by
Black Girl With Long Hair
I came across this very interesting post on the black film website Shadow and Act. Check it out;
Tambay’s post about Viola Davis putting on 25 pounds and then padding herself up for her role in The Help immediately brought to mind a piece I wrote a year ago on S & A in August 2010 (I’m always ahead of the curve) raising the question about black women being forced to deglamorize themselves and to look bad so that white actresses can look better.
The subject came up when I had a conversation with a regular S & A reader involved in the theater as a director about how often black actors and actresses I’ve met in person, are much better looking than they appear on screen.
I told the reader one person who immediately came to mind was Taraji P. Henson. Meeting her, I was stuck by how just adorably cute she is in person. However that vision of her has yet to appear on the screen, where either she’s made to look awful (think Hustle and Flow or her matronly appearance in Benjamin Button), or even in films where she’s “normal,” such as The Karate Kid, Not Easily Broken, or Date Night, where she’s made to look haggard and not at all well photographed.
But the worst case I mentioned must be Viola Davis. I’ve met Ms. Davis, and the person I met was incredibly attractive, and with a trim, fantastic body (speaking as a guy I tend to notice things like that…). But that’s not the Viola Davis you regularly encounter in movies. She almost always looks awful, and I suspected at the time perhaps sometimes padded to make her look bigger. And now as she revealed in The Help she was. I mean was that really necessarily for her to gain all that weight and have the padding as well? You mean there are no thin black maids?
The reader then told me about a quote she read once by Kelita Smith who played Bernie Mac’s wife on his sitcom. According to Smith, when she reads for a role in a casting session she purposely de-glamorizes herself to appear as plain as possible, because the filmmakers don’t want to hire attractive black actresses for roles, preferring them to look bad, in order to make white actresses appear better looking which proves what I suspected.
So this is what it comes down to? You’re telling me that someone who looks like Smith has to, in effect, “ugly” herself up for the chance of getting work? That’s a pretty sad state of affairs.
Interesting!! Ladies, what are your thoughts on this??
Check out Shadow and Act for more excellent commentary on black cinema.
113 Responses
Afrochele no I dont buy that. The author says thats not the exception but its the rule. He is right. They love to show black hard, masculine, broken down, downtrodden, fat, bald, struggling black women next to light flowing locked, blue eyed trim “attractive” white women in great situations.
I’m late…but yes they do…it might be industry standard…I remember there was a black sitcom and the leading lady mentioned how she was always told she was too pretty….can’t remember her name or sitcom name(I was a kid)..never saw her again…..but yeah…I notice how Black men are often given roles in shows and blockbuster movies but not Black women…I always wondered why but then I realized white women are always in those shows and movies and they must always be the center and Black males take nothing away from that…In fact they confirm and affirm those white women places…..anyhoo….I don’t really care anymore because I don’t watch TV and rarely spend my hard earned money to see movies.
The articles examples leave out one important detail, the movies mentioned are period films. The Help, Benjamin Button, etc are not based in current time. Wouldn’t have Viola Davis looked weird as a 50’s maid in Louboutins, fresh mani, slick relaxer and MAC on her face?
What about the weight gain? Was that necessary? Of course it was a period piece, but what did her weight have to do with that?
Why can’t she be a maid with a fantastic body? The Help had no problem sexualizing the shit out of Jessica Chastain whose boobs were practically popping out of her dress, I get that it was part of her character, but why feel the need to ‘ugly’ up Viola Davis and manipulate her body into a shape that is not hers by nature, just for the role?
Don’t ask me how I got here…
I would have to argue. Gabrielle Union looks great in every thing she is in.
But as I white guy, I would love to see more “hot” black women in films.
I don’t know what Hollywood’s inner workings are. But this one thing I know for sure. When Viola Davis showed up at the Oscars rocking her natural hair with a splash of devine red, she was gorgeous!!!! On another note, I wish Black Hollywood would boycott the Oscars, Emmys,SAG Awards, and the like. Until they recognize the talent these actors bring to the screen, then why show up. They let us present awards. It’s like throwing us a bone. In the history of the Oscars only 13, yes 13 Oscars have gone to Black actors. The dang Awards is over 80 years old, and you mean to tell me only 13 times Blacks have turned in stellar performances? Boycott I say.
I just don’t like how the ladies in hollywood are always wearing the weaves. It’s ok occasionally, but those like Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson wears them all the time. .. It puts down the black women and sends the message that a black woman’s natural attibutes aren’t good enough. I know white people wear extensions too but it’s different when black girls do it. It just looks phony and deperate.
idk…. I feel like WOMEN as a whole are reduced to 1 of these three roles in Hollywood: plain and homely everyday girl, the matronly woman, the jezebel. White actresses are considered over the hill at 30, usually. And at the end of the day unless you’re considered “sexy” by whatever standard, then you’re “the friend.” I mean, to me, this isn’t race exclusive. Yes, they “ugly” up some but then they oversex others. It depends on what box they want to put you in. And they do it to WOMEN because men– black or white — aren’t usually subjected to this or it’s looked at differently. And sadly, another issue is the heart of this article– physical appearance, which goes from movies into music. There are those with PHENOMINAL voices who are over looked for the thin voiced ladies that have more “appeal” which means in this sex crazed society you can turn them into sex objects.
Glory hallelujah and amen!!! OMG, I am so glad to FINALLY see a post that makes more sense than any else. Misogyny is the nr 1 enemy in Hollywood and in major film productions, not race. Regardless of the race or creed of the woman, unless the actress fights for herself, nothing will change. In my mind, big ups to women like Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, Angelina Jolie, Zoe Saldana, Lucy Lawless, Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett, Lucy Lui, Michelle Rodriguez, Milla Jovovich, WOMEN ALL, always portraying STRONG characters, very often and gloriously kicking butt and taking names, have often portrayed characters across the range (far beyond the plain & homely, matron and jezebel) and they stand back for no man. I’m not saying that race doesn’t play a part, but can we, as women, stand up for ALL women first before we try to dissect how much black/latino/white/asian blood is in an actress’ veins before we sing her praises?
Oh writer hush. They chose these roles nobody forced them. You change things and
Make it wrong
I don’t even know how I ended up right here, but I assumed this post used to be good. I do not recognize who you might be however definitely you are going to a well-known blogger when you aren’t already. Cheers!
We still forget that unless you’re working on a Black production, Hollywood does not know how to light, style and shoot Black people/people of color.
Of course in (black) romantic comedies everybody is styled to be beautiful and attractive but it’s different for dramas. Look at Brown Sugar, Something New, Boomerang, Best Man, Love Jones, Waiting to Exhale, Jumping the Broom, and see how groomed and stylized everybody looks and is shot.
Viola Davis looked wonderful in Nights in Rodanthe and it was a contemporary film and Viola wasn’t playing a maid or crack mother… So take that!
