Are Things Really This Bad?
I read this bit of gossip over at The Scoop, my weekly addiction on MSNBC’s Entertainment page. (The Scoop is written by the lovely and talented Jeannette Walls, and she is one of few gossip columnists who I believe 100% of the time).
An uncomfortable pairing?
Does Will Smith believe that filmgoers don’t want to see him getting his happiness from Cameron Diaz? The star of “The Pursuit of Happyness†is one of Hollywood’s most well-liked celebs, but a journalist claims that Smith says he wanted to co-star in a romantic comedy with the Charlie’s Angels star — but worried that the public would be uncomfortable with the interracial pairing.
“Smith, one of the world’s most bankable stars, appears mostly opposite black or Latino women,†noted U.K. writer Leslie O’Toole. “He once confided to me that he’d love to make a romantic comedy with Cameron Diaz but feared that his audience wouldn’t accept it.â€
“It’s a shame, but it is what it is,†Thandie Newton, his co-star in “The Pursuit of Happyness†lamented. “I think if it was done in the right way, where race wouldn’t be an issue, it would be great. But you can’t bend people’s minds too quickly.â€
I had to write about this, because it tied in perfectly with my Martin Luther King post earlier.
Am I out of the loop, or are things actually this sad?
Will Smith is a great actor. I’ve admired his skills since he was rapping with Jazzy Jeff.
Cameron Diaz isn’t my favorite actress in the world, but I do think she has an attractive on-screen presence, and notable comedic timing.
They could potentially make a funny (and profitable) romantic comedy together.
Why should it matter what race they are? “You can’t bend people’s minds too quickly,” excuse me – what year is this?
Are we as a society still not “over” interracial relationships?
My personal opinion is that love is love, if you find someone who respects your mind, respects your body, and makes you want to be with them and cherish the time spent with them, then it doesn’t matter what race or gender they are.
There isn’t enough love and committment in the world as it is, so why put limitations on who people should or shouldn’t choose to spend their lives with?
Why should I make it my business who you choose to settle down with, or who puts that special smile on your face?
But I want honest opinions here.
Tell me, if a film starring Will Smith and Cameron Diaz as a romantic couple were to be released – and the trailer looked funny – would you support it? Or would you boycott it as an act of protest against their on-screen relationship?
What are your views on interracial relations in the world in 2007?
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- afrobella » One Simple Question | January 17, 2007
Afrobella,
The only reason why it is so hard for folks to accept interracial relationships in my opinions are for two major reasons. One, America is a country built on racism, and it still survives so people are still harboring feeling of hatred. For example, the Duke Rape case was so big because “allegedly” a Black woman was gang raped by white men. It would not have received national attention if the women was white.
Second, Black love and Black women being seen as desirable has not been protrayed in major films significantly. Tell me the last time you have seen a Black family movie? or Black leading couple in a movie that was positive? That’s why Love Jones and Brown Suga are such popular movies amongst Black peole.
Denzel Washington has also talked about this.i believe he was starring in a movie with Julia Roberts and there was some question about if they should have a love scene in the movie. Since moving to Washington State my eyes have been opened, the way i am stared at, followed and judged is bonkers. i kinda expect it from older people, but the young people are horrible. there are barely any Black people here, so i find myself constantly being the outsider, and having to educate stubborn minds. my boyfriends job moved us here, and i cannot wait until we move. oh yeah the boyfriend is Caucasian so half the damn time he doesn’t even notice. life here sucks so bad.
Afrobella,
One of my new fave movies is “Something New” with Sanaa Lathan. I like the movie because it is less about dating, but more about how closed-minded we are as people. Sanaa’s character had issues with race, but her friend’s (can’t recall her name)issue was class/socioeconomic status. The friend was not interested in dating a cook/chef, but she opened her mind and found love. Indeed, that was something new for the character. We have to open our hearts and minds to receive love. I do not want to get too personal, but my husband and I are both Black, but we are very different islands and different religious upbringings. I know a lot of people looked down on us because they thought that we were “unequally yolked.” Once they get to know us as individuals, they realize that we are very decent, great people.
Thanks again for the blog. I am hiatus from class, so that is why I have been responding early and often.
@Jennifer, the last Black movie i remember was Akeelah and the Bee, and hardly anyone went to see it.Shame on us.
