(Washington, DC) December 20, 2023 – The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) has partnered with Warner Bros. and the upcoming movie, The Color Purple, in advance of the mass release of the film in theaters on December 25th. Mayors are hosting advance screenings at theaters throughout the country and inviting residents to join them to see the reimagined #TheColorPurple on Christmas Day.

The Color Purple, originally a 1982 novel by Alice Walker that won a Pulitzer Prize in 1983, documents the traumas and triumphs of Celie, an African American girl raised in isolation in rural Georgia through her painfully honest letters to God. Steven Spielberg directed the 1985 film based on the book and it was a box office success, garnering 11 Academy Award nominations. In this latest movie release, Oprah Winfrey joins forces with Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones, and Scott Sanders to bring The Color Purple musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2005, to life.

“Thank you, AAMA, Starbucks, and Oprah Winfrey for co-sponsoring the Purple Carpet advance screening of The Color Purple,” said AAMA President and Mount Vernon, N.Y. Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. “One hundred and fifty women from the ages of 95 to 15 enjoyed this reimagined remake of a classic. Our hearts were full as The Color Purple is a powerful demonstration and healing moment that took us on a journey of forgiveness, resilience, sisterhood, empowerment, strength, faith and the importance of self-love. This is a MUST see! We came as one, we stand as 10,000.”

As a member of The Color Purple Leadership Circle, AAMA members participated in a conversation with film Director Blitz Bazawule. Members and residents are also participating in several events leading up to the movie release, including a “Dear Sister” campaign promoting sisterhood through letter writing. Residents are encouraged to send a digital letter to the special women in their life and post a video or photo on social media that shares the inspiration behind their letter using the #TheColorPurple hashtag. Visit this link for more information.

On December 20th from 8:00pm – 9:00pm ET, Oprah Winfrey will host a national, virtual town hall. Interested participants must register at www.ZoomWithOprah.com by Wednesday, December 20th at 12:00pm EST.

The American Psychological Association has also produced a study guide that offers a deep dive into the themes of trauma and resilience and provides a roadmap for adapting to life changing situations.

For more information, visit: https://www.thecolorpurplefilm.com/

 ###

The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization dedicated to representing over 500 African American mayors across the United States. AAMA seeks to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the AAMA includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.