#celie x shug avery

[invisible-pink-toast]

Celie and Shug Avery in The Color Purple (part 2)

[dragonsareawesome123]

I want you to be a story for me That I can believe in forever

The Color Purple (2023) dir. Blitz Bazawule

[where-our-stories-start]

[alexsfictionaddiction]

12 Lesbian Books Everyone Should Read This Pride Month

I need to point out how wonderful the updated version of the lesbian flag is. It’s inclusive of lesbians of all skin colours and that’s exactly what I’ve tried to do in this post. Pride is a time for acceptance, love and inclusivity and it feels especially poignant with everything that is happening in the world right now. So here are my favourite sapphic books that definitely need picking up, if your life is lacking a little girl power. -Love, Alex x

1. Something To Talk About by Meryl Wilsner.

Rumours flood the media that Hollywood starlet Jo and her assistant Emma’s relationship is something more than it is but could that actually be true? This brand new release is a sweet slow-burning romance set in a believable contemporary Hollywood that will help you escape.

2. Under The Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta.

When war breaks out in Nigeria, 11-year-old Ijeoma is sent away to safety where she falls for another girl -an experience that will forever change her. With elements of both Nigerian folklore and Christianity, this is a life story set against an eye-opening backdrop of African history, cultural attitudes towards sexuality and the effects of war.  

3. In At The Deep End by Kate Davies.

Twenty-something Julia hasn’t had sex for three years, when she gets her sexual awakening at a warehouse party and so transpires her new life as a lesbian. It’s a filthy, hilarious British rom-com with a Bridget Jones level of heartwarmth to it that reminds us that you don’t have to have it all figured out before you’re an adult. 

4. Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera.

Juliet’s coming out didn’t go down well with her Puerto Rican family but now she’s interning with Harlowe Brisbane, a leading voice on feminism and being a lesbian, so surely she’ll get her life figured out, right? Funny and charming, this is a fierce educational novel that you will eat right up.

5. XX by Angela Chadwick.

When Rosie and Jules become the first lesbian couple to fall pregnant through innovative ovum-to-ovum technology, someone leaks the news and the whole world becomes incredibly interested in their lives. XX is a feminist, speculative critique of misogyny, inequality, homophobia and multiple other ills of the world that will pull you straight in.

6. The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth.

In 1989, Cam meets and falls for beautiful cowgirl Coley in their small conservative Montana town but her religious aunt has other, much darker, plans for her niece. Cameron Post is a heady daze of a novel full of angst and heartache that deals with very real issues for many LGBT teens, making it easy to see why its largely considered a seminal work in YA lesbian literature. 

7. Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst.

Princess Denna is about to become queen of a land where magic is forbidden, while harboring a secret power of her own, but things get even more complicated when she meets her betrothed’s sister Mare. Intense friendship, conflicting loyalties and saving the world makes this fantasy novel a gorgeous read.

8. The Deep by Rivers Solomon.

Descended from pregnant African slavewomen thrown overboard, Yetu’s people have formed their own underwater society, free from sexual or gender labels, and Yetu remembers everything for them. This beautifully written novella is a very original, captivating and moving experience that is of paramount importance right now.

9. It’s Not Like It’s A Secret by Misa Sugiura.

When Sana moves to California with her family, she meets gorgeous and unique Jamie but both home and friendship dramas rear their ugly heads. As well as being a cute awkward romance, it also tackles racism, damaging stereotypes and celebrates interracial love.

10. Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir.

Tired of a life and afterlife of drudgery, Gideon plans to escape but her lifelong nemesis, necromancer Harrowhark has one last task for her. Gideon the Ninth is a very unique intricate fantasy with extensive world-building and a snarky, complex relationship at its heart.

11. The Color Purple by Alice Walker.

In the deep American South, Celie is separated from her sister Nettie, when she meets vivacious Shug Avery, who teaches her how to be her true self. The Color Purple is a classic within the black literature canon and explores race, abuse and feminism with wonderfully intriguing sapphic undertones. 

12. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell.

Laura Dean is Frederica’s dream girl but their on/off relationship is starting to ooze toxicity and Freddy realises that she needs to decide what -and who- is really best for her. This stunning graphic novel is a lesson to us all to go after the love we deserve as opposed to settling for the love we can get.

[c-i-n-e-m-a-j-a-z-z]

What is a Back Film?

Disclaimer: I will always capitalize Black because I am going to be Black today, Black tomorrow, and Black forever!

