I also agree, to a point, with everyone who has said we need to vote with our dollars and see good black film in order to sustain and increase its presence. At the same time, for heaven’s sake, Hollywood needs to take a gamble on its audience’s ability to digest something more complex than Renee Zellweger in another rom com (or Tyler Perry’s latest shenanigan, bless his soul, but I cannot watch his movies).

We need to push, with our dollars and with our voices too, for more diverse casts and complex plot lines. Black film is so relevant right now — we’re at a turning point in our experience as a people, for heaven’s sake. Also relevant is film about interracial friendships, relationships, and the genuine co-existence of people of different backgrounds in the world today.

So yes, we need to see these movies when they come out and we also need to find a way to let studios know what we want. Maybe they’ll listen and maybe they won’t, but the responsibility for the dearth of good roles for black actors is *at least* half Hollywood’s.

This would definitely create the opportunities that are not always afforded to them.

What I hate to see is our Black oscar winners with not a single major role after having achieved such an accomplishment.

Look a Halle, Cuba, and Jamie Foxx. I have yet to see them in any major films since their win.

Our black actors need to come together and create their OWN opportunities for success.

But a couple of points:

1. Black misrepresentation in Hollywood is NOT unique to just us. What about the other minorities? Look at Bend It Like Beckham…a British movie which became a hit in the States, the white girl Keira Knightley entered Hollywood immediately, whereas Parminder Nagra, the Indian girl, hasn’t (even though her ER stint has been successful).

2. We need to stop waiting for the white filmmakers to cast us. How about black filmmakers stepping up on their own standards and make more movies like Akeelah and The Bee or Push (based on the Sapphire novel)? Tyler Perry opening his own production company is a positive step. More black directors, writers, producers, etc need to create better acting opportunities for black actors and actresses. Scale down on the number of stereotypical comedies like Norbitt or Soul Plane.

Obama’s election is not gonna change long held prejudices of white people. America has one of the most racist, shameful histories of any nation on earth. The mentality has become almost intrinsic with it, alongside big egos, hunger for power, greed, capitalism and the need to invade countries.

I think that’s a loaded statement. Due to sheer numbers white people can pick and choose what movies to see an not worry about whether they get more representation or not.

I also think it’s stupid to support ANYTHING just b/c of race. A crappy movie is just that, crap. I don’t care who is opposite the actress.

I’m waiting to see how well Lee Daniels’ “Push” does, I can’t wait to see it, LOVED the book, really interested in seeing this cast bring it to life on the big screen….

Also, just cause I want to add this, I was INFURIATED by the fact that they cast Angelina Jolie’s narrow behind to portray Daniel Pearl’s wife in that one movie, his wife is BLACK in real life, albeit, mixed heritage, but not WHITE, & all they did was give her a curly perm…LOL…F.O. Hollywood.

It’s on us, you guys, we have to support more of what we really want to see in the movies. Projects that portray ALL the different aspects of Black people’s lives in America. Not all of us are from the hood (not that there’s anything wrong with that). We “Huxtables”, whether to the manor born or self-made, wanna see more diverse portrayals on the big screen too. And all of us bellas of color deserve to see more diversity on the big screen, it can only benefit us all.

There were tons, well maybe not tons, of great movies in the 90s about black love/culture and the overall experience. I secretly reminisce about the 90s and the good times! It seems that the hot thing in the movies/tv is exploration of interracial love in some way or form or simply just regurgitating the classic stereotypes. More often times than not, the interracial interaction involves a black man with someone other than a black woman. Because of this interest(I wonder whose…) many black male actors are workin’ overtime and black actresses not so much….and as a result not much black romance on the big screens.

Is it just me or is this at least one of the trends of this decade?

Black romance is dead while interracial romance takes the front seat?

Angela and HCJ would have been spicy…but I’m not sure about the Sweet home Alabama feel either….I’m going to see the film this weekend and try to imagine Angela in the role..hmmm