By Guest Blogger Norma L. Jarrett
By now you may have seen the movie The Photograph, written and directed by Stella Meghie, starring Issa Rae, LaKeith Stanfield, Chante Adams and Y’lan Noel. My favorite character is Christina, played by Adams. Why?
Because she is the creative, ambitious woman of color and Black mother that many of us need to see. Everything about Christina is authentic, especially her beauty, talent, aspirations and passion for her craft. Her backstory is a southern blend of curiosity, flirtatious innocence and romance. She had me mesmerized from the start.
We don’t get to know everything about her, for example, how she became famous or details concerning her marriage. But the moviegoer in me didn’t really miss it (at least that much). Especially when Christina informed Issac (Y’lan), her first love, that she needed something else to look forward to besides making his dinner. When those words dripped from her mouth I sat up. There it was. The thing we are not supposed to say.
At that moment, I understood the reason Christina was born. She’d come to set us all free: the creative, unconventional, artistic women of color who need to create like they need air. Her bold declaration was Affirmation. Because many of us creatives suffocate unless we have space large enough to dream. When we witness Christina flee Louisiana and all that is attached, we’re riding shotgun; secretly rooting for her. Because we know that feeling. A feeling of obligation or a place competing with or feeling too small for our future.
The sheepish grin that crept across her face as the bus rolled on informed us that her regrets were left at the curb. Although we felt her man, we found solace that sis was going to be just fine. She’d chosen “bigger” although she hadn’t known what or where bigger was. She was running to and not away from her life. And a creative life is still a life. Phew! Pass the collection plate please.
As a woman, a woman of color, a wife, a published celebrated author who started writing decades ago, I felt that. Why? An unconventional path is not any easy one. For many decades there was no model, Google map or instructions for us. All women seemingly were put in the same box marked conventional. Therein lies the struggle.
For I, too, chose the unconventional path during my final year of law school. I wrote and published my first novel that year and landed a book deal shortly after. At the time, many of my friends were getting married and having kids. I was having a different type of “adventure.” It wasn’t wrong, just different. My aunts and other women in my family were proud. They encouraged me to fly, joining me as willing passengers on my journey. Christina was symbolic of women who dare to dream big, even if it cost.
The grief that Christina displays at one point in the film seemed to be derived from a need to force herself into the only box she knew. She didn’t give up her dream, but partially clipped her wings.
I truly believe that God honors our gifts and wants us to maximize our creative call, regardless of marital status, geographic location or other factors. However, freedom comes from choices and living an authentic life. He gives instructions to answer our creative call. And yes, sometimes we need Christina’s courage and wings!
The character of Christina wasn’t just about art. She desired and embraced other love, but struggled. She raised her daughter the best way she knew how. And married. However, her love of photography was clearly effortless and brought her the most joy.
A great character resonates long after the movie credits end, and the last page is read. I believe there is a little Christina in every woman. Christina reminds us we should not explain, grieve or limit our dreams. But make room for them. And sometimes that means finding the courage to “buy the ticket,” board the bus and ride to our creative destination as often as needed.
Norma L. Jarrett is a writer with traditionally published and indie titles. Her work has been featured in Essence, Ebony, USA Today, Southern Living and other media. She is married and resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and two dogs, Mylo and Lexi. Her titles are available on Amazon.com. Her next novel, Ivy’s Soul, is a multi-generational romance that will be released in 2020.
IG: @authornormajarrett
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