Funny, I think I just re-read on some blog about Denzel “His Eternal Royal Hotness” Washington’s resistance to a romantic pairing between himself and Julia Roberts in “The Pelican Brief”. I wish I had the link to post, but to paraphrase, he didn’t want to “disappoint” his black female fanbase by kissing Julia. That was the early 90′s right? How far have we come?
Fast forward to 2006, how did “Something New” fair in the box office? Oprah hyped it, I rented it, and frankly found it sweet and entertaining, dealing with interracial dating issues without sermonizing or speechifying. But did that movie even crack the top 10 opening week?
I think the fear from both actors and the studios, founded or not, is akin to the whole “FUBU” debate you addressed earlier in your site. In reading a user review on IMDB.com for “Something”, the poster emphasized “THIS IS NOT A BLACK MOVIE.” What, exactly, does that mean? In context it was meant to encourage people to see the movie on its universal merits, but let’s be real now– I’ve had friends that (dis)missed some good films as “black movies” (not “For Us”), likewise some other viewers might make a snap judgement that Will stepping out with YT is definitely something they aren’t down with (not “By Us” nor “For Us”), and not buy a ticket.
I mean, if anyone could pull it off, it’d be Mr. Smith, because he’s a worldwide superstar, and frankly I wonder how much better the aforementioned “Something” would have done if it had more starpower.
Which makes me circle back and wonder, “Well, why didn’t it have bigger names?” Is it that fear again, from the stars, from the studio?
Ways, this post is already too long, so lemme close with “thanks” Will for bringing up the issue, and gracias for you for posting, but I worry that maybe we ain’t ready– that even in this new century we aren’t as open minded as Mr. King would have hoped for us to be.
‘Tho I’d love to be proven wrong on this point.
(Disclosure: Cameron Diaz? Ewww. Anyone but Joker McScarecrow. )
I agree with Will. I don’t want to see him in a romantic comedy with a white actress when there are plenty of black actress for the part.
Yeah it’s 2007, but it’s hard enough to find a black man in real life, does it have to be equally hard to find one with a black woman in the movies?
When white actors are paired with the same frequency to black actresses as white actresses are paired to black actors in tv and film whenever an “interracial couple” is needed, Will and Cameron can hang. Until then, I agree with Will.
Its 2007, it doesn’t matter. I think there should be more movies that promote ‘interracial’ love. But at the same time those who protest against are a bit backwards. This reminds me of that movie, can’t remember the title off hand, but Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac was in it. I’m tired of people still having a gripe about this issue. Will and Cam could make a movie, I see it in the works, just loosen up. I’m a product of interracial love, being Jamaican, West Indian you see it all over the Caribbean. But this is a hurdle that the U.S. can’t get over.
I know that I wouldn’t be interested in seeing a movie with Will and Cam as a couple. I’m not against interracial couples but I personally wouldn’t spend my money to see that movie. Why should I when black women are shown the least amount of love and respect on the big screen.
I don’t really care about who Will Smith does his pictures with. Yes he is talented, but he is corny to me. Now, if it was Denzel (or anyone that I consider a real dude). Damnit, yes I would have a problem. I really can not tell you the exact reason why. But I do know that black people are still on the bottom here in America. I don’t care what anyone says, if you are black here in America, in general we are still looked at as being worse than ANY other race. I just don’t like Hollywoods propaganda. I worry about the young minds. I feel like there are just as many great black actresses out there with comedic timing. So why can’t that work? Yes it is still like that in 2007. The civil rights movement was not that long ago and parents, grandparents still feel the sting from it today in MODERN times. We came quite a ways, but things aren’t close to what they should be for black people here in America, because in general people still see us as inferior and in general subconciously and behind closed doors the powers that be and others treat us as such.
i AGREE WITH BRITTANY AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE ACTRESSES ARE NOT GIVEN NEARLY AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAD ESPECIALLY IN THE ROMANTIC CATEGORY. SINCE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT COMEDY I’VE NEVER SEEN WILL FARRELL, ADAM SANDLER, JIM CARREY OR ANY OTHER POPULAR CAUCASION COMEDIAN COSTAR ALONG SIDE ANY OF OUR B.A.P.S. I DON’T THINK THE ISSUE IS WE AS A PEOPLE CAN’T HANDLE IT. WILL SMITH HAS SAID BEFORE HE AND HIS WIFE BOTH FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THE ROLES THAT THEY CHOOSE TO PLAY. I HAVE NO QUALMS WITH INTERACIAL COUPLES. IT’S TRUE YOU CAN’T HELP WHO YOU LOVE BUT IN OUR SOCIETY FAIR SKIN,BLUE EYES AND BLOND HAIR STILL REIGN AS ALL GLORIOUS. THATS NOT THE IMAGE THAT I SEE WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR. LETS LEVEL THE PLAYING FEILD, HAVE THE MOVIE WITH WILL OPPOSITE CAMERON, THAT SAME WEEKEND PUT OUT A MOVIE WITH ALFRE WOODARD STARRING ALONGSIDE GEORGE CLOONEY AND LETS SEE WHAT THE RATINGS LOOK LIKE.
