June 21, 2007 -  Tyler Perry has Diary of A Mad Black Woman, and first time writer/director, Tim Alexander has Diary of a Tired Black Man, the tell all movie that puts African American male and female relationships under the microscope for some serious examination, from the male point-of-view.

 

The movie’s producer wants women to see and hear the male perspective when it comes to relationships.  So, off he goes with a video camera to various cities that include Chicago, and Washington, D.C. to find out why men are unhappy with women, especially Black women.

 

When the film's director asks two men in a clothing store, “What do women need to know about men?”, the answer seems simple enough:  “We just want peace, respect, and understanding.”

 

However, if the national statistics hold truth that over 90% of African American households have kids being raised without their biological father present, does this then mean that ninety percent of men aren’t getting that peace, respect, and understanding?

 

Enter the movie’s main character, James, played by Jimmy Jean-Louis.  You’ll remember him as the tall, handsome gentleman that wowed Mo'nique in the movie, Phat Girlz, and currently seen in the NBC television drama, Heroes.

 

In Diary Of A Tired Black Man, James is married to Tanya.  He is an architect and the couple lives comfortably in a nice suburban home with their pre-teen daughter.  James cooks, cleans (on occasion), and takes care of the family while wife Tanya is a stay-at-home mom.  

 

Instead of coming to a loving household at the end of the day,  James is confronted with nagging, and an accusatory attitude from his wife.

 

Men have ‘diagnosed’ women like this as having the 'Angry Black Woman Syndrome'. 

 

Women with ABS, according to the men interviewed on camera for the documentary, "suffer from baggage from past relationships” that festers in every subsequent relationship with men.

 

“Women chose the wrong man, and when it doesn’t work out they blame every Black man for their mistake”, said one interviewee.

 

Several men in the film actually confessed that men are the reason why women have negative perceptions about Black men.  But stress, "we aren't all like that."

 

"Just give us a chance", said another.

 

While we’ve all heard the seemingly popular Black woman’s mantra, “Black men ain’t sh**”, Tim Alexander delves deep to find out why women believe this.

 

By examining both sides of the spectrum both sexes get to see themselves in a such a light perhaps not seen before, such that by the end of the film many may be forced to ask, “Is that me?”

 

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