Netflix debuts the first trailer for Tyler Perry’s movie on the 23rd of August. The movie, ‘A Jazzman’s Blues’ is set to premiere on Netflix on the 23rd of September. From the trailer, the plot line can easily be deciphered, unravelling a conflict that revolves around interracial love.
Set in the Jim Crow era, this upcoming movie would also follow the tragedy of having black skin, a status quo Tyler Perry is known for.
Tyler Perry is an African-American writer, producer, and actor who has been in the movie industry for such a long time that he deserves recognition for providing a plethora of acting opportunities for the Black community.
He has received massive backlash which can be attributed to the herd mentality that accompanies the cancel culture. The tenor of this backlash lies on the basis that he leeches off black suffering and trauma. His black female characters are usually stereotypical. He portrays black females suffering from psychological deficiencies and going nuts from unfulfilled desires.
His one-dimensional plot when it comes to representing the black community has been criticised. Tyler Perry born and raised in a household starred by poverty and abuse has a career that was set in motion by soul-searching journals he wrote. It is to be expected that the niche he carves for himself in the movie industry would reflect black lives to the point of romanticising black suffering.
Like Stephen King, John Green, Dan Brown and some other writers have carved their niches and been affixed to them, Tyler Perry has done the same and shouldn’t have his career slandered for such movies as ‘Acrimony’ and ‘A Fall From Grace’.
Feedback on the released trailer has labelled it, “the Negro Notebook”. While the storyline might seem similar, it cannot be conclusively said that this new movie is a rip-off of Nicholas Spark till the full movie is premiered and evaluated. This movie seems promising, with its aura of a happy ending and starring a white-skinned female, a deviation from his usual black lead female characters.