theessentialsofcool:

I must confess that it’s something that has always irked me to a degree.  I’ve discussed this in the past in regards to Maya Rudolph and her movie, Away We Go.  Lately, we seem to routinely be given the pairing of a white man with a racially ambiguous woman…

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I would just like to say that this is a very well written article about something that’s always bothered me about certain films and TV shows, however have found it difficult to put my finger on. It’s pretty cool to see it addressed and though your article is a little short and I would have loved to hear more, I’m thankful to hear it. Although, I think I may have a completely different spin on it:

I don’t think I want these or other actresses like them to be held accountable for their Black-ness, so to speak. But I do want them to tell the stories or at least feature their mixed roots. I feel like it must be hard to grow up between two or more cultures but you rarely hear that story. Imitation of Life is one of my favorite films. I saw it at a very young age when my mother showed it to me and I have seen it several times since. I love the plot, I love the acting, I love it! But I especially love that there’s a portrayal of a girl wanting to be white and trying to escape all that is Black. For a movie like that to be made in 1959 (my favorite version. There was another done in 1934) is impressive and just goes to show that for a long time this has been an issue. It would make for better character development if what it means to be mixed was featured more often amongst mixed actors and actresses.

Multiculturalism is such a real thing in today’s society and it’s not enough to just see the Black or White of things, to see Hispanic or Asian. Everyone seems to have a little of this or that, and whether that’s true or not (because you know folks love to think they might be anything other than who they are), people are at least being influenced by a multitude of cultures. So where are these stories and why don’t mixed people want to express this fight they’ve had or still have within themselves?

I’ve read both White Teeth and On Beauty by Zadie Smith and applaud her for her boldness on the approach of mixed families. She grew up in a home like that and it’s fantastic for her to feature it in her novels. It’s especially interesting that she features it without overdoing it. A multi-cultural family is apart of her book but it isn’t THE book. If screenwriters are afraid of pushing the issue, then obviously they’re in the wrong profession. Just because Maya Rudolph and Rashida Jones look racially vague doesn’t mean their character must remain that way also. Writers need to step up their game, as do directors, to at least crack the surface on this. Because I am not mixed, I would want to hear those stories. I would want them to feel real and get a better understanding of those who identify with more than one race.

I’m a big fan of Maya Rudolph and I think Away We Go was the best portrayal of a relationship in films I’ve seen lately. And I’m not a huge fan of romance or romantic comedies so that’s saying something! I thought the movie was just right. I don’t think I had a problem like you did about her being without Black friends because all of my close friends are not Black. In fact, I’ve been without Black friends for a long time. Then again, I grew up in San Antonio, Texas where the population is mainly Mexican-American. It’s still been easy to be around people of color in that respect. All in all, though, I know how it feels not to have that kind of community around you. But yes, I did have a problem with who she was being put aside. And that’s all it’s really about: the individual. She didn’t have to have Black friends or go to a Black school or even live in a neighborhood who’s residents were mainly Black. She didn’t even have to be Black. But she could have been at least biracial. I know that sounds crazy and a bit of a conundrum but like I said, it’s not enough to see it just Black and White anymore (pun intended). We could at least see more of what it means to be multiracial in a multicultural world in movies, books, and on TV. I can’t wait to hear those stories. I’m just hoping it happens sooner than later. Again, thanks for writing something that has been often overlooked. It’s good discourse. I can’t wait to see Bridesmaids too!

I really enjoy reading Clutch Magazine as it is an online magazine for women of color & offers really thought-provoking articles. However, as with most things pertaining to Black America, we call out racism too early. This article was about how when Black actors win Oscars it’s only when they play a negative role. I left a comment on the site disagreeing because villains and victimized characters are always praised no matter what color they are. I wrote:

I think there are many reasons to snub the Oscars to be honest. And I feel like a lot of good points were made here. But sometimes I’m really perplexed about the situation. Mostly because I think the Academy likes to award any film that has a shady character or when they are victimized. There’s always those jokes being thrown around that, “if you play a downtrodden prostitute, you’ll win an Oscar.”

Consider Charlize Theron gaining nearly 30 pounds and making herself ugly in “Monster”, is she a misinterpretation of white trash America or gay women or mentally unstable women? Is it any better because it’s based on a true story? Or how about “The Godfather”? Lord knows the Italians are often in an uproar about always being portrayed as mafia-types and yet it is regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. Kathy Bates wins it for being absolutely crazy in “Misery” and Michael Douglas being slimy and ruthless in “Wall Street”. I cannot say that it’s about how the Black community receives these awards when the problem with Hollywood is that they love to praise ANY film and ANY actor that shines a negative light. They feed off that and, in most cases, so does the public. For good reason too; it’s good entertainment.

Are there more positive representation in films with white actors at the Oscars than in films with Black actors? The answer is a resounding YES, but then again there are more films with white actors (directors & production too) each year and that’s what we should really set our minds on. There is no range of roles because we haven’t told enough of our stories. I really enjoyed this article and loved the snippets from Donald Bogle but I can’t say that “Precious” isn’t someone’s story. Abuse crosses all races. And I can’t say that the rogue cop (Training Day) is a new idea. It’s always being given different layers which Denzel knew how to work and thus deserved it. There are many reasons to snub the Oscars. Number 1 being that it’s a self-congratulatory, nationally televised event. But I don’t this is one of them.

Look, I hate the Oscars but we can let them slide on this one. People want the crazy and it doesn’t matter who it’s coming from. Read the article and tell me what you think?