Commentary...Dirty laundry
(NNPA)—While Maurice Jamal’s latest film, “Dirty Laundry,” is being touted as a story about a modern day prodigal son with a twist.” I think it is more a story about what binds Black families together—and what keeps us from really being together. I think Jamal intended to make a film about what happens when a mother rejects her son. Instead, I think “Dirty Laundry” is a story about what happens when a gifted son abandons his family because he feels rejected by them and because he is embarrassed by them, and the pain and hurt they each suffer because they are unable to talk about their own pain or listen to the other’s hurt.
“Dirty Laundry” follows magazine writer Patrick, played by Rockmond Dunbar (“Prison Break,” “Soul Food”), who seems to have the perfect life, until one day there is a knock at the door.
On the other side stands a secret that brings him face to face with the traditional southern family he’s been running away from for 10 years.
The cast includes a colorful array of character and comedic actors including Loretta Devine (“Waiting to Exhale,” “I Am Sam,” “Dreamgirls”) as “Evelyn,’’ Jenifer Lewis (“Antwone Fisher Story,” “Castaway”) as “Aunt Lettuce,’’ Terri J. Vaughn (“Daddy’s Little Girls,” “Steve Harvey Show”) as “Jackie,’’ Sommore (“Queens of Comedy,” “The Parkers”) as “Abby,’’ Alec Mapa (“Ugly Betty”) as “Daniel’’ and director Maurice Jamal as “Eugene.’’ Supermodel Veronica Webb also appears in a cameo.
A la David Letterman, the producers of the film came up with a “Top 10 Reasons to See Dirty Laundry.” I won’t repeat all of them here, but I have my own Top 3 reasons you should go see this film:
3. Loretta Devine, Jenifer Lewis, Rockmond Dunbar and Terri J. Vaughn have been heroic in their efforts to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in our communities. Loretta Devine and Jenifer Lewis have probably saved thousands of lives by the generous giving of their time anytime an AIDS charity asks for their help.
2. Rockmond Dunbar has put his career on the line over and over again by being willing to play characters whose lives need to be seen. In “Dirty Laundry,” he does it again.
1. Independent African-American films have suffered from the “straight to DVD’’ syndrome and never see the light of a theatrical birth. Moreover, it’s high time that our community deals with these issues of acceptance and love in an upfront and honest way.
I was born in Altgeld Gardens, a housing project on the south side of Chicago. I remember people saying all the time, “Don’t air your dirty laundry in public.” In retrospect, this was very ironic, because very few of our families owned washers and no one owned a dryer. Every one dried their laundry on the clothes line in the front yard. I used to love to feel and smell the warm laundry, fresh off the line. It was the only time I gladly made my bed. Sheets, fresh off the clothes line just smell and feel better.
When I found out I was HIV positive, I immediately told my family. I’m alive today in part because I have always had the unconditional love and support of my family and friends. Black people with HIV/AIDS yearn for the love of our families, but, our families cannot love us if they don’t know us. Revealing our whole selves to our families can be healing—like being bathed by the summer sun. I know, not everyone’s family will respond the same way my family did. I also know it is a risk worth taking. The sun and the air can make even AIDS feel better.
Audre Lorde said, “When we speak, we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.’’
Today, AIDS is Black America’s “dirty laundry.” Instead of hanging it out in the sun and the air, we keep it hidden in the dark where it festers, mildews and gathers deadly mold. Whether it’s HIV/AIDS or something else, every family has dirty laundry. How we air it either binds us together or tears us apart. It either sustains us or destroys us.