Sidney Portier refused roles that played to a racial stereotype and I believe his acting career started way back in the 1940s…..he set a standard for himself as an actor but a talented being, not a black actor who could easily be type cast. He set a standard for his fellow black people by not allowing himself to be viewed on screen as a stereotype. His career went from strength to strength and he has a whole host of extremely well deserved accalaids attached to his name.
There is more than one way to get from A to B, to forge a career, but I support, applaude and respect anyone who can do it while remaining true to themselves.
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Is it crazy that the main statement that stood out in this entire post was “(speaking as a guy I tend to notice things like that…)”?!!!
I’m impressed, I definitely read this as if a female was talking to me. How many writers are on this site?
And the argument that we should support any black production whether it is good or bad is ridiculous. History has shown that even if a quality black film makes money and does great at the box office it does not mean that Hollywood will break their necks to make more of the same type of films, or immediately start looking for quality scripts for those black actors. So quit trying to use that argument! The same goes for supporting any independent, or black films that further stereotypes, it does not mean that those black filmmakers will follow through with a quality production, they generally keep doing what they are doing.
I don’t support stupid Hollywood films, that don’t have blacks in them, I’m certainly not going to support black productions that don’t make an effort.
Hollywood isn’t called the glamour factory for nothing. It used to be, and still is to some extent about beautiful (white) people. Sure white actors like Charlize Theron get to occasionally make themselves unattractive, usually in an oscar bid such as “Monster”, but look at all the roles in which her beauty is highlighted.
For off there aren’t that many Hollywood films that cast blacks at all or even want to, and there are plenty of behind the scene books and exposes about the film business to despute that. It’s pretty obvious that when it comes to movies about people of color, Hollywood feels safer with a certain type of film. When blacks actresses are allowed to look attractive the role is usually a certain type of vixen type role that doesn’t require much more than that. (Look at Halle Berry’s career)
Independent white films don’t offer much more. White actors have used clout to make films happen that studios didn’t want to make. Costner and “Dances With Wolves” is a prime example. That black actors haven’t used their clout in similar ways is indeed their own fault.
If money is your bottom line, then we get what we deserve because we don’t demand better, and when better comes along sadly we don’t support it (and I’m only talking about the good stuff, not the mediocre stuff). The idea that all films have to appeal to all people is what is killing Hollywood now. Blacks filmmakers should look at the new landscape of net flicks and the web and see that it’s a whole new game now. Hollywood is oblivious just as it was to television back in the 50’s. A smart people could be at the forefront of a whole new cinema if they were really serious about change.
“I think a person should be judged by their performance not their looks. You would thought that we have come much further then this by now.”
First, I have to say that Julia Roberts (played a prostitute in Pretty Woman), Mira Sorvino (also played a prostitute and won an Oscar), Sharon Stone (has an infamous scene where her private area is exposed in Basic Instinct), Hilary Swank (who played a male and won an Oscar), Nicole Kidman (in The Hours with that prosthetic nose) and Charlize Theron (who looked absolutely horrendous in Monster – won an Oscar) are all examples of what it seems to take for an attractive, talented and confident woman to succeed in the movie business. Sexism, misogyny and age discrimination are rampant when it comes to the female actor – PERIOD.
Now, what’s sad is that we are still waiting on Hollywood to “make room” for US. We have the talent and the resources. We just need to stop being hard on each other by saying we can’t work together. YES WE CAN. I heard a man once say white people can disagree on 99 things, yet rally together over one thing (i.e. racist hate for President Obama – to the point that they will vote against their own interests). Black folks can agree on 99 things and can’t work together over one disagreement? That has to change! We are walking around in circles. Stop criticizing those who act in “chitlin circuits” or may not be showcased in the best “vehicles” within the entertainment business. These people need to work – somewhere. We are already underpaid, so we should practice delayed gratification while working toward the goal of being a productive people in the entertainment business and beyond.
Viola Davis’s character, Aibileen, is described as being big in the novel version of The Help.
Too many people in the comments section want to act like colorism doesn’t exist. Of course not all “black” women are portrayed as ugly in the media. But they have to be a certain type. Do I really have to spell this out with freaking letter blocks or something?
What “black” women get to be portrayed as desirable in Hollywood?
1. Mrs. Creole Gumbo her self a.k.a. Beyonce
2. The reluctant Biracial, Halle Berry
3. Columbiana, Zoe Saldana
4. Acceptable thin nosed Kerry Washington
5. Halle’s replacement Paula Patton…
And the list goes on. Are we going to pretend that these women don’t have anything in common?
When’s the last time you’ve seen black women who look like this in a major film?
[img]https://bglhonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/angelaasare01.jpg[/img]
[img]https://bglhonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/blackblack.jpg[/img]
I agree that it is up to us (black people) to make this possible. But you deflectors need to go kick rocks. Everyone can see that we are being majorly misrepresented as well us underepresented.
[img]https://bglhonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Blackisbeautiful.jpg[/img]
They are all BEAUTIFUL. Shame I don’t see actresses more like them in films playing glamourous roles, though nothing against the light-skinned actresses you mentioned.
I definitely agree, here. Even as a young teen, I grew frustrated by the lack of attractive black people in movies. One movie that particularly irked me was The Underworld.
Even among the vampires, who were pretty much all svelte and beautiful, they had one black vampire who was big, beefy, and unattractive. Why couldn’t he look as elegant as the others? And a black female? I didn’t even think to look for that…
Also I think Black people want to portray very well in the media, it’s time to get your own script, your own studio and your own people to start playing these roles because whining and crying is not going to get you anywhere.
yeah, just get a billion dollars and get your own channel in a white racially and economically dominant society where u r only 10% of the population– I mean, look at Oprah, she’s doing so well and experiencing no network backlash for going off on her own.
I would not be surprise if Hollywood producers or executives are doing this to black woman. I have seen “GLEE” and the only black girl there is just huge. I mean she is very pretty but she is huge, but I think if she decide to lose weight the producers’ would fire her. I remember years ago, they always makes black men in movies to look thuggish with raping, robin and murdering people. There are still movie like this and that is why I don’t watch any movies like this.
I live in the Netherlands , Europe and I have noticed no matter where I go to most white people in the world (not everybody of course)black is black. Dont matter where you from. They see you have a color you’re black. Just go and ask some hill billy if they can tell the difference. They wont be able to 🙂 not because they’re racists but because they really dont know.
How many people can tell a Chinese from a Korean? And talking about Hollywood it is not only the black people thing; it’s an everything-that-is not-white-thing 🙂
I’m really glad that someone brough this up. And it is indeed a sad state of affairs. It just reinforces my reserves about Hollywood movies. I remember when the movie “Couples’ Retreat” came out and I watched the trailer and I kept thinking why couldn’t they have picked another black actor instead of Faizon Love. Personally I found his antics that I saw in the movie trailer ( I couldn’t stand to watchthe movie) completely off putting. It’s like they needed a buffoon to round up the cast and thought let’s add a fat black guy because he’s not threatning at all. Seriously would it have killed them to cast another actor like say Morris Chestnut or Anthony Mackie or any of those gorgeous black actors out there.
