her really small town, had not gotten the opportunity
that she was able to come back and share a
little bit of that with her, which then allowed Celi
to speak up at the dinners, And then we see
Harpo's then wife beside like, Hey, I want to go
(31:38):
be a singer too, Like I have gifts I want
to share.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
And so to me, it just.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Reminded me of how important it is for us to
share our experience and share our voices in the interest
of like sharing our own stories, but also because we
never know what it is unlocking for someone else. Right,
And so I just felt like that was a beautiful
kind of domino effect of you being who you are
so that other people feel emboldened to be who they
(32:03):
are and just step out on faith in those same ways.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
Yes, I realized there was so much in the movie.
I didn't even like think about that to you know,
share that. So when you share, that made me think,
oh my god. It was her name Mary Squeak, her
real name, Like her name was Squeak, but because it's
because the men called her Squeak, I'm very confident she
didn't give herself that name. So she was finding her voice.
I was like, look at that, and they're all going together,
you know. No one was like you can't come with me, sis, No,
(32:28):
it's like you want to go, let's go. And then
the men were looking at they were like what you know,
what is happening here? So it was just like that
joy It's all I spread throughout the characters. And then
I was interesting. I questioned. I was like, why was
Sophia don't want to go? She was confused at sitting
at the table, and then when she finally came back,
I was like, she didn't want to go. Maybe I
feel like she she wanted to stay with Harpo. So
(32:51):
I get well. Actually, I was like, is she going
to go back to Harpo? So it was a little
confusing to me. I was like, are they back together?
Because remember when she was cleaning the glass in the
juke joint, Mister was like, it's so nice to see
you two together, and she was. I didn't say all that, but.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
It did feel like by the end, like when they
were trying on the pants in the pan shop, it
definitely felt like they were together. And I do think
though this could have been an opportunity. Now, clearly the
ways that Harpo had treated and Sofia was awful, but
it does feel like so much of that was like
not really a part of Harpo. It was because other
people told him, like, this is what a man is right,
(33:28):
and this is how you take care of your woman
and how you tame her. And so it does feel
like maybe they had been able to come back together
in ways that were healthy by.
Speaker 4 (33:36):
The end and clearly learned that this is.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
How you are in relationship with one another, not as
a domineering kind of forced over her. Right.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Yeah, so tefinitely it was not his goal to hurt her,
but his down from him started from his grandfather. You know,
his grandfather told his father, this is what you do,
and his father took that very serious and his father
was like, this is what you do. And then again
we said in the beginning, seay, this is all she knew.
So although she was building somewhat of a relationship with
Miss Sofia, she said what she knew. So yeah, she was. Man,
(34:07):
I really enjoyed her storyline. Again, didn't really remember it.
And then going back to the musical when Nettie was
in Africa, in the musical on Broadway, they just the
sound and the music and they had real instruments. It
was like, this is amazing. So that's why I do
also look forward to so like the letters were being
read just sharing information about the tribe. I was like,
(34:27):
this is awesome, we actually have this. That's the only
album sand Board from the iTunes, the color purple.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Yeah, and I'm sure you know, everything has gotten bigger,
technology has gotten better.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
Who knows, they probably were.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Like a live instrumentation, and you know, I know that
we are going to be in for a treat who
this newest adaptation. So I'm just so excited for you
to see in for all of our community to check
it out so that people can share their thoughts and
responses to the new film as well.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Agreed. Now, I was questioning. I was, am I gonna
wear purple to the move if I go to the
movies to see I was like, because when Oprah, we'll
see people in and purple. She say thank you so
much for in purple, Thank you so much. And they
also said, you know in the movie, you can't can't
walk past the color purple and not smile. It's like, Okay,
I don't have that much purple, but I can figure
(35:14):
it out.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
You can figure it out.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
I mean, if we figured out the silver for we
can surely get some purple together for sure.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
So I look forward to seeing it. I may not
see it on Christmas Day, but I know I'll be
ready for it.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Well, thank you for spending some time with me again today.
That you should remind us where we can find you online.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Oh, you can find me at two Mimi's and the baby.
It's just parenthood and life there.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
Yes, yes, well, thank you again.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Thank you so much, Jack and Joy.
Speaker 5 (35:47):
I'm so glad that night she was able to join
me for this conversation to learn more about her and
her work. Be sure to visit the show notes at
Therapy for Black Girls dot com slash Session three three eight,
and don't forget to text us episodes to two of
your girls right now. If you're looking for a therapist
in your area, check out our therapist directory at Therapy
for Blackgirls dot com slash directory. And if you want
(36:10):
to continue digging into this topic or just be in
community with other sisters, come on over and join us
in the Sister Circle. It's our cozy corner of the
Internet designed just for black women. You can join us
at community dot Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. This episode
was produced by Frida Lucas, Elise Ellis, and Zaria Taylor.