What is a Black film? This is like asking whether it is a genre or not, which is another beast of its own. A Black film in my eyes is made by a Black filmmaker and stars a Black cast. The best example that I can think of is Spike Lee. Papa Spike (please don’t tell him I call him that) writes, directs, and produces his films, also often staring in them. His main cast is usually 98% Black, thus making them Black films. Many of his films are just that, Black! Do The Right Thing, Malcom X, She’s Gotta Have It, and so on. What happens when, the film has a predominantly Black cast, but the filmmakers are white? If you have not seen The Color Purple, watch it, live by it, make it apart of your everyday life. This was made by the great Steven Spielberg and written by Menno Meyjes, while the cast reflects the best of Black artistry; Whoopi Goldberg, Donald Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery, just to name a few. But does this still classify as a Black film?

Let us think more about The Color Purple. Whoopi Goldberg is the main character Celie Harris. From the beginning we see so much happen to her, she is raped by her father, then gives birth to his children, she is separated from her sister, and forced to live with a man, Donald Glove who plays Mister who’s wife just passed. Early on, we see her struggle, her trials, her tribulation, her pain, etc. We also see her gain her footing in this world that we know is very unkind to Black women through her now friend Shug Avery, Margaret Avery’s character. As we watch this movie, and watch the credits play at the end, we are reminded that this is a Black woman’s story, originally told by Alice Walker, a Black woman, retold by a white men Spielberg and Meyjes. And because this is a Black story retold by white men, was this ever a Black film, or does it now become a Black film solely due to its cast? There is no question that Do The Right Thing and For Colored Girls are Black films, but what about Keanu, Detroit, Loving, The Help, Ray, and so so many others. Are these Black films or just films that happen to have a Black cast and some Black crew members?

[supercharged-nostalgia-blog]

The Quasi x Clopin ship kinda reminds me of Celie x Shug Avery from The Color Purple (y'all need to read it, it's a great book!). It kinda starts out negative (Clopin making fun of Quasi and just being a little shit, lol), but then it gets super sweet and cute, and I love it so much.

[365daysoflesbians]

February 9 -- The Color Purple (1982)

(picture source: x) tw: abuse in this article, for the book: graphic depictions of rape, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, general abuse, racism The Color Purple was written by Alice Walker, published in 1982 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, and won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1983. Though the story has many characters and goes many places (Memphis, England, Olinka, a small African village, among others) the root of it all is family, specifically sisterhood. Celie and Nettie are two black sisters living in the American South who become separated by distance, abuse, and betrayal. The story follows them as their love for one another and refusal to give up on hope lead them back home.  

As you read, Celie, the sister that has been left behind, becomes a woman that recognizes, survives, and overcomes abuse. As she’s coming through her healing stages, she falls in love with her husband’s, Mister’s, mistress, Shug Avery, a jazz and blues singer. Though Shug treats Celie like shit when she first comes, suffering from an illness and unwilling to bend her pride to be thankful for help she’s given, Celie loves her from first sight. As Celie takes care of her, Shug softens, and Celie begins to notice that she blurs the line between man and woman.

“That when I notice how Shug talk and sometimes act like a man. Men say stuff like that to women, Girl, you look like a good time. Women always talk bout hair and health. How many babies living or dead, or got teef. Not bout how some woman they hugging on look like a good time.” (p.85)

When Shug learns that Mister beats Celie whenever Shug leaves, she decides to stay.

“If you was my wife, she say, I’d cover you with kisses instead of licks, and work hard for you too.” (p. 115)

As the two become closer, they begin a sexual relationship and fall in love.

“Nobody ever love me, I say.

She say, I love you, Miss Celie.” (p.117)

“It feel like heaven is what it feel like, not like sleeping with Mr. _____ at all.” (p.119)

Shug convinces Celie to find out more about her sister, Nettie, and where she may be, whether or not she’s alive, and to find her. She helps her decide not to give up hope.

“Why you want to know so much about Nettie?, I ast.

Cause she the only one you ever, she says, side me.” (p.123)

  This relationship sustains Celie as she becomes strong enough to search for and read through the letters Nettie wrote her and Mister hid from her. As Nettie explains that the man they believed was their dad isn’t their father, Celie leaves Mister with Shug and Squeak and she stays in Tennessee becoming a relatively famous seamstress. As someone who had grown up being called ugly, Celie begins to come into her own as she rejects (seen at the time as) more feminine outfits such as dresses and skirts, and dresses herself in stylish pants and other masculine wear that she creates. She moves back into her childhood home after inheriting the land and strikes up an understanding with Mister, who now asks her to call him Albert. She learns that Shug has fallen in love with a man and wants to travel with him. Celie is heartbroken at first and still loves Shug even if it’ll remain unrequited, but continues to live her life for herself and is good with that, when Shug comes back. When she does, Celie’s sister, Nettie and her family finally find each other, and the book ends with them introducing their families to each other.     

