... the other Black experience
Thick mommas going for the Oscars
I was talking with a friend earlier and she asked me how I felt about Gabourey Sidibe and Monique And them being nominated for an Oscar for their roles in "Precious". I responded that they deserve it but I don’t like the image they are being recognized for. Not to say I didn’t like the movie, I liked the movie because I liked the book. But in the past Most African Americans who are up for an Oscar it is always because of sad depressing ass, roles they have played. If not that, it’s a negative image in some way. Out of the 12 Black actors and actresses who have won an Oscar for leading or supporting role. Only 5 were leading roles And 31/2 out of them were for negative roles. I say half because I felt like they focused a lot on Ray Charles drug habit.
My question is should we be proud our actors and actresses winning Oscars even though they are systematically negative images?
What Black actors or actresses would you give an Oscar to and for what movie?
My question is should we be proud our actors and actresses winning Oscars even though they are systematically negative images?
What Black actors or actresses would you give an Oscar to and for what movie?
Tags: Gabourey, Monique, Oscars, Precious, movies, sdibe
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Erica (Raven) Branch-Butler on -
That's a hard one. I personally will not see a movie that depicts a main Black character as pimp, ho, gangster, whatever. I'm simply tired of it. I'm more likely to see something like I Am Legend, or The Negotiator. I don't begrudge Black actors for winning the Oscar for roles that are fairly negative-- but I'd really *prefer* to support more positive roles for Black people.
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Permalink Reply by Spicyd on -
I think that maybe the sad depressing ass roles bring out a lot of people's acting skills, like Monique. Did anyone know she had any acting chops when she did "the Parkers" or the comedies she did? She plays this heinous person and people took notice. I'd say either Gaby or Mo certainly deserve it more than "show me the money!"
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Permalink Reply by lyfenlyn on -
Yeah it is a left handed compliment. It does smack of 'we'll take what we can get.' You cant fault them for getting up there and gushing and crying tears of joy for winning.
However...
Mo's character was a welfare queen, abusive in every way. YAY LETS GIVE HER A STATUE! It's like saying you epitomized the image we have of big black women so well that were going to award you for it. Precious was molested/ raped, mother of two illiterate and big. Give her one too, she fits the stereotype.
Halle- sex with a redneck, statue. Mother than gives up her son, nothing. (and she was a crackhead so you think she'd be a shoe in, Losing Isaiah)
Cuba- egomaniacle athlete- statue. Young black man who overcomes the odds of Compton and makes it to college, nada. (boyz in the hood)
Denzel- drug dealing crooked killer cop, statue. Rebelious slave soldier, Malcom X, Angel, Desperate Father nada. (John Q was amazing, and overlooked)
3 6 Mafia- song about a PIMP, statue
Jamie- Cheating drug addict musician, statue
Miss Mayme- Maid/ Slave, (in gone with the wind) Statue
The only one that wasn't totally a slap was Whoopi in Ghost. Tho the whole con woman thing was borderline.
Did angela bassett win for What's love got to do with it? NO!
Did Denzel win for Malcom X? NO!
Did Sidney Portier win for any of the amazing films he did in the 1960's and 70's NO!
Did Diana Ross win for anything she ever did? NO!
Lonette McGee? Alfre Woodard?? Jennifer Lewis? Loretta Devine? Theresa Randle? (she just vanished)
Once upon a time I wanted to act, but this always snaps me back into reality. Do I love it this much, to be dissed constantly? -
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Permalink Reply by Venus MOOK on -
lyfenlyn said:Yeah it is a left handed compliment. It does smack of 'we'll take what we can get.' You cant fault them for getting up there and gushing and crying tears of joy for winning.
However...
Mo's character was a welfare queen, abusive in every way. YAY LETS GIVE HER A STATUE! It's like saying you epitomized the image we have of big black women so well that were going to award you for it. Precious was molested/ raped, mother of two illiterate and big. Give her one too, she fits the stereotype.
Halle- sex with a redneck, statue. Mother than gives up her son, nothing. (and she was a crackhead so you think she'd be a shoe in, Losing Isaiah)
Cuba- egomaniacle athlete- statue. Young black man who overcomes the odds of Compton and makes it to college, nada. (boyz in the hood)
Denzel- drug dealing crooked killer cop, statue. Rebelious slave soldier, Malcom X, Angel, Desperate Father nada. (John Q was amazing, and overlooked)
3 6 Mafia- song about a PIMP, statue
Jamie- Cheating drug addict musician, statue
Miss Mayme- Maid/ Slave, (in gone with the wind) Statue
The only one that wasn't totally a slap was Whoopi in Ghost. Tho the whole con woman thing was borderline.
Did angela bassett win for What's love got to do with it? NO!