I don’t care who anyone dates in his/her real life, but there aren’t enough images of black folks loving black folks, so until there are, I’m one of those that Will rightly believes would be non-supportive. Admittedly, I have a double standard…I paid to see “something new†but that’s because I want to see black women getting some love – no matter what color the man is giving it. There’s no shortage of imagery showing white women as desirable – I don’t need support that. If Will wants to do something different, how about a love story with him and a black woman who is older, or plus size, or someone darker than he? How about a woman who’s all three of those things! I’d pay to see that.
I realize that this is a shortcoming on my part, but I wouldn’t pay to Will Smith snuggle with Cameron Diaz. Like a lot of the posters have stated, there simply are not enough images of African Americans loving each other. There aren’t enough movies with Black women as the romantic interest. Except for Halle Berry, black women aren’t portrayed as the objects of desire. We can be the single mom, sister, aunt, drug addict, prostitute, doctor, lawyer, whatever, but we can’t be in a loving relationship (with any man, let alone a black man). This is to be expected from mainstream media. When Black producers, directors and actors with pull start making the same choices, where does that leave black actresses? Where does that leave black women?
Finally as adults, I don’t think we always remember the effect media images have on young people. Let’s be real, a lot of our young girls grow up in single mom homes without their mothers being in loving relationships. You take away movies and TV, they don’t even have loving black relationships to dream about.
I agree with Carolyn there aren’t enough images of happy black couples. Many Black women do not fill comfortable with the images of interracial bliss between black men and white women because they also have issue with the portrayal of black (on Black) relationships. In many cases they are ridden with stereotypes. Whether we like it or not most films are directed to certain demographics and sadly our African American demographic is at the bottom of the chain. There are few movies of substance that are marketed to us that portray us and all aspects of our daily lives in a positive light.
I always thought Cameron Diaz was a Latina. Anyway, I have to agree with Carolyn. Until there are more movies portraying Black women as desirable, and in a positive light, I have NO INTEREST in seeing a movie with a brother lusting after a White woman.
I think both Will and Denzel are very smart for recognizing that.
While I would still see a movie with Cameron and Will, I know i would be thinking throughout why didn’t they cast a black woman. There are not enough movies with black actress in the leading role let alone in a romantic leading role.
I definetely agree with you, but people in the world today are still as narrow-minded as ever, and will never change. Yes, this is 2007, and yes we should be over the fact that if a white and a black person want to be in a relationship, it CAN happen. I don’t see the big deal. People just need to suck it up and let it happen. There’s nothing really that they can do anyway. I say that if Will Smith and Cameron Diaz made a movie, I would definetely watch it. Will smith may be right, it may not be accepted by some, but it could be accepted by many.
The funny thing is, I see where ALL of you are coming from. I agree that there aren’t nearly enough black women being cast as romantic leads – for some strange reason, the film Strange Days with Angela Bassett pops into my head… even though it was more of an action flick, she plays against Ralph Fiennes really well. So many great, strong black actresses can only find work as the sidekick or the comedic relief, it’s frustrating.
HOWEVER, this is just ONE movie I’m talking about here! One hypothetical movie out of the dozens that Will Smith (or Denzel, or name your hot black actor of choice) has made where he starred with a black actress as his leading lady. I would like to think Will Smith can step outside of the box for one flick, shake up the mainstream silver screen relationship, and then go back to being the usual goofy action hero he is without losing his fanbase. But maybe I’m wrong.
