This is a touchy subject...

[Chris Wallace]

Ah yes! That reminds me of another irritating stereotype...the infectiously-fun/outrageous fat black woman.

The problem in her case is she's been proven capable of more than that. Why fall back when you don't need to?

 

[terry78]

I don't think a lot of fanboys seriously care about black actors getting better parts, they just don't want their precious characters altered in any way, shape or form. The plight of black actors goes in one ear and out the other with a lot of moviegoing fans to be honest, unless they are black. And even then, it's a stretch.

 

[Assassin]

ever seen the movie first time fellon?

 

[Chris Wallace]

True. I wonder if any white fans would've seriously objected had a white actor played Robbie Robertson. On the other hand, I don't think ANY fans would've accepted a white Storm simply because she's such a prominent character.
I think when complaints are lodged against such casting decisions as MCD for Kingpin it does stem more from a sense of comic book purism than any sort of prejudice. With the exception of one poll I saw on these boards, regarding who would've been a better fit for Kingpin. The choices were-in these exact words-"Black guy (one they got)" & "Guy from the sopranos". If you can't be troubled to learn the actors' names, & then suggest someone who is in no way right for the role as a replacement, that seems to be racially motivated.

 

[Chris Wallace]

True. I wonder if any white fans would've seriously objected had a white actor played Robbie Robertson. On the other hand, I don't think ANY fans would've accepted a white Storm simply because she's such a prominent character.
I think when complaints are lodged against such casting decisions as MCD for Kingpin it does stem more from a sense of comic book purism than any sort of prejudice. With the exception of one poll I saw on these boards, regarding who would've been a better fit for Kingpin. The choices were-in these exact words-"Black guy (one they got)" & "Guy from the sopranos". If you can't be troubled to learn the actors' names, & then suggest someone who is in no way right for the role as a replacement, that seems to be racially motivated.

 

[Chris Wallace]

ever seen the movie first time fellon?

Long time ago; Omar Epps goes to Boot Camp in lieu of jail & after having a hard time at first, he finds a job & gets his life on track. What of it?

 

[Assassin]

nothing, u said hes good on house, he was pretty good in that film too, helping out the white folk and such

 

[Chris Wallace]

Omar started out doing those "hood" type flicks-(I don't count FTF b/c there was a point to it; he got out of that life) but he's since moved on. He's doing something w/his career by playing someone who's done something w/his life.

 

[The Llama]

I don't think a lot of fanboys seriously care about black actors getting better parts, they just don't want their precious characters altered in any way, shape or form. The plight of black actors goes in one ear and out the other with a lot of moviegoing fans to be honest, unless they are black. And even then, it's a stretch.

You say the "precious characters" thing in sort of a disapproving sense...I'm not obsessive about little changes, and I do think black actors should get better parts, I just don't see why you'd change a character's pre-established race. I'd be just as annoyed if a black character was turned white. It's not that the character's race really has any effect on them, it's just that they were written that way originally. If in the Dark Knight, they got a black actor to play the Joker, they could still get the white face paint, it wouldn't really effect the way the character acted, but what would be the point?

True. I wonder if any white fans would've seriously objected had a white actor played Robbie Robertson. On the other hand, I don't think ANY fans would've accepted a white Storm simply because she's such a prominent character.
I think when complaints are lodged against such casting decisions as MCD for Kingpin it does stem more from a sense of comic book purism than any sort of prejudice. With the exception of one poll I saw on these boards, regarding who would've been a better fit for Kingpin. The choices were-in these exact words-"Black guy (one they got)" & "Guy from the sopranos". If you can't be troubled to learn the actors' names, & then suggest someone who is in no way right for the role as a replacement, that seems to be racially motivated.

