Movie: The Upcoming Release of 'Red Tails' Raises Questions About Black Representation In The Media, And War

The upcoming release of the feature film 'Red Tails' raises question about how Hollywood treats Black History, what gets made and what doesn't: "A crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, are called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard." Executive producer George Lucas said that he had trouble getting funding for the movie, due to the fact that most of the main actors in it are Black. Thoughts?
On another note, what do you think of the story itself, of the Hollywood-style glamorization and dramatization of war? Is this something young Black people should look up to and aspire to?

Tags: Black, Feature, Film, George, Lucas, Movie, Producer, Red, Soldiers, Tails, More…Trailer, War

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Comment by X-D-D-M*9 on January 23, 2012 at 9:28pm: Saw Red Tails. The film was dope, will probably see it it again. Has it's flaws, nothing too major or unexpected. Happy to see the theatre filled with Black folks heading something other than a Perry film (yeah I said it, ha) . And apparently this was not unique, it did very well opening weekend:

http://newsone.com/entertainment/newsonestaff7/red-tails-surprise-i...

Ms. M. Little, respect to you. Excuse me I skimmed most of your essay, sorry I'm old & my eyes are bad, ha. Our perspectives more similar than different. We all did mention KINYARWANDA, I WILL FOLLOW, Tyler Perry, Spike Lee, Black film & filmmakers because all of that relates to this release and to the title of this subject "...raises the question of Black representation in media and war (films & TV?)".

I was one of the 5 people who saw Spike Lee'sTHE MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA (only half joking). I thought that was an enjoyable film with flaws too. I swear some the setting are the same. St. Anna was much better, less flawed and less boring than Clint Eastwood, Speilberg & Tom Hanks overrated and internally biased rah-rah war flicks. The third ring of Hell for me would be being forced to watched Flags of Our Fathers and Band of Brothers on a continuous loop.

Problem I see is Hollywood so hates Spike for being an "uppity negro" who actually won't kiss ass for the 'priviledged opportunity' to make films and do it completely their way. If Spike presented Hollywood a project with Brad, Angelina, Cruise, DeNiro & Streep connected, i'm sure they would still find a way to shut it down (I'm not joking at all). That's the dilema when Spike does a historical war epic and Lucas does one, Hollywood doesn't want gamble on a Black story at all even by the top grossing indie film producer. But he has shown some success with Red Tails and we again have to do what we do, snatch the opportunity and make something out of nothing.

There are still a ridiculous amount of itneresting stories historically-based around African American folk and people of the African diaspora that are worth being created and seen not mention in all other aspects of film and Black life. Totally independant projects like Kinyarwanda, I Will Follow, mostly indie Perry (yeah-yeah, I give him that) and Hollywood successes can cut a path for better projects.

Red Tails is worth seeing, bottom line. Not on bootleg please...

Comment by Monique Little on January 21, 2012 at 1:30am: ...*Countinued: win one academy award but it is still relevant and HE will always be known and praise by blacks and whites for someone supporting blacks, like AB Lincoln. Therefore making HIM legendary and forever remembered even among black because i dont know ONE black person that did not see The Color purple. Then we will be talking about this same shit in the future, 'why could it been a black man?' 'where are the black directors?' And give white people can master telling and directing, and being successful directing black movie or expressing the black culture on film-Then who needs black director anyways and why back one up when a white man can do it, give 'the people' what they want. You have just been replaced, that's how it works. If they had to chose between giving support to their own over us-that's what they will do. Unless, you don't eat the cake, and say 'no, that shit isn't going to work for me because I'm not settling for what you give me, telling me these are my only choices'. Anyways, that's my rant for the day lol.