I’d definitely like to see it go both ways as you were saying – see Ben Stiller cast a black actress as his wife on-screen, or Jim Carrey, or hell, even Brad Pitt or George Clooney. And Carolyn, your point is so dead on – you never see an older, still-foxy black actress in a romantic lead. Pam Grier is the only actress of that demographic I can think of, and I think she’s on the L Word. But it sounds to me like you’re pitching a black version of The Graduate, and that could be really awesome! Or, Harold & Maude, which would be equally interesting. I’d like to see something like that tackled by a real actress, not just some dude in a fat suit and makeup.
it’s very frustrating. i get bs ALL the time about my norwegian fiancee… and i think i live in one of the most cosmopolitan places in the world, but people have assbackward views. when the film – something new – was released, it would have been a great, funny romantic comedy, but instead the obvious (the fact that he was white & blonde & she was black) was shoved down everyone’s throat. the movie itself was very cute, but they wouldnt just let it be. it’s too much in this country 2 just ‘let things be’.
If Will was starring in a film with Cameron, both as romantic leads, I would only see it because of Cameron. I like her better than Will. But I do think he has a great point and stance on the subject. At the same time, there should be more IR relationships on screen, but like others have said, with a balance. White male actors with black females, as well. If it can’t be all around fun I don’t think we are ready to go there then.
Also I probably wouldn’t be extremely hyped about seeing these movies unless the actors were people I truly enjoyed. I am simply not that into IRs. I have never done it, so it isn’t anything that I feel that is needed to speak my voice or tell my story.
Just throwing in here as well, this is one of the few sites I visit of a black woman’s that isn’t screaming angry and putting people on the defense. This is one spot I can come and not feel challenged. It’s cool here to talk without fear of a fight. Love it afrobella!!
I hope the same people lamenting the lack of quality black entertainment aren’t the same ones watching trash like Flavor Flav’s show or “I Love New York”.
It’s bigger than Will kissing Cameron Diaz.
I have to admit i’m not a big fan of either actors mentionned in this conversation but although i agree that there are not nearly enough positive representations of black women in the media but some of you seem really raw about the idea of interracial couples on the screen.
I am light brown and my husband is darker… and to be honest it makes me sick how the darker women sometimes look at us like ” couldn’t you find someone your own shade?” It’s just plain ignorant. I wish we would grow into our own more as a people… And (don’t shoot me for this) until the people we let represent ousrelves in the media keep playing the game like they are now ( naked girls back-popping, guys treating cars like they were women and throwing cash in the air as if it was appropriate) we can not expect people outside our ethnic group ( white yellow, or whatever) to imagine us diffferently…
Yes I would go see the movie if for no other reason than to support Will Smith. I think it’s ironic that people see Cameron Diaz as a white woman when it has been reported that she is in fact Latina just as so many of Will Smith’s other romantic interests on film.
When Something New came out I know tons of black men who did not want to go see that movie. The idea of an attractive black woman being with a white man was just not something they could handle. I had to practically beg the guy I was dating at the time to go with me to see the movie and he said okay but you better not get any ideas from this movie.
So yes it’s still hard for many people in society to see interracial couples, whether it’s in real life or onscreen. I agree that love is love regardless but as a black woman who has oftentimes felt rejected by black men for a lighter skin woman or a white woman it still stings just a little bit initially.
@Joy i agree, there seems to be a lot of raw emotion on this topic. i don’t feel rejected when i see a Black man with a woman of another race, because he doesn’t belong to me. i wasn’t raised with the idea that, “every person that shares my skintone owes me something.” as an immigrant i got more grief from my own than others. Cameron Diaz is Cuban by the way. Until we get more Black and Brown screenwriters our stories will not be told,there needs to be more of us behind the scenes, instead of always cheesing for the camera.
I noticed that a couple of posters have mentioned that Cameron Diaz is Latina. Does that make it okay?
A latina can be white, black, or multiracial.
I realize that Latinas can be of any race but it seems like some Latinas get a nod from black women, meaning these women aren’t black, but it’s okay for black men to date them.
We will bitch and moan about Will or Denzel co-starring with Cameron, but give Rosalyn Sanchez, Eva Mendes or J-Lo a green light? Why is that?
I would go see a movie starring the aforementioned if I thought it would be funny. And its apparent that we all have a long way to go in terms of Interracial relationships, on screen and off.
@Blackhoney i think people can get with the idea of two minorities together.it’s almost as if Caucasians are the enemy, and everybody else is alright. not for nothing but if you read the news coming out of California you will see that the Latin and Black community are in a war.don’t want to get to deep into it but race riots are coming soon.
@Coffy: In California, I think is Willie Lynch is in action. As soon black and brown folk in Cali realize that, things will cool down.
that is “I think Willie Lynch is in action”.
