Author Sapphire. Photo courtesy of The Guardian.

Author Sapphire, whose book “Push” was made into the film “Precious,” says it is unlikely her new novel “The Kid” will also get the Hollywood screen treatment, according to this interview in Great Britain’s Guardian.

“The Kid,” follows the travails of Abdul, the son of the character Claireece from “Push.” Abdul’s mother, who was sexually abused, impregnanted and infected with HIV by her father, dies from AIDS at the start of the book. Abdul ends up in foster care, where he also suffers sexual and other abuse before discovering  his talent for dance may be a key to a better life.

“In ‘Precious’ it’s about her as a victim and a survivor,” Sapphire said in The Guardian interview. “In ‘The Kid,’ it’s so dark in what it says about Abdul. We wouldn’t be able to get it made without an R rating — and with an R rating not everyone would be able to see it.”

Many social workers watched “Precious” to see how pop singer Mariah Carey played the role of social worker Ms. Weiss. Sapphire said she read social worker and psychiatrist case studies when writing “The Kid.”

Although some readers said they cannot believe the abuse depicted in her works is real, Sapphire says unfortunately such incidents are common.

“In Michigan one woman held up the book, trembling, saying: ‘I’ve never heard of anything like this in my life.’ On the other side of the room there was a psychiatrist who said: ‘I hear it every day.”

SocialWorkersSpeak.org interviewed Sapphire in 2009 shortly after the release of “Precious.” To read that interview click here.

Carey said now when she walks around the house dressed “normally” she doesn’t feel bad about her looks because she knows she looked worse playing a social worker. Carey said she did her scenes in “Precious” under unforgiving fluorescent lights in a dental office.

Which led BlackBook.com’s Rohin Guha to write:

“Uncertain is the subtle dig at social workers everywhere subject to such harsh lights, lacking luxuries like L’Oreal under-eye creams.”

Okay, let’s drop the stereotype about style-challenged social workers. Social workers can be some of the best-dressed people you know.

Photo of Mariah Carey courtesy of BlackBook.com.

Jeers to the New York Times for this profile of Marina Draghici, a costume and set designer who transformed Mariah Carey into social worker Ms. Weiss in the film “Precious.”

The article praised Draghici for making Mariah Carey a “drab” social worker with a moustache.

Some social workers  left comments on SocialWorkersSpeak.org criticizing Carey’s appearance in the film because it perpetuates the stereotype that social workers are dowdy, style-challenged people (See our “Social Workers in Film Slideshow” entry).

For instance, Loretta Etienne wrote:

“The social worker characters are usually great people with diverse backgrounds that help them better perform their work. In short, the characters are great but I usually see the drabbed hair, 1980s styled social worker being portrayed as the norm as if this is the last career that a vibrant young man or woman would have wanted. I have a problem with that. Most of us are young, love our work and love life which shows in our outwardly appearance.”

Now at least social workers know who to blame for Carey’s looks in the film.

Photo of Marina Draghici courtesy of New York Times.

Photo courtesy of Screenrant.com

Several movies and television programs featured on SocialWorkersSpeak.org are up for Golden Globe Awards. They include the film “Precious,” about an overweight, abused and pregnant teen girl who finds hope through literacy; the “Glee” high school musical television series; “The Messenger,” which is about soldiers who must deliver death notices to families; and “The Princess and the Frog,” the first Disney film to feature a black princess.

“Precious” was nominated for Best Drama Motion Picture. Actresses Mo’Nique and Gabourey Sidibe from that film are up for best supporting actress and best actress in a drama, respectively. Actor Woody Harrelson was nominated for best supporting actor for his role in “The Messenger.” “Glee” may win a Golden Globe for best television series comedy or musical and series regular Lea Michele was nominated as best actress in that category. And “The Princess and the Frog” is a contender for best animated feature film.

The Golden Globe Awards will air on NBC on Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. EST.

Q: We want to know what television programs, movies, and actors you think should get a Golden Globe. Please leave your comments. The Associated Press list of nominees is posted below.

MOTION PICTURES

Photo of Sapphire courtesy of USA Today.

Cheers to the author Sapphire for praising social workers in a Dec. 10 USA Today article on her book “Push.” The film “Precious” is based on that novel, which is about an obese, abused and pregnant teenage girl who begins to find self worth when she learns to read.

Sapphire told USA Today the movie and book share the same message:

“You can make it if you try, but you need a loving community, you need a teacher, you need a social worker, you need friends.”

Some social workers are concerned about the portrayal  of their profession in the movie (Click here to read about and listen to  National Association of Social Workers member Brenda Wade’s interaction with movie director Lee Daniels).