Seriously I’m tired of seeing black actress in supporting roles or if they play a lead role always playing characters who are always bad situations (being abused and always the victims) it’s like Hollywood get off on black women’s suffering. Is it that threatning to see a movie where a black woman are happy and succesfull (because many of us are in real life) (without the parternalistic intervention of a white person). I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
I have not read the book, “The Help” but I would assume that if Black women were heavier during that time frame, so would white women have been heavier because the film takes place in the South during a time when the over all standard of beauty was heavier, even for white women.
Kelita is telling the truth. I wholeheartedly believe her. When a white actress and a Black actress share a alot of scenes together, the goal is to always make the white actress look better. This REINFORCES the Eurocentric standard of beauty being superior to Black beauty, which is rarely seen as “beautiful” unless it’s been diluted with white blood, (ie: mixed, biracial or whatever the new politically correct term is). No offense meant to my beautiful light skinned sisters. Everyone is beautiful, no matter what color or hair texture.
But the reality is that generally speaking, Black women are not considered to be beautiful. Hollywood’s goal is to reinforce that stereotype/belief.
Some of you on here keep talking about Charlize Theron and Renee Zelweger. Yes, they’ve played “ungorgeous roles” but they’ve also played very glamourous roles (ie: Like Chicago) where they got to dress up and look pretty.
Too bad we can’t say the same for Viola and the other Black co-star from “The Help.”
How many times have we seen a darker skinned Black woman portrayed as beautiful, glamourous, desirable? How many darker skinned Black women are in “love scenes” and I’m not talking about the spread your azz “Monter’s Ball” or “Angel Heart” (with Lisa Bonet/Mickey Rourke) type of explicit sex scene. I’m talking about a normal love scene where the Black woman (who is dark skinned) is being treated like the beautiful woman she is?
I know I’m a bit older than the readers on this blog and so you probably don’t have the life experience or ability to analyze like I do. (Not bragging just speaking my truth).
But as you get older, you realize that it IS about race. It is about making sure that the Black woman, who is the keeper of our families/race/community, knows her place.
After all, they wouldn’t want you to spread your wings too much and think you can be another “Michelle Obama.”
I have noticed this pattern for the last few years. Black actresses being de-moralized to look plain in film roles. With the exception of ‘Why did I get Married, and a few others, the majority of roles being portrayed by black actresses have been the ‘Best Friend’ role to a white female lead, maids, hookers, and other demeaning sterotypes.
We have gone backwards in time. And if our actors don’t speak up, this will continue to occur. I know everyone has to make a living, but self-respect and the representation of your race as a whole, as to be reviewed.
I’m a pretty black actresss and the same thing happens to me. I don’t think its so much to make white actress look good but they aren’t casting roles for “beautiful black women”. SO the roles that are available that would consider a black women are not glamourous roles. So us pretty girls have to go in looking like plain jane.
Viola lost a lot of weight so if I were her preparing for this role I too would put on weight because maids during that era weren’t very thin.
Remember Halle berry had to get ugly to get the role in Monsters Ball, otherwise she wasn’t even a thought for that role. However, when they want a pretty black actress they’re going for the Halle Berrys and the Kerry Washingtons and the fairest ones of them all.
Plus Dark brown skin actresses like Viola and Kellita are not embraced as beautiful in Hollywood. Its a known fact. When they want the dark chocalate beauty they call on there token dark actress.. Gabrielle Union.
Black beauty!
This is totally true, I have been talking about this for the last few years. I worked at Disney and in the department where they created High School musical. A top executive there, white, blonde female who worked on casting High School Musical 1 and 2. Cast fat girls in most of the shows that were shot in Toronto. Or she cast young girls with braid extensions. On one show she cast several fat young black girls, around the ages of 8 and 9. When I asked her why she discriminated against young black girls by doing so, she said she was trying to not discriminate against fat people. So I said, then why are all the fat kids black? I was then harassed by all the white women in the office for being thin. I was an aspiring writer. All of the beautiful black women aspiring to be actresses in LA RARELY booked roles. It was and is always someone fat and brown or black. The light skinned Halle Berry is supposed to represent the sole beautiful black women out there, like some strange anomaly. Angela Bassett only played beautiful in Stella Got Her Groove Back, a black film. She is strikingly beautiful — so there! I think we need to up the currency of black women by putting our best on display. Beauty has classical definitions that spring from the first civilizations in Kush (Egypt was it’s satellite colony, then rose later). Beauty is universal, it involves balance, mathematical symmetry, balance and harmony. It is immediately recognizable across all races. No, contrary to popular opinion most black people don’t have wide noses. My mother was full black and she had a beautiful nose. We can have beautiful flared nostrils. Nor do we have fat cheeks and baby faces, though some of us do, as do some white folks. Black people have the template for all faces and we are just as diverse, but we also have the perfectly symmetrical and beautiful faces that are reflect the origins of classical concepts of beauty that later civilizations and generations have adopted. We need to up the currency of black women by putting our best on display. When I see Miss Neice being offended by Chescaleigh at a red carpet interview, because Chescaleigh is such a tall, slim, intelligent and classically beautiful woman, you know we are in a battle. When we hear Wendy Williams advises Rachel Crow, saying that she should stay chubby, that it’s good, we know we are in a battle. When Star Jones calls Joy Bryant stupid on the View, because she is beautiful, you know we are in for a battle. A lot of women are working based on that stereotype and they will not happily seek to defy it. Monique wasn’t nominated for Precious for nothing. So ladies, get ready for a fight. See classic beauty: It is real!!!
‘Most black people don’t have wide noses’? Then plastic surgery in America must be more widespread than I thought.
I’ve seen Viola Davis in numerous films and I’ve always been a big fan. When she appeared on the red carpet for the movie “Doubt” everyone in the media seem to be “taken aback” by her beauty and stunning appearance. Even “clown faced” Joan Rivers gave her props. Viola answered one interviewer who was so stunned by her attractiveness “in most of my films ‘they’ really break me down so people rarely see the real me” During her red carpet interview she was wearing a gold colored gown that really highlighted her ebony skin and beautiful smile.
Ms. Davis has appeared in a variety of roles particularly the TV franchise Law and Order. She has portrayed a murderer, defense attorney, grieving family member and a detective on that franchise. It appears to me that Ms. Davis goes for authenticity when portraying
a character or role.
She reminds me a lot of Cicely Tyson, Bea Richards, Alfre Woodard Angela Bassett and Taraje P. Henson. These actresses really put their heart and soul into a character and attempt to project realism. It’s just not about the glamor with them but the performance that really counts.