@BlackHoney,they sure are helping his agenda. i tell people all the time that if it were up to some, there would be no minorities, except Asian. which is why to me when the immigration issue comes up, i can’t help but think that if they could we(Black people)would be kicked out the country also.we cannot wait until something directly pertains to us to get involved.
I agree with the posters here who have said that there are not enough interesting leading roles for black actresses–that’s why I was so happy about Sanaa Lathan when she was on ‘Nip/Tuck” (one of my favorite shows) this past season because she was allowed to play a multi-layered woman, not a “boring black superwoman” or the “sassy black friend with no business of her own”. I just started watching a new drama on the Family Cahnnel (of all places) called “Lincoln Heights”. It is about a black L.A. family of 5–the dad is a cop, mom is a medical assistant, and their two teenage daughters and preteen son. The dad participates in a program to get cops to move back to the inner city and he renovates a delapidated house and moves his kids & wife (who just know the ‘burbs) back to the hood where he came from. I am loving the entire family, especially the chocolate brown sista who plays the wife–an image you don’t see much on TV these days. On the issue of Will & Cameron, I think it’s just a matter of $$. The studio heads think that it would be too “risky” to pair them onscreen despite Will & Cameron’s likeabilty and marketability. In a society where less copies of a fashion magazine are sold with a black model on the cover rather than white, this isn’t suprising. If the movie was good, I would support it. I agree with Bella that it should work both ways–let Brad Pitt or Matthew McCoughnahey’s movie girlfriends/wives be black (Brad & Matt have dated black women in real life).
I am in an interacial relationship myself (my sweetie’s white) these past 2 years and I have been dating interaccially on and off before in my life and I haven’t had any really negative reaction. I have had a couple of friends ask me goofy questions they wouldn’t dare ask me if my man was black, but that was the extent of it.
Niki,
When I read about the show, I assumed it was a white family. I got a free download of the first episode, and I was quite pleased with the show. The show is now on my DVR record schedule. I was pleasantly surprised to see a Black family as the center of the story lines.
Blackhoney,
You bring up an interesting point about the “pass” that Black women give to other non-European women. Is it that we feel kinship with certain other groups? Let me know your thoughts.
AppleDiva, I think the reason some Black women give the “other” women a pass is because they are minority and somehow can relate to the struggles of being a minority in the United States. Thats what I hear from my friends.BUt I don’t know??? One of my girlfriends is dating a Puerto Rican guy who looks like Jon B, however she told that if he was a white guy who looked exactly like her current guy, that she couldn’t be in a relationship with him because she thinks they would have nothing in common. SHe based this all off apperence, not what the White guy could possibly be bringing to the table. I think that thats crazy.
I’m an equal opportunity dater. If you got it going on I don’t care what you look like. But I think that has a lot to do with the way I was brought up. My family is Trinidadian so is hard for me not to see all colors and races for who they are and not what they look like.
I don’t know. I could argue a lot of sides to this sentiment. On the one hand, I don’t care about inter-racial dating. If you’re lucky enough to find someone who will support you, understand you, care about you and put up with all your BS and you’re willing to do the same, color just doesn’t matter. On the other hand, Black relationships/Black love are either completely ignored by entertainment media or devalued, vilified or shown as completely dysfunctional. So I could see why some people might take issue with Will Smith starring in some lame romantic comedy with Cameron Diaz (who’s half Cuban but whatever) as opposed to Sanaa Lathan or Kerry Washington (an aside: isn’t she just FLAWLESS no matter where and when you see her?!).
Then again, this nation really hasn’t come that far regarding race relations. We’ve just gotten better at sticking our heads in the sand and sweeping everything under the rug but race relations is still a huge hurdle in our society that I’m not sure we’re ever going to get to the point where color doesn’t matter and the person does.
(Sorry for the long-winded post.)
Nikki,
I feel the same way as you. When I came to this country, I lived in a mostly White immigrant community. I had a lot of White friends because we all understood each other. It wasn’t utopia, but it was cool. It was not until I moved into mostly Black area, I had problems. I was always never “Black” enough. By the time I got to high school, I realized that the only way to live my life was to appreciate my difference and to appreciate the differences in other people.
Dani,
I agree. I know the discussion is interracial dating, but the topic is about race relations. I have been listening to some Black people on progressive talk radio saying how Barack Obama is not Black enough because he is bi-racial, and he does not understand the struggles of being a Black man in American. Oh, I think he understands the struggle. When are we going to quite talking that mess.
