Being originally from Atlanta, I have been exposed to issues regarding poverty within our community. If you go to Atlanta, you can meet some of the richest of the rich, but you can also meet some of the poorest of the poor who are working off everything they have in order to get by. Attending a meeting in one of the more well-off areas in Atlanta and learning about the issues regarding racial differences and poverty opened my eyes to the ongoing situation that is in front of us. We discussed the issues pertaining how to prevent racial discrimination and how to help those who are in poverty. The issues discussed reminded me of the time my INT class watched Precious and discussed the prevalent issues. I attended class on this day with the mindset that it was going to be a laid back class, complete with pizza and a movie relevant to the issues regarding the topics presented in our readings and discussions, but I was so wrong. The class I had intended on being a light-hearted end to my school day resulted in a broken heart and many questions on my end. Though the movie, Precious, was based on heavy material, it is imperative and significant to assist others in comprehending the situations many individuals may currently be facing today. Precious, in my opinion, is such a hit due to the fact that it hits key points pertaining to problems may individuals in our youth are experiencing right now. Among the variety of elements that stood out to me, I found it particularly interesting that Precious had a second perception of herself amidst the bountiful of wrongdoings done against her. Many people, including myself, have questioned this concept of what we would look like had we been at our ‘full potential’ — complete with a model body, perfect hair, beautiful teeth, and other strictly physical values. Precious, on the other hand, was drawn to the notion of being a loved and sought after celebrity, admired from those who not only believed she was beautiful, but also that she was worthy of attention and adoration. From what I have gathered, this may be a result of her father taking a valued part of her away from her, something one is taught as a child that you do with the person you love. Due to her father’s relentless actions driven by his lust, Precious lives in the constant state of feeling like an entity rather than a human being. I am a firm believer that one’s household is an indicator of who an individual is and what they will turn out to be. If you are raised in a household with strong moral values, then you are most likely going to have a personality reflecting those values you were raised in. Similarly, Precious was raised in a home unloving and discouraging towards her education, mental health, and physical wellness. Seeing it first hand from friends who have homes that are broken, I have found that coming from an unkind household is detrimental towards one’s sanity and changes their perspective on the little things. I have witnessed individuals who were afraid of going home after school due to the fear of confrontation with their families. Being raised in an environment where you do not feel safe is destructive for any individual and can be traumatic for them in the future. Ever since I can remember, my parents have placed a strong emphasis on the importance of school. They worked hard to send me to a good private school in order to get the education they felt I deserved, even when we did not have the money for it at times. Alongside this, here was a lot of pressure for me to do well, given that they had sacrificed a great deal of their earnings due to their desire to watch me succeed. Before watching this movie, I felt as though my parents were too strict on the aspect of school and maintaining a good GPA. Afterwards, however, I felt the urge to not only thank them for the sacrifices they had made, but also thank them for the encouragement to pursue a higher education. I would much rather have parents who were strict on my grades than parents who simply do not care. If it is between two extremes, I would rather have someone care too much than not caring at all. We must work together to prevent discrimination and help those in poverty, even if it is not directly effecting us.