Let’s not forget there are thousands upon thousands of images of beautiful African American women on the screen, in videos, TV and in magazines. I can name thousands because my definition of beauty is not based on Eurocentric standards.
Let’s stop basing our beauty images in terms of Eurocentric standards. Our community has been so brainwashed into believing that only Caucasian features, body types and coloring are the true representation of beauty. That is not so. I happen to think Venus and Serina Williams are Goddesses. Mary J. Blige is incredible. Viola Davis, Alfre Woodard, Jada Pinkett, Paula Patton, Niki Manaj, Rihanna, Amber Rose, Solange Knowles, and Wek Blek are just a few of the women who expand the range of color and beauty that inhabit our world. Black beauty is so huge and so broad we cannot be encapsulated or contained into one beauty idea. We are all over the beauty spectrum.
After all it is not Asian, Hispanic or African women paying top dollar for lip injections, butt and breast implants and spray tanning to appear more attractive.
There are others who have been capitalizing on “black beauty” aesthetic for years. I know the images presented in the media are always about white women but it is white women who inhabit and look to others outside their community for beauty, glamor and style.
I’ve noticed that too with Viola. I’ve always thought she was a very beautiful woman, but have never seen her dressed up in any of her roles (i.e. ‘Doubt’). I have, however, spotted her in Oprah and Essence. In these fashion spreads she looks divine. The woman is clearly underrated!
I know race plays a huge role in Hollywood but this article is “reaching”; as a number of posts above state, being un-glam depends on the role and isn’t relegated to black roles not to mention, none of the women mentioned are raving beauties in the first place.
The idea that these black actresses should sit down because they’ve chosen this career path doesn’t sit well with me. This would be a great thought if the playing field were equal. It’s fine to say that other (non-black) actresses have done the same, i.e., “uglied it up” for a part. The truth, though, is that the opportunity already exists for those non-black actresses to *also* go out for roles where it isn’t a requirement to play down their beauty. There a re wealth of acting opportunities available to non-black actresses that simply are not available to black actresses.
The obvious answer is, “Yes, these black actresses have chosen this field to pursue,” but does that mean that they shouldn’t speak about some of the double standards they’ve encountered? Like, a woman may choose to go into the field of engineering, a field which is typically male-dominated. Are people saying that because any particular woman has chosen to pursue that field, any double standards she faces shouldn’t be discussed?
No offense to those that are saying this caucasian actress and that caucasian actress had to do this or that for xyz role but that’s fine in an open playing field where one day you can find yourself playing Queen Elizabeth 1, Joan of Arc, the rom com lead girl, the detective tracking a serial killer, the mother of a murdered girl etc etc ad nauseum. The issue is that there are not a variety of roles for black actresses which is often highlighted by SHOCK HORROR, black actresses, you know those ones who have experience of working in Hollywood after tirelessly working towards careers in the film industry. Black women still are playing mammies, neck swivelling and clucking best friends, awkward tokens in teen movie groupings and black women are still comic punchbags through films like Madea and Big Momma’s House. Sure there was the abomination that was Shallow Hal but we’ve seen Gwyneth Paltrow in varied roles (see Shakespeare in Love, Sliding Doors to Emma), we know she’s not obese. People do not have limited exposure to white females in their lives or through TV and film and will not stereotype white women in the way they will through having no exposure to black women then seeing only a stereotyped, manufactured version of what they believe us to be.
Where black actresses seem to be given more to chew on, although often too peripheral, is TV land. From The Shield, Wire, 24, The Big C, Glee, Desperate Housewives to Boston Legal not to mention the now defunct Girlfriends. So why is it that TV is more progressive when it comes to roles for black females?
What people are asking for is fair representation. Why can’t they delve into black history and portray people who were relevant and instrumental in pivotal moments of black history as they do with general historical figures? It seems like things won’t change because people are so passive or maybe so used to the way WE are represented in films.
Another bugbear with this site is the tone which has been overt in the comments section where people disagree with the article posted or commenters and then denounce it/them as stupid or use other buzz phrases like ‘girl, bye’ etc to shut them down. It is all very grade school. I’m sure there are more mature and satisfying ways to put your hands up and say ‘I disagree’.
What obligation does the film industry have to provide “fair representation” that? I don’t necessarily disagree completely about the lack of representation (as I said before I think alot of is about the characters that are being portrayed) but we are demanding something from a private industry that cares about their bottom line. They want sales. They go with what they think sells. I feel like we shouldn’t be surprised any more by an industry that has not presented a very favorable image of Blacks until recent history to start doing so with a “fair representation” doctrine unless they think it is worth it.
Some times when they invest in movies that do portray Blacks in a positive light or Blacks that were pivotal in Black history they films don’t do well in the box office. For example, Miracle at St. Anna was a movie about Black WWII GIs made by Spike Lee. I saw it in the theater but not many people of any race went to see it(https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=miracleatstanna.htm). As a result of this one film flop Spike Lee believes that this is why he is struggling to get funding for his films now. So when we don’t support Black artist that present these images then how can we expect an industry that has already doesn’t care to do so as well. Blacks went and saw Tyler Perry movies…so a new movie gets put out every other week. It is about the money for them and what they think sells. So unless we want to organize a boycott against production companies that don’t provide this type of representation or throw the economic power of the Black community behind Black films and programs (even if they are bad so that more can be made) or start more production companies like Oscar Micheaux (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Micheaux), Tyler Perry and Oprah then I think this complaint is moot.
Very good point! It seems like to me that the black community often supports drama filled nonsence before they will support entertainment of substance. I think that if we want/expect a change in the industry it has to start with us.
I think among black people, there is an appetite for ‘other’ black voices and characters as evidenced in the success and popularity of the Youtube series Awkward Black Girl. Many people on this site related to this character and explained that there were not many characters on screen of black origin that they could relate to or identify with. Maybe Hollywood do not supply because they do not believe there is a demand for interesting, alternative black stories.
Of course the movie industry is a business but I refuse to believe that a black face in a stretching or varied role results in box office figures crashing and burning. History tells us otherwise and there are many black actors that are or have been big box office draws though as of yet only Halle Berry and now perhaps Zoe Saldana seem to have reached the giddy heights of being a box office topper. Film audiences have a tendancy to be more open minded than people are willing to give them credit for and would come to accept many faces of black actresses as they have others, if the movie producers and directors put them up on the big screen. Even on the small screen, 24 took a punt on a black presidential family, The Palmers. That series and 24 benefitted from the quality of those actors. I doubt it dampened fans enthusiasm (especially as Obama went on to win the Presidency).
Can we solely blame race for Spike Lee’s film flop? He had critical successes with Malcolm X and Do the Right Thing.
