The Color Purple Spills theTea on Self-Actualization

By: Isha Gaines

The storyline was one of reconciliation with inner self. The movie lifts the notion that with the right community, self actualization and a change in environment, you can change your perspective. Now that’s some good tea.

The movie did not shy away from star-power, even interjecting some appearances from The Color Purple original film. The musical compositions were vibrant, free-spirted and not overly done. The renditions were catchy and moved the storyline along with anticipation.

The emphasis on entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment were forceful themes inspiring the main character, Mrs. Ciely to find her inner voice, inner strength and inner creativity. In the film, Mrs. Ciely is painted as one who gave although many didn’t give to her and poured into people when she didn’t have much to give. She is positioned as one who inspired those around although lowly and battered for much of the film.

Of course your desire for Ciely throughout most of the movie is that she’s comes out of her woe-is-me trance, but it’s not until a dear friends get into big trouble and the discovery of hidden letters that she starts to grow a backbone and put action behind it.

Ultimately, this movie showcases that healing is not linear. This movie highlights that with Ciely’s small steps forward in confronting her abuser, that everything working against her eventually became the force that propells her forward.

Favorite references:

Loved the Tea reference when Mrs. Ciely comes to visit Harpo and Sophia as newlyweds in their home. Sophia asks Harpo to make tea and then quickly gets frustrated with Harpo for not making the tea warm. Sophia pours the tea out in front of Harpo and in front of Mrs. Ciely who’s amazed by Sophias boldness.

Cultural reference: In parts of Africa serving tea to a guest represents hospitality. Teas are used for medicinal properties and/or for their refreshing taste.

Loved the who’s wearing the pants reference, after Mrs. Ciely finally realizes where her true talents lye. Ciely although mistreated for most of her life, uses the art of sewing to build herself back up again. Mrs. Ciely mother passed down the art of sewing to her as a young kid before passing away. Although Ciely didn’t know it at the time, those skills grew to empower her later. In the film, Mrs. Ciely used her sewing to make gifts, clothes and eventually her signature pants.

Cultural reference: Quilting was something used for functionality and for creative expression. Quilting and Sewing was used as a remedy for warmth and comfort in the slaves quarters as well as keepsakes for families, babies and clothes.

The most impactful reference of all is one that depicts black women winning. After a lifetime of physical and verbal abuse, the trauma of losing family, and the slow death of her confidence, in the end, Ciely still wins. Her route was unorthodox, in comparison to Sophia and her sister Nettie, but she figured it out in her own time.

Watch the Trailer | In theaters on Christmas Day: 12/25/23