As I said before, I would've objected over a white Robbie. And yes, it is a sense of purism, but some people (not implying anyone specific here) seem to think black people should get more/better opportunities. I had a black english teacher once. My school was in a neighborhood with a large black community, and a bit of a rough reputation, so I suppose they wanted a positive black role model, but it worked terribly. She couldn't do her job right. She did hardly anything in class and used improper english grammar multiple times, and she hardly paid any attention to the students so you could get good marks without really even doing anything. There's no possible way she earned her position. She just got it handed to her, and while I can't prove it, that's my guess as to why. As I've said before, jobs should be given based on skill, regardless of race.

 

[Chris Wallace]

How did Chris Rock put it? "I shouldn't get picked for a school over a white person if I get a lower mark on a test; I shouldn't be picked for a job over a white person if I get a lower mark on a test. But if it's a tie-f*** 'em!"
While his remarks are extreme, I do want us to have better opportunities. People like your English teacher are the reason why it's so damn hard. They get the opportunity handed to them & squander it, and because of the way our society works, we all suffer for it.
Don't get me wrong; I would love to see them level the playing field. You shouldn't have to wonder whether your skin color will affect your chances of getting a particular job any more than I should. But that's gonna be a long ways off.
BTW-do you know why Johnson picked Duncan for Kingpin? His own words-none of the other actors whom he'd auditioned (wrestlers, mostly) had the physicality AND the acting ability he was looking for. So he cast Duncan despite his skin color. He knew it was a risky & controversial move, but he went for it.

 

[terry78]

As far as racism goes, no one is really going to take it seriously as everyone seems to think it's fabricated these days. So any actual racism that takes place is automatically dismissed, sadly. You can't really prove it nowadays unless the other person actually outright says it.

 

[Chris Wallace]

And sometimes not even then.
How's that go?
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."
The same can be said of racists. It's like that alien invasion movie w/Roddy Piper; you can see them but nobody else can. And if you tell anyone they'll think you're nuts.

 

[Chris Wallace]

Of course, it doesn't help when "minorities" bring things down on themselves & then cry racism; after a while the claim does lose credibility.

 

[The Llama]

How did Chris Rock put it? "I shouldn't get picked for a school over a white person if I get a lower mark on a test; I shouldn't be picked for a job over a white person if I get a lower mark on a test. But if it's a tie-f*** 'em!"
While his remarks are extreme, I do want us to have better opportunities. People like your English teacher are the reason why it's so damn hard. They get the opportunity handed to them & squander it, and because of the way our society works, we all suffer for it.
Don't get me wrong; I would love to see them level the playing field. You shouldn't have to wonder whether your skin color will affect your chances of getting a particular job any more than I should. But that's gonna be a long ways off.
BTW-do you know why Johnson picked Duncan for Kingpin? His own words-none of the other actors whom he'd auditioned (wrestlers, mostly) had the physicality AND the acting ability he was looking for. So he cast Duncan despite his skin color. He knew it was a risky & controversial move, but he went for it.

I have to disagree with you on the better-opportunities thing. If minorities want equality, that's one thing. But better opportunities? No. I know minorities have suffered a lot throughout history and you could consider better opportunities a way of making up for that, but I don't really think that's fair. If you have a white guy and a black guy interviewing for a job, and they both seem just as good, pick one at random. Don't pick the white guy 'cause he's white, don't pick the black guy 'cause he's black. In my opinion, the races should be equal. I don't think blacks having better opportunites because they're black is any fairer than whites having better opportunites because they're white.

On a mostly unrelated note, I wonder where racism started? Like, the first time a white person ever saw someone of different skin color, why did they automatically think them inferior? Was it mutual? It's a pretty weird thing, really....they had a different skin color, so they were judged as if they weren't even quite human. It's really hard to understand.

 

[terry78]

^When they started giving slaves freedom, they decided they were worth 1/4 the same as the white men. That's basically where it began.

 

[NateGray]

^When they started giving slaves freedom, they decided they were worth 1/4 the same as the white men. That's basically where it began.

Please read a history book it started LONG before America was even formed.

 

[terry78]

Please read a history book it started LONG before America was even formed.

