Five years ago I met an auditioned for one of the biggest managers in Hollywood. Before the audition we talked about the industry as it relates to Black actors and actresses and Hollywood’s production(or lack thereof) of Black films. What he said vastly opened my eyes about Black entertainment. And after hearing George Lucas talk about the struggle to get his new film Red Tails made last night on The Daily Show(watch the interview!) because there wasn’t enough white people in it , it brought back to life for me, that five year old conversation and the agony of knowing that certain perceptions and problems still exist when making Black movies.
During the time I was meeting with the aforementioned manager (who shall remain nameless), it was 2007 and the movie The Great Debaters was on it’s way into theaters on Christmas weekend. For those who don’t recall, The Great Debaters set in 1935, was a film directed by and starring Denzel Washington that was based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College in Texas. He inspires the students to form the school’s first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. I asked him, “Why won’t studios make more Black films like this to give more Black actors like myself a chance to work in mainstream film?” His answer? “Don’t take this the wrong way, but Black people don’t want to see those kind of movies. The proof is in the ticket sales.”
Now given the dare I say, garbage, that’s typically fed to Black audiences in cinema, this sounded like a great film to me but doesn’t typically sound like something Black people would rush out to go see. Even though it was top billed by two Oscar winning Black actors in Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker. I personally enjoyed the film very much and I can admit, it was the first to ever make me cry.
Unfortunately the box office numbers were far from that of any film lead by a certain dress wearing, gun toting, stereotype laden grandmother we’re all familiar with. While Debaters opened with an abysmal 7.2 million dollars it’s first week, Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion opened at 35 million the year previous and Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns opened at 20 Million three months after Debaters.
Both Perry Movies out grossed Debaters 17 week theater run total of 30 million dollars with Family Reunion making 63.2 million in nine weeks and Meet the Browns taking in 41 Million in seven weeks.
Now in the case of this dialogue, this isn’t about whether or not Tyler Perry is a good film maker. This is about what we as a people choose to accept from Hollywood and film studios and how we are perceived as a Black film audience. At the end of the day movie studios want to make money. So if you want to eat at the table of Tyler, they will continue to fill it with food(no matter how bad the food is for you) for you to partake in. But here is my problem with this.
Hollywood doesnt view Black America as an “intellectual film audience.” Take from that what you will, but I’ve talked to enough and know enough people and been around the business long enough to know this is true. To find proof of this in your own life, just recall the last time you heard someone Black use the term “white movie” and more times than not it’s a movie dealing with something similar to a white equivalent of The Great Debaters in substance. But how can we continue to be angry at the white wash of the overwhelming majority films if we don’t go see our own?
Historical and “intellectual films” just don’t seem to be popular among Black audiences and again, I’m not making this up, the numbers speak for themselves. To give you an idea of how little the movie studios think of Black audiences, major studios didn’t even want to take a chance on Tyler’s films and they make astronomical returns on investment, hence his half a billion dollar net worth.
So to hear George Lucas say how hard he had to fight to get a movie made because it has an all Black cast with a budget too high not only pisses me off as a Black lover of film, but it should piss you off as well. Because if Hollywood can tell one of the biggest film makers to ever live “your movie is too Black”, then Hollywood truly has no respect for Black people as movie goers. They’re essentially saying “They only have a palate for malt liquor and McDonald’s and you’re trying to serve them Fillet Mignon and Caviar”.
“It’s because it’s an all-black movie. There’s no major white roles in it at all…I showed it to all of them(movie studios) and they said no. We don’t know how to market a movie like this.” – George Lucas
Red Tails (starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard) is based on the Tuskegee Airmen, the group of pioneering black pilots who fought in the United States’ segregated armed forces during World War II. It’s one of the first all black action movies ever made. The film costed 58 million dollars to make (which far exceeds typical all-black production budgets) and given the typical Black turnout for a movie of this nature (remember Debaters? Historical film?), Lucas feels that he could be damaging Black cinema forever because no one will ever want to take a financial risk like this on a Black film if it fails.