Editing is done by Dennison Bradford. Thank y'all so much
(36:33):
for joining me again this week. I look forward to
continuing this conversation with you all real soon. Take good care.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
What's
Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly
conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small
decisions we can make to become the best possible versions
of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor Joy hard and Bradford,
a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or
(00:32):
to find a therapist in your area, visit our website
at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you
love listening to and learning from the podcast, it is
not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with
a licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much
(00:57):
for joining me for session three thirty eight of the
Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our
conversation after a word from our sponsors introducing our new
Therapy for Black Girl's holiday gift collection. Our new ensemble
of drinkwaar totes, journals and sweaters were made to remind
(01:19):
you of the importance of centering your mental health. Purchase
your tvg gifts at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash shop.
Happy holidays, y'all, remember to take good care and give
good gifts. As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming musical adaptation
(01:42):
of the Color Purple. I'm sure I'm not alone in
deciding to rewatch the original film in preparation, and whoa,
I'm so glad I did. From the iconic sisterhood between
Celi and Nettie, the show stopping beauty of sug and
the lessons we learn in trauma and resilience, it's clear
why this film still resonates with so many of us today.
(02:04):
I spent some time for this episode with TVG's community
assistant Naisha, to discuss our memories of watching the original film,
our favorite characters and moments, and what we're looking forward
to in the upcoming adaptation. If something resonates with you
while enjoying our conversation, please share with us on social
media using the hashtag TVG in Session, or join us
(02:27):
over in the sister circle To talk more about the episode.
You can join us at community dot therapy for Blackgirls
dot Com. Here's our conversation.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
All right, Well, thank you so much for joining me
again today, Niasha, Doctor Joey.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I'm excited to get into the subject to the topic.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yes, it's always so fun to have the team with
me to chat about things that are happening in pop culture.
We were last chatting about the Renaissance. So many of
you will remember Naisha from that the Nation. If you
would just introduce yourself and tell people which do on
the team.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, so hi everyone, I'm Naisha. I'm the community assistant
here with TVG and I helped run our sister Circle
and I'm so grateful for the TBG community.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yes, yes, So we are both anxiously anticipating the release
of the Color Purple film that would be coming out
on Christmas Day, and so we took this opportunity this
week the past couple of weeks to rewatch the original.
So I'm curious to hear from you now you show
what were your memories of watching The Color Purple the
first time?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Oh yeah, so I was young, unfortunately. I remember the
just the tough moments, the rough moments, and of course,
you know, social media popularize the negativity and it's so crazy.
I remember when I saw Seay spitting in a cup
and I was like, that is so bad. Why would
she do that? I thought it was a family member
she was talking to, and I was like, why would
you do that to a family member? So, just like
(03:52):
the small clips and then you know the things that
are on social media. So I'm so happy I took
the time to watch it again.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I don't remember how old I was when it originally
came out, but I don't remember like fully seeing the
film in its entirety. I feel like I saw bits
and pieces here and there. I think it used to
come on BET pretty frequently, and so I think I
would catch clips, but I don't know that I had
ever sat down to like watch the film, and so,
like you, I took the opportunity to watch it for
(04:20):
the first time in a long time, I guess, and
it was really struck by the storyline. And you know, again,
I had seen like some of the more popular clips
and those things that people repeat very often. But it
was very interesting, I think, to see the film in
its entirety, especially as an adult. Okay, so, since you
watched the film recently, if there was one clip or
(04:41):
scene that you feel like was really memorable for you,
what would you say it would be?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Yeah, So, as I was watching it, the part when
shook Avery came and mister was just enthralled by her
being in his presence and he was trying to cook
and this is when Seeley sat down. She was like,
mm hm, you're gonna try to work that catchen yourself.
I ain't doing or nothing. And I feel like that
was her moment, so like she knows. She's like, I
got this, I know what I'm doing, but now I'm
gonna look at you. You're treating someone else way better
(05:07):
than you treated me, so let me see what you
can do about this. And then it was so funny
he grabbed the keroscene because he couldn't light up the
stove and she was like, oh, I'm out of here.
And so that overall that moment, and again I've seen
that on social media with her just smiling, but since
I had not seen the film and so long, I
didn't really remember what that was symbolizing. So that was
just her moment like you know, you're not as powerful
(05:28):
as you think you are. That's how I don't.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah, So I feel like Shug was also part of
one of my favorite clips from the movie. One of
my favorite scenes was her singing the song to Seely
and the Duke Joint.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
I guess right.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
I just thought that was a really beautiful moment and
an example of her rely seeing Seely for who she was.
