Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, THE COLOR PURPLE marked the big-screen debuts of both Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, was nominated for 11 Academy Awards® and was a major box-office success. An epic tale spanning 40 years, the film traces the life of Celie (Goldberg), an African-American woman living in rural Georgia in the first 40 years of the 20th century. Sold into a life of servitude to her brutal husband Albert (Danny Glover), Celie survives incredible abuse and bigotry through her friendships with Sofia (Winfrey), the wife of Albert's son from a previous marriage, and Shug (Margaret Avery), his mistress. Throughout everything, Celie perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister, Nettie (Akousa Busia). An all-too rare cinematic exploration of the impact of racism, sexism and domestic violence on black women, THE COLOR PURPLE marked a significant departure for director Steven Spielberg and was co-produced by Quincy Jones, who also composed the score.
Post-screening panel discussion in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month moderated by Channel 9 Morning News Anchor Larry Miller. Panelists: Keri Potts, Senior Director of Public Relations/Communications for ESPN • Shanon Lee, Writer, Journalist, Host & Survivor Activist • Jennifer Williams, Professor of African American Literature at Howard University
This event is hosted by AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center and is co-presented by Aha! Moment, The DC Center for the LGBTQ Community, Pathways to Safety International, Whitman-Walker Health, and the What Makes You Human Project.