In an interview with USA Today, Lucas said “I realize that by accident I’ve now put the black film community at risk.” He continued, ”I’m saying, if this doesn’t work, there’s a good chance you’ll stay where you are for quite a while. It’ll be harder for you guys to break out of that (lower-budget) mold. But if I can break through with this movie, then hopefully there will be someone else out there saying let’s make a prequel and sequel, and soon you have more Tyler Perrys out there.”
I’ve seen a lot of “white” movies in my life. Mostly due to the fact that I’m color blind to film as a whole and live in a world of good movie vs. bad movie, instead of Black movie vs. White movie. There are some really amazing films out there that people have not and probably will not ever see for reasons like this. I’ve even recently began to take off my blinders to foreign film and have discovered some really amazing movies that I myself was missing because of an American film bias. Much like how our community has a Black film bias, but only certain Black films. We have to end this. We have to start embracing GOOD movies both Black and “White.”
As long as we continue to ignore any movie that doesn’t look like a Friday or Tyler Perry production, we will continue to be viewed as insignificant to movie studios and continue to be undervalued as an audience. Which means we will continue to be fed cinematic table scraps. This hurts us as a people, as Black actors and actresses, Black directors, writers, and anyone of color working on the creative side of film. Because it’s up to us to tell our story and be seen and heard but we can’t do that if we aren’t even given a seat at the table. Films like The Great Debaters, or most recently films like Pariah and I Will Follow NEED your patronage.
George Lucas, a white man, spent 23 years working on a film to tell the story of Black people’s place in World War II, only to have studios tell him they couldn’t make it because it was too black. I believe that we as a community are more than Big Momma’s House and everything Tyler Perry makes. I think we can change the perception that Black audiences don’t watch intellectual and/or historical films by moving away from our comfort zone and going to see other movies. Unless, the truth is, all we really want as a Black film audience is cinematic malt liquor(a term coined by Toure) and McDonald’s and Black people have no desire but to be entertained instead of educated. A stereotype I still refuse to believe. For now…
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Excellent blog you have got here.. It’s hard to find high quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! Take care!!
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Next time I read a blog, Hopefully it won’t fail me just as much as this particular one. After all, I know it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I really thought you’d have something useful to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you can fix if you weren’t too busy looking for attention.
First, maybe it was for a different reason, and, If I may, let me present another person who may have a similar ideology as George Lucas…
(from wikipedia who I have no problem with for quick compilations)
A man who has awards…
1969: Received his third “Man of the Year” award from Harvard University’s performance group, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals
1998: Received the Kennedy Center Honor
2002: The Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to television
2003: The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
2005: In a British poll to find The Comedian’s Comedian, he was voted among the top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders
2009: Presented with the 12th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
2011: Made an honorary Chief Petty Officer (Hospital Corpsman) in the United States Navy
three Emmys
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series
and another Emmy
Outstanding Variety Or Musical Program
NINE Grammys?
received honorary degrees from more than a dozen colleges and universities:
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, December 5, 2008.[35]
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Carnegie Mellon University, May 20, 2007; he was also the keynote speaker for the commencement ceremony.[36]
Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music, May 8, 2004.[37] also the host of the school’s 60th Anniversary Concert in January 2006.[38]
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Baylor University, September 4, 2003, at the “Spirit Rally” for the Baylor and Central Texas communities.[39]
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Yale University, May 26, 2003.[40]
Received an Honorary Degree in 2003 presented by President William Harjo LoneFight from the Sisseton Wahpeton College on the Lake Traverse Reservation for his contributions to minority education.
Honorary Doctorate from West Chester University of Pennsylvania during the 2003 graduation ceremony.
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Haverford College, May 2002.[41]
Honorary Degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute[17] and the University of Cincinnati in 2001.
Honorary Doctorate from Amherst College, May 1999. (Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa)
Commencement speaker [42] and received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut, 18 May 1996. [43]
Honorary LL.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, 1990.[44] He also served as the commencement speaker in May 1997.
In, On or the Star of 42 record albums (records are those black plastic discs we put needles on and spin and sound emits from the speakers. Today they must be using some kind of fairy dust because you could probably plug everyone of those record albums into a single mp3 player and still have room for Leonard Nimoy’s Greatest Hits)
12 books authored or shared….