I feel like only in her experience with Shug was
she really seen as an individual since she had been
separated from Neddie, and so I just.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Said that there was a beautiful point of pen for
them both.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
It definitely seemed like they got off to a rocky
start right when she first was introduced to the family,
but then seeing how their relationship grew and how she
really had admiration and love for her by singing that song,
I thought it was just a beautiful moment in the film.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Agreed one hundred percent. And as you mentioned, you know,
it was a little rocky, but sug Mansion. She was like,
I was just jealous of you because you were with
mister also known as Albert, which I thought was also funny.
She was like, Albert, who's this? So she was just like,
it's all love. I was just jealous, And you know,
of course, coming off of the highest sisterhood heels out
such of this later on. But the movie was full
(06:36):
of sisterhood, and I didn't realize that. I only took
away the negative parts because of course the media and
social media, but everything was just love through black women,
and I'm so grateful I got to experience that now,
and I'm excited. I didn't think I would be leaving
my house on Christmas Day, but maybe if I got right, maybe.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
You gotta check it out. You gotta check it out right.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
So one thing that I did want to check in
with you about just to see what you made of
this moment. So when Shu gets first introduced into the film,
it seems like she is like in her room as
a recluse for a couple of days, which to me
pointed to maybe some mental health concerns going on.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
What did you make of that?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
What did you think was going on there?
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Yeah, So immediately when she came in, I'm like, oh
my gosh, she got off tour, she had a rough night.
I was just giving her the benefit of the doubt.
But when Mssu's dad came in the picture, he was like,
what are you doing with her? Nobody wants her. So
then it made me put it connected together, like she's
just she needs a moment to recoup, she's trying to
find herself. She's always on stage. Is that truly her
character on stage? I was making this up in my head,
(07:39):
but just because we don't have we didn't know behind
the scenes of her life. Truly, we were just going
by what the rumors were within the town. So made
her moment and then Ceely was happy to take care
of her because she was showing her love. And that's
kind of when their relationship as far as sisters began.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Right right, So what did you think was the story
behind why her and mister did not actually get together?
Because it seemed like she was interested. You know, I
think she made a comment about if I would have
married anybody, it would have been him. And clearly he
still has this like un dying love for her and
like really sees her as.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
The one that got away. So why do you think
they didn't.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Ever actually get married or get together?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
And this I didn't even think about that when she
did come back with her husband, obviously you could tell
this this guy who's I don't know, has more money
than mister. I'm not sure, but maybe mister had he
had a bunch of children, He had a bunch of children,
you know, he had his wife. Maybe because he has
so much children here, you know, who's gonna watch his children?
And also he was that's the parent in me. But
(08:42):
he was also so interested in other younger women. He
was going to church and when he was ay and Nettie,
I don't feel like he wasn't on the level that
she needed. And she's like, but don't worry, I'm going
to come back for you. This is what I have
in my mind. She's like, I'm going to come back
to you and we'll figure it out from there. Maybe
got it, got it.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
So we talked about some of our most memorable kind
of scenes. Who would you say is your favorite character
from the Hill?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yeah, Miss Sophia. Miss Sophia. She wasn't having it. She
wasn't having it when someone hit her, when someone made
her upset, and the whole town was like, oh goodness.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
No.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
So when she went to slap the white woman, the
mayor's wife, I thought she wasn't going to do it,
but she was like, no, how dare you? Hell no,
so sorry. She didn't slap the why she punched her
husband because he slapped her right, thank you. And I
was like, you did it. You said, you know you're
going to stand up for yourself because you had to.
You know, all my life I had to fight. And
she just kept going. So then we saw her in jail,
(09:42):
we saw her come out, and we just we saw
her story more than I remember. And then of course
toward the end, as his father says, the dead has risen,
and I laughed because I'm like, oh, snap, here she is.
And she was ready to rekindle that whole household for
the children and help them and then help Harpo, you know,
just keep his duke join going.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah, sos. Sophia definitely was my favorite in the film too,
And like you, I hadn't remembered her having such a
central role in the film, I think because we mostly
see neddie and Seely in like clips, and so I
didn't know that Sophia had such a big role. But
I love that she came in at a time when
it clearly was not okay for like women to have
(10:24):
their own thoughts and opinions, and that was like negatively
but down on. She came in with a very clear
sense of who she was, which she brought to the
table and the words people used today, And was really
looking to Mary Harfall because she genuinely wanted to be
with him and thought that it was going to be
like a blending of their families, right, and you know,
(10:45):
you can see Harfal getting all this awful advice about
like how to treat her and how to tame her
so to speak right, and so it really did feel
like there were several people Seely included because of how
she had been treated, thinking that to tame her and
to break her spirit, the only way to do that
was through hitting her. And so I love that, even
(11:06):
during that time when it wasn't okay for women to
be as assertive as she was, that a character like
her was a part of the film. Now, sadly we
saw how she was treated because of that, but I
did appreciate that they showed her coming in with a
strong point of view and a strong vantage point. Then,
like you, it feels like sisterhood has been a few.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
For there before Black Girls.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
This year with the book coming out, the sisterhood between
Seely and Miss Sofia, I thought was really strong. I
think we saw it in moments when she and Harper
were still together, but definitely when Miss Sofia had been
released from jail and they had this interaction in the
store and Seely helps her to like get the shopping
lists together, and then we see that carried out and
you know, the ways.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
That they took care of one another.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
It felt like throughout the rest of their time together,
and so I really appreciated Miss Sophia as a character,
but also the relationship that she had with Seely.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
And it's so funny when you talk about the store scene.
