What Does “The Color Purple” Reveal?

Robert Odell, Jr. is a seasoned video analyst with several years of experience in the creation and observance of film and digital assets.

In a dynamic scene near the end of Steven Spielberg's 1985 adaptation of "The Color Purple," Shug Avery engages in a soul-stirring rendition of the gospel song, "God Is Trying To Tell You Something" — In a dynamic scene near the end of Steven Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation of “The Color Purple,” Shug Avery delivers a soul-stirring rendition of the gospel song “God Is Trying To Tell You Something.”
Source: pinterest

God Speaks to Man

According to the Holy Bible, God has been speaking to mankind from the very beginning of his existence. The Senior Pastor of Christ For All Church (CFAC) in Memphis, TN, explains some of the ways that God speaks to man.

Through Holy Word: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV).
By audible voice, especially in times of utmost importance or urgency
Through angels (Daniel 9:21-22)
Through dreams and visions (Genesis 37:5-10; 1 Kings 3:5-15; Daniel, chapters 2 and 7; Matthew 1:20; 2:13,19; and Acts 10:9-16; 16:9)

Revelation 3:20, from the Holy Bible, indicates that God wants to have fellowship with and wants to speak to mankind.
Source: CFAC Archives

The Prodigal Daughter in The Color Purple

The character Shug Avery in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple can be described as a prodigal daughter (Luke 15:11-32). Shug is portrayed as a woman of the world who loves to party, dress, and consort with men. Shug’s father, the town preacher, is disappointed at her decision to be a traveling blues singer. He is also appalled at her promiscuity.

Like most girls, Shug longs for a relationship with her father. However, he reacts as if his daughter is completely lost. He does not look her way or acknowledge her presence when she returns to town to live with her old flame, Albert, a wealthy, young, local widower.

“God Is Trying To Tell You Something”

In a passionate sequence near the end of Steven Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation of The Color Purple, we see Shug performing in a juke joint owned by Harpo, the eldest son of Albert (aka “Mister”). She’s performing a soulful, sensuous song called “Sista,” which is aimed at raising the self-confidence of Ceile, Albert’s wife who has become her close friend.

The country church where Shug’s father is pastor is within earshot, so members of the congregation can her the music coming from the bar. They suggest that the choir should start singing, so the pastor turns to the choir and says, “Sing ‘God Is Trying To Tell You Something.’”

In "The Color Purple," Shug Avery (Margaret Avery) stops singing and Swain (Laurence Fishburne) stops playing guitar when they hear the gospel song, "God Is Trying to Tell You Something" coming from her father's nearby church. — In “The Color Purple,” Shug Avery (Margaret Avery) stops singing and Swain (Laurence Fishburne) stops playing guitar when they hear the gospel song, “God Is Trying to Tell You Something” coming from her father’s nearby church.Source: The Color Purple. Dir. Steven Spielbergg

Shug Moved by the Gospel

As the church choir sings “God Is Trying To Tell You Something,” the melody and lyrics flow out of the church and inundate the juke joint. The sound causes the revelry to cease and tugs at Shug’s heart. The song is so anointed that the band stops playing and everyone stares in bewilderment.

The song begins with the deep melodic line “speak Lord.” As the slow, rhythmic drone increases in speed and intensity, we can see the seemingly complicated and unsolvable issues in the lives of Shug and others being worked out by a power much higher than themselves

God seems to be speaking through the song and it overwhelms Shug. She can feel the power and is moved to make amends with God, herself, and her father. It seems, just as the song implies, God is speaking and trying to say something to everyone.

Shug is drawn to her father's nearby church, where the gospel song "God is Trying To Tell You Something" is being sung by the choir — Shug is drawn to her father’s nearby church, where the gospel song “God is Trying To Tell You Something” is being sung by the choir.
Source: The Color Purple. Dir. Steven Spielbergg

Path to the Church

As the choir sings “God Is Trying To Tell You Something,” the melody and lyrics flow out of the church and inundate the juke joint. Shug hears it first and stops singing. Seeing that Shug has stopped singing, the band stops playing and, one by one, everyone at the bar and surrounding area is standing in silent bewilderment.

As the song plays in the background, Shug walks up to her guitarist, Swain (played by a young Laurence Fishburne), and they exchange a knowing glance. Shug then starts singing along with the choir as a second lead voice, Spielberg expertly cutting from the church to the bar, where Shug is leading her own congregation to the church.

Realizing that their lost relationship has been found, Shug and her daddy embrace with tears of forgiveness.
Source: The Color Purple. Dir. Steven Spielbergg

The Prodigal Daughter Returns Home

The slow, rhythmic drone increases in speed and intensity, as if the complicated and unsolvable issues in Shug’s life are being worked out by a power much larger than herself. When she finally bursts through the church doors, the song kicks into double time and Shug takes over the choir as the lone voice.

God seems to be speaking through the song and it overwhelms Shug. She can feel the power and is moved to make amends with God, herself, and her father. Meanwhile, Shug’s father, Preacher, after years of separation and judgment, hears God speaking through his prodigal daughter, and finally accepts and recognizes her. Realizing that their lost relationship has been found, Shug and her daddy embrace with tears of forgiveness.

How do you interpret the church scene in “The Color Purple?”

God was trying to tell the pastor to love and forgive his daughter.
The scene is one of the most powerful and touching moments in the movie.
God was trying to tell Shug to change her ways.
God was trying to tell several people something.
All of the above answers.
It was a good scene and that’s all.