THIS guy has some EXPERTISE…
However…
If you asked Bill Cosby about “Uptown Saturday Night” or “Let’s Do It Again”…
I believe we would hear him say the same thing as Lucas.
It is an oddity that we put ourselves INTO the parts being portrayed.
“Pride”? Helluva great movie!
“Red Tail Hawks”? Helluva great movie!
“Glory Road”? Helluva great movie!
“Uptown Saturday Night”?…geez. Don’t hate me. Too many black people.
and, since i’m white, I probably shoud wander on out the same door i came in, eh?
But, it isn’t for anything other than…texture.
I have ALWAYS seen the texture, and there are some too white movies that get the same pan as Uptown.
These people shuold just get over themselves, to my way of thinking.
Hey…they tried Shakespeare’s era’s method for a while.
Al Jolson?
HA!
(sorry)
How about the opposite movies?
I saw Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and it was a bit boring.
But Guess Who with Kucher and Mac?
HA!
FUNNY!
I thought Ashton’s part was a bit stupid, but, he makes up for it in the end by singing terrible.
Kind’a like F. Murray Abraham says to Tom Hulce in Amadeus, ” You give a really big BANG at the end so they know it’s over!”
or, maybe I went to far, again.
d=^))
I have no problem” with “going too far.” I don’t have a similar list of credentials that your list but do not identify. I have seven decades of being a female of African-European-Indigenous, heritage, with four earned degrees and a lot of experience. As a student of social-psychology and history, I observe that most people are unable, or unwilling, and have not been taught important life concepts. One, in particular, is realizing that individuals develop and act from unique perceptions. As humans have unique fingerprints, our visions are unique in regard to cultures, but skewed as well.
I venture that a major missing element is to be unaware of historical changes that determine likes and dislikes, to be unaware of how ALL the pieces are needed in the puzzle. To shorten what could be a dissertation, having lived through distinct changes in culture–world, and US–the trend has tended (leaned-fallen) toward less critical thinking and more pleasure seeking. Many factors “push” our choices: gender, nationality, social class, experience, and, apparently, fear of difference, and what that means. Much has been lost, and some has been gained. Equilibrium is non-existent, Out “pleasure principle”is not the only facet and faculty of existence. Why not choose intellect and mental growth–at lest in part? Thoughtfulness, especially historical, is rapidly disappearing.. I appreciate, love humor–entertainment–I’ve done my share–but when an entire culture selects as its prime value–only entertainment, as worthy of honor, where is the balance?
~important life concepts, as: individuals develop and act on unique perceptions
~less critical thinking and more pleasure seeking, not the only facet
~”but when an entire culture selects as its prime value–only entertainment, as worthy of honor, where is the balance?”
Well, as for what is important and not eventually comes to the individual, and hopefully nurtured by parents, relatives, friends, or school. I don’t believe in the ALL pit bulls are viscious ruling. We had one that we could talk into growling like a beast, and anyone could lean over and kiss him on the nose for an immediate like response.
So, environment of culture and society DOES make an indelible stain on the mind.
In fact, though, entertainment makes ideas more durable, in my opinion.
I fear I must confess at this time. I have only been in water over my head ONCE since 1976.
WAIT…
worse than that.
The one time a teenager tipped the boat, and in I went.
At no time prior to that or after, since seeing JAWS, have I been in ANY body of water beyond my knees.
LOVED the movie, and, not to be a smart ass, I couldn’t think of this before…Not enough black people.
Not for reality.
Another movie, Mommie Dearest, written by the daughter of Joan Crawford.
The movie really puts a child’s perspective to task, but for that, fails because a child’s perspective is askew right from the start. Lack of personal experience, probably the biggest drawback.
Later she would come out and say just that.
That after years of therapy, she realized that her perspective was wrong. Strict, maybe. Audience aware, yes.
But not a child beating witch with a hangar in her hand and blood revenge in her heart.
(dang, I hope Mr. Free doesn’t mind the length, here)
Anyway, the point is, a LOT of people believe that Joan Crawford is the worse thing this side of the plague.
But she wasn’t.
Entertainment makes ideas durable.
