Processing 'Precious': Teachable Moments from the Movie

After experiencing the movie Precious (based on the novel Push by Saphire) last Sunday, I felt a little like I'd survived a natural disaster. (Perhaps surprisingly, I'm not referring to Mariah Carey's acting, which was pleasantly void of all, well, Glitter.) The film, directed by the lesser-known Lee Daniels and financially backed by this lady named Oprah, left me exhausted, shaken, and hesitatingly inspired to appreciate my many privileges. My mixed reaction was not unusual; reviews of...