Yeah I definitely appreciate Akil for the balance he brought that hasn't been seen in a long time.

I mostly agree with everything you've written. And maybe I did take it too far by comparing this to Tyler Perry's work. *reflecting on that now* But the movie didn't move me. I understand that this may be because I expected more than I should have.

"But in doing that, are we failing to acknowledge a reality (or rather a group of people) that DO exist in our community?"

I don't think in any shape, fashion, or form do I want the characters that may be a bit stereotypical to never be portrayed. In fact, I'm an advocate that we NOT ignore them, and that their voice is heard. My problem is that there isn't a balance. Look at the movies that get the green-light from Hollywood with an all Black cast. Usually they are movies that portray us in a very negative light. People who don't know we aren't a monolith, which is the majority of Americans and foreigners, walk away from seeing those images as the totality of the Black experience. Traveling overseas is a quick reminder that Blacks are viewed negatively in most parts of this world partly because what they see in media- tv, film, etc. Until there that balance where the positive is seen more frequently, I don't want to see coonery or stereotypical depictions(not saying this movie was that).

Don't mistake my constructive criticisms as me saying the movie was bad. Or even that people shouldn't go see it. I hope it continues to do well. I'm very well aware of the target audience "Jumping the Broom" intended to reach. I just think there is a difference between a cute movie and a gooood movie. LOL. Really not speaking negatively about the movie at all.

I'm just ready for the films that don't have to have this storyline of the supposed "black experience" that is tired and trite. Where are the movies about a Black woman who travels abroad to find herself? I actually know several women who've done this. Where are the movies about Black men or women who move to a big city to pursue a dream? Or the Black girl attending Yale living the Ivy league life? There are so many options to explore. I want diversity like "Night Catches Us," "Moo-slum," and "Frankie & Alice" that got little to no marketing.

I feel slightly bad that I critiqued a somewhat positive Black film when Blacks are already struggling for representation on the big screen. But I have to be true to me and my audience. I hope it reads as a fair review. Thanks for reading. Your comment is dead on.

Thanks wifey! No you're not a cynic. You're an artist who wants to see good art. Although I can appreciate the film for what it intended to do, and what it did in many ways other Black films haven't done lately, I still wanted more. Where is the creativity? This storyline is played out. I want to see Black folks making movies like "Limitless," "Inception," "Hanna," etc. All excellent movies. If we're at least not making those films I wish we were cast in them. The white dad and daughter in "Hanna" could have easily been interchanged with a black man and daughter. At least if our presence is represented more in films that reach a larger demographic, maybe ideas will start to change of what Blackness is or isn't. Right now we are marginalized and we are depicted as monolithic. I support indie Black films. And I hope to God they start getting the marketing and distribution they deserve.

Wholeheartedly agree. As a community I'm not sure that we learn about reading to babies in the womb. Or playing tapes of a foreign language while the baby is still developing, which has been proven to have a positive affect on children's cognitive skills later in the child's life. Growing up in the era I did we also didn't learn about Black history in detail. However, my mother had a floor to ceiling bookcase of books all by African-American authors. That is all I ever knew. I'm also a firm believer in putting kids in as many extracurricular activities as possible. Not only does this keep the child out of trouble, the child becomes well-rounded. From the age of four throughout high school, at different times, I was a Girl Scout, did gymnastics, Taekwondo, ballet, jazz, tap, basketball, track, Delteens, Black Achievers, cheerleader, majorette, I was in plays, etc. etc. I believe my extracurricular activities were as important as my education. My mother refused to have an uncultured child who was not well-rounded. I didn't understand why it was imperative as a child. But I understand it now.

I love your story about our children in the inner city because I believe this happens more than we would ever read or watch in the news. It also shows the tenacity of our youth who want to learn and have been instilled with the value of education from day one. Some of the best scholars, achievers, success stories for African-Americans have come right out of the hood and went to inner city public schools. Like you said, it has to start in the home.

