The Pursuit of Happyness is Won Through Determination

I typically enjoy four movies each week across many different genres, however when I read multiple critiques of a movie that all include subtle racism and involve plots that are outside of the reviewers own life experiences, I am compelled to speak up. For example I was stunned by a recent Seattle Times review of the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. This newspaper's editor is obviously a white male or a bourgeois black male because it is obvious to me that he completely missed the important themes of this movie.

First let me say, it is refreshing to see a movie address substantial issues of character. We immediately see Christopher Gardner's character, played by Will Smith to be a man of admirable character as evidenced by the fact that he keeps a job that has slammed doors in his face many times. He displays a tenacious example for his son by never giving up, even when his decisions don't offer instant financial relief for his family. Christopher goes to great lengths to make sales of his bone scanning devices to doctors in the greater San Francisco Bay area. Now, as a black woman, I usually describe myself in three words; driven, passionate and strategic. These are the same three words that came to my mind as I watched this character develop. It is understandable for someone facing tough times to see wealth and think about alternate strategies that could help one become financially stable. I don't know who does the editorial hiring but the man who wrote that Christopher's character was arrogant and demonstrated that capitalism is heartless and cruel clearly has never personally experienced institutional racism.