It is all well and good telling black people to take over or produce their own movies, telling their own stories but in the end, black people do not hold power in Hollywood. We know it’s a Jewish run business and always will be. At some point black people have to vote with their money and their mouths if they want this to change. I would say that we should stop supporting films that denigrate and belittle us for the entertainment of others especially as black women who seem to incur the brunt of cruel jibes and stereotyping on screen.
There is room for improvement and nobody ever made much change without standing up and saying ‘actually, I don’t want this and it doesn’t represent me’.
I’m quite surprised that people here are so apathetic to this issue on one hand but on the other I have noticed that this comments board has certainly started to take on the tone of ‘put-up-and-shut-up’ for a while now.
I am not necessarily apathetic as much as I am like if we want something done we have to do it. If you don’t want to do anything except talk about how the industry needs to change then one shouldn’t be surprised that it doesn’t.
I agree with the economic boycott or leverage would be a good option if Blacks are willing to organize around the issue organize around it.
But, I also think the argument that Hollywood is too controlled by Whites is cope out. Tyler Perry was homeless and started a production company, Oprah a poor Black girl from the south started a production company, Oscar Micheaux started a production company during the early 1900s creating race movies when racism was more problematic for Blacks than it is today. They dreamed big. It only seems impossible until someone just does it. People said we would never see a Black president…and then Barack Obama decided that he was going to go for it and won. It only seems impossible until someone, like many of the smart women here, who are passionate about this issue decide to do something. People need to step outside the box…and stop waiting for the box to conform to them if they are not happy. My frustration is that people are waiting for change when we can provoke or even create change if we are truly passionate about an issue. If the film industry sees there is money to be made or money being lost they would change their tune.
@afrochelle the difficulty is that they never play the “typical glamour roles” to start with. What has become “typical” is a prostitute, drug addict, pregnant teen etc. This does not reflect the reality of many of us nor does it uplifts. The idea behind all this is that US audience were more comfortable with “like persons” people they relate to but the fact of the matter is that the audience is changing and the movies, and society needs to recognise this. It doesn’t matter that their performance was or is stellar (they rarely get the Oscar so what’s the point?), I just want to watch a movie with a hot kick ass black girl (with natural hair), who is a professional, wonderful mother and has some kind of super power 🙂
A Very Stupid Article. “Becoming Ugly” Has Absolutely Nothing To Do With Race She Simply Playing A Part.
I first noticed Viola Davis in the movie Doubt, her performance was breathtaking. I felt every ounce of emotion she portrayed and wanted to comfort her. I haven’t been moved like that after seeing a brief scene in a movie in a while. I believe she truly made that movie. Anyways, after watching that, I noticed her more and more. I find her to be very beautiful and she reminds me of my mother so much, strong and beautiful.
I am honestly not surprised by this, there’s always a way that hollywood brings down the black actor, or any other minority actor period. But in all honesty, though they bring them down, I often gleam at how the black actor steals the movie. Shines brighter than the main characters, and owns the movie. Atleast in my eyes that’s what I see. I truly adore this woman, Head to Toe, she’s truly beautiful. Not just cuz she reminds me of my Mommy, but uhm that helps too.
I have to respectfully disagree with this point. Actors are constantly put in rolls where they do not appear how they normally would in everyday life. Plenty of them have played slaves, servants, druggies, drunks, and ugly ducklings. I believe that is just work. Think of Renee Zellweger playing Bridget Jones. She had to gain a massive amount of extra weight for that roll and she looked horrible in the whole thing honestly.I agree with Afrochelle and I don’t believe this is just a black thing. This is an actor thing.
Thank you so much for being one of the few voices of reason on this page.
Any actress, black or white, who wants to be respected needs to expand beyond the typical “glamour girl” roles. Sometimes that means putting on a few pounds of fat and leaving off a few pounds of makeup, a la Charlize Theron in “Monster”. As for Kelita Smith’s account, I regard that report with extreme skepticism.
Thank you Afrochelle!!
I definitely agree that actresses are MADE by taking on unglamorous roles. It makes you see that they are not superficial or reliant on their beauty to act.
Charlize Theron put on tons of weight to look like Aileen Wuornos
Marion Cotillard shaved her hairline and eyebrows to look like Edith Piaf
Hilary Swank is the queen of ‘uglying it up’ and a fab actress.
As an actress, you cannot underestimate the value of embodying a character. All the women above are Oscar winners for their ‘ugly’ efforts.
WTF!!! I am shocked, dissappointed and appalled!!! It never ceases to amaze me the lengths that hollywood will go to to avoid giving us ANY significant credit even when it is genetic!
Many actresses from what I’ve seen from various race backgrounds receive more critical acclaim when they “ugly themselves up” (e.g. Charlize Theron in Monster). I’m not sure why, but maybe, because it seems like they are truly embodying the character they are portraying and going outside of themselves. And by “unglamorizing” yourself (not necessarily to the point of raggedy ann) and appearing plainer, it allows an actress to be a blank canvas, able to become what the role requires and showcases their versatility (as long as they don’t become typecast- or typecast themselves- and start only playing one type of role).
Completely agree.
I also agree. I don’t think it’s an issue with black actresses specifically. I think it’s an issue that actresses of all races face in the industry.
Nope. Specifically black women are sought for stereotypically ugly roles. Other women are shown as beautiful 1000x more often. ALL other women.
Yeah it makes sense for intense movies but the difference is that white actresses get more opportunities and are sought after 1000% more to play attractive women (in romantic situations) than black women are…they have those roles to choose from..alot of times, black women are not sought after for roles like that. What if Viola or Taraji wanted to change it up and play an attractive woman in a light hearted movie that wasn’t a mainly all black cast? Think about how much harder it would be for her as opposed to Charlize Theron in Hollyweird…
I understand…
but a lot of people look at things differently when it comes to african americans specifically b/c of our relation to history and our position of power.
U cannot seperate ANYTHING from the power structure of society. So a white woman ugly-ing her self up will NEVER be the same as a black woman doing the same b/c of the historical connection we have to being mis-represented.
This can go all the way back to minstrel shows etc. It is as if they are trying to play up this look of the AUTHENTIC black woman, which is ugly (to them.) it has less to do with making the white woman look good. More to do with making the black woman look bag, which they view as the norm.
Just an observation…
Thank you. I know im late but correct never expires.
But Charlize has enjoyed many many more glamour roles than ugly. That’s the point.
This is horrible to read. deep, deep sigh.
Such an interesting post, as all your points of view. I think in the American movie industry ( i’m french )wants to keep spreading caucasian beauty standards, i totally agree with BlaqueInfinite.
If we look back, dark black women always had the mammy roles.
In the 30’s lighter dark skinned women became to the afro-american what blonds are to the occidentals: sex bombs. But to prevent them from being attractive to the white audience, they gave them “tragic mulatta” roles, beautiful but manipulatives, cultured but impulsives, selfish and ready to deny theri own people. “Imitation of Life”, realised in 1948 with Fredi Washington sets the standard.