It reminded me in Sisterhood shameless plug here when you
said when a parent is in the airport and if
a black woman is there, they got you. They're going
to help you out, your daughter or your child. You
know it's gonna They're gonna be well. So she was
in the store. This is when her eye, like when
you know, when she came through left jail, her eye
was just like totally damaged. And Celi saw her in
(12:17):
the store trying to squint and read the list. She
was like, I got you. Don't worry. I got you.
And then when it got in the car, you know,
after shopping was done and she signed to her, she
was like, keep your head up, and I was like, yes,
she's there for you, She's there. And I really enjoyed it,
and I didn't even remember that at all.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
So I think there have been lots of conversations just around,
like lots of old classics, like the color purple kind
of getting remade and people have been different feelings, but
you know, the color purple is one something that feels
like it has stuck with people for a very long time.
Like people feel very moved by the original and by
the musical, and now even the early reactions that we're
hearing from people who have got a chance to see
(12:54):
that the movie have really really enjoyed it, and it
sounds like they're a fresh thin What do you think
has really made the color purple something that has stuck
with audiences for so long?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
The character seeing Oprah and of course Whoopy and where
they are now where they began, because literally that was
the movie for her and she didn't think she was
going to get the role. She thought she was too
fat for the role of Miss Sophia, and she got
that role. And that was back then, and I look
at her now so that you know my thoughts. It's
the characters and you know, just seeing Whoope go and
just level up in so many different areas. She still
(13:25):
has her opinion as herself, but that is what made
her and because of them, that's why black culture is
so strong. It's because you can start from one place
and then pivot into so many different businesses and ventures
and you know, help the COMMUNI in a variety of ways.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I think about and again, because we both don't have
the greatest memories of seeing it in real time, it
definitely feels like it has probably been so impactful to
people because it probably was one of the first experiences
of black women's stories and lives being shared on the
big screen in that way. So I think that there's
something about out seeing yourself on film in that way
(14:03):
that I think really is memorable and impactful for people.
And I think a lot of people have sadly connections to.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
These characters because there are.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Often histories of assault in our families, or women being
talked down to, or you know, kind of all.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
The fighting that women have to do, right.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
I think that's why the line of till you do
right by me, ain't no good go come to you
is often something that we find ourselves repeating, right, because
I think a lot of us have felt in those ways,
maybe not the same exact experiences, but I think that
there are lots of experiences in many of our lives
that feel similar to what we've seen depicted in this movie.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
And I wish doctor Jack and asked this question to
both of my grandmothers. One grandmother, she saw it on
Broadway and she with Fantasia. She was so excited. She
had the playbills actually signed. I believe I have it
in my garage. But I would wish I could ask
her that question, like how did you feel seen the
movie and how did you feel seeing the Broadway show?
And what do you think it did for black culture?
Not even that. I would just ask for that, just
(15:02):
to keep it simple, because she will probably say, our
stories are being told on the big screen in nineteen
eighty five, You know, I would love to ask that.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Question more from our conversation after the break.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Something else that I think was impactful and I think
memorable is that the relationship between Sugar and Sealy, I
feel like was one of the first experiences we saw
of like a queer relationship between black women on film.
Why do you think that was so important?
Speaker 3 (15:40):
It was nineteen eighty five. We brung this up in
a sister circle. You were not walking into your mother's
house saying that I have an interest in a woman
and still be there. Possibly a large majority of women
would not be able to share this with their father,
their mother, or their grandmothers. So just seeing it on
the screen and show the equality in the beginning. It
was a hint. And I also believe it wasn't a
romantic relationship. It was like a passionate loving like, you know,
(16:04):
you even want to hold when we're best friends, we
want to lock arms with our best friend. I think
that's how I saw it. I didn't really see it
as a romantic even a sexualized relationship. I didn't see
it like that. It was just a loving situation. Even
we saw when Nettie and Celi were reunited, they kissed
on the lips, they loved each other. It was just like,
thank you, I'm feeling braced, thank you, I'm so happy
to see you.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Yeah, you know, I agree with you. And I think
though what it did for Cealy, like should kissing her
and then having that exchange the way that they did,
it feels like it did unlock something for her in
that clearly there had never been these loving feelings towards
mister right, like that was not at all a loving relationship.
