Filmmaker Tyler Perry will receive the Chairman’s Award at tonight’s NAACP Image Awards. This high honor is bestowed upon those who have established themselves through distinguished public service. Previous winners have been President Obama, environmental activist Wangari Maathai and former Vice President Al Gore.
Okay, so lets get the obvious out on the table first. Perry has many critics – myself included – who feel that his films and television shows have done a disservice to the black community, with his constant portrayal of us as buffoons and crackheads. There is also the complaint that he has had made millions by selling out to Hollywood with these negative characters.
”[Perry has] made a lot of money, but the quality of work is sorely lacking,” said film critic Todd Boyd. It seems a bit ironic that at the moment of the first African-American president, the most popular African-American figure in the media is a man in drag engaging some of the most stereotypical images of African-Americans ever created.”
However, the opposing argument is that Perry, who came from homelessness to become part the Hollywood elite, has given jobs both on screen and behind the camera to countless numbers of people who would otherwise not get a chance to do that kind of work. Furthermore, with the economy being what it is these days, who can really oppose someone who is hiring.
But putting aside his controversial entertainment resume, the NAACP is most likely recognizing Perry for the many humanitarian endeavors he has taken on in the last year alone, such as his one million dollar donation to the venerable civil rights organization – the largest ever donation from an artist.
While I question his method behind his characters Madea and Mr. Brown, at least Perry doesn’t forget where he comes from and puts his money where his mouth is to support causes and issues he cares about, which is something I can respect about him. He talks a lot about his own rags-to-riches story, and how his Christian faith has inspired him” to help others in need. Perry has also made a large donation recently to the relief efforts in Haiti, as well as surprised the 65 black and Latino youth who were discriminated against last summer at a Philadelphia swimming pool with a trip to Walt Disney World.
If there is one good thing I would say about Perry’s benevolence, it would be that Perry helped propel the film Precious into movie history and the consciences of seasoned film critics and mainstream moviegoers. The Oscar-nominated film would have otherwise had a short life on the film festival circuit without the support of Perry and Oprah Winfrey. Perry said he got involved with the film because, like the film’s main character, he was also a victim of sexual abuse.
Tuesday afternoon I got a chance to talk to Precious director Lee Daniels following a talk he gave to a group of Hollywood hopefuls at Emerson College in Boston. When asked about Perry’s controversial films, as well as the complaints about Precious, he said he was proud of the film and Perry’s and Oprah Winfrey’s support for it because “the movie was about something that is invisible in our society.”
“We aspire to be Oprah or Obama, but we often forget about the Preciouses who are invisible and often get left behind,” Daniels said. “I’m grateful this movie got the attention it needed.”
If Tyler Perry’s true goal is helping others, than congratulations to him on his award.
I’ll save my complaints for his next film.