the power of "Christian Movie Goers"
For the second weekend in a row, Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion is the highest grossing film of the week. Analysts, according to Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), say that the strength of the film's receipts has to do with the support of "church-going black women". Now I'll be honest, I didn't see this film or the previous of Tyler Perry's films, 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman'. Nor have I had any desire to see either. But I have to say that I am encouraged that such a niche market has that kind of economic force in our country. "Church-goers" have proven their power at the box office before with "The Passion of the Christ" and even "The Chronicles of Narnia". It is intersting to me that African Americans have that kind of economic power especially on the pre-Oscar weekend. Still, this doesn't seem like the best use of our economic strength in the public sphere. It used to be that African American christians rallied around a cause, not a film. Especially not a film about a guy in drag (not that there's anything wrong with that). Let's face it, when Christainity flexes its muscles by showing how it can make a film studio rich, well, that's not a Christ honoring use of our energy and resources. I don't want to be known as the guy or the community that made Mel Gibson, Adam Adamson (Narnia), or Tyler Perry rich. I'd rather be known as the community that does kindness, loves justice and walks humbly with our God. But that's just me.