You think so Gia? I really hope that's not the case. We've been through A LOT. But we've always bounced back. The "ex" part never mattered and we've dated other people since. He's never acted how he is acting with my current boyfriend. I don't know if the move to NY has anything to do with it either. Maybe he realizes I'm never moving home and he's never leaving home...but don't know how that would affect a friendship. Plus, with your exes, were they your friends first? We were friends for years before we ever crossed the line. That's why I always thought the friendship would survive. You said: "...forgetting about the part of you that was more than a friend." Men are backwards as hell sometimes I swear. He had all the chances in the world. I could go on and on. I'll never know because he's not a great communicator when it comes to feelings. Thanks for reading.

You know what it is: I think marriage is a beautiful institution when done correctly. And I'm totally NOT anti-marriage. I think I have this fear that I won't live up to the expectations of being a "good wife." Everything about me is kind of the antithesis of wife- independent, selfish, not willing to be totally submissive, believes the man and woman are equals, rather be reading a book than in the kitchen cooking, etc. Also, I don't know that it is natural to be with one person forever. I'm still rolling that idea around in my head. Then too, I have seen very few successful, loving, happily marriages in my life, which probably greatly affects my view on marriage. It's not the daunting 45- 50% divorce rate that worries me either. It's mostly what I've witnessed. I'm on the fence. But I was never that little girl dreaming of veils and bouquets.

"I think marriage should be a natural progression or by-product of romantic love if both people really want marriage."

Very true.

"I think the problem with marriage in America is that there is too much focus on one or the other instead of a healthy balance."

I never thought about that, but there's a lot of merit in your statement.

"People are more in love with the idea of being married than they are of being married to each other."

Girl, say that. Or initially they are in love with the person and truly want marriage, but over time they stop wanting to work at it. We live in a society that is all about "do you." So the minute something isn't easy or that we aren't happy we leave in opposed to working through it.

Thank you for this sis. I needed to hear it. :-) I think you're absolutely right and have said so much here. Thanks again.

Thanks for sharing your story Drew. I thought I was the only one. lol. Everybody I know in journalism, most of the broadcast people, love it. They knew from day one they wanted to be journalists. I was an English major undergrad and J-school for grad. So I never knew for sure I wanted to do journalism, but I knew I wanted to write. There's a part of me that loves interviewing people, hearing their stories, seeing the story created, fact-checking, all of that. But my goal is not to be the EIC of a magazine one day so I'm just wondering if all the work is going to be worth it.

As you know newspaper is so different than magazine. I've always known I'd want to do magazines in opposed to newspaper. Your story is common. And if you did decide you wanted to pick it back up you always have the skills and experience. There are a lot of writers at heart out there who have gone into PR, Marketing, Law etc because they just can't pay the bills doing this. It's tough.

*standing ovation* Your comment is so on point.

"The satirical content often goes over the heads those who are not only culturally ignorant but also do not care to understand the concept of satire."

Absolutely. And the fact that the masses don't understand satire is all the more reason we need quality programming to reach those who are watching BET. How do we meet people where they are? How do you "jazz" up a social commentary network aimed to inform?

One way to be through good black sitcoms. Not everything has to be a news program. But positive sitcoms with a message in them every now and then can go a long way. I said this tonight on Twitter: "There is a reason people in my age demographic STILL watch shows like "A Different World", because it's quality programming." How many black people who never knew what an HBCU was were exposed to it through that show? I guarantee it was many. Unfortunately, networks aren't going to invest in anything that doesn't have a proven success record. And right now the only shows really proven to be successful is reality TV. *sigh*

Thanks for such a thought provoking comment.

You have I point and I'll give you that. MTV probably wasn't a great comparison. My only point was that they do at least attempt to have some informative programs that address societal issues. I don't think the substantive shows balance out, but then again I don't watch MTV as much as I used to.