One Lady. One Time. Margaret Avery

I saw Margaret Avery once. I remember when I first saw The Color Purple (1985), I really wanted to see this actress again.

But I never did.

Margaret Avery had been around for quite some time, long before The Color Purple. I may have seen her in something other than The Color Purple, maybe in another pic or on a TV show. After all, she’s been around since the 70s.

She’s been in about a dozen films since The Color Purple (I didn’t see them) and she’s done some television; so she is working (good) and she will be in Tyler Perry’s upcoming film, Meet The Browns.    

She’s aging now. And although roles may await her, she’ll never be another Shug Avery. I wish we could have seen more of her.

I really enjoyed her in the role. She was perfectly cast. She nailed it!

She was nominated for Best Spporting Actress for her effort; but, like many of her peers, she remained underrated, underworked and underappreciated.

I wanted to highlight her here, if for no other reason than to pay tribute to one fine performance, one moment in time.

Comments

[Mes Deux Cents]

Hi TBA,

First; I listened to the podcast. It was interesting. There were, however, a few things brought up that I didn't quite get. I hope you'll post about the show.

On Ms Avery; I can't recall seeing her in anything other than Color Purple. Like you said maybe I have but I don't remember.

Although I'm not a Tyler Perry fan, I've never seen one of his films; I would like to see Ms Avery in film again.

There are a lot of actresses from that era both in film and on TV that just disappeared. Like Vernee Watson, Ren Woods and others.

Nice post. :)

[theblackactor.com]

@ Mes Deux

Hi Mes Deux:

Girl, what you know about Vernee Watson?! LOL. But you're right. Margaret Avery is only one of them. It crossed my mind to publish something about the show. I didn't commit to doing that. Now, it's a time issue. If I'm unable to do it this time, I will definitely do it if and when I appear on a Podcast. Uh oh. What happened? Were we talking over each other? Was I not making sense? Did I answer a question I was not asked or ignore a question I was? LOL. I haven't listened to it, yet. Thank you for the kind words, Mes Deux. And thank you for listening.

[Mes Deux Cents]

TBA,

The funny thing is I just last night saw Vernee Watson on a repeat episode of 2 and 1/2 Men. She had a small part as a nurse.

About the podcast; it wasn't you. It was something the other woman on the panel said.

She mentioned that she asked her readers what they could do to change Black films. And she said no one seemed to have any answers.

So I was thinking that unless her readers are Hollywood types how could she expect them to come up with anything that they could do?

Do you remember that part?

Otherwise I enjoyed it. I just wish you had more of a chance to talk. :)

[invisiblewoman]

Hello mes deux cents: I am the "other woman" and my blog name is Invisible Woman. The question that was proposed is what we can do at a grassroots level in the public to change what we don't want in black film so the "Hollywood types" could get the meassage.

You did get the second part correct--no one seems to have many answers, but I always advocate black film festivals, letter writing, and going out to the theatre to support what you think is quality Black Cinema.

[invisiblewoman]

Btw, to those genuinely interested in change and what they might be able to do, check out Tambay Obenson's from the Obenson Report's "Capable Tenth":

http://www.tambayobenson.com/c10/index.htm

[Afrodite]

Shuuuuuuuuuug!!! Love her.

[theblackactor.com]

@ Mes Deux

LOL. That hour goes so fast!!

@ IW

Thanks for reminding us about Tambay's link -- and informing those who are unaware of Capable Tenth.

@ Afrodite

Girl, me toooooooooooo!!

[Mes Deux Cents]

Hi Invisible Woman,

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I might have missed a bit of what you said on the podcast.

I think film festivals are great. I live in the San Francisco Bay area and there are quite a few of them here.

I wish African Americans would just go on strike and refuse to see films like First Sunday, etc.

I think the only way the studios will make any changes is if we hurt their bottom line.

Thanks for the link!

[Mes Deux Cents]

TBA,

Okay what happened to the Tyler Perry post!? :)

[Concerned Black Filmmaker]

"The question that was proposed is what we can do at a grassroots level in the public to change what we don't want in black film so the 'Hollywood types' could get the meassage." -- INVISIBLE WOMAN

Why should we make anyone change what you or anyone else don't want to see in black films? If you don't want to see it then steer clear of it. Trust me. You're doing your part with just that simple gesture.

Instead of being "anti" anything, be "pro" the things you favor. Just continue to support quality black films that you favor, especially at the film festivals, and encourage friends and family to do the same. If you have a blog, write a review about the film. Make sure the word gets out. Put the review in an email and send it to all of your loved ones. Ask them to pass it on. That's the key. Hollywood monitors their box office numbers, but they also pay close attention to other venues making what could be their money. So, if you have a quality or even a ghastly black film making a killing at some film festival, Hollywood is taking notes. That's it.

But to make such demands, like changing what we "don't" want in black films, sounds dangerously like censoring the artist. That's what we don't want.

Oops. I used the word don't. My bad.

[invisiblewoman]

Good point cbf.

[theblackactor.com]

@ Mes Deux

LOL. I was hoping nobody saw it. Damn, man. It was only up for like 2 minutes. I accidentally published it Wednesday night at 9:45 or something. I meant to publish it this morning. LOL. Ooops.

@ CBF

I cosign with IW. Good point you make! :)

Thanks, guys, for your insight.

[kimi]

I LOVED Margaret Avery in Color Purple! Was shopping this afternoon & saw her advertised in some B list flick as a supporting player, never heard of the movie before & can't remember the name now, but thought of this blog (which I tried to post on earlier this week & was rudely interruped with work LOL) & wondered how the heck that happened to Margaret Avery after such a strong showing as Shug ... maybe it's cuz the entire shaft & movie Color Purple got shafted at the awards? Another blog for another day perhaps? :-)

and TBA - I do hope you will post info when you know of any black film festivals. Unfortunately I always seem to hear about them AFTER they've come and gone and not beforehand when I may have a chance to check out some of the movies.

[CT]

I was surprised to see Margaret Avery in "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins." I always wondered what happened to her.