Color Of Change partners with “The Color Purple”
By Color Of Change staff
For the past six months, Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson has participated in The Color Purple Leadership Circle, which facilitated meaningful connections tying the Warner Brothers movie’s themes to Color Of Change’s work combating bans on Black history and literature.
“The new adaptation of The Color Purple illustrates the strength of Black sisterhood, Black love and our communities’ resilience and power. The perseverance of the Black writers, actors and producers who put something on the line to ensure this film received the investment and acknowledgment it deserves is also part of the story,” said Rashad Robinson, president of Color Of Change.
Black stories matter. But it’s harder to tell our stories if students aren’t allowed to learn about Black history in classrooms. And school boards stop students from learning about Black history in school when books such as “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker continue to be banned in school libraries.
That’s why we are fighting back against attacks on Black and LGBTQ stories and book bans. Recently, Color Of Change endorsed Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s “Books Saves Lives Act” and we are supporting the “Fight Book Bans Act” with congressional Reps. Maxwell Frost ((FL-10), Jamie Raskin (MD-8) and Frederica Wilson (FL-24). We’ve also partnered with the National Education Association for a storytelling workshop where community members all across the country learned how to craft stories to #DefendBlackHistory.
Our voices are important. Our history is important. There are people out there who have sought for decades to destroy the documented contributions Black women, such as the case of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were stolen and sold for scientific research, and whose story almost went untold. This erasure is prevalent in several areas, from health care to Hollywood. There are countless examples of Black women not getting their due credit. But when we continue to keep these stories alive and celebrate them, we build on that legacy.
To celebrate the film’s release, you can send a “Dear Sister” letter aimed at fostering connections among women, share stories and empower and encourage the special women in your life. Visit this link to send a FREE digital letter to the special women in your life.
Check out the new trailer and watch the movie in theaters nationwide starting Christmas Day, Dec. 25.