See? And what was Hally Berry’s first role as underlines BlaqueInfinite?
But, beyond all that, black women are at least represented in your movie industry, in France, they just don’t exist.
I for one, am very happy that we have at least representation of black people on the big screen here. Growing up, I always thought that Europe was more liberal with race after reading stories of Josephine Baker and other actresses who left the U.S. to make a name for themselves abroad only recently did I realize the truth, that Europe is not as colorblind as one might think. The riots of 2005, I believe that was the year, really shined the light on the reality there for me. I also remember watching a news piece during the time that Colin Powell was considering a run for presidency where a British journalist admitted that Europe was nowhere near that accomplishment, there were no potential black candidates that could possibly be named to be PM of England or president of France for that matter and the U.S has since gone on to nominate a black president.
We owe this to brave people who stood up and fought for our civil rights when we were not represented, like Dr. Martin Luther King, who dreamed of a day when we would be judged by the contents of our characters. In this case, this woman is being judged by the contents of her character and her talent, she did not fit the exact profile of the character since it is based on a book where the character was described in detail but she is a great actress they decided to cast her for the role under the condition that she makes certain physical changes and are we happy for her, not at all, we do is complain, complain, complain.
I find it sad that lately instead being grateful for and enjoying the rights that were fought for during the civil rights movement and looking ahead to even more possibilities, we just complain and make a big fuss over imagined slights like in this case. To me that diminishes the gains and the sacrifices that were made.
In the case of Viola Davis she is changing her look for the character. In the book “The Help,” Aibleen is a heavy set woman so Viola did not fit the description. They could have found a heavier set Black actress or just have the actress they like, in this case Viola Davis, change her look. I don’t know if it is something that Black women only come across. For example, Renee Zellweger in “Bridget Jones Diary” and Charlize Theron in “Monster” both had to put on weight or change their image to take on the roles because that was how the character was envisioned
In general I think if actors are playing everyday people…and they director is being authentic I wouldn’t expect them to look glamorous all the time. That just doesn’t seem realistic. I also don’t think that because she is not glamorous she is “ugly” per se. May want to be careful with that phrasing. The average woman is the close to the size of the Aibleen character.
I also agree with @Maria. There are just limited roles for Black women so it may seem that way because we don’t see them that often but I remember cases when they look very polished. For instance, Nia Long was on a show called “Big Shots” she looked very beautiful . Garcelle Beauvais and Dana Davis are also very polished and fashionable on the new show “Franklin and Bash” So I guess it just depends. I think see both black women becoming “ugly” for a role and in some cases they are not.
Thank You! My first thought when reading that article was CLEARLY the author did not read The Help or he would have known why it was necessary for Viola to add to her curves in order to stay true to the book.
I was about to say the same thing. The character in the book is heavy. Plus, Bryce Dallas Howard who is playing Hilly said in an interview that her and other actresses had to gain at least 10 pounds because back then women weren’t skin and bones. Before people go off on a tangent and write articles, they really need to do some research.
@jahtik54 and @Shanika I think it is important to point out especially when you are dealing with movies that are based off of books. It makes a difference. People were mad about the images of black women in the movie “Precious” but really you would have to be bothered by the Sapphire the author first to be bothered by the character and she is an African American Female. Precious was described as a large Black female…so that is who they found to be accurate to the authors images. Harry Potter looks the way he looks in the film because that is how J.K. Rowling described him. One could argue why do they select certain the screenplays or books that seem to present “unattractive” images of Black women to make some movies from but I don’t think that is what is being argued here. ::shrug::
you guys are totally missing the point…the whole article isn’t even about the help…
I totally agree I read the book also. I don’t entirely agree because there a number of actress white and other races who to got look a certain way to get a moive role(like cherlize throne to play in monster, and halle berry in monster’s ball. that guy who played batman chis-something he had to lose ton of weight and look like a crackhead for some boxing movie 2010. i keep going lol
@jahtik54 @Shanika… Not to sound rude, but I think you both are missing the point.
It’s not about Viola having to beef up for this specific role.
It’s about how, in general in Hollywood, the only roles for black women (unless you’re Halle Berry) seem to require black women to tone down their natural beauty so as not to distract from (white) lead characters.
I have seen plenty of roles in which black women have not had to “ugly” themselves. I have also seen plenty of roles in which white, black, spanish, asian women have had to “ugly” themselves. The writer mentioned The Help therefore I spoke my opinion about the book.
I don’t see the need for this article and the pointless debate. There are a host of black ladies who have looked elegant and beautiful portraying different characters. This has nothing to do with a black lady being made to look less glamorous than a fellow white actor.
Please let us stop wasting time pursuing this argument further.
I am black, African and I do not agree with the author of this article.
@Annuli
This debate is not pointless. It is a definite problem when our kids have to look at the TV screen and see movies like The Help, with black women who look like the Devil threw them up, next to women who are in their pyjamas looking like they came out of a spa, skin glowing and makeup flawless.You saw this movie, right?
Tell me, do you honestly believe that the white women that they were portrayin actually looked like they did, day to day?
It’s supposed to be average women, right? I live around average women–no one looks like that. I’m betting that the ‘average women’ excuse was the one they use on Ms. Davis and the others.
And where is this “host of black ladies” looking so pretty? In independent movies, or movies that hardly get ANY recognition from critics because their black actresses are so “elegant and beautiful”, that’s where.
You are black, and you don’t see the problem here? The author of this article is on point and it’s sad that you can’t see that.
Good luck with everything.
—
Salma Hashi
“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”–Malcolm X
Add Nicole Kidman when she portrayed Virginia Wolff. Well, she didn’t put any weight on though.
Viola was featured on the front cover of Essence for August 2011, and I didn’t even recognize her. She is GORGEOUS! I do think a large majority of the bigger roles for black actresses are often less-glamorous roles. However, I would not want to deny a person career advancement for portraying a role that, while it’s not glamorous, is still reflective of a sector of black women at one point in time. If Viola’s role as Aibileen in The Help will get her an Oscar Nomination, I am NOT upset that she took the role. If Viola didn’t take it, someone else would.
If we want to see more alternative roles for black women – we need to put our money where it needs to be to show our support of films that support these other image of black women.
this article made me really think about how the media wants us to be viewed. Then i thought now the media is trying to pass darker complexcted hispanics as black women. For example Zoe Saldano, has been used as a black women in hollywood that is getting big roles. Yet, her ethnicity is from the domincan republic a latin country. Will hollywood now graviatate towards hispanics to portray black women? Leaving black women to one day not even be on the screen anymore.
But Zoe Saldana is a black woman. She is a black hispanic.
