Jumping the Broom

“Jumping the Broom” stars Angela Bassett, Brain Stokes Mitchell, DeRoy Davis and Julie Bowen (of “Modern Family”).and is the story of a wealthy black family and the wedding they are giving for their daughter who is marrying the son of a poor postal clerk mother. Written by Arlene Gibbs and Elizabeth Hunter and directed by Salim Akil this is more an excursion into the conflicting cultures and ethnic customs of both poor and wealthy blacks in society. Although the clashes can be humorous at times, there is an undercurrent in the film of this caste clash present all of the time even to the point where the characters distinguish between light (“mocha”); and “dark chocolate” skin tones.. Sitting amidst a predominantly black audience, the Caucasian viewer becomes very conscious of the color of the actors’ skin and the film never lets you forget that you are a white fly on the wall of this black experience. Ms. Bowen is, to my recollection, the only cast member who is not black and is, if you forgive the phrase, the token member of that group. What I can say for the picture is that is doesn’t pretend to be generic heroes and heroines who happen to be black. This is a very black movie and it makes no bones about it. Perhaps the most bitter exchange between the two mother in laws to be is when the poorer one talks about her slave ancestry and the richer one says that her family owned slaves. Lots of heavy resentment which tries to hide between some mildly funny scenes but it just doesn’t work. I give the film 2 stars but worth seeing if, for no other reason, in order to better understand the psyche and goings on in this minority community.