@apple Diva
In some ways there is a kinship. I think that there are things that all minorities in the US experience (being reminded of your race everyday, expectations based on stereotypes, etc). As far as IR relationships in movies and TV I think Will and Dnezel are pulling the ookie-doke.
In the media (and in real life), there are some black women (BW) who are happy as long as the black man’s love interest isn’t a white woman (WW). I find that odd and in some ways hypocritical. We say that we oppose on-scene interracial relationships (IRR) between black men (BM) and WW because there aren’t enough loving relationships between BM and BW shown. How does Will or Denzel making out with a racially ambiguous Latina promote Black love? How does Wesley making out with Ming-Na show black love? How about Taye Diggs and that woman on Daybreak?
We say we oppose BM/WW on-scene IRR because BW aren’t presented as physically desirable but we have no problem with fair or tan Latinas being the love interest. Note that either Will or Denzel made movies with actresses like Gina Torres or Zoe Saldana or Lauren Valdez or Rosie Perez (Latinas with distinctly African features) as the love interest. It’s always actresses like J-Lo, Eva Mendes and Rosalyn Sanchez: women who are a little too dark to be white but too white to be to be black, have European features (who can pass for dark Italians or Greeks) and have long straight hair. A male friend of mine refers to them as having “booties like sistahs, but with white skin and “good†hair.†Tell me how Will slobbering down a woman like Eva Mendes supposed to promote BW as being physically desirable?
If you can give Will, Denzel, Taye and Wesley a pass for Latinas and Asian chicks, it seems strange to me that you would complain about white chicks like Julia Roberts. There is nothing about the IRR with those other minority women that’s different than a relationship with a white woman. That’s just my two cents.
There are several issues with Obama:
1) The issue that some African Americans have with Barack Obama is that his success story is essentially an immigrant’s story like Gov. Arnold’s. Believe me your outlook of life in the US will be completely different if you or your family came to the States by choice to build a better life than if you were born Black in America. Where are you supposed to go if you wanted a better life? What are you supposed to do? You were born in the greatest country in the school but if you don’t have any money odds are you won’t receive a decent education. Without an education what are going to do?
2) Obama isn’t a direct product of the Civil Rights struggle of the 50’s and 60’s. As a person who grew up in Alabama and who was raised by people who grew up in the segregated South, who marched, and still carry those scars, trust that my outlook of life in the US is completely different from someone who has had no direct relationship to that.
3) Finally, I read somewhere that white people like Obama because he isn’t angry. That’s two red flags. He’s seen as a good Negro (i.e Condi and Clarence Thomas) and not being the least bit angry. My god, hasn’t he been profiled? Pulled over for no reason? Followed in a shop?
Blackhoney,
Respectfully, don’t you he was targeted in his community for being biracial or Black. Don’t you think when he was running around with his friends, the police harassed him more than his friends. I think native born Blacks feel that they are the ones that feel that cut of racism, but all Black people do. I believe that generally no one likes Black people of any group (African American, West Indian, or African) and within our group we have issues with each other.
Black Americans think that no one else can understand their pain, but you know what all Black people (and other people of color) know about struggle. We understand that it can be difficult, but one still has to persevere .
Bite your tongue for putting Dr. Rice, Clarence Thomas and Barack Obama in the same sentence
. They grew up doing during that time, and they have the “bootstrap” mentality. Yes, it is up to help yourself, but we do not do this alone. There are people to help us along the way. I digress.
For argument sake, let’s Barack Obama (who is light-skinned with 2 Black parents) was from Jamaica or Trinidad, or another island, would he be acceptable under these conditions?
What some people don’t understand is that the struggles in America are not as harsh as struggles in the other part of the world i.e. Africa. Families have to pay for their children to attend school. In America that is not the case. Not until there is a grass roots effort by parents in this country to fix school, there will be no political will to do so. Ultimately, parents have to value education to help their children have access to supplemental education.
AppleDiva,
We all bring our past experiences to the table. I have felt in the past that I have been looked down upon by Africans and West Indians so of course that is going to color my view about issues like this. In the US, we are taught black is black and it has always hurt to have someone from Africa or the Caribbean stare at me for 20 minutes obviously trying to figure out where I was from, only to walk away when I introduce myself and they hear my southern accent.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Obama has been harassed but I truly believe but because he’s never said anything about it to my knowledge makes me wonder his feelings about racial profiling and defense mechanisms that develop as a response to those everyday injustices.