Sapphire defended her characters when she talked to SocialWorkersSpeak a few weeks ago. Click here to read that interview. Here’s an excerpt of that dialogue:

“I know many social workers and that influenced the creation of my character Ms Weiss. Two social workers and a social work student read the book in manuscript form before it was published and felt the portrayal of Ms Weiss was insightful and compelling.”

Sapphire photo courtesy of the University of Minnesota.

Social workers are divided over pop diva Mariah Carey’s portrayal of social worker Ms. Weiss in “Precious,” a movie about an abused, pregnant, overweight teen girl who finds hope through literacy.

Director Lee Daniels said he closely followed the book on which the movie is based — “Push” by Sapphire.

Sapphire (Ramona Lofton),  59, was born in California to a military family. According to Wikipedia, Sapphire’s mother “kind of abandoned the family.” Sapphire dropped out of high school but eventually made her way to New York City where she got a master’s degree and worked as an exotic dancer and reading and writing teacher before launching a writing career.

Social Workers Speak! asked Sapphire about the portrayal of social workers in “Precious.” She agreed to answer our questions by email. Here is her response:

Q: Your novel “Push,” has been turned into a very powerful and moving movie “Precious.” Are you pleased with the results? What experiences in your life inspired this story? Did you meet children such as Claireece?

A: I am very pleased with the movie “Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire.” I think it is a movie that makes a powerful statement about a forgotten segment of society and at the same time is a wonderful work of art. I knew many children like the main character in the book and movie. They inspired me to write the novel Push.

Q: Social workers deal on a day to day basis with many issues addressed in your book — illiteracy, child abuse, rape etc. Did you know social workers and did that influence the creation of the character Miss Weiss in your book?

A: I know many social workers and that influenced the creation of my character Ms Weiss. Two social workers and a social work student read the book in manuscript form before it was published and felt the portrayal of Ms Weiss was insightful and compelling.

Q: Some social workers who have read the book and seen the movie said they could have been represented more fairly. Some say they could have provided the services Miss Rain helped arrange for Claireece. Do you think their criticism of the book and movie are fair?

A: Some research on your part will uncover a lawsuit brought by eligible welfare recipients (who were) kicked off welfare and people who were eligible for but were denied welfare by the (New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani) administration. Who do you think those people turned to (as Giuliani grandstanded about reducing the welfare roles!) after social services were instructed by the Mayor’s office to deny them welfare benefits? They turned to us, their teachers, churches, and neighbors. The unlucky had no one to turn to and some of them died on the street, starved, or committed suicide. I don’t know how many of the people you mention (who feel I created an unfair portrait of a social worker) were working in the social service system in New York in the 1980′s but the failures of the system at that time are documented and the casualties were legion.

The situation has changed and hopefully it will continue to do so.

Q: There has been much fuss made in the media about actress Mariah Carey deglamorizing her look to play Miss Weiss? Do you think too much fuss was made about that? And does her portrayal send the message that social workers are dowdy people?

A: Mariah Carey is a fine actress and played the role of Ms. Weiss with wisdom, soul, and grace. I will be forever grateful to her for her fine performance.

Q: What projects are you working on now?

A: I’m working on a new novel and a book of poetry. I am also taking some graduate classes in literature in hopes of getting into a PhD program. All best, Sapphire.

Readers can also watch Katie Couric’s interview with Sapphire on CBS by clicking here. And to find out more about how social workers help children and teens visit the National Association of Social Workers Children and Families Web page and “Help Starts Here” Kids and Families Web page.

Photo Courtesy of wildaboutmovies.com

Social Workers Speak! has received more than 100 comments about  ”Precious,” a harrowing film about an abused teen girl. The movie features pop diva Mariah Carey as her social worker, Ms. Weiss.

Comments have been mixed. Some social workers were put off by Carey’s portrayal while others had no problem with it. Some said the movie was exploitative while other social workers said the film put a needed spotlight on some ugly social ills, including domestic violence, illiteracy, and HIV/AIDS.

The comments from social workers reflect how the film is playing in larger public. Here’s a brief list of who is giving ”Precious” a thumbs up, thumbs down, or neutral review:

THUMBS UP: Mark Blankenship of the Huffington Post probably wrote the most sensitive take on the role of Ms. Weiss. Ms. Weiss helped Claireece finally break the cycle of abuse, he said.

“That’s where the system really works. It’s too late for Precious, but because of the system’s support, she takes an action that might free her son from his mother’s miserable fate. She sets him on a path toward self-confidence and love.”

THUMBS DOWN: Juan Williams in this Wall Street Journal column says “Precious” is  just the latest iteration of “ghetto lit” — lurid escapist art for the black middle class.

NEUTRAL: The New York Times story “To Blacks, Precious Is ‘Demeaned’ or ‘Angelic,’” looks at why the movie is dividing the African American community. Some experts said the film demeans blacks while others say it is a powerful story that should be told.

