The Color Purple shocked me with the painful and shameful sexual crime committed against young Celie who is raped by who she believes to be her father, while her mother is at the doctor's office. This physical act of violence is Celie's first experience and introduction to sexuality as is written in the first letter to God. A fourteen year old Celie tells God that she is a good girl and always has been and asks for a sign from Him letting her know what will happen to her in the future. She believes she is a good girl and wants God to know that.

Here I came to picture a little girl like any of us praying to God, like most of us do when we feel down or happy, insecure or confused or in need of being understood or understand. The narration of events goes from...