Saturday, May 23, 2015

HBO’s “Bessie”

Showcased the

Importance of

Seeing Queer

Black Womanhood

on Screen

Photo: HBO

by Aisha N. Davis

Last Saturday night, Bessie, a biopic about early 20th century blues singer Bessie Smith, premiered on HBO. Prior to and following the premiere, the film garnered acclaim for its bold storytelling, passionate acting, and unapologetic honesty. Many are commending the all-star team of actresses and actors who brought Bessie Smith’s life to the attention of audiences who may have never heard of the songstress, once nicknamed “The Empress of Blues.” And though HBO is no stranger to deeply moving biopics, Bessie accomplished something that even the Emmy-winning Introducing Dorothy Dandridge could not: it unyieldingly presented the life of an acclaimed queer* Black woman.

It is not surprising that Bessie has been successful. With Queen Latifah, Mo’Nique, Khandi Alexander, and Michael K. Williams starring and Dee Rees as screenwriter and director, the film possesses a plethora of talent. This combination of skill both in front of and behind the camera resulted in a film that does not just focus on the sexuality of the main character, but skillfully incorporates it as part of her life. When speaking to NPR, Rees touched on her choices in presenting Smith’s sexuality as seen in the film: 

I wanted to present her sexuality in a very matter-of-fact light. You know, it’s not scandalized, it’s like she loves who she loves. If you look to her song lyrics, she has lyrics that refer to homosexuality. If you look at Ma Rainey, she has lyrics about gay people. Same with [blues singer] Lucille Bogan. So I look to these women’s lyrics to find the authenticity of their experience. As an artist, you don’t sing about things you don’t see. You don’t make things up completely … They were just writing what they saw.

GO HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON BESSIE

>via: http://www.forharriet.com/2015/05/hbos-bessie-showcased-importance-of.html#axzz3b0qSrBmQ