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Fantasia Barrino, who is currently in Los Angeles, spoke on a video call and initially did not want to reveal her face. However, she had a change of heart and thought it would be rude to not show her face. She was born and raised in High Point, a small city in North Carolina and gained fame in the US as the teenage single mother who won American Idol two decades ago. Now, she is expanding her reach globally as she plays Celie in the new musical film adaptation of The Color Purple, which is produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey. With such a compelling rags-to-riches story, one might expect Barrino to have a bit of a showbiz attitude, but I was pleasantly surprised to find her to be one of the warmest people I have ever met. She later mentioned that as a Cancer, she strongly believes in showing love, giving hugs, and taking care of everyone around her.
Reworded: The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a powerful novel that promotes empathy. Set in rural Georgia during the first half of the 20th century, it follows the struggles of oppressed women. The story begins with themes of sexual assault, familial abuse, and teen pregnancy, and progresses to explore loss, separation, and the consequences of living in a racially discriminatory society. Despite its heavy subject matter, the novel ultimately resolves with a complex yet harmonious tone that lends itself well to a musical adaptation.
The text has a current and vibrant feel, compared to when it was originally published. This is due in part to the fact that many individuals at the time were pretending that racism was a thing of the past. Winfrey recently interviewed Barrino about the film and asked the cast to describe it in one word. Barrino chose “healing,” to which Winfrey was surprised but Barrino explained that making the film was a healing experience for her. She had just started therapy before filming and had to stop, finding that playing Celie helped her heal from her pain.
Barrino has portrayed the character of Celie multiple times before. When she was just 23 years old, she appeared on Broadway for the first time. She recalls, “That was my initial experience watching a Broadway production. Afterwards, they treated me to a meal and told me, ‘We would like for you to play Celie.’ I couldn’t believe it and thought to myself, ‘Are you serious? Are you under the influence? Is there a mistake?'”
It was a challenging journey for her. She dropped out of school at 14 and had no formal education. “During that time, I didn’t know how to break out of my character,” she recalls. “I brought Celie home with me; I woke up as Celie. I cried constantly. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue playing her. But I am grateful that fear did not stop me from seeing who Celie has become now – brilliant, strong, wise, intelligent, and beautiful. These are all qualities that I did not get to witness when I played her at 23. Now, I am able to see her in a different light, perhaps because of where I am in life – the woman I have become.” That woman is now a mother of three, including a stepson, and has two grandchildren through her husband, entrepreneur Kendall Taylor.
There has been controversy surrounding the musical production, as cast members have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of adherence to standard practices. They were not provided with necessary accommodations, transportation, and were paid minimal wages. This has led to speculation that the film, which was predominantly created by people of color, was produced on a limited budget and influenced by racist attitudes. Interestingly, Winfrey has received the most criticism for this situation, rather than Spielberg.
Barrino is cautious about taking sides: “That was not my personal experience. However, it was my first movie and I was thrilled to be among such talented actors. Being a southern woman, I have encountered a lot and been through a lot. I know that life isn’t always easy. And Oprah stayed with us the whole time – she was right there with us. I can say that we had a wonderful time and I indulged in some delicious food. I did end up gaining weight.”
In the 1985 film adaptation of the novel, Whoopi Goldberg played the character of Celie. When Fantasia Barrino was younger, her mother prohibited her from watching the movie because it was emotionally intense, but she eventually watched it. “It was the first time I saw a character that reflected myself; it was the first time I heard certain stories being told.” Did she feel pressure to live up to Goldberg’s original performance? “No. [Goldberg] portrayed the role so perfectly – it cannot be replicated.”
It is a common practice to acknowledge the influence of a gospel church upbringing on one’s singing voice, but less frequent to recognize its impact on spoken rhythm. Barrino speaks with a poetic conciseness that could be likened to a declaration of independence. When asked how she met her husband Taylor, whom she married in 2015, she responds, “We tied the knot after just three weeks. We exchanged vows before we were even intimate with each other. And let me tell you, I just knew he was the one… Are you prepared for this?”
Yes, but only after we have provided the background information.
Barrino was born into an intensely musical family: her uncles were the Barrino Brothers, a 70s R&B band; her cousins are K-Ci and JoJo, also an R&B duo. They were industrious, but not rich – she remembers eating grits (a kind of maize porridge) every day for a week, practising by candlelight because the lights had gone off – and she missed a lot of school.
Her grandmother had had her first child at 17 and felt it snuffed out her dreams of musical success; the same thing happened to her mother, to whom Barrino is very close. “Singing was everything in our home, right? The joy that music brought us, it was like a drug. You know, I didn’t come from a rich family. But I did have two parents who made sure we had. Me and my brothers laugh now because, like, those was good days – candles lit.”
