Movie Review: Acrimony

Spoiler Alert:  This review may contain details that some may view as giving away too much of the storyline.

Kudos to Tyler Perry for unintentionally--or intentionally--putting the spotlight on mental health issues among Black females. Tyler Perry's Acrimony is part-suspense, part-thriller, with a sprinkle of humor here and there. Although it drags at some points, and potentially leaves the viewer confused, upon reflection there is much to be learned, and I personally hope Mr. Perry continues teaching through film in this way.  Acrimony is not as obvious as Mr. Perry's typical films. This new style may take a bit getting used to for some viewers, but the value is there.

Perry requires the viewer to put their thinking caps on. You may learn the following lessons upon doing so.

1.  First impressions. According to the late, great Dr. Maya Angelou, "When people tell you who they are, believe them!" Tyler Perry's Acrimony lends credence to this adage. The object of the main character's desire gets a glimpse of her tendencies when they first meet, yet he continues to pursue a relationship with her.

2.  Make your own decisions about your relationships.  Part of the reason the main character decides to end her relationship is due to pressure from her family. She then ends up hurt when her  ex-husband's new wife ends up reaping the benefit of his success. Here's where there seems to be some disagreement about the turn the film should have taken: Some feel Taraji P. Henson's character was reasonably upset over her "loss." I disagree: There was actually no evidence that the ex-husband was ever guilty of the behaviors that are insinuated throughout the first half of the film. Henson's character is entitled to nothing. She loses fair and square. I guess the question is:  How long do  you support a spouse's dream?

3.  Resolve mental health issues.  All throughout the film, the main character's family made reference to her anger issues. She does not get therapy until she is ordered to do so. The main character's unresolved issues, and other people's unwillingness to intervene, cause her and others to get hurt.

4.  Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) may be prevalent among Black females. There is already research that indicates that BPD is disproportionally experienced by females, but one wonders if BPD is disproportionately experienced by Black females. It makes sense when you look at the symptoms against the backdrop of what many Black females tend to experience. BPD is thought to be prevalent among people who experience loss, abuse and neglect. It is a well-known fact that Blacks, irrespective of class, tend to have more experiences with loss, abuse and neglect than others. Dare I say:  These experiences are more likely to be doubled for us, because we seem to have developed an uncanny knack/proclivity (thanks to the Enslavement Process) for hurting each other.

Let's look at a few of the symptoms. The symptoms listed below are not an exhausted list. This blog is not intended to diagnose or treat any mental health illness. The goal of this blog is to encourage self-examination and critical analysis. 

• Distorted and unstable self-image or sense of self. The sense of entitlement some females have concerning other females' conduct towards them comes to mind: Females getting upset when another female does not greet them. For example, some females(1) get upset when another female does not "speak" to them. The offended female usually will not admit that she herself hasn't "spoken" and is waiting for the victim of her ire to "speak" first. This accusation is code for: "She won't tell me her business" or "How am I supposed to verify that she is just as miserable as me if she doesn't even say 'Hi'" or "She's not friendly enough for my ego. I need more." See: Some "females" think they are entitled to information about others, but the desire for this information is usually sinister. See the "Chickenheads" page of this blog for more on this tendency. My guess is this comes from a lack of affection during childhood. Pure and simple: Hugs and kisses validate a person. Affection makes a person feel wanted. When children are denied affection, they grow up seeking it from other people and sources. The anger from being denied it morphs into a sense of entitlement. The main character experiences the loss of her mother at a young age and likely does not have the support of a father, as one is not mentioned. The loss of a caregiver typically has an adverse impact on a person's sense of self. 

In Acrimony, the main character thought she was entitled to her ex-husband's fortune even though she had ended the marriage. She thought her ex-husband's new wife was living the life she, Taraji P. Henson's character, was supposed to have. 

Impulsive and often dangerous behaviors, such as spending sprees, unsafe sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, and binge eating. Please note: If these behaviors occur primarily during a period of elevated mood or energy, they may be signs of a mood disorder—not borderline personality disorder.  The birth rates in our communities, evidenced by over-crowded inner-city schools, and the weight issues that often plague Black females, may be evidence of this. 

Intense and highly changeable moods, with each episode lasting from a few hours to a few days. 

Chronic feelings of emptiness

Inappropriate, intense anger or problems controlling anger. For example, it is inappropriate for a person to be upset about someone not "speaking" to them when another person's greeting or conversation is not owed.  

This blog post is not intended to suggest that all Black females are crazy. It is meant to encourage critical observation, critical thought and change. 

Footnote(s):

(1) The term "woman" and "women" are used sparingly, as a reference to humans with female genitalia who have shown through their conduct that they are fully (emotionally, socially and psychologically) evolved. When describing unevolved behavior and people, the term "female" is used.

