Seeing the Power of The Color Purple Through Multiple Lenses
Going to see The Color Purple, Blitz Bazawule’s 2023 musical adaptation of Gary Griffin’s 2004 Broadway musical adaptation of director Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie adaptation of Alice Walker’s 1982 novel was a rich experience. The movie theater provided a communal experience, especially for Black women, who consider this tale a seminal melodrama.
The famous lines from the movie, such as Sofia’s “All my life I had to fight!” or Mister’s father grumbling, “You let a ho in yo house,” received loud reactions from the crowd. Most of the audience, particularly the Black women, were able to appreciate and resonate with the lines.
The Color Purple is Celie’s story, a dark-skinned Black girl living in 1900s Georgia. Raped by her father and forced to bear two children, Celie endures an abusive relationship with her husband, Mister, amidst being separated from her beloved sister, Nettie.
This latest adaptation of The Color Purple powerfully connects with the Black community, particularly Black women, as Racquel Gates, an associate professor of film at Columbia University, notes that for many Black women, the film serves as a foundational pop culture text.
The themes and characters portrayed in the movie resonate deeply with Black women. Even though the movie features traumatic events, including incest, rape, and domestic violence, it tells a story of love, sisterhood, family, and connection.
The experience of watching this musical felt like church. It was a communal reuniting and celebration, particularly through memorable scenes that encapsulate the strength and resilience of Black women.
Through its complex discussions and themes, the musical clarifies and amplifies the narratives present in the 1985 movie and the original book, The Color Purple. It emphasizes the values of friendship, heartbreak, desire, and awakening through song.