If Obama was from the Caribbean, I wouldn’t doubt his ability as a leader or his vision for America but I would wonder if he truly spoke for me and “felt my pain”.
I don’t think that a lot of Black immigrants truly appreciate the diversity of the the Black experience in the US. The face of abject poverty in the US is not restricted to the inner city. At least in places like Philly you can work in McDonalds. The poverty that existed before Katrina is not rare. I suggest you look up stats like for places like the Black Belt in AL (where i grew up) and the Mississippi Delta. I’m sure they rival those of any Caribbean nation. There is little or no industry. You have to car pool an hour or so to to work and shop (no public transportation). The average family income for blacks averages between $12000 to $15000. The school systems are still segregated by race. White students attend private school paid by their families (who still own a majority of the land). Black students attend poorly funded public schools (low income and low revenue from businesses and low income taxes) where some teachers do their jobs, but a majority don’t. Every parent I knew encouraged their children to pursue their educations, and made sure their children had what they needed and sometimes that the children of others had what they needed. (this is why I really get ticked when people say that African Americans don’t value education.) A grass roots effort has always existed to give black children a better education (brown vs BOE). I don’t think anyone ever predicted how far people would go to maintain the status quo. I know for a fact that in AL there won’t be an equitable educational system until white people can’t afford to send their children to private schools and don’t have enough money to move.
I wrote all of this to say until a candidate, any candidate, convinces me that he understands my experience, I can’t vote for him and I don’t care where he’s from.
No, i wouldn’t pay money to see movie starring Will Smith and Cameron Diaz. Black women are deemed inferior in America. White women have always been placed into the media as the ultimate mate. As, much as we like to think that everyone can not be influenced by the media but it is far from the truth.
The biggest issue in my opinion is why he doesn’t seem to want an African-american as his co-star. These talented women are struggling to get roles and he wants Cameron Diaz????
I would love to see him and Nia Ling re-unite.
*Long
Can we fix the unity in our own race first before we try to fix it with “others”.
My stance on this issue is there are not enough big budget movies with two African American leads. Usually if the leading man is African American, they pair him up with a woman of questionable heritage, like it’s a sin to cast two brown people as a couple. Every other race gets paired up together but Blacks. I’m tired of seeing it and I no longer support films like that. I am not a Will Smith movie fan, I find him rather corny and commercial. I dig him as a person, but not as an actor. He knows the bottom line is money and he knows Cameron Diaz is a box-office draw.
Blackhoney,
I used to work as a teacher. The kids who did well in school, their parents worked with them at home. These children were far from rich. We did not always see that. I know it is hard for a lot of people because they have to work multiple jobs, but people have to create partnerships in the community. The churches have to step up. I read an article in Essence a few years back about a mother who, along with some other parents, helped her children’s school go from worst to first. That is what I mean by grassroots level. We have to start doing it ourselves, because there is no political will for change. Racism boils down to economics. The less we know, the less we get paid, which means we will live in bad areas. We have to see the struggle about economic empowerment because equality is somewhat hard to obtain.
I know Black tenured professors who are mistaken for the teaching assistants. They keep pushing, they keep doing. It is hard out here for all Black people.
->Megan,
Daps to you for speaking the truth
from a studio position a movie with two Black people in the lead is seen as a “Black movie”, and not seen as a money maker. Jennifer Lopez has also made a stink about this issue. she wanted to play opposite Benjamin Bratt, but the studio heads said no because it would be seen as a Latino movie. not until we are tell our own stories will they get the attention they deserve
Didn’t Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel receive death threats after they married (she was still on Broadway) just a couple years ago? The general public isn’t going to embrace that.
Even though my partner is white (so I have no problem with an interracial relationship), my immediate reaction is, “why is the black woman being overlooked again?” More than anything, it’s always the black woman who’s out-of-a-job, off-the-screen, out-of-sight. That’s how it happens–no one ever says “let’s replace the black male actor with a white one” but somehow women are supposed to be interchangeable.
Well I went out my first date with a white guy the other night,,,,he was charming and I will be seeing him again…I use to have hang ups about interracial dating..but we live and hopefully grow..and part of my growth has been that..how a person treats you and makes you feel…is more important than the color of skin..love is a gift that comes in all shapes..colors and sizes,,,Thanks Ms.Bella for your thought provoking questions !