THUMBS UP: Baltimore Sun critic Michael Sragow called the film “cathartic and exhilarating.” He also praised the role of the social worker Ms. Weiss in the story. “…Carey shows the catalytic strength of a social worker who completely honors her profession,” he said.

THUMBS DOWN: Respected New York Press critic Armond White said “Precious” is the most demeaning image of African Americans put on the screen since “Birth of a Nation” almost a century ago. “Shame on Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey for signing on as air-quote executive producers of ‘Precious,”" he wrote.

THUMBS UP:  Boston Globe critic Wesley Morris in his review said the film is sensational but does not exploit or condescend. But is colorism at play? Why are all the good characters, including social worker Ms. Weiss, light skinned?

THUMBS UP: The New York Times’ Richard Bernstein called “Precious” a modern-day Cinderella story. Ms. Weiss and Blu Rain, the teacher who helps Claireece learn to read and escape her horrid surroundings, are fairy godmothers.

Do you want to hold a discussion group about “Precious”? Lionsgate Studio offers this excellent discussion guide that includes statistics on many of the social issues the movie addresses:  Precious Discussion Guide

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.

Books often get turned into movies. For instance “Precious,” the much-talked-about  film that features singer Mariah Carey’s as a  social worker, is based on the book “Push” by Sapphire.

Social workers should also pay attention to “As God Commands,” an Italian novel by best-selling author Niccolo Ammaniti. Like “Push,” the book features a social worker.

The novel sold well in Europe and an English version is now available. But from what we read the book may warrant a jeer. The novel’s social worker Beppe Trecca apparently follows the stereotype that social workers come to break up homes and can be easily fooled.

 ”As God Commands” is about Rino Zena, an unemployed, alcoholic skinhead raising 13-year-old son Cristiano. Zeno and Cristiano go to great lengths to convince Trecca their household is not dysfunctional, rushing to clean house and bake bread before visits.

Check out the book and let us know what you think. If we’re wrong we’ll move this entry from a Jeer to a Cheer.

Brenda Wade

Brenda Wade, NASW member and a social worker for Baltimore City Public Schools, saw  Oprah Winfrey interview singer Mariah Carey about her role as social worker Mrs. Weiss in the film “Precious.” Wade said the film excerpts she saw made her concerned social workers would be unfairly portrayed in the movie.

Wade is deeply committed to the social work profession. She is executive director of Achievement Services Inc., a nonprofit that seeks to empower young people. And she writes the blog “Diary of a High School Social Worker.”

So Wade wrote director Lee Daniels. To her surprise he contacted her. Social Workers Speak! interviewed Wade about her experience:

Mariah Carey portrays social worker "Mrs. Weiss" in "Precious. Photo courtesy of BET Television.

Some social workers are concerned by pop diva Mariah Carey’s portrayal of social worker Mrs. Weiss in the movie “Precious,” which premiered last week. However, award-winning movie critic Mark Blankenship and other critics praised Carey’s portrayal as well as that of Paula Patton, who plays teacher Blu Rain.

“Both of these women are part of a system of social aid, and in this movie, that system stops the long, terrible cycle in Precious’ family,” Blankenship wrote.

To read Blankenship’s review in full click here.

Blankenship is not the only reviewer who gave social workers a thumbs up after seeing “Precious.” Check out the review from former New York Mayor Ed Koch here and Scott Mendelson at the Huffington Post here.

The film “Precious” puts a spotlight on many issues social workers confront, including family violence, child abuse, HIV and AIDS and teen pregnancy.

Social workers also play an important role in the gut-wrenching film, which premieres Friday Nov. 6. In fact, pop singer Mariah Carey sheds her diva image to portray “Mrs. Weiss,” a social worker who tries to help the troubled teenager Claireece “Precious” Jones.

But is the film’s portrayal of social workers fair? Do you handle some of the some issues depicted in the movie? “Social Workers Speak” urges you to see “Precious” and let us know what you think. You can post your comments below.

And we can tell you how to reach out to your community and local media to let give them your opinion on “Precious” and its depiction of social work.

How to React to Film:
Are you pleased with how the film “Precious” portrayed social workers or are you upset? If you want to contact your local newspaper, radio or television station to voice your opinion about the gut-wrenching movie, contact Greg Wright at the National Association of Social Workers (GWright@naswdc.org). Greg can give you tips on how to get involved.

How to Find Film:
According to the press, Lionsgate studios will give “Precious” a limited theater release. Is the film playing near you? Go to www.precioustickets.com to find theaters showing the movie and buy tickets.

Getty Images/Lionsgate

The press is raving over glitzy songstress Mariah Carey’s transformation into social worker Miss Weiss in the soon-to-be released movie “Precious.” But social workers have long played key roles in television and cinema. An Internet slide show from the UK’s Guardian Newspaper examines the trend.