And so it does feel like the experience which should
(16:48):
really opened her eyes to somebody can care for me
in this way, and like I can have this kind
of connection with somebody else.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
But you know, and I think that was.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Really depicted well on film, when she was planning to
leave with Sugar and then like when that moment doesn't
happen and she just passes out in the street, right,
So I really think she was holding on to that
moment to feel something, because it does feel like again.
Jake was the first person I think that had really
seen her in that way since the connection between her
and Eddie had been lost.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Yeah, and it was tough for her, she said she
passed out. She was I was like, go ahead, get
on and get in the buggy, get on the go ahead,
go and she couldn't. But then, just because of course
we know the timeline, I was like, it's okay, y'all
gonna be reunited. I didn't know how they will be
reunited because I didn't remember, but you know, eventually it
came about.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
You mentioned that your grandmother saw the musical. Have you
seen the musical?
Speaker 3 (17:42):
I did in New York. I saw it three times
on Broadway. It's so crazy. I saw with Jennifer Hudson
as Shook Avery and I'm in New York and so
I used to we stood in line with one of
the cast members from The Color Purple who played mister
I don't remember his name, but I feel so bad,
but he was like, you're gonna enjoy it. And we
stood in line early in the morning. We got orchestra
(18:02):
seats for like fifty bucks, and I did it three
times and we enjoyed it, and we had a talk
back session with Jennifer Hudson. It was fabulous. My wife
is a big fan of Jennif Hudson and The Color
Purple and she didn't even see Beyonce at all, but
she's like, I'm going to see The Color Purple.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
She's not in her renaissance.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
This is a renaissance.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
I love that. So I have not seen the musical,
so I am curious to see, like how the musical
is going to be different from the film. So what
can you share about your experience with the musical and
how it was different from then what you saw in
the original film.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
When Celia had a pants shop in the musical, it
was a big galore, like it was. They made a big,
big thing about it. So you saw Ms. Sophia and
Harple they tried on pants, but like the women of
the town, everyone had their size. Because one size fits
all and it was just so happy for her. So
they made it bigger in the musical. And then also
(18:59):
obviously when Shook Avery was performing, that was a big thing.
For sure. It was musical, so it was it was
orchestra and it was music, and it was everything there here.
It was like she didn't have no mic. This is
what they had. It was just her singing. Obviously it
was a great performance, but everything was just so much bigger.
So this is what I look forward to. And even
seeing like you know, interviews and clips Shook Avery, you know,
she was it, so I looked forward to seeing that
(19:21):
and I'm here, Fantasia Brino is singing I'm here when
Seeli left, she was like, I'm here and not maybe ugly,
I may be a woman, but I'm here. That was
totally different in the musical. That was the song we
were standing ovation. So again I look forward to that
in the musical the revamp, and then Fantasia also said
that was the hardest part of the movie for her.
(19:43):
We were in the sister circle. We were watching an
interview with them and they were like, what was the
tough moment? And of course they shared the labor you know,
being up standing up late, but Fantasia said that was
hard because it really hit her and her cast members
all worked so hard together to bring that to life.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah, I'm really excited to see musical version, and I'm
curious to know whether I will like that one better
or not, because I do feel like the film it
feels like a very heavy, serious though there are morements
of joy and like love and that kind of thing.
It felt like it was done well on film, and
so I'm curious to see how that translates to the
(20:19):
musical version. So I want to know what that's going
to feel like, if it's going to have that same
feeling of seriousness, or whether the tone will change a
little because it's more music added.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
And the benefit of people who cannot watch the film.
I know a couple of people who could not watch
it because it was so heavy. I hope the musical
adaptation helps them and I don't want to say enjoy it,
but be able to just actually sit down and receive
such a wonderful project because this is what it is like.
It really set the stone for black women's stories, so
I hope it gives When someone shared that with me,
(20:51):
I said, I hear you, they could not watch it
because it was so heavy, and that was a different
experience for me.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
Right right, More from our conversation after the break, So.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
We know that for the original film was directed by
Steven Spielberg, there was lots of criticism of course him
being a white man. And so this newest adaptation is
directed by the Gdanian filmmaker Blitz Basawulee. So what do
you think will be the different vantage point that he
will bring to this film that, of course, Stephen Spielberg
was not able.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
To goodn'tess gracious? I thought it would be an easy question,
But that's a little tough because I feel like Steven
Spielberg was such an ally because of the film that
he put together. And that's hard, doctor, I'm not gonna
lie to you. That's a little hard outside of just
updated scenery and more things for the cast to work with.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Yeah, I also find it interesting that I don't know
who did the first Broadway adaptation, but it's interesting to
me that both of these have been like none of
them have been black women, right, And so it's interesting
that I'm sure Blitz of course has a very different
advantage point than Steven Spielberg does, But what would it
look like for the story to be interpreted through a
(22:12):
black woman's eyes, and like, what might they do differently?