Being black does not automatically mean you are African-American. Anybody with a darker complexion can be considered black. So one can be hispanic and still be considered black.
i understand and respect both of your points.
i do not totallly agree when @Viviane said ” Anybody with a darker complexion can be considered black.” there are middle easters and people from india and other places that have dark complexions but are not considered black. what i was trying to convey in my post is that i hope that the media is not choosing black enough looking women to play a black women. yes, zoe is black hispanic; my issue is i want the media to portray us black women the way we are. I do not know a lot of black women that look like zoe so why cant they use more black actresses that look more like me. Why must for a african-american women role they choose a black hispanic and not just a african-american women? My concern is that the everyday looking black women, will not be good enough in the media.
i dont want the media to only pick women that ethinicity or race is ambigious to portray 100% african-american women. When the casting people can simply pick african-american actress.
Yes Zoe Saldana is an Afro-Hispanic. Her descendents are Africans just like yours are. A lof of Puerto Ricans, Cubans, dominicans, South americans etc. are decidents of African slaves…
HISTORY LESSON!
I see what you are saying about the “every day women,” but in all actuality, there is NO every day woman. Black people come in all diff shapes, sizes and colors. She looks like a normal black person to me. (I didnt even know she was hispanic in that one dance movie she was in YEARS ago.)
People Kill me looking to see a certain type of looking black woman for a role. A black woman is a black woman, no matter what color etc. she is…
What’s the problem with Zoe Saldana? She looks like a typical black woman. In fact, she looks like many women in my family and we’re you’re typical, plain old African-Americans. I seen and met plenty of black latinos who look like regular African Americans. I’m just happy that as a BLACK woman, Zoe Saldana is getting roles.
Just because they look ( and probley are) Afro Latina(o) doen not mean they accept it and if your from NY and know about Dominicans ask them Are they black or how they feel about black people!
TRUE DAT – dont you dare call them black!!
+1 million.
they are ready to swing as soon as you do.
Like the others I’m going to disagree with you. Zoe considers herself black, and that is good enough for me. Not every black woman is from America. I get your point, but you probably should have picked a better example. I love Halle, but Zoe is blacker to me than Halle.
Zoe grew up around the corner from me in the Bronx and before she blew up it was/is well known that she doesn’t consider herself “Black” (nor does her sister) so let’s stop spreading that. She represents DR and will let you know that she is Dominican and there isn’t anything wrong with that. In NY you’ll be hard pressed to find a Dominican acknowledging they have ANY traces of African genes running through them so I understand the original point the poster made about finding other races that “look Black” to play the role of Black women. Look at Tiger Woods. Everyone thinks he is Black but he comes right out his mouth and tells everyone he is not. At all. At the end of the day, we’re all mixed with something.
I agree with most of your point….but as a black Dominican in Brooklyn, I totally disagree with your opinion of Dominican women. I am black AND latina, and my Dominican friends and family members feel the same way (if they are of African descent). Being black and being Dominican (or Afro-anything else) is not mutually exclusive! I don’t consider myself ‘not black’ just because my family is not from the US.
Although we are really bad about accepting natural hair…is that any different from other black wome though?
Girl!!!! The last sentence, you are dead on.
I am going to agree with someone above who said zoe zaldana represents Dominican Republican and I believe she does. There is nothing wrong with that. I have seen this many times with many Afro-Caribbean or Latin Caribbean people and Europeans or Asians because culture is important. People are willing or identifies with their culture first and black may or may not be part of the criteria. I can see why some people may not chose to present themselves as black, it’s just that there is a lack of UNITY in the black community and every body is out for themselves and only for their-selves.
Tiger Woods stated he has different races in his family, black, white, Phillipino (his mother). His dad was a black man, he did not state he wasn’t black, and stating he was only black would be disrespecting his mother.
“I do not know a lot of black women that look like Zoë…” Where in America do you live? Considering there are practically no unmixed African Americans, how could you not know at least one woman that looks like Zoe? Unless you’re from one of the indigenous tribes of Africa, you are not pure Black, none of us are, even a Jamaican such as myself. We are the only race that has the full color spectrum, even within our own families! African-Americans really need to get over this whole “mixed”, “biracial”, “multicultural” BS that the media is trying to feed you all, because at the end of the day, all its doing is creating this divisiveness, self-hate, crabs-in-a-barrel mentality that seems to be self-perpetuating and never ends. Zoe considers herself Black (race) and Hispanic (culture). When people try to tell others how to feel about and label themselves, it just showcases one’s own ignorance. To return to the topic at hand, if George Lucas (one of the World’s most respected producers/directors) couldn’t get financing/backing/distribution contribution on “Red Tails” how the hell would y’all think Black actors/actresses can just go out and do their own thing? Its not just $ people, its also about power and politics so racism and stereotypes in Hollywood aren’t going to go away anytime soon. Here’s something else to think about, if more minorities actually “paid” to go to the movies/buy or stop buying products instead of bootlegging them, then we, as consumers, would be able to dictate change through $ (the only real currency of change) but we don’t, so it doesn’t. Another example, want us to stop being portrayed like Nene or Frankie on TV? Stop watching the buffoonery realty TV shows and they would have to change them, instead people are hooked on them, create a greater viewing pool, so the producers produce more and more following the same formula.
Couldn’t agree with this more…especially the part about “Hollywood/LA” media being about power, stereotypes and racism. Bigger issue is that too few of us understand (or act like we care) economics/finance and business to get greenlighted and distribution deals needed to increase control over our own projects and media images.
@chyeahbella
Oh,give me a break—I see a lot of girls/woman that look like Zoe Saldana every time I walk down the street—here in Detroit, she’d be just another pretty black sister among many others. And if you do your research, she has made it VERY clear in interviews, that she considers herself a BLACK woman,period. She is also an American—she lived in the Dominican Republic in her teens because her mom moved back there, but she’s A New Yorker,though. She looks like a regular black sister to me—honestly, if you’re seen Henry Gates’ BLACK IN LATIN AMERICA, you’d know that black folks are considered BLACK regardless of where they come from,or where they are. So I don’t where you’re getting this silly idea that she’s less black because she’s Hispanic, too—that’s ridiculous.
And she didn’t get big overnight,either—she logged 10 years in the biz before getting to finally carry a film like COLOMBIANA on her own—I’m glad for her, and I hope to see her in more parts, like the good action one she had in THE LOSERS.
Finally, someone who sees the truth!!!!