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How Black men can help with the chickenhead epidemic

#GrownManStatus #GrownFolksBusiness #Chickenheads

As one of the chickenhead's motives is to convince you that she, the chickenhead, is better for you than other females, you can expect it to find subtle ways to persuade your thinking. Remember: The chickenhead thinks that by controlling other females' reputations she can control who likes or dislikes her victims. Chickenheads often campaign against their victims by exaggerating the truth, and outright lying about their interactions or observations. Chickenheads are especially dangerous when they don't get what they want. They do not handle rejection well. This rejection fuels their thinking and behavior. Their plan is to make others feel their pain. They will do anything to create a sense of rejection in their victims, including distort reality to make you think that you, too, should reject the victim.  (FYI: This rejection likely comes from not getting enough hugs and kisses as a child and/or not having an appropriate/strong father figure.)

Now here you go being put in the uncomfortable position of having to listen to the chickenhead's clucks about someone you either actually already like or don't have an opinion about. It's hard to tell someone you don't appreciate what they're saying or doing, so here are some tips to help you keep your sanity and spot in heaven intact.

1. Don't get sucked in. Remember that when a female is speaking negatively about another female, nine times out of 10, the speaker is exaggerating what happened because she did not get what she wanted. A real woman speaks directly to her defendant about the issue(s) she has with her. The chickenhead is revealing herself to you simply by speaking negatively about another. If you mess around and encourage the chickenhead's behavior, you will end up with burnt feathers in your throat:  You may end up missing out on a productive relationship with the victim or end up changing your thinking and behavior in a way that is detrimental to your growth and development. Birds of a feather . . .  Be very careful about the chickenhead's subtle influences; don't let it become you.

2. Let the chickenhead know that you don't think her behavior (gossip, undermining other Black females, lying, stealing joy, etc.) is cute.  Most people find it difficult to address people directly about their shortcomings or something they think a person is doing wrong. We fear ridicule and losing a relationship. But then we lose a growth opportunity: We lose the opportunity to stand up for what is right and the speaker loses the opportunity to learn how to manage her unwarranted ill feelings in a more positive way.

Consider gently nudging the chickenhead towards righteousness. You may say something like:  "How is it helping to speak that way about that person?" or "Have you considered talking directly to her about that?" Sometimes it's easier to ask questions than to make statements. And the benefit of asking questions is that questions can encourage critical thinking.

Whatever you do, be careful that your response cannot be mistaken for "co-signing." Remember: The chickenhead is trying to impress you. She erroneously thinks that discrediting other females gives her an advantage in your eyes.

3.  Hold the chickenhead accountable for her actions. Challenge the chickenhead's inferiority complex by encouraging her to critically think about herself:  If the chickenhead is complaining about something frivolous and petty like what another female is wearing, for example, ask the chickenhead why she doesn't purchase more suitable clothing for the subject of her ire. If the chickenhead is really concerned about her victim's appearance, wouldn't this--or something like this problem-solving action--be the solution? Ask:  How is talking about her behind her back going to help? Ask the chickenhead why the petty subject about which she is speaking is so important to her.

4. Get to know the victim for yourself. Chances are: The victim of the chickenhead's ire doesn't even know (and hopefully doesn't care) she's even being spoken about. Rule #1: Don't believe anything a female says about another female--especially if it's negative--or if the speaker is a confirmed chickenhead. (Check the previous post about how to identify chickenheads and chickenhead behavior.)

The chickenhead epidemic is ruining the Black community. Little Black girls are learning how to put each other down not lift each other up. Chickenheads perpetuate a culture of triflery and pettiness. We likely learned this during the Enslavement Process as a way to survive. It wasn't useful then, and it's not useful now. Our numbers and health are rapidly diminishing. Please, Brothers:  Help . . .

Movie Review: Burning Sands (Netflix)

#BurningSands #LessSteppingMoreStudying

Burning Sands exposes the hypocrisy inherent in Black Greek letter organizations. It reveals a lot about what is wrong with some intake processes, but more importantly what's wrong with the Black community--and the talented tenth charged with leading it. By most accounts, Black Greek letter organizations began in the early 20th century in response to Blacks not being allowed to join White Greek letter organizations, as a way of fostering scholarship and a sense of community among Black collegians, and as vehicles for Black collegians to provide community service. Yet, as Burning Sands reveals, instead of paying it forward many, Black collegians are engaging in counterproductive behavior that negates the purpose of Black Greek letter life.