Sadly, few people realize that marijuana cures cancer.
Why?
Reefer Madness
Now, in all fairness, your thought is not wasted on me. To my way of thinking I think that priority IS too stilted to entertainment.
But in so much as it is economically controlled by groups of people who have no idea of the art involved.
They read box office money.
Rentals.
Spin-offs.
Money.
But the entertainers? They hone their craft to sharp as they need, and they entertain.
I am an entertainer of rooms and walls.
I am an artist.
I LOVE making people laugh, though.
God how I LOVE the sound of laughter! And it, too, is a healing energy!
But…
I’m quite bashful.
one on one, mouth be a flying.
one on two,three? little slower talking, less words.
Four or more?
Geez…bring pliers with you to wrench those words out.
but…every once in a while…I accidentally step in front of a crowd, and for some reason, I can’t stop myself from telling funny stories.
And they almost always lead back to…
Marijuana cures cancer. That alone should trump ANY discussion.
and then one more joke and poof!
“Who was that handsome man in the hat with the big smile and telling those jokes?”
I dunno, but the other guy was me.
d=^))
Final comment on this topic. A genuine scholar–whether intuitively or by training can learn that it is fallacious to use the concept “all,” in any context. The continuum between extremes in all areas indicates that humans would benefit themselves, and the planet/cosmos, to think in terms of “trends” and tendencies.”
From individual, with singular fingerprints, to the entire species, with a common initiating DNA, there is uncounted variety. From music the term would be “variations on a theme.:
The problem, as I perceive it, is the inability to discern what is important-cricial-vital compared with what is relatively insignificant.
All aspects have their place, but informed discernment can point toward the needed balance. Ex: the finger in the dike that saves a village may be, literally, a finger, but could be The Grand Coulee damn to hold back the mighty Colorado. Discernment, please.
Making that kind of discernment requires intelligence. The under-girding and overriding purpose, intent and goal seems ot me to be what is, ultimately, in the best interest of the totality. Problem: people who refuse to accept that “All Things are Connected.”.
I like Tyler Perry as a person but his movies make me want to tear my eyes out!!!!! Most of the people I know would never step into his movies or theatrical performances. We are African American and believe the debate is about good films v bad films!
I agree, “Good v. bad” are in the eyes of the beholder-interpreter. I saw Red Tails, and reviewed it to my blog and friends. I understand the entertainment values to which most movie fans respond. Lucas is a masterful film maker. He an his writer did their best to be fair–as white males in the capitalist society, to present a movie that will attract large audiences. That is the nature of this beast.
As a social scientist/historian/educator, I cringed at liberties taken with the real story, (based on…), the “necessary” interracial romance, and the inevitable telegraphed “happy ending.” I DO understand; my concern is that will viewers without historical context–youngsters–get enough real meaning. Amidst the obligatory laughter there were periods of silence, appropriately. I must have hope.
I removed all stereotypical channels, Tyler Perry–have never seen– from my DIRECTV–probably, the things most watch. It’s not easy being different, is it?
As far as the real story aspect, Lucas does have two more films written that complete the entire story. Red Tails was the middle of the three part series. He said that you couldnt tell the entire story in a 2 hour movie which is why he wrote three but they’ll only be made based on how well this one does.
oh please catch me and tell me if I talk too much.
I tried to join on-and-on anon, but nobody would stop talking long enough to give me the application. Took me three visits till I found the applications.
It was just notebook paper, anyway.
Kind of a Tell us about yourself, and 35 blank pages, two pencils and a pencil sharpener made in Yugoslavia.
I had a Yugo for a while. Not bad. Bit heavy.
Dang!
I can just do that and i sure don’t mean to.
Fact is, I’ll try to stay to topic or shut the mmmmupppphhhh muuuuphhh muuuuppphhhhh
d=^))
I believe this theory is true. African Americans do need to embrace “our” movies more, but to criticize Tyler Perry movies in the process is shameful. I say this because although his movies are comical, they always have a Christian message supporting it. I believe this is one of the reasons it is highly supported and successful! With God on your side who can be against you! And as a African American we all know the correlation of our heritage and race in comparison to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!