Did Denzel win for Malcom X? NO!
Did Sidney Portier win for any of the amazing films he did in the 1960's and 70's NO!
Did Diana Ross win for anything she ever did? NO!
Lonette McGee? Alfre Woodard?? Jennifer Lewis? Loretta Devine? Theresa Randle? (she just vanished)
Once upon a time I wanted to act, but this always snaps me back into reality. Do I love it this much, to be dissed constantly?
that is an amazing response. that's exactly how I feel. though I love my beautiful brothers and sisters on the big screen it is hard for me to see them put out such great works and yet they are only seen for the ones that make all black people look bad. and with how sensitive I am to it. I wonder how the actors and actresses feel when they play such roles and win awards, has acting for African Americans in Hollywood changed that much since the 40's 50's and 60's. yes, we can play more roles, call more shots,and get paid way more. but we are still being recognized for the same things.
and why hasn't Will Smith won anything? -
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Permalink Reply by lyfenlyn on
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He got nominated for playing a black man that was homeless, you would think he would have won for that. But maybe if he would have beat his wife, done crack and did time in prison he would have got a statue. Not a peep for 7 pounds.
The thing is now the day after of course BET has built a shrine to Monique. I assure you I am not a hater, but it's just not something to celebrate. Precious isn't something to be celebrated. I'm not happy or proud. Actually embarassed, and annoyed that there are amazing performances that never get any acknowlegement whatsoever. I had issues with her character on the Parkers as well for the same reasons, that she was a stereotype of the loud, desperate fat black woman and people ate it up. It's one of those things that black people do 'I midas be the one getting paid to be the stereotype or someone else would'.
Now if we could just do something about the strippers in music videos...
Venus MOOK said:lyfenlyn said:Yeah it is a left handed compliment. It does smack of 'we'll take what we can get.' You cant fault them for getting up there and gushing and crying tears of joy for winning.
However...
Mo's character was a welfare queen, abusive in every way. YAY LETS GIVE HER A STATUE! It's like saying you epitomized the image we have of big black women so well that were going to award you for it. Precious was molested/ raped, mother of two illiterate and big. Give her one too, she fits the stereotype.
Halle- sex with a redneck, statue. Mother than gives up her son, nothing. (and she was a crackhead so you think she'd be a shoe in, Losing Isaiah)
Cuba- egomaniacle athlete- statue. Young black man who overcomes the odds of Compton and makes it to college, nada. (boyz in the hood)
Denzel- drug dealing crooked killer cop, statue. Rebelious slave soldier, Malcom X, Angel, Desperate Father nada. (John Q was amazing, and overlooked)
3 6 Mafia- song about a PIMP, statue
Jamie- Cheating drug addict musician, statue
Miss Mayme- Maid/ Slave, (in gone with the wind) Statue
The only one that wasn't totally a slap was Whoopi in Ghost. Tho the whole con woman thing was borderline.
Did angela bassett win for What's love got to do with it? NO!
Did Denzel win for Malcom X? NO!
Did Sidney Portier win for any of the amazing films he did in the 1960's and 70's NO!
Did Diana Ross win for anything she ever did? NO!
Lonette McGee? Alfre Woodard?? Jennifer Lewis? Loretta Devine? Theresa Randle? (she just vanished)
Once upon a time I wanted to act, but this always snaps me back into reality. Do I love it this much, to be dissed constantly?
that is an amazing response. that's exactly how I feel. though I love my beautiful brothers and sisters on the big screen it is hard for me to see them put out such great works and yet they are only seen for the ones that make all black people look bad. and with how sensitive I am to it. I wonder how the actors and actresses feel when they play such roles and win awards, has acting for African Americans in Hollywood changed that much since the 40's 50's and 60's. yes, we can play more roles, call more shots,and get paid way more. but we are still being recognized for the same things.
and why hasn't Will Smith won anything? -
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Permalink Reply by Venus MOOK on
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music videos, strippers. that's a whole other battle.
But you know I'm not so offended by them. They choose to represent themselves so negatively. and sadly most music in hip-hop now is all about hoes, money, cars, hoes, fucking some hoes, getting sucked by some hoes, reducing all women to hoes. In that case the videos fit the music. They make life seem like a party. selling the dream. But i feel like problem is not the selling It's those who buy it. you won't catch me on my drunkest day spending my money to support any of that bullshit. And you would think it wouldn't sell when you hear some of the straight up stupidity from the music. but it does and it sells well or records companies wouldn't dictate that they keep pushing out the same buffoonery. Like in the early 90's not all who were making pro black music believed one word of what they were saying but that's what was selling and soooo a few record companies wanted them to make that kind of music. but sadly if I get started it'll go on forever. you get where i'm going with all this. -
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