Some of the writers of the Harlem Renaissance criticized her for writing about black culture instead of relations between the races.

VOA: special.2009.02.22

It is about an extremely overweight black teenager in the Harlem area of New York City.

VOA: special.2010.01.01

Precious is an extremely overweight black teenager in the Harlem area of New York City.

VOA: special.2010.03.01