I am an American, I am not a Christian.In. I am not a “believer,” I have studied the history of the the Bible, and all mainstream, and some not mainstream religions, in courses and independent study and experience–such as Naive American sweat lodge. It is my choice–freedom to be a THINKER, not a “believer.” And, no , I do not “believe” in science. I accept it as a tool to help humans learn. I am constantly pained by living in a culture where freedom is spoken, but confinement is practiced.
I am a person of color, fourth generation college educated, with advanced degrees. To see every action defined, and excused on the basis of Christianity, regardless of the cultural demeaning is painful, and shameful. Incidentally, my observation is that most Christian more closely “follow” the Old Testamant, an adaptation of the Jewish texts, not the words and action of Jesus in the New Testament–a la, The Good Samaritan the woman at the well, ALL his parables.
Freedom is bigger than a single view.
First, I wasn’t attacking you as a person. I was explaining Tyler Perry’s support from others from a different view. Second, it is interesting how you began to defend yourself in response of my post.
Also, I would like to state that Tyler Perry has such grate support beacause of his own testimony. It is awesome! You have the right to believe or “think” how you may. I was merely pointing out the fact to insult Tyler Perry’s work in the process of trying to belittle the African American race is exactly what we do not need in America.
Also, congratulations on all your accomplishments! May God Bless!
I appreciate your effort, I was not responding personally, I explained the reasons/evidence for my response. Applauding any effort that is honest can be commendable. A person has the same “right” to critique if that effort is views as having unforeseen, negative, consequences. The best effort can be lacking in some area. That is the nature of the situation. My father taught me–back in the dark ages pre-WWII, that I had a responsibility.He said, “Any time you have an opportunity to show them, take it.” What he meant was the highest and best, as the Tuskegee Airmen knew-EVERY moment.
I choose to not engage where my experience and sensibilities indicate that I find them unproductive of values that may be positive and helpful of higher principles. I remember my physician-father having to go in the back door of the county hospital, and turn his patients over to white doctors. He worked too hard, endured too much. for me to slip backwards. A white official and I just spent two hours discussing Red Tails. He got my point..
Tails. He admitted htat he wasunaware of the perspective I voiced. his is i what is called learning.
Please pardon errors/typos at the end of the last post. The screen did not advance, and I was not aware of the unedited portion.
I understand and applaud your post however if you think freedom is bigger then one single viewpoint consider what the black community did to Cain as a republican Presidential nominee or Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Individualism and different viewpoints are not tolerated at all. Did any prominent blacks come to the aid of either of these men. You rightly shame Hollywood and yet you do their bidding it seems.
First, there is no single “black” or other monolithic community by gender, ethnicity, religion, age. etc. Individuals in a single family differ based on principles and experience. Thomas and Cain have supporters that are people of color. I suggest,that people of color who disagree with these men do so on the basis of disagreement with their attitudes, pronouncements and actions.
My agreements and disagreements are based on whether a person is forward looking in their orientation to life, or reactionary/backwards And I say this as a career historian-social scientist, mother and community activist.. Cain and Thomas, as examples, demonstrate to me that they are insular, self-involved people, with no concern for people with whom they don’t identify, the unfortunate in a society that is dog eat dog.
My great grandfather, a runaway slave, registered freedmen to vote Republican after the Civil War. I am confident that he would not support today’s version of the part (Dixiecrat-Republican), regardless of a person’s “race.” There are inward (self) gazers, and outward (other) gazers. I do not support the likes of Cain and Thomas because they are not aware that “all things are connected.” Billions more, certainly beyond their narrow cocoon. I call them traitors to their own heritage, which they have a right to be, but I find them sad.
So you yourself condemn anything other then the party line. Making a lie of your pronouncements about different thought in the black community, When you see it , you condemn it. How sad and hypocritical of you. The Democrats use blacks as if they were slaves to their own agenda, apparently only a few can see this shuck and jive since people like yourself champion the THOUGHT of individuality and condemn the reality.
If you were referring to my comments, you fail to comprehend my perspective. My” party line” is existence itself, nothing so narrow as any single “party line.” I understand your position. You miss mine-a historical-holistic-REALISTIC perception, thinking, and action. Sorry, friend.
