Really? Thank You.
well how many positive portrayals of blacks vs negative do we have in the media right now (and I ask that being fully cognizant of the "Gritty" "Reality" trend we have going) there is definitely a market for positive black product otherwise such shows as The Cosby Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air would never have lasted 8 and 6 seasons respectively. so where was the ball dropped? Heck if you look at the late 60's Blacksploitation films were Very profitable as evidence I bring up the fact that Hollywood kept making them. so did that audience just disappear? or did those making decisions decide not to invest in those properties anymore? They were making money and they aren't being made anymore nor do we have comparable shows that tap into that market... what could be responsible for that?
werent most 60's blaxploitation films independently financed and super low budget? what would be considered the modern day counterparts of those blaxploitation films? im sure they were far less funded and distributed than most "black movies" today.
but, i looooove old school blaxploitation movies: coffy, blackbelt jones, cleopatra jones, foxy brown, blacula, etc. and i love old school afro-centric TV shows. i think a lot of things play into where the "ball was dropped". a big part being quality. i mean, look at the afro-centric sitcoms on TV today. they're crap when compared to their old school counterparts like Good Times, Sanford and Son, Whats Happening, etc. How can i be exposed to that, and now im expected to enjoy the crap tyler perry churns out?
did a white hollywood recognize the success and money these things were making then try to take it over resulting in a drop in quality? i dunno. i mean, white jewish dudes were writing and producing a lot of those old TV shows. and if these things were making money, which they were, hollywood's greed for money surely outweighs its racism.
i dont think you can pinpoint a single reason as to why things evolved the way they did. its weird that it seems afro-centric entertainment was far better produced and received in the 60's/70's where racism was widely rampant.
every market must be built can you show me one minority project that received the same marketing push as a comparable white film? even when you bring in comedies and Hood Dramas it is the audience itself that makes things profitable or post release word of mouth... Hollywood does not put it's weight behind minority projects to find said audience as it does for all it's other projects...
i guess Dreamgirls would be an example of a movie that had a pretty big marketing push. along with most tyler perry movies. i suppose hollywood recognizes the limited box office resulting from most black movies, therefore tailor the money spent for advertising on that track record. why spend tons of money advertising something that they dont think will pay off comparatively? i mean, if hollywood was so racist they wouldnt of made the movie at all, right?
i dont think these things result because hollywood hates black people. i think it all comes down to money. if hollywood thought they could make more money from afro-centric entertainment, they'd be all over it. but instead they've recognized a track record of limited returns and therefore tailor their productions accordingly. its business more than racism. and unfortunately, from time to time im sure that results in some potentially great movies not happening.
institutionalized racism is real whether or not everyone wishes to acknowledge it. From a personal event one a co-worker of mine ( a man I considered a good friend and someone I know would literally take a bullet for me)once told me I wasn't "Really Black" when pressed it was revealed that because I don't echo the negative aspects of our culture (ones associated as the entirety of it and not just an aspect) that he didn't consider me black. that is the rule in most cases and not the exception for the prevailing racial mindset of today...
yeah, thats a messed up mindset yer "friend" had. sad truth is that racism still exists in many degrees in all facets of life.