Message

Social Behavior:

A mother dies and her son Hakim is taken away by social services. Henry sells out to a developer and agrees to leave the church. While Julia is a strong woman, there's a very strong vein throughout the movie that women shouldn't work and that their most important role is as mother and wife. Henry, as a father, doesn't take care of his son, leaving that work to the women in the house. This star-studded African-American cast shows the good work people do in their communities. Overall, the message is to have faith and do what you can to make things happen.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Grandma Margueritte smokes regularly, even inside the house where she's been told not to, but eventually says she's given it up. Dudley has a drink at a jazz club.

Violence

A robber steals from a store and then shoots out a window. A neighborhood boy is accused of the robbery.

Sex

Dudley sniffs Beverly and says he hasn't "smelled a woman in a while." Son Jeremiah witnesses the growing flirtation between his married mom, Julia, and Dudley, though no kissing ever happens.

Language