I don’t think I missed yours. There is no freedom unless you are free to be on both sides of an issue. The black community and apparently you also have condemned and attacked these men for being on the other side. How is that freedom? You are building your own jail cell. You say “I call them traitors to their own heritage”,,, they aren’t traitors, they are thinkers beyond your black box cell. Can you not see how your own words condemn your thoughts ? I expect more from an educated person. When only one point of view is tolerated then their is no tolerance. Their is a black congressman today being called racial names because he is conservative and you allow that,,,,,,,, amazing. You have lost your way in the freedom maze mam.
As I stated above, it was not a criticism of Tyler’s movies. It was a comparison of numbers and what people support cinematically that contributes to the reasons studios dont and wont make more Black films. A Christian message is fine and good but that doesnt mean you can deliver it in a mediocre package and call it good.
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Just watched a great documentary, “Burn: The Evolution of an American City,” about the Tulsa race riot, the destruction of “Black Wall Street,” in 1921. Made in 2009, it is current, and history… Hollywood owns our minds, hearts, and money, More important, consistent and amazing films are being made–just not SHOWN. Both are needed, It takes an inquiring mind to seek the best. See this as context for the Tuskegee Airmen. Makes their success more meaningful.
See: http://www.documentaychannel.org. I saw it, 90 minutes, at the Current Channel on DirecTV–the channel started by former VP, Al Gore. Twenty-four-seven accurate FILM stories. Cost of this one less than $20–a cheap movie,and pop your own popcorn, with real butter.
It’s truly a shame that a piece like these even needs to be written. I’ve said as much to many friends of mine, friends who marvel at the fact that as a Black woman I refuse to patronise Tyler Perry’s films. For me, the stereotype flies much further than highlighting what the overwhelming majority thinks of us as people. It’s also a pejorative look at the nature of the Black woman in her own community, but that’s another post for another day, I suppose.
What baffles me is that as much as our illustrious past has been twisted and tainted, we still refuse to move on from the mental block we’ve put on ourselves, denying the beauty, class, and intelligence of our race in lieu of getting cheap laughs at the expense of our own self worth.
Family, it’s time to wake up. How can we even pretend to be offended with what we’re fed when we indulge in the junk food happily? Everyone’s a guilty party. Yes, there’s obvious prejudice in every aspect of life; however, it can only strive if we give it life. It outrages me that a man of George Lucas’s clout was denied his dream of bringing an historical drama to the screen because the cast is “too Black” but the film isn’t “Black enough”. Excuse the expletive, but what the bloody fuck?! I’m so sorry, but — and I’m sure I’m not alone in this — I’ve had to take that kind of criticism too long in the past to accept it as a norm in a universal art form such as film!
It’s a shame and it needs to be taken care of. Black people, we need to broaden our minds, give ourselves the chance to shine for the beautiful, intelligent, resourceful people that we are. It’s time to stop trying to survive and just live without having to settle.
I suppose that’s all I have to say. I’m a little to emotional to say anything anymore articulate. Great post. Thank you for shedding your light on this deplorable situation…a situation that never seems to go away after over 500 years. Sad. Just sad.
Lucas’ “clout” is unnoticed when the only value in the business is,and has always been “the bottom line.”
Obviously, this subject is dear to my heart, due to my life and careers, education, “school” music, writing, and observing what my son experienced.
Thoughtful people, of every heritage must learn what has been lost, and continues when nothing except money and pleasure are valued in the nation/tribe.
I am beyond outraged! This is really a sad day in cinema.
A great director takes a great story and makes a great movie out of it — only to be told it won’t sell because of it’s all black cast? This is just… sad day, sad day.
Great post! I have shared it among my friends and hopefully I will do a follow-up piece? We shall see!
I’d agree with you if it were the only instance of something as disgusting as this. Sadly, it’s a truth that stretches far beyond the past decade, past 100 years, really. This isn’t a sad day in cinema; it’s just another day at the office. And THAT’S what’s truly sad here.