One of Burning Sands' explorations concerns some people's motivation for pledging:  Sometimes a person is interested because they are "legacy"--they have a parent or parents who pledged, or they are  pressured by family members that dominate a particular affiliation. Some people join for social status or help climbing a career ladder. Some people join seeking a sense of family. Of course, reasons for pledging abound and are not exhausted here.

It is the exposé of contradictions that makes Burning Sands most useful. One of the most blaring contradictions explored surrounds the movement towards bonding that is supposed to be typical of pledge processes. For instance, throughout the film, the audience is exposed to line brothers treating each other in unbrotherly ways. Additionally, most--if not all--Black Greek Letter organizations are based on Christian principles, yet many Black Greek Letter members fornicate, gossip and bare false witness against each other and others--and engage in other ungodly acts. In one scene, the pledges visit their dean in his dorm room where a naked female can be seen lying in his bed. The insinuation is not that she was posing for a portrait. Further: Most, if not all, Black Greek Letter organizations are based upon the principle of scholarship, yet some organizations take pride in forcing activities upon pledges that cut into studying time. It is not uncommon for a pledge's grade point average to plummet while pledging.

Sands also highlights the fact--possibly unintentionally--that Blacks lack leadership. Black Greek Letter organizations are supposed to consist of what W.E.B. DuBois, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, called the Talented Tenth--the small group of Blacks who were fortunate enough to pursue scholarship and who were expected to subsequently lead and pull others behind them. Yet in Sands, an elder member of the fraternity that is the subject of the movie supports the dysfunctional practices portrayed.

Yet, there are some misunderstandings:  Most people's perception of underground pledging does not account for the fact that some organizations have study hours built into their processes that include big brothers and sisters checking the library to make sure pledges are there and getting their school work done. This is a little known fact that some organizations may downplay as pledging is often exaggerated to make it appear as if it is "so hard" to gain membership. Keep in mind that Blacks tend to have a fascination with scandal. One example of this from the movie is when the line brothers chide one of their own for not drinking and being sexually active. We seem to have adopted the notion that life and lessons are supposed to be lived and learned the hard way.  Maybe Slavery taught us that life is supposed to consist of struggle and sacrifice? We applaud poverty and deprivation and pathologize anyone who doesn't seem to have had such experiences. Some take pride in their perceived ability to revoke "Black cards" from those who haven't suffered enough. Black Greek Letter members are often no different. For this reason, graduate chapter membership is sometimes looked down upon--even amongst organization members--because it is perceived to be easier to attain. Some Black Greek Letter organization members literally pretend to have pledged hard just to get respect.

Some members scramble to specify that they pledged undergrad so they get more respect. Yet, the same members who mock people for pledging graduate chapters and being "paper" members are the same ones who brag about famous honorary members who didn't "pledge." Would a member who pledged "so hard" undergrad call her 50 year-old pastor who just joined a graduate chapter "paper?" And as discretion is supposed to be one of the hallmarks of "pledging," what is a member doing discussing someone else's process anyway?

One criticism of Sands will likely be that Black Greek Letter organization rituals are being unfairly criticized by people who do not understand the original purpose of "pledging." This may be true. One of the problems with large organizations, especially national and international groups, is that it is difficult to manage individual membership and rituals. Leadership passes these processes down to members they hope they can trust and to whom they trust has the requisite understanding of the organization's mission and purpose. But the best intentions . . . Feelings get involved: Sometimes credible prospective members are passed over due to petty jealousies; sometimes people become intent on inflicting the same pain that was inflicted on them without regard to the organization's mission and the lesson that is supposed to be learned; sometimes neophytes want to shed their newness by pledging a line--any line--and allow unworthy individuals to join by haphazardly pledging them without regard to their ability to uphold the ideals of the organization; and sometimes processes are changed out of fear--to appease those who may repeat something about the process they do not understand and cause a misunderstanding that leads to suspension.

Blacks have long had a legacy problem: We tend to start out good, but have a hard time maintaining our success over generations. The state of Black Greek Letter organizations is an example of that.

By some accounts, the Black Greek Letter pledge process was initially designed to parallel a rite of passage. Yet, many leave their processes unchanged and useless to the communities they pledged to assist.

The controversy about Sands stems from Blacks not liking inconvenient truths, and wanting to maintain a facade about Black elite organizations. Folks like to do their dirt in private and put on a facade of unity.  Anyone who betrays this faux unity--who dares to tell the truth, like Gerard McMurray does with Sands, is branded a traitor. (Yet, it's okay for Blacks to expose the misdeeds of others, which is why movements like Black Lives Matter is not taken seriously. But I digress.)

Hopefully, Burning Sands will spark critical analysis and conversations about Black elitism, the need for leadership amongst Blacks, dysfunctional habits that need to be abandoned, and our inability to maintain generational success.