Gabourey Sidibe’s depiction of the character
Precious has stirred controversy among moviegoers,
however professionals who work with girls with low
self-esteem say that the portrayal is not a far cry from reality.

A couple of months ago, the movie “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,”  hit the big screen and in doing so caused a deep chasm between  African-American movie-goers, philosophers and almost anyone else with an opinion on images of Blacks in the media. The film, which is about a poor, illiterate, Black girl who is sexually abused by her father and emotionally and physically abused by her mother,  has been compared with  “The Color Purple” for its negative portrayal of the Black male, along with a stereotypical image of the title character.

The main concern is the history of how Blacks have been depicted in popular culture. Negative images served to keep Black people in their place with negative reinforcement. Blacks were always said to be inferior, therefore if it were shown repeatedly, it must be so.
And the fact that two of the movie’s executive producers are Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry does nothing to calm the debate. However, overlooked in the sometimes heated discussions is the fact that “Precious,” although fictional, has at its roots some element of truth.

Young females in general and African-American females in particular, appear to be under attack, a home-grown terroristic threat, if you will, against everything that once was held sacred in the family and in the community. The end result is often not pretty, with young girls left to deal with unplanned pregnacies, sexually transmitted diseases, scars left behind by years of physical and emotional abuse and worse.

According to a study published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “Black American teens, especially females, may be at high risk for attempting suicide even if they have never been diagnosed with a mental disorder.” Based on responses from adolescent participants in the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), the study gives the first national estimates of suicidal thoughts, behaviors and attempts in 13- to 17-year-old Black youth in the United States.

Part of the problem stems from the pressure placed on them  to  conform to Hollywood and Madison Ave. standards of beauty. Those standards which are impossible to meet by the majority of the country’s population, are the main reasons why young girls face growing insecurity on a daily basis. In order to look like the women found on the covers of fashion magazines, young girls are compelled to undergo plastic surgery, stomach stapling, and collagen injections—in an attempt to gain a foothold in society.

Even baby pageants sexualize pre-schoolers who grow up to beg their parents to  raid their college education funds to pay for breast enlargement surgery at age 16. It’s a truth that Verna Caddie knows all too well. Caddie, an educator, lecturer, community volunteer, beauty advisor, certified etiquette instructor, is also a mother of two boys and one girl, who has a heart to help young girls. 

“I have worked with over 100 girls and the majority have self-esteem issues. Some of them don’t have close relationships with their parents; some don’t feel pretty; they see small, skinny girls in the magazines or fine ones like Beyonce. Many of the young ladies don’t have a father-figure and are looking for a young man to use as a substitute,” said Caddie, founder of Casting Your Cares, Inc., the umbrella  nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization for Devine Creations. “I saw how girls weren’t getting along, how they suffered from low self-esteem and were wearing clothing that left nothing to the imagination. They didn’t know how to be young ladies because they were not being taught. They didn’t have any role models. Many of their mothers needed etiquette. I wanted to teach them how to respect themselves, others and their bodies.”

Rather than start another beauty pageant,  she says, “I wanted to spend more time with the girls in order to mentor them.” The program she developed lasts for eight months and is focused inward rather than on external qualities. It also includes Mother-daughter teas among the many extracurricular activities for girls 8 to 18 years of age.

The first queen, Tiffany Bono-part, won in 2007—one month before her mother died of Sickle Cell.  Caddie said her organization helped Bonopart with her upcoming prom, and encouraged her in her career with Job Corps.

The current queen is 16-year-old Ariel Coleman who attends Nimitz High School. Coleman whose mother is ill, won “because of her self-confidence,” said Caddie. Plans are in the work to start a four-week summer camp and although it will be an extension of the mentoring program, its goal is to prevent teen pregnancy.

Because of the success that Devine Creations has garnered, Caddie’s long range goal is to start chapters in every state in the U.S. On March 5, 2010, the 4th Annual Debutante/Cotillion Ball will be held at the Greenspoint Club, 16925 Northchase Drive. The debutantes, wearing their white evening gowns will be escorted by some of the finest young gentlemen in Houston.

The ball is the culmination event of an eight month-long process that starts in early September when applications are due. “Our programs support the achievement of physical, mental, social, emotional, spirituals and economic success,” said Caddie. For more information call (832)606-2280 or visit www.devinecreations.zoomshare.com.



Verna Caddie (left) and Ariel Coleman,
 Ms. Divine  Creations 2009.