Interesting points. Personally, I think it depends on who you are. Someone, like say, Beyonce, is usually not portrayed “unglamorously,” though it would be acceptable if she were, given her status as a recording artist. But it’s interesting you talk about Viola Davis. I saw her on GMA last week and she was absolutely stunning -gorg skin, flawless makeup, toned body. Same with her recent cover on Essence. Funny, I always said when I saw her earlier work on Law & Order a while back that they had her looking a HAM. Bad foundation, busted wig, ill-fitting clothes. Clearly, they didn’t know what to do with her hair or makeup, and that’s not surprising. Why do you think so many black women in H’wood do their own hair and makeup. As far as the sympathy vote, I don’t think most actresses in Hollywood want us to feel sorry for them nor do they want to be seen as the victim, as @blacqueinfnite posted earlier. Unfortunately, Hollywood still boxes us in. I see it just as Halle Berry and Mo’Nique have said — they exist today, because of the relegated mammy and maid roles played by actresses like Hattie McDaniel and the scores of others before them. I also think they aren’t merely trying to get paid, especially when you consider how few roles go to black women and men. I’d like to think they are passionate, and this is their career choice. I’m a creative person, and to me, it’s like living. I think it’s the same with them — only they have the added race burden of everyone critiquing their every move AND trying to make it in Hollywood. If I wanted to get paid, I definitely wouldn’t be an actress; it’s a gamble, at best. I’m not a betting woman, but those odds are something I would steer clear of, unless it was my passion. Today, we’re talking about their image. But if not for women in Hollywood today, who may choose to play certain roles in spite of, we definitely won’t see a Hollywood (hopefully sooner rather than later) where WE control the images, where we are the directors, writers, producers and, more importantly, control distribution, tomorrow.
“the filmmakers don’t want to hire attractive black actresses for roles, preferring them to look bad, in order to make white actresses appear better looking which proves what I suspected.”
I think this APPEARS to be case because of a lack of roles for black actresses rather than a purposeful effort to make white actresses look better. Let’s face it, there are not a lot of good roles for black women, and they are usually not the leading lady, but rather the fat mammy, the smack-talking ghetto girl or at “best” the side-kick. So these roles do not call for beauty first.
For example, Taraji’s role as a lawyer in Boston Legal had her looking hot and professional. It just depends on the role. And there is every type of role in the world for white actresses, and limited (number and type) roles for black women.
I don’t know if this is really happening, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was.
This is not a surprise at all. If you’re a minority in Hollywood, you will be relegated to certain roles, especially if you’re a black woman. This is the business. That’s why you see certain black women always playing the Mammy role (Viola), or someone’s wife/girlfriend (Kerry Washington).
Not all black actresses are relegated to deglamorized roles, but the ones who aren’t, are often the “select few” they call on to be in interracial relationships (Kerry Washington, Sanaa Lathan). Otherwise, take your pick out of the slew of stereotypes they have for us, and you’re bound to get one of them as a black actress in Hollywood.
The only “black” woman (she’s biracial anyway) who has surpassed this is Halle Berry after her Jezebel role in Monster’s Ball, and that straight up baffonery in BAPS. She had to work her way up to flexibility.
I don’t think Hollywood is particularly concerned with portraying black women as beautiful, feminine, authentic women. The beauty standard remains tipped toward white women, and having too many attractive dark skinned women in the media portrayed honorably would totally abolish that standard.
Mind you, nobody is “forcing” these women. Let’s get real. They chose to play these roles because they want to “further their careers” and get paid. They know what they’re doing, and they could have chosen a different route if they really wanted to. They obviously don’t care THAT much about how they portray themselves and other black women if they’re taking on these roles, so there is no reason for me to see them as victims. White people wouldn’t have the chance to do this to us if we didn’t do it to ourselves.
Peace.
You took the words right outta my mouth with this one, especially the last paragraph. These women make enough money to make their own movies instead of subjecting themselves to these roles. People can say whatever they want about Tyler Perry but at least he adds more than he takes away. When you own the thing, you can control the images.
Why would any white woman want to highlight black womens beauty? it goes against their own interests. Black people need to stop whining about fairness and start fighting through ownership.
I am very sure that the black women in those days were extra fine, just look at how many “masters” wanted them. They had to look better than the white women in those days, housework is not easy chore. I think that the white women had to be extra fat, think about it, they never did any work. They never lifted a finger. They never did work, exercised, or did anything to break a sweat. The African American women worked and exercised. The masters wanted that creamy so soft skin, all the different hues of brown deliciousness, those extra fine long luscious legs that got worked out doing all the housework, those lean luscious torsos, just think. Come on now, those men were not interested in the ones who looked bad and it couldn’t have been the AA ladies. Get real, Hollywood has gotten it twisted once again.
Apart from the “masters” wanting to force his penis in the slave woman’s vagina because it wasn’t something that the white woman did, you have an interesting perspective. I’m sure that there’s some truth to it.
This. 100%…I always wonder about the black men and women who take on these roles. It’s almost like all they care about is, “look at me! I’m on TV!”
I respect your comments, but that’s easy for you to say when you’re not in their position. We don’t have any idea what their financial state is. Maybe they are in the stage of “working thier way up” like Halle Berry did. Anyone remember Losing Issiah?
Exactly.
ooo remember her excellent work in Jungle Fever with Sam when they were both Crack heads? she was so good in that role…let’s not forget that actresses, some of us, have had to do soooo many things, take tiny walk ons’ /roles, small parts, get cut from film, get fatter, too slim, get bad weaves, etc etc to get a role and do the work you are trained and work so hard to have the opportunity to do. Movies are strange, how a director and producer looks at a cast, who is opposite, who has “numbers” it’s all in there. And sometimes, actresses realize they will never get a plum role cause they are perceived as “too beautiful” to do a role they could nail in a heartbeat if given the chance, case in point, Charlize Theron. Young or not so young Actresses have a hard time of it, believe me. An Actor can be fat, bald, old, jacked up teeth, pot bellied, slack muscled, look stink and have acnes scars and they work all over the place because THEY CAN ACT…not so with women. Take it all in people, take it ALL in…or, regarding Halle, my favorite look of hers was with her I guess, “original countenance”, in Boomerang…she was too cute/pretty in that role and did a good job, – then look at her in BAPS…we just want to work and keep working and continue to make opportunities for generations to come while paying those bills. Ashe’
Although I agree with your first couple of paragraphs, I couldn’t disagree more with the last. Do you understand how difficult it is to get a film green-lighted? Even before it is green-lighted, the amount of work that is put in to get a good script written, good producers, and a good director is immense. Add that to the fact that black women have stereotypes following them everywhere, “furthering their careers and getting paid” is all that they can do.
Hon are you serious? There are so many independent films it’s ridiculous. No-budget to low-budget films shot on film or video.
It is hard to get a film green lighted and independent films are only as successful as the distribution deals one can get. I understand where you are coming from in terms of Hollywood’s love affair with Mammy or Jezebel, when it comes to the portrayal of black women in film, however we do not control this business and Tyler Perry at this point is the exception and not the rule. Also BAPS came before Monster’s Ball.
Out of all the umpteen films, independent, no budget films coming out, do you think they are the only ones being made. For every one no budget film that is successful there are countless projects that don’t ever get scene. And some are great films. I hate when ‘outside looking in’ people make judgement on things they know nothing about!!