You can read it here, learn more about the movie here, and the musical here. Sources (x, x, x) ~lex lee.

[zoenightstars]

how about the color purple?

im doing the revival because i saw it and wow 

Favourite Character: celieLeast Favourite Character: albert Favourite OBC Cast Member: cynthia erivo the fuck kinda questionFavourite Current Cast Member (If Applicable): n/a (im Bitter)Favourite Song: this is basic but i’m here is my favoriteLeast Favourite Song: all the songs are perfect miss me w that “least favorite” shitFavourite Act (If Applicable): act 2Favourite Ship: celie x shug averyLeast Favourite Ship: albert x celie wtf If There is Something I Would Change about The Musical: literally nothing it was so perfect

Ratings: 9/10

send me a musical!

[hotspotsmagazine]

Q&A: ‘The Color Purple’ Comes to the Arsht Center

The Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of The Color Purple, will be presented at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County for a limited time through March 4, with tickets are on sale now!

Cast members from the 2016 Broadway revival lead the touring company, including Adrianna Hicks (Aladdin, Sister Act – Germany) as Celie, Carla R. Stewart (Ghost – national tour, Rent – regional) as Shug Avery and Carrie Compere (Holler If You Hear Me, Shrek the Musical – national tour) as Sofia.

They will be joined by Gavin Gregory (The Color Purple – Revival, The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess) as Mister, N’Jameh Camara (X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation) as Nettie, J. Daughtry (The Color Purple – Revival, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) as Harpo, along with Darnell Abraham, Amar Atkins, Kyle E. Baird, Angela Birchett, Jared Dixon, Erica Durham, Bianca Horn, Gabrielle Reid, C.E. Smith, Clyde Voce, Nyla Watson, J.D. Webster, Brit West, Nikisha Williams and Michael Wordly.

It was a pleasure to sit down, with the lead, Adrianna, for this Hotspots exclusive interview:

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Adrianna Hicks

Were you always a performer, even as a child?

I always loved to sing, even as a child. I sang in church, and anywhere else they would allow me to. In addition, Is loved to dance, so performing was in my blood.

What was your first professional/paid gig?

In Chatham NY I did Hairspray in the Mac-Haydn Theatre in the round. It was the summer of my sophomore year in college.

What was your big break?

I think there have been a few: Singing back up for Michael Michael Bublé; right after college I went to Germany to work in musical theater for 3 ½ years; and then of course my first role on Broadway.

When did you know performing would be your career?

Honestly, I knew that at a very young age; probably around 6 years old. It’s what I was born to do!

WATCH:

Other than this role, what was your favorite role?

I loved playing Sara in Ragtime since it’s another story that creates dialogue amongst the races. The show was at the Lyric Theater, which was a 2000 seat theater in Oklahoma City. This show matured me in such a wonderful way.

What is your fantasy role?

I would love to play Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, or the Witch or the Baker’s wife in Into the Woods.

What should the South Florida audiences expect from this production of The Color Purple?

Spiritual resurrection power. The experience we have every night with every audience is amazing. The story has a lot of power that I promise everyone will love! Get revived with The Color Purple.

For more information on Adrianna follow her on Instagram.com/missadriannahicks.

Tickets to The Color Purple are available through the Arsht Center Box Office in person at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132, by calling 305.949.6722, or online at arshtcenter.org. Ticket prices start at $29*.

For more information, please visit ColorPurple.com.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/02/28/qa-the-color-purple-comes-to-the-arsht-center/

[dragonsareawesome123]

"You see, I think it pisses God off if you walk past the color purple and not notice it." "You saying God wants to be loved like it say in the Bible?" "Oh, everything and everybody wants to be loved. Especially God. That's why God be in everything. And see, when you love what God has made, you is loving God and God is loving you."

The Color Purple (2023) dir. Blitz Bazawule

[dragonsareawesome123]

"You gots to stand up to him. You gots to try."

The Color Purple (2023) dir. Blitz Bazawule

[dragonsareawesome123]

Push da button!

The Color Purple (2023) dir. Blitz Bazawule

[dragonsareawesome123]

"Where're you going? I need somebody to wash my back."

The Color Purple (2023) dir. Blitz Bazawule

[where-our-stories-start]

[invisible-pink-toast]

shug avery making sure everybody knows how important celie is to her no matter the adaptation