Racism is alive, and most certainly well, in America circa 2008.
But let’s take a moment to absorb two promising facts.
Today, the only movie star who puts fannies in the seats every … single … time out is Will Smith. And arguably the lone writer/director who consistently crushes the box office competition is Tyler Perry.
We couldn’t say that 10, or even five years ago. Now we can.
(Photo: Will Smith of “Hancock” fame is the most bankable box office attraction in Hollywood.)
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Of course racism and sexism are still around. If they disappeared can you imagine how many people in government would be out of a job? How many minority (race) and majority (women) folks would lose their excuse for underachieving? How many race hucksters and college professors would be on the streets?
Which explains, I think, why many of the policies to end racism and sexism seemed designed to promote it most vigorously.
The Rev. Jackson would be in a pickle, that’s for sure.
The only explanation for why people don’t want to have a socialist with a sketchy personal history as president? Racism. That’s the only possible explanation.
James — I’d say you’re being cynical, but the blueprint for explaining Obama’s possible defeat is already under construction – and its following precisely that path.
You have an interesting take, for another view, this time on TV, check out this recent article (oh, heck, any article he’s written) by TV critic Eric Deggans in the St. Pete Times on race in TV …
http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2008/09/tv-guide-covers.html
Good link, Chase. I’ve noticed how uniform the casting choices are on many broadcast shows. I think? cable shows are more diverse, but that’s off the top of my head. I bet network programmers are scared stiff of their shows getting canceled, so they fill out their casts with actors who will appeal to the broadest range of the public. And right now, white audiences are in the majority. Write back with more thoughts on this … even though it’s not movie-centric.
Could it be, possibly, that Will Smith Fishburn, and heck, Bill Cosby — to name just a defined few are bankable stars dare I say despite that they are ethnically diverse (i.e., not white) is because they look for and perform well in consistently good vehicles that the audience wants to watch and they don’t sit around waiting for “black roles” because they are black?
A good role, a good movie, a good viewing experience begins with a good script, actor, director. The color of the actor is very secondary. Just my humble opinion. I do believe that the race card is becoming very tattered and it is about time.
Will Smith’s ability to sniff out quality scripts clearly plays a role in his appeal. But it’s more than that … audiences like him, and they’re willing to go in whatever direction he leads them.
“The only explanation for why people don’t want to have a socialist with a sketchy personal history as president? Racism. That’s the only possible explanation.”
Im sorry but how about inexperience, how about the constent lies and the connected friendhip to a white hating priest. If you hate white people surely thats racist, so maybe your right.
But most of all why would you have a president with a muslim name after years of war against islam and not forgetting islams attacks on 911.
Surely that would be enough, but hey im English and we have our own problems.
Monkey, meet sarcasm.
Sarcasm, this is monkey.
Now I’m wondering is I missed a joke. It’s wrong to have a president with a Muslim name? Huh? That’s your biggest problem with Obama?
By the way, it’s a war on Islamic terrorism, not a war on Islam. I have no quarrel with any Muslim who isn’t trying to kill, enslave, or forcibly convert me.