I think would be really interesting.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
I'm sure Oprah had a really big stamp on a
good portch because people want to honor her character as
well as Whoope. I'm not sure how much will be
attributed to the direction portion. I don't think much, but
I know Oprah she was a part of behind the
scenes very much so, so right, it's them together in
my eyes because I was looking more of it on
Oprah Sam.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
Very good point.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Yeah, she has clearly been very involved in the promotion
of it, for sure, and I'm sure in making sure
that the film kept the spirit of what they wanted
to share. So we've already touched on this a little bit.
But there are clearly some very big, heavy hitters that
they've casted for this new adaptation. So Hayle Bailey, isn't
it her? We already talked about Fantasia Danielle Brooks, So.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
Who are you I was looking forward to?
Speaker 2 (23:01):
You said you liked the Fantasious song on when you
saw it on Broadway.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Are you looking forward to that again or something else.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
So, oh my goodness, Daniel Brooks. She did such a
great job as Sophia on Broadway, and I pulled up
the cast really quick because I was looking. I was like,
where does her come in? She's squeaked. I'm looking forward
to it because I've never seen her perform. But I
don't want to be biased, but the top three characters
Miss Sophia, Nettie, and Sealy Shuck. Avery was Jennifer Hudson
(23:30):
on Broadway, but definitely Taraji. I haven't seen her in
this role. She's always well, yeah, she's always a headhunter
in some type of way, but just being you know,
just being in another role. I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Yeah, yeah, I'm excited for all of it.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Like I said, because I have not seen the musical,
I think the casting has been superbed. It feels like
great choices for the cast, and I really am enjoying
seeing how the cast has grown as a family unit.
It feels like in a lot of ways through the
press runs and I'm sure through the filming. I I'm
so so excited that the strike is over because people
(24:03):
are getting paid with their worth and that the writers
seem happy, and that the actors seem happy. But I'm
also really glad that we're actually getting to have a
pressure run for this film, because it feels like it
deserves to have that base to really be celebrated and
for people to get really excited about it, and so
I'm really glad that we've been able to kind of
see them do the interviews in the traditional ways that
we typically see the actors do pressure runs. So I
(24:26):
don't know that there's any one person that I'm excited
about seeing. I think I'm just excited to see what
the musical version feels like versus the film adaptation.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Undred percent, and I look forward to seeing the nominations.
They already got some nominations. I said, Wow, that was
behind the scenes we didn't even see, right, right.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
That's interesting. I guess I don't know enough about how
timelines work in terms of stuff being insered because it
isn't out for the public yet. But maybe because they'd
had so many advanced screenings it qualifies. I guess. I'm
not sure.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Yeah, I wasn't sure, but I was like, Okay, good
for them. So I'm looking forward to more because this
is to just put the step up above for all
the cast members. And I wanted to touch on something
I was in the Sister circle. We were looking at
three different interviews together. Daniel Brooks said, you know, she
definitely came about on Orange and Black cheers. I'm so
happy for her, and I was an extra Orange and
Black for a couple of seasons. So seeing them, it's
(25:17):
like great, Like now so her, they're so hor on
Broadway and now I'm going to see her here again.
She said she felt like an imposter when she was
nominated for which was it a Golden Globe?
Speaker 4 (25:25):
The Golden Globe.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Nominated for a Golden Globe. She said she called out
the next day sick because she was nauseous, and Oprah
said why she was like, because I thought she was
like she had imposter syndrome. And again in the Sister's Circle,
we were like, it's not just us. Celebrities have it too,
this is not just us. I'm happy she shared that
with us and being what she was vulnerable. It was
an interview with Oprah and Gail and the rest of
(25:48):
the team, and it was like, wow, you know you
got this.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yeah, I hadn't seen that interview, but I appreciate you
sharing that because you're right like I do feel like
with every new level, some of that same doubt creeps in, Right,
So it's like, Okay, I've done smaller things and maybe
I feel comfortable there, but now clearly her platform is
much larger, her star has risen much higher, and so
she's introduced to a whole new audience of people.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
And so I think it.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Is normal sometimes said that, like, oh, do I really
deserve this, or do I really.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Know what I'm doing?
