One Thing That is Realistic in Tyler Perry's Movies is Domestic Violence
A word his latest hit on Amazon Prime Video, Divorce in The Black
The following essay includes some spoilers.
Tyler Perry receives a lot of criticism from within the black community. Despite the abundance and popularity of his TV shows and films, many view his work as sub-par and treat him as if he isn’t a serious writer and director. Some responded to his latest release on Amazon Prime Video, Divorce in Black, calling it “awful” or “bad.” Some claimed that Perry’s representation of characters, such as the protagonist Ava, an abused wife played by Meagan Good, and the antagonist Dallas, an abusive husband played by Cory Hardrict, was not realistic and instead fed into stereotypical portrayals. While I am typically critical of his work when speaking to family and friends, it’s unfair to overlook his role in putting domestic violence front and center. Even if you point out the over-the-top nature of some characters and events, the nuts and bolts of the story are built on the painful reality that many Black women are victims of domestic violence.
Of course, that’s not to say that some of the scenes in Divorce in Black weren’t out there. The first one, set at a family funeral for Dallas’ brother, was shocking and, it’s fair to say, unrealistic. As a Black Southerner, I have never attended a funeral or even heard of such a case where the family would demand their loved one be taken out of the casket in the middle of the service—that was horrifying. And yet, what we also saw in that scene was a family so hell-bent on doing everything for themselves and never taking a “handout” that they would drag their family’s reputation to the pits of hell if it meant preserving their dignity. That dynamic may be ironic, but it’s also relatable. We saw how his family’s violent and antagonistic method of blaming his wife, Ava, created hostility in their marriage that contributed to the violence she endured.
We saw a wife so dedicated to her husband that she would endure public ridicule and physical and psychological abuse in the hopes of fulfilling her duty. And if we’re being honest, perhaps that’s the most realistic part of Tyler Perry’s film. The truth is, in the black community, all of us know two types of women: those who have left after enduring physical violence from a romantic partner and those who stayed no matter how many times they were beaten, cheated on, lied to, stepped over, and degraded. The pain illustrated by Ava’s character was all too real. And yet, domestic violence is often neglected in conversations within the black community. Sure, folks on social media may laugh and call Tyler Perry’s movies like Divorce in Black “horrible” on social media. Still, according to Nielson, audiences tuned in for 498 million minutes during its first four days out, bringing more sign-ups than any film in the company’s history. Based on those metrics, Perry has to be doing something right.
As a film lover, I think it’s okay to poke fun at films you don’t like and to explain in detail the nature of your discontent. But I also believe some folks weren’t honest about their reasons for resisting this film. Some don’t believe Black women when they say they’ve been hurt, and as a result, see domestic violence victims as liars, and thus, the storyline will be seen as implausible. However, 40% of Black women will experience DV across their lifetimes. So, it’s time to stop calling the plot of this movie realistic. Be honest and say you don’t like to see violence against women or that it makes you feel uncomfortable, but let’s not feed into the narrative that it doesn’t happen. Millions of women across America can tell you that a husband beating his wife, taking out his anger and trauma on them, happens.
One part of the movie, when Clarence, Ava’s father, played by Richard Lawson, attempts to stand up for his wife, Gene, played by Debbi Morgan, is especially memorable. Despite his being elderly and perhaps ill-prepared to confront the cruelty of Dallas’ family, his bravery was realistic. Many fathers would pick up a rifle if it meant defending their family. Unfortunately, as we witnessed in the film, this willingness doesn’t always protect someone from harm. Nevertheless, through his character, we see the juxtaposition between one Black man who hurts the women in his life and another willing to use every ounce of his being to protect those Black women.
Furthermore, Perry’s film also shows Dallas’ best friend Benji, played by Joseph Lee Anderson, abandoning their friendship to stand beside his wife and take a stand against his abusive behavior. It wasn’t easy, but part of combatting domestic violence requires some Black men to confront other Black men who step out of line. This isn’t the first time Tyler Perry used his movies, even those considered full-blown comedies, to bring the topic of domestic violence to the forefront. Indeed, Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) and Madea’s Family Reunion (2006) also exposed the social problem of domestic violence. You don’t have to be a fan of his films to appreciate his efforts or to acknowledge the systemic problem impacting Black women. Unfortunately, these behaviors are all too real, so Perry’s right that they warrant discussion.
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Great post, Allison! Entertaining and enlightening, incisive. I'm one of those Black viewers who has never been a big fan of Tyler Perry, but as you suggest, his commercial success cannot be ignored. Enjoyed your analysis.
You’re right. That is full of spoilers! 😊 but it doesn’t matter to me. I won’t see it. I assume it’s in cinemas? Anyway I’m not persuaded that DV is more prevalent in Black households than anywhere else. It’s a plague across the Western world. Our itinerant societies are fragmented and our lives replete with stress. Add in alcohol and you have a combustible mix. I have a friend from South Africa, Zulu primarily, who is a clinical psychologist. I asked why suicide is such a problem where I live. Without hesitation she said: you don’t have families. Community, a sense of belonging is everything.