Comment by Monique Little on January 21, 2012 at 1:12am: X-D-D-M*9-hold on now, dont go jumping the gun cowboy. We did not mention 'KINYARWANDA' OR 'I WILL FOLLOW' because that isn't what the post is about is it? And how do you know we will not support it?How did you make that assumption?Did not half of the peole on here say we need to support more of are black film makers or was i reading a different blog or something? And make no mistake, I rarely spend my money at the movies, period if it isn't interesting to me, regardless of the race of the director. And now that you mentioned it, yes, id rather support a black film maker making this film and the wealth, off of our story then a white one. But the black one probably would not be able to get the movie off of the ground, let alone benefit from it. So, whites can only make heroes out of us but blacks can't. Do we all ways need some ABRAHAM LINCOLN ass nigga to do this for us, just like in the movies. Isn't it interesting how Hollywood would let him do this movie, and back him or Steven Spielberg or that white dude who directed 'BELOVED' but we can't, and Hollywood also knows that niggas probably would bitch about it but go see it anyways so why shouldn't white Hollywood change that? If it is a good as people hope it will be-ill cop the bootleg and see it for myself, lol. Niggas really think they are liked because someone makes a movie about niggas, and know they will get bank for it. Blacks are easy to sell and to sell too, but i ain't one. That is why all can take advantage. Like i said before, I want to be proven wrong, but it hasn't happen yet. No, i haven't seen the move yet, But the video trailer was posted on here for us to view and it is expected people will talk about what they anticipate in a movie. The criticism that I have given is based on shit i have seen to many times, and refuse to except anything less then being fairly represented - if not i dont spend my fucking money on it because i have better and more productive things that i can do with my money then pay to be insulted or mediocre bullshit. I'm tired of waiting for 'baby steps' your gonna do it right, or dont do it at all and no one expects perfection. Like you just said, spike lee is having a hard time getting money yet they gave it to George Lucas., yet they would give Spike money for coonery or if he include a story around white character-but for niggas? no! You are right we do need are own shit, and i will keep my money till we get it but if spike lee was fucking SMART he would have publicly insulted Perry, as if he is so high and mighty with is opinions- perry who has his own studio could have help his black ass out just as Oprah and many other niggas have in the past! That's why you keep things that are personal and business separated. Especially when you both are trying to achieve the same goal, regardless. Lasty, i respect Tyler perry as a black business man, period! And i hear the negro is buying his own air line, and just because i dont agree with him, i am NOT going to tear him down while he is trying to reach the top because their are people who do watch Tyler's movies, many of whom are well established blacks. People bitch about black celebs not supporting 'the people' but the fucking people act like crabs in the barrel JUST BECAUSE you dont like how they conduct there business, as if you had anything to do with there hard work! Why should they support your asses. All that shit talking blacks do, if they only shut the fuck up and support them in a industry dominated by whites world they may get support. We dont even know if they dont support THEIR communities. Prince does a lot of shit yet he doesn't do it for the damn cameras. Many people didn't even know that. Even if the movie doesn't do what Lucas expects, it will still go down as a classic at least by blacks in the future and this brilliant white man will get the credit for it, just like Spielberg did for The Color Purple, which did not even

Comment by X-D-D-M*9 on January 20, 2012 at 11:18pm: Red Tails looks like an interesting movie based on real events and people, like all entertainment. As radical as I can be about some images of Black folks in film, I ain't gonna complain about a potentially good film I haven't seen only 'cause a white man made it.

We ALL spend so much $$$ at white films that it's worth it to check one film that might be good that deals with us. I didn't hear all y'all who gripe now speak about supporting KINYARWANDA and I WILL FOLLOW, two fully independant Black films films distributed by AFFRM headed up by Ava DuVernay as IBrother said.

If you support Tyler Perry for his business sense or enjoy his corny product, you can check a Black story by the number one independant filmmaker George Lucas. Lucasfilm has been bucking the system for 3 & half decades and of course, it was easier 'cause he's white but indie film is mutha for all. Shoot, Perry could have funded this film, why didn't he? You could say 'why not Spike?' but he's still trying to get The Inside Man 2 done and he's having cash problems even with Denzel already attached. That Hollywood, folks.

I'm seeing this film and I hope it exposes some truth & history. Then I'm gonna jump into a white film in the next screen of the theatre for free. Occupy cinema!

Comment by Monique Little on January 13, 2012 at 5:23pm: *I meant all of Tyler Perry 'Madea' (sp?) movies, NOT 'Media'!

Comment by Monique Little on January 13, 2012 at 5:21pm: Lunakiss- LOL, you got that right! but i do commend and respect Tyler Perry for having his own studio, which i would think, will give him more freedom. I think that all of those media movies where just a stepping stone to receive a wider audience because even whites would go to see a black comedy if anything else, and his movie also made bank from all those church going folk lol. I know he has a new movie coming out that looks different from what we usually see from him but will see.

Comment by Lunakiss on January 13, 2012 at 4:59pm: I am curious and want to see this film. IBrother is right. Hopfully more and more people of color will own their own movie production films and support each other cross culturally to supply support, production, acting and writing. We don't have to succomb to tired out Tyler Perry movies.

Comment by Monique Little on January 12, 2012 at 1:58pm: Bruno Zaire- I would be very interested in seeing a movie about The Abraham Lincoln Brigade, and i am now trying to learn more about them, i have never heard of them. That link was really informative too, thank you.

Comment by Monique Little on January 12, 2012 at 1:11pm: willy l- Did this movie even come out yet? I didn't even know people were talking about boycotting it, oh well. And Street punk said in the comment bellow, why would the black pilot salute the white pilots in the photo above, i ask why the fuck would black men back then, have been so gong ho about defending a system government, a country that hated them and returning to that country to still be hated long after. This was their reality yet they trust the government so much as to join it's ranks and defend it, just to feel excepted and validated. Very interesting! Because why could the just create their own, and not feel the need to want to be excepted or dependent on others, even the opinion of others. I mean, so what if white people dont like you. I dont like the idea of black people having to 'prove' their worth to whites as if there opinion has so much value.

Comment by willy l on January 12, 2012 at 11:51am: i just had this argument with a group of black females with them basically saying due to the fact that hey omitted african american women including in the part of a love interest this movie should be boycotted?