Speaker 2 (26:19):
But again, from all of the early accounts I have seen,
people have loved it, have loved the cast, They have
really appreciated the adaptation, even though it was already adapted
into the musical. I think this is another version of
an adaptation, and so it feels like they've done some
really cool things with it. And so I'm just really
glad that they are being celebrated in the ways that
(26:39):
they deserve for again having a black woman's story, a
story about black women that really censors I experiences in
the limelight in this way, I'm.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
So excited for them. We had Beyonce, we got the
color purple. Let's top up the charts. Okay, so just
to see, you know, our faces and the theater is
at this level. I'm so excited.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
The other thing that I'm thinking about is are there
other films maybe from that eighties early nineties genre that
you think or do for the remake or some kind
of new adaptation.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
Absolutely, if Beal Street could Talk, If Bill Street could Talk,
one hundred and over was in that. But because again,
the sisterhood and just the stories that were told on
Beal Street, let's bring it back and doctor joy. Let's
see if this is going to really come, if it's
going to happen, because it deserves too, because black women
hold one another down, and sometimes I feel like, you know,
(27:34):
with reality TV, we don't honor it so much, we
do hold one another down. We see the negativity very
often with reality TV shows sometimes. So I'm like, let's
see the joy of black sisterhood. So if Bill Street
could talk, in my mind, that would be a good one.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
See I think mine would be waiting to exhale. And
I feel like we've had versions of it right and
I feel like even Insecure was a little bit of this,
But Insecure was a sitcom, so we got twenty twenty
five minute episodes. I would love to see a longer
version of what would those four women look like if
they were placed in the twenty twenties, right, and how
would their relationships be. While I think there are opportunities
(28:13):
for us to kind of remake some of our Black
women classics, I also hope that other films get an
opportunity to be made right because new stories are also important, right,
And I just think that there's so much to say
from the black women's vantage point. There are so many
things that I think have gone unexplored about the interior
pieces of our lives that I really hope get some
(28:34):
new shine so that there can be more, like there
can be more of a celebration of the fullness of
who we are as Black women, and not just like
only the pieces about trauma or only the pieces of
our relationships, but but you know, all the things that
I think really go to make up our lives.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
I'm ready, like overall, when it comes to a Black
woman on screen, I'm excited. Like I remember when The
Other Black Girl came out on Hulu. Everybody's on it.
Now I can say not everybody enjoy it all, But
I'm happy that we had the chance and opportunity. And
I feel bad for saying that, but just.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
See that's the thing. I think when there is more
of the stuff made, then it's okay for us to
say like, oh, we didn't like this as much, right.
But I think because we are so protective of the
few things that we have, it feels like you don't
want to like say like, oh, I don't know that
I love that so much. But I think that's why
we need a variety of So it's to be told
because everything is not for everybody, right, And so with
(29:26):
more stories being told, then we can have an opportunity
to see ourselves and have content that we really enjoy.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Thank you for making me feel better about that, because
that's what it is. It's like, no, but since I
got you, but it wasn't really my realm. But I
know there's so much more common, So I'm ready let's
do it.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
So we've touched on this a little bit, but I
am curious to hear if there are any other sisterhood
moments that felt really poignant to you from the color
purple that you want to make sure to highlight.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Yeah, so again, going back to Sophia when she was
like it was time for her to leave harpall all
the women and they didn't have really speaking roles. All
the women, they were getting her children. And then when
she was let go from jail and she got to
go visit her family for like an hour on christ
not even it wasn't even an hour on Christmas, and
they were all there and welcoming her, and it was like,
this is that sisterhood they got one another. And then
(30:17):
when we saw shook Avery. I know, I'm jumping around
when we saw Shook Avery, of course to show that
Ceely she got it within her, she can literally live
up to her potential. That was like boom sisterhood. And
then we saw that all of them were in the
house at the end when Nettie and Celly were reunited,
it was like, look at all this. I want that
picture on my wall because that was something like that.
I'm like, come on, that is just joy right there.
(30:39):
And we see snippets of individual experiences they had outside
of the woman who were helping miss Sofia, which I
thought they were very important to the film.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Yeah, and you know, I think that dinner scene when
Celia feels like finally finds her voice, right, like she's
found all these letters that Neddie has written her. There
clearly she didn't know that all of that was still happening.
She didn't know that all these letters have been hidden
from her and once she is able to read those
through Should's assistance. Right, I really feel like that set
off this beautiful domino effect because I feel like Should
(31:11):
was somebody who had the opportunity to kind of lean
into the fullness of who she was.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
Right.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
She was able to step into her gifts and go
on tour, which means she had been exposed to lots
of different things, whereas Celia, it feels like, had never
left her really small town, had not gotten the opportunity
that she was able to come back and share a
little bit of that with her, which then allowed Celi
to speak up at the dinners, And then we see
Harpo's then wife beside like, Hey, I want to go
(31:38):
be a singer too, Like I have gifts I want
to share.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
And so to me, it just.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Reminded me of how important it is for us to
share our experience and share our voices in the interest
of like sharing our own stories, but also because we
never know what it is unlocking for someone else. Right,
And so I just felt like that was a beautiful
kind of domino effect of you being who you are
so that other people feel emboldened to be who they
(32:03):
are and just step out on faith in those same ways.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
Yes, I realized there was so much in the movie.
