The Black Family and Ritual

Required Readings:

BPC1700, Chapter 9, “Rituals,” pp. 155-162; Figures and Tables, pp. 4 (Tab. 1), 8-10 (Figs. 1-3)

Jacob Stroyer, “The Custom of Christmas” (1884), Remus, Rastus, Revolution (1971)

Susan Showers, “A Weddin’ and a Buryin’ in the Black Belt” (1898), Remus, Rastus, Revolution (1971)

Text:

BPC1700
Black Popular Culture
(Nelson)
ISBN # 9781121070172

*If you can’t find the text don’t worry about it just complete the paper with the other readings.

Required Websites and/or Video Screening(s):

Module 10 Week 14: Watch one (1) black film from the list below: Jumping the Broom (2011); Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family: The Movie (2011); Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion: The Movie (2006); Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns: The Movie (2008); Soul Food (1997); This Christmas (2007); OR Johnson Family Vacation (2004); Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins (2008).

Discussion Topic:

The Black Family and Ritual: Watch one (1) black film from the list below: Johnson Family Vacation (2004); Jumping the Broom (2011); Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family: The Movie (2011); Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion: The Movie (2006); Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns: The Movie (2008); Soul Food (1997); This Christmas (2007); OR Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins (2008). In your group discussion, (1) identify and briefly describe the film you watched from the approved list of black films, (2) describe how the black family is represented and portrayed, (3) identify the rituals they participate in (such as Sunday dinner, family reunion, wedding, wedding anniversary, or etc.), and (4) explain the purpose of these ritual(s) within the family in the film you selected. [Note: If you watched one of these films for Module 6 or 7, then choose another film from the approved list for Module 10.]

Then I need you to respond to these two students responses (Positively Only) to the same question that I provided for you separately in 100 words each for your response to their response to the question.

(Student #1, Jade McCray):

The film that I watched for this week’s module is This Christmas. The film starred Chris Brown, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, Delroy Lindo, and Regina King just to name a few, as this was an ensemble cast. The family is represented as upper-middle class; they own a dry cleaner business that is managed by the mother with help from a few of the children. This is one of the first films that I’ve watched from Tyler Perry that didn’t put a large emphasis on race. The family represented in the film seems just like any other family. They have issues with infidelity, money, and boundaries. There’s a large emphasis on siblings relationships while the mother falls to the back of the story. There’s also a lot of discussion about their father, who left when they were all younger in order to pursue his music career. Due to this, the mother doesn’t like any talk of music in her house as she thinks that her children will leave her, as her husband did, if they show any interest in music. A lot of the drama comes from Michael (Chris Brown) when it’s discovered that he can sing, and he wants to pursue this as a career. There wasn’t really a special or different way that this family was portrayed. They simply came off as a close-knit group that was somewhat well off.
I’m not sure if this would be considered a ritual, but the entire family came together for Christmas, but it was the first time in four years that they were all able to come home. There was a large emphasis on religion and going to church. The entire family woke up on Christmas morning, and went to church together. I think that this is a common ritual in not just African American families, but all families. It’s something taken very serious and strictly. It seemed that the purpose of this particular ritual was to pay thanks to God, and show appreciation for all that the family has. They made it a family affair, and it seemed very important to show indebtedness as a group. It was made clear that this is something that the family has been doing for years, so it’s become habitual to them.

(Student #2, Jasmine Spratling):

The film that I decided to view is Johnson’s Family Vacation. This movie has many good stars in it including Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, and the rap artist Bow Wow. Johnson’s Family Vacation involves a family of five taking a trip to Missouri for their family reunion. The family decides to travel by car but has many problems along the way with the truck, the navigation system, hotel and restaurant stops. Finally when the family makes it to Missouri the two brothers in the family have complications with one another and try to compete very hard to win the talent show competition they have.

The family in this movie seems like the typical black family. There is a mother and father with three children; an older daughter who is only into fashion and boys, an older son who is into music, and a young daughter who keeps the family entertained. At the beginning of the movie, the mother and father are separated which no one knows about, but at the end of the movie they realize they still want to be together.

The ritual in this movie is the family reunion which families have once a year. The purpose of a family reunion is for all family members to reunite back together. This allows for everyone to catch up with one another and enjoy fun with the entire family. In the movie, they have a big picnic for the family reunion and a talent show for family members to show off their talent skills.