Wondering if Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is ok for kids? Rated R for language, a sex scene, and heavy topics like racism, murder, and rape, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is not kid friendly. However, some teens may want to watch as the late Chadwick Boseman stars in it, and it’s emotional to see him on screen. Here’s what parents need to know in this Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Parents Guide.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Parents Guide
What is Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom about? Tensions rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in Chicago in 1927 as a band of musicians await the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey (Viola Davis). Late to the session, fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music. As the band waits, ambitious cornet player Levee (Chadwick Boseman) spurs his fellow musicians into an eruption of stories revealing truths that will forever change the course of their lives. The other band members – Cutler (Colman Domingo), Toledo (Glynn Turman) and Slow Drag (Michael Potts) are there just to play the gig as quickly as possible and get paid. However, Levee has other plans.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is rated R, so parents need to know that there is a lot of mature content that some teens may not be able to handle. Movies about racism aren’t anything new, but Davis’s and Boseman’s performances are exceptional. It’s hard to watch and not feel his pain.
Here’s what parents need to know about Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Language
There is a lot of language in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom including uses of damn, sh– fu–, motherfu–er, a–, and ni–er. Racial slurs are often repeated, and there is sexual language, too, like pu–y.
Mature Content
There is a sex scene, but no nudity. You also see shots of a woman’s thigh. Some of the songs contain sexual language. There’s a conversation about rape and another about lynching people and murder.
Characters are seen smoking and drinking alcohol. Songs talk about Moonshine.
A man is stabbed and killed. Other characters engage in a fist fight.
Characters argue with the police and racism is prevalent.
Is Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Appropriate for Kids Under 16?
How do you make a film kid friendly when you’re telling the stories of cruelty and pain a race has had to endure? I would recommend Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom for kids over 16-years-old. And even then, I’d still recommend older depending on the emotional trauma your kids can handle.
The music is soulful as Ma Rainey is a Blues legend, but sometimes the edits seem a little lazy.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a film that’s important to watch, but in the same breath, it won’t have the same effect on everyone. The film critics will love it, because the performances are undeniable. Regular movie-goers may love it if they can relate, if they can see themselves in the film. Others will find it boring and slow, wondering what the fuss is all about.
Chadwick Boseman leaves it all on the table. As a hungry musician craving attention, you can’t help but feel sadness for the roles we won’t be able to see him in.
I can’t predict how you’ll feel when you watch Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, but try to hang in there when things are moving slowly and feel the pain these characters are feeling. Then try to relate to the pain your fellow humans are feeling, too.
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