Despite growing up in a musical family, her singing abilities were exceptional even at the young age of five. Her relationship with her father is complicated, but she acknowledges that it’s currently the best it can be. Her father had a lot at stake and possibly everything riding on her musical success. She also recognizes that some people may have been rooting for her for personal reasons.
At the age of 14, she experienced sexual assault at school and left. She openly discusses this and other forms of violence, not wanting to conceal anything or focus on it. Her grandmother used to say that they would attempt to physically harm someone until they no longer have a sense of self-worth. She also had multiple abusive relationships, which she believes stems from her lack of self-love at the time. At 16, she became pregnant and gave birth to her daughter, Zion, at 17. This could have hindered her aspirations, but she was given a chance through American Idol.
When listening to Barrino’s initial auditions, her vocal ability is exceptional – it exudes maturity, skill, and control. It’s hard to believe that she’s only 19, a mother to a two-year-old, and struggling financially. She even had to memorize the lyrics to “Summertime” because she wasn’t confident in her ability to read them in the moment. Her vocals are on par with those of legendary singers, yet she never comes across as imitating them. According to Barrino, her singing carries a “grit” – a rawness, truthfulness, and vulnerability. From a young age, she was drawn to this type of honesty in voices, often playing Aretha Franklin’s music on repeat.
Shortly before singing Summertime, the production team of American Idol approached her with good intentions. She had been receiving criticism online. They advised her, “You may want to refrain from discussing your role as a young mother and your educational circumstances.” She retreated to the restroom and broke down in tears. She contemplated, “Should I change who I am, which would feel incredibly unnatural, or should I stand my ground and prove them wrong?”
In the end, 65 million individuals cast their vote for her. Unexpectedly, Simon Cowell emerges as a hero in this tale, proclaiming Barrino as the greatest contestant to ever grace the show (this occurred in 2004, despite the abundance of previous contestants). Of course, Zion was too young to fully understand the significance of the moment. It wasn’t until Barrino had her own line of matte lipsticks and jeans branded with her name that she realized she had achieved celebrity status. However, she also yearned for me to be home more often.
After two years of appearing on American Idol, Barrino authored her own autobiography titled Life Is Not a Fairytale. The book was later adapted into a TV movie, in which she also starred. Despite her impressive singing abilities, Barrino’s speaking voice remained timid and high-pitched, almost as if she feared criticism. She landed a role in the Broadway production of The Color Purple one year later. However, her journey in the industry was filled with ups and downs, including daunting challenges and moments of tears. Unfortunately, her naivety about the business led to her almost losing her home in 2009. Reflecting on this experience, Barrino shares her admiration for the biblical story of Job, as he never lost faith in God despite facing multiple struggles.
In 2011, she was awarded a Grammy and in 2014, she returned to Broadway with After Midnight, where her love story with Taylor started. She took a seven-month break from dating and focused on herself. She realized that she needed to love herself before she could let someone else love her. During this time, she also committed to not watching TV and only listening to jazz music. Interestingly, while she was on this break, many people expressed interest in dating her.
At that time, she created a list for herself, intended for God, but she wrote it down on index cards to help her remember. The list detailed what she desired in a man, including requirements for no lustful behavior or flattering comments about her appearance. She longed for someone who could ignite her in a unique manner. She believed that everything happens for a purpose, and in this case, it led her to meet her husband, who had bookshelves filled with books and spent his days reading.
The issue of literacy frequently arises, specifically how she acquired it and the shame she faced when she displayed insecurity in public. She exchanged her education with her father, who was determined to find success in the music industry. As she explains, their focus was solely on achieving one hit single or getting recognized by a record label. This resulted in her becoming a lackadaisical and unmotivated reader. It’s ironic that she ended up marrying a man whose main pastime is reading.
After her memoir was released, her father filed a lawsuit against her for $10 million. The content of the book was not particularly negative, only mentioning that he prioritized music over her education.
However, labeling someone as the epitome of the American dream comes with complexities. While she did indeed overcome violence and poverty in her youth through determination and hard work, it raises the question of whether such success is attainable for everyone. It may not be a shared dream, but rather an idealistic fantasy that requires exceptional talent to achieve.
Barrino has a different interpretation of the dream, viewing it as a reflection on one’s ability to find satisfaction. She has chosen to be content with her current circumstances and achievements. Even if she never acts in another movie or receives another award, she is grateful for the blessings of being alive and having the opportunity to pursue her dreams.
This piece was revised on January 18, 2024. The movie “The Color Purple” is not currently playing in UK theaters, as previously stated, but will be available on January 26.
The Color Purple is in UK cinemas from 26 January
Source: theguardian.com