Change begins with one person. Support can grow. Certain citizens, spurred by the Arab Spring, in Egypt, are sparking planetary socio-economic-political revolutions. The end of racism, and corporate dominance of all of life is a valid component of the awakening.
fantastic piece. it’s time black audiences take accountability for this being a problem as well.
I totally agree, As a social scientist-historian who has, sadly, watched the demise of our better aspirations given by earlier generations, dissipate in a totally consumme-focused society, manipulated by power, money and control. I am not optimistic–although I would love to be.
Perhaps miracles can happen. I have no confidence in “divine intervention.” The disjunction of chattal slavery-segregation-coninuing institutional racism, that is not well understood, has been a massive injustice to African descended people. It is vital that the message be given and learned that WE are responsible for our destiny. Bill Cosby made a TV film in the 1970s “Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed.” If WE could re-address and re-mount the monentum lost since the murder o Dr. King and many of our moral leaders–we might regain sanity beyond booty-entertainment/sports bling.
Thank you.
Sadly, I agree with the presentation in this article. Once people of color/Negroes/black people were interested in “uplifting”– portrayals of their people, and were supportive of a variety of offerings. The general dumbing-down that permeates American culture is the same attraction to a generation and one-half of our people whose only exposure to entertainment, learning and culture (sic) has been what my mother called “low-class.” She said this whenever my behavior was not to her standard–she, a graduate of Meharry Medical College, School of Pharmacy, 1926..
The lack of historical and cultural pride has been my high interest for many decades. Remediation is beyond me. Ever since our schools were decimated, by pseudo “integration”, that removed most of our youth from the influence of THEIR elders, as teachers and community leaders, our youth have followed the “least common denominator” trend. They were high-jacked and brain-washed. I would like to write a book on this phenomenon, ,but no publisher would buy it, nor substantial numbers of MY people, as well. Iknow, I’ve written two such novels–authentic historical fiction. A publisher said of my first novel of middle-cl;ass black life, “She doesn’t write the black experience” Huh? . All the market wants is stereotypical stories that demean us, written by whites to become hits like The Help.
We are our own worst enemies. Satin sheet Diva is right, only via rap or hip hop..
Ms. Fortune, there is a market for your books. Not sure how big it is, or what the specific demographic would be, but I know there’s a market none-the-less. So please, don’t stop writing them! Meanwhile, you touched on a subject I’ve been kicking around since I was a teen – did integration really work to our benefit? The loss of our tighter knit communities, the way our dollars stayed in our neighborhoods, circulating several times before finally finding their way out…all of that fell by the wayside once “we” were granted access. If I thought the George Lucas’ of the world were sincerely interested in telling our stories, I’d say those of us who feel like this, have a shot at getting a much larger platform on which to put the truths out there / to counter the stereotypes. While I hold no ill will toward Tyler and his supporters, I really wish he’d use his powers for “good”, lol.
This is a response to the article by my son, who was a Production Designer in “the business” but left for more substantial employment.
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it was lost, Sorry. From someone “in the business.”
Speechless. You need to find a way to incorporate this sentiment into a rap song as sadly, I’m beginning to believe that is the only way the majority of “Black” movie supporters (I’m going to get in trouble for this) will ever hear the message. There are so few people of color who will give certain films a chance because of other stereotypes in our communities – to not support Tyler is tantamount to saying you don’t eat fried chicken. I have been called everything but “black” because I haven’t seen any of the Friday, Madea, TD Jakes…etc. movies. I will not give my money to films that portray us in such limiting, stereotypical fashion. That goes for “white” movies that use those same stereotypes. We are a diverse people with a wide range of interests, capabilities, strengths and weaknesses. We enjoy chess, classical music and reading classic literature (no offense, but the books I find in the “Urban” section of most books stores makes me want to cry).
I could go on and on, but you’ve hit the proverbial nail. A very well written blog. Thank you.
We’re in the same club. This must change. Note increasing Asian and Latino involvement in cultural arts with much less among AMERICANS of African heritage and many generations.
Thanks for your amazing comment and for reading the post. I agree with you and sadly the cycle will continue and the blame will be on us. I would love to see the other two films that Lucas made that goes along with Red Tails but they will only be made depending on the success of this film. Fingers crossed…