The Colour Purple and me — and the colour purple

Never ending stories — never end

Dear Celie, I watched and listened to your story as a child. Now at forty two years old — I find your story remains sending signals, pulsing through my veins. I still feel you. I feel like ‘you must be my soul sista — soul sista — hey sis.’

Alice Walker wrote the book The Colour Purple, it was published in 1982. I — have never read it. I don’t feel so good about that, she is a Writer who deserves to be read after all.

The film The Colour Purple, was released in 1985 (I was nine). I watched the film for the first time in nineteen eighty something , by the time the credits rolled across the screen — I was an emotional mess.

I should have known then, Celies story — would stay with me for life.

I’ve lost count of how many times I have watched the film since then, suffice to say — it’s a lot. Without exception, The Colour Purple is my favourite film of all time. Without exception — Every. Single. Time. I watch it, I am a weepy — emotional mess by the end. The beauty of it is — I still feel good.

Colour me purple

You know, years and years after the first time I watched The Colour Purple — I discovered that purple was seen as a royal colour back in the day. In the way back, the cost of manufacturing the colour purple — was much higher than others. So it was rare to see anyone other than royalty, dressed in purple coloured attire. Well, that was one of those ‘aha’ moments. Do you think Alice Walker knew that back then — as she spilled ink creating the story of Celie?

Dear Celie, you should know — your story is drenched in royalty — you are royal. The colour purple became royal to me — because of you. Let that sink in. God never intended for you to be anything less. You’re like that unreachable star, do you know who you are — and what you mean to me?

You are lyrics to a song I don’t quite know how to sing, but I feel you. My Soul brother Bilal sang it best and I hope you know you ‘won’t go on unnoticed’ — do you hear that? Just like Prince knew how to honour the colour purple — and sang it out so sweetly, I want you to know ‘I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain.’

Anytime I see the colour purple any place — anywhere , I smile on the inside. Some stories begin, then they become — infinite.

Dear Celie, thank you for sharing your story. Long may you live.

I’ll be reading your story soon, over and over again.

Yours Always

your Soul sista

Disclaimer: The quotes ‘you must be my soul sista — soul sista — hey sis.’ and ‘won’t go on unnoticed’ are lyrics from the song Soul Sista by the artist/singer Bilal.

The quote ‘I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain.’ is a lyric from the song Purple Rain by the artist/singer Prince.