Why Did I Get So “Sensateeve”?: Homophobia and Tyler Perry’s Black Marriage Franchise

June 28th, 2011 by Guest Contributor

Our second brief moment of homophobia in Perry’s sequel makes an appearance on the boat in the Bahamas while the boys are hanging out and fishing. Mike has just admitted he misses his ex-wife Sheila (Jill Scott) and is crashing the Bahamas couples retreat to try and get her back. When Mike is less than receptive to his friends’ jabs, aka “Sheila don’t want you no more,” Gavin (Malik Yoba) teases Mike for being “Sensateeve”. Also known as the international black gay version of the word “sensitive.” Black men are never supposed to be seen as sensitive of course, let alone “sensateeve.” It is interesting that both these moments center on a character portrayed as essentially “the problem” in an otherwise ideal marriage. There’s an exploitation of a broad stereotype in there somewhere keep digging. The most pronounced moment of homophobia is given to us toward the end of the film when Pat (Janet Jackson) finally confronts her soon to be ex-husband who has been arguably extorting her for money she earned as a successful author. Pat steps into the room with some fierce black and white heels, a black fitted pantsuit, and a slim tie. Suggesting of course masculinity, and with it, power.

She ushers in a giant cake that is rolled in as her husband uncomfortably watches his employees sing him “Happy Birthday” on his wife’s request. After several previous scenes of marriage decay between the two we are still not quite sure why things are over, only that he says she no longer loves him, and maybe she thinks he’s immature. After the “birthday” serenade is over Pat gives the order and a skinny black man, dressed in glittery skin tight spandex, and a loud lollipop colored wig emerges from the cake working it better than Marilyn Monroe might have. Here Pat accuses Gavin for being a “bitch” by trying to steal money he did not earn, and one assumes the “bitch” in this metaphor just popped out of the cake. One has to assume this, otherwise why the show?As Gavin walks away Pat follows repeating her accusations and threatening to fight for what is hers. The moment is supposed to call to mind Angela Bassett burning her cheating husband’s clothes in “Waiting to Exhale” maybe, it is supposed to be a victory. For the most part it falls flat, it climaxes unexpectedly and we end up in the hospital (lawd), but mostly it is unsuccessful because the entire time you’re wondering why a skinny flamboyant guy wearing what can only be described as “Ompaloompa Chic” just jumped out of a cake, and what that has to do with a crumbling marriage. Is she trying to tell him his homophobia ruined their marriage? Nah, I think she’s just trying to tell him he’s a “bitch.” You know, “punk,” “sissy,” “fag.” Sigh. So take all this as you may. I may be reading way too much into it. I may be watching way too many Tyler Perry movies just to complain about them. But the picture I get here is this: black marriage is hard, black marriage is not for punks, or bitches. And if your Black marriage is falling apart, first check to see that you’re not married to one of them, they kill marriages.

Or maybe I’m just being a little Sensateeve.

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Posted in LGBTQ, african-american, black, hollywood, images, love, movies, queer, race & representations | 6 comments

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  • JM

    Of course a a Tyler Perry movie would make that kind of statement about Black masculinity. It’s important to note that, even in “mainstream” media gay men are still portrayed not as people, but as ciphers to reaffirm male sexuality. To wit:

    They can be a woman’s fabulous Gay Best Friend, advising her on all matters related to clothing and men (though always single, or if they have a boyfriend/partner we never see them interact with each other).

    They can go all the way on the stereotype and make a gay man all about glitter, Madonna/Lady Gaga, snapping and primping. No matter how many people say “OMG I have friends like this, it’s not offensive,” the fact remains these characters are defined ONLY THROUGH the glitter, Madonna, snapping and primping and really have no identity outside it. They are usually saved for comic relief to make some snappy comment and put everyone at ease.

    They can be portrayed as victims, probably on the DL. Yes, it’s a sad reality that a lot of LGBT men and women are forced to live double lives due to our homophobic culture; yet the trouble with this depiction is that LGBT people are shown with a lack of…I guess agency? Power?

    I guess what I’m trying to say is, to show a Black gay relationship would mean treating gay people as just that–people. However, this won’t happen with gay men. It’s because a lot of men put so much mental and physical energy into what they perceive to be the signs of “manliness” (attitude, sports, women take your pic) that if a show were to depict a man who does not fit the mold in any way, it suddenly throws the entire mold into question. If manliness is seen as sleeping with the most, hottest women, and yet along comes a guy who doesn’t, and yet is still a respected character on level with the straight guys? Then I guess all the effort guys (in the public and private spheres) go to to be “manly” would seem meaningless.

    I’m not sure if this makes sense, but basically to maintain this rigid definition of masculinity (which is then used to sell clothes, shoes, cars you name it), you can’t permit alternatives. Therefore, variations on that rigid definition must be denigrated and disregarded. 

  • Alex

    A part of me wishes that a heterosexual Black man wrote an article making the same points you make. Why? Because I want to hear  from heterosexual Black men since the topic is about them as well…about  how femininity is often attributed to homosexual men but not heterosexual. The cynical side of me feels that femininity will always be coded as “weak” and masculinity as “strong” in the movies. . . that this will not change until it is no longer an insult for Black men to be accused of being sensitive, feminine. And given the power dynamics in this country, I doubt that  heterosexual Black men would be publicly okay with any implication that he is feminine. 

    And yes I know how controversial  my statement is, yet this is exactly what my thinking is…that heterosexual Black men are not going to say in public  “so what?” to any hint that he is feminine. A few? Maybe. Many? No.  And I say this knowing many of the people I’ve seen participating in  discussions on this issue are White women straight and LGBT,  LGBT Black men, and Black women, both straight and LGBT. Heterosexual Black men? Not so much.

  • Alex

    JM, Your comment just reminded me of how the racial politics come into play as well. In 2011, I still see more White gay male couples in television than Black gay male couples.

     

  • JM

    Heh, Black straight couples are hard enough to find in mainstream TV. A Black gay male couple? You might as well ask a writer to do detailed research on quantum mechanics. Black people are still the Other in many ways. So are gay people. So a Black gay person is the Other twice over and therefore alien and inscrutable.

  • Val R.

    Many Black people have been socialized to hate other Black people and themselves, Perry seems to have been socialized to hate both Black people, women in particular, and homosexuals. That’s clear. What isn’t so clear is why so many African Americans who see and enjoy his films can’t see the hate in his films. That perplexes me.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806562 Nonso Christian Ugbode

    I’m with you on this one Alex. I think this is why I was drawn to the Byron Rushing story, here’s a straight Black politician putting his voice into a conversation that many would not fault him for keeping at bay. I think  there’s also a false assumption here too that only gay men, and maybe women, loose something in the face of homophobia. I think straight Black men loose a lot of plain humanity when they are implicitly shown as the benefactors of this homophobia – their silence is nothing I want to really scold them for (hey, I can’t force anyone to a fight they don’t want), but it is a silence that I think they falsely assume is not ultimately harmful to them as much as homophobia is harmful to gayness.