I didn't even like think about that to you know,
share that. So when you share, that made me think,
oh my god. It was her name Mary Squeak, her
real name, Like her name was Squeak, but because it's
because the men called her Squeak, I'm very confident she
didn't give herself that name. So she was finding her voice.
I was like, look at that, and they're all going together,
you know. No one was like you can't come with me, sis, No,
(32:28):
it's like you want to go, let's go. And then
the men were looking at they were like what you know,
what is happening here? So it was just like that
joy It's all I spread throughout the characters. And then
I was interesting. I questioned. I was like, why was
Sophia don't want to go? She was confused at sitting
at the table, and then when she finally came back,
I was like, she didn't want to go. Maybe I
feel like she she wanted to stay with Harpo. So
(32:51):
I get well. Actually, I was like, is she going
to go back to Harpo? So it was a little
confusing to me. I was like, are they back together?
Because remember when she was cleaning the glass in the
juke joint, Mister was like, it's so nice to see
you two together, and she was. I didn't say all that, but.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
It did feel like by the end, like when they
were trying on the pants in the pan shop, it
definitely felt like they were together. And I do think
though this could have been an opportunity. Now, clearly the
ways that Harpo had treated and Sofia was awful, but
it does feel like so much of that was like
not really a part of Harpo. It was because other
people told him, like, this is what a man is right,
(33:28):
and this is how you take care of your woman
and how you tame her. And so it does feel
like maybe they had been able to come back together
in ways that were healthy by.
Speaker 4 (33:36):
The end and clearly learned that this is.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
How you are in relationship with one another, not as
a domineering kind of forced over her. Right.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Yeah, so tefinitely it was not his goal to hurt her,
but his down from him started from his grandfather. You know,
his grandfather told his father, this is what you do,
and his father took that very serious and his father
was like, this is what you do. And then again
we said in the beginning, seay, this is all she knew.
So although she was building somewhat of a relationship with
Miss Sofia, she said what she knew. So yeah, she was. Man,
(34:07):
I really enjoyed her storyline. Again, didn't really remember it.
And then going back to the musical when Nettie was
in Africa, in the musical on Broadway, they just the
sound and the music and they had real instruments. It
was like, this is amazing. So that's why I do
also look forward to so like the letters were being
read just sharing information about the tribe. I was like,
(34:27):
this is awesome, we actually have this. That's the only
album sand Board from the iTunes, the color purple.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Yeah, and I'm sure you know, everything has gotten bigger,
technology has gotten better.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
Who knows, they probably were.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Like a live instrumentation, and you know, I know that
we are going to be in for a treat who
this newest adaptation. So I'm just so excited for you
to see in for all of our community to check
it out so that people can share their thoughts and
responses to the new film as well.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Agreed. Now, I was questioning. I was, am I gonna
wear purple to the move if I go to the
movies to see I was like, because when Oprah, we'll
see people in and purple. She say thank you so
much for in purple, Thank you so much. And they
also said, you know in the movie, you can't can't
walk past the color purple and not smile. It's like, Okay,
I don't have that much purple, but I can figure
(35:14):
it out.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
You can figure it out.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
I mean, if we figured out the silver for we
can surely get some purple together for sure.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
So I look forward to seeing it. I may not
see it on Christmas Day, but I know I'll be
ready for it.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Well, thank you for spending some time with me again today.
That you should remind us where we can find you online.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Oh, you can find me at two Mimi's and the baby.
It's just parenthood and life there.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
Yes, yes, well, thank you again.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Thank you so much, Jack and Joy.
Speaker 5 (35:47):
I'm so glad that night she was able to join
me for this conversation to learn more about her and
her work. Be sure to visit the show notes at
Therapy for Black Girls dot com slash Session three three eight,
and don't forget to text us episodes to two of
your girls right now. If you're looking for a therapist
in your area, check out our therapist directory at Therapy
for Blackgirls dot com slash directory. And if you want
(36:10):
to continue digging into this topic or just be in
community with other sisters, come on over and join us
in the Sister Circle. It's our cozy corner of the
Internet designed just for black women. You can join us
at community dot Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. This episode
was produced by Frida Lucas, Elise Ellis, and Zaria Taylor.
Editing is done by Dennison Bradford. Thank y'all so much
(36:33):
for joining me again this week. I look forward to
continuing this conversation with you all real soon. Take good care.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
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