Obviously. That was sarcasm on my part. If you have more accurate knowledge, please let it be known.

 

[NateGray]

Obviously. That was sarcasm on my part. Why don't you enlighten us then?

What’s the point if you want to know about the facts then read them yourself me typing them up for you will not change anything nor do I feel like giving a history lesson.

Sarcasm doesn't do well on internet message boards in case you didn't know.rude comments removed as they were unwarented on my part just the enlighten us part I took poorly and I apologize.
Slavery is ten's of thousands of years old I suggest starting way way back pre Egyptian as a starting reference point.
Many races have been slaves and slavery has been both pretty cruel and almost bearable depending on whom the enslavers were....

 

[Chris Wallace]

I have to disagree with you on the better-opportunities thing. If minorities want equality, that's one thing. But better opportunities? No. I know minorities have suffered a lot throughout history and you could consider better opportunities a way of making up for that, but I don't really think that's fair. If you have a white guy and a black guy interviewing for a job, and they both seem just as good, pick one at random. Don't pick the white guy 'cause he's white, don't pick the black guy 'cause he's black. In my opinion, the races should be equal. I don't think blacks having better opportunites because they're black is any fairer than whites having better opportunites because they're white.

On a mostly unrelated note, I wonder where racism started? Like, the first time a white person ever saw someone of different skin color, why did they automatically think them inferior? Was it mutual? It's a pretty weird thing, really....they had a different skin color, so they were judged as if they weren't even quite human. It's really hard to understand.

First off, you misunderstand me; by "better opportunites", you seem to think I mean that we should have better opportunities than you. (In all fairness I may have misled you w/that Chris Rock quote.) I meant we need better opportunities than we have now. Re-read my post. Prejudicial practices are a two-way street.

 

[Chris Wallace]

I have done studies on racism & you know what? Nothing I read pinpointed a specific origin. I have, however, come across some interesting tidbits:
The Native Americans, (or so-called "Indians") upon meeting the Europeans & seeing their African slaves, came up w/a theory that the gods cooked people before birth. Hence we were overcooked, whites are undercooked & they were, of course, just right. So as you see, this is a case of basic assumption.
The Mormon Church, in its earliest days, taught that when the war between God & Satan ended, those who sided with God were given "perfect" (i.e. white/blond haired/blue eyed) bodies, those who sided w/Satan were given no bodies, & those who remained neutral were "cursed" with black skin & hair.
So this is a case of learned hate. So I think the true origin lies somewhere in-between.

 

[Chris Wallace]

Edit.

 

[The Llama]

First off, you misunderstand me; by "better opportunites", you seem to think I mean that we should have better opportunities than you. (In all fairness I may have misled you w/that Chris Rock quote.) I meant we need better opportunities than we have now. Re-read my post. Prejudicial practices are a two-way street.

Ooh! Sorry 'bout that.

 

[The Llama]

I have done studies on racism & you know what? Nothing I read pinpointed a specific origin. I have, however, come across some interesting tidbits:
The Native Americans, (or so-called "Indians") upon meeting the Europeans & seeing their African slaves, came up w/a theory that the gods cooked people before birth. Hence we were overcooked, whites are undercooked & they were, of course, just right. So as you see, this is a case of basic assumption.
The Mormon Church, in its earliest days, taught that when the war between God & Satan ended, those who sided with God were given "perfect" (i.e. white/blond haired/blue eyed) bodies, those who sided w/Satan were given no bodies, & those who remained neutral were "cursed" with black skin & hair.
So this is a case of learned hate. So I think the true origin lies somewhere in-between.

That's interesting...I wonder where the Mormon Church got that idea. It's.....weird.

 

[porchmonkey408]

You know what I don't like though? If a black director makes a movie about being all funny and ghetto and immature, its cool. But if not, its usually the same "hard-knock life" flick we got last month, about how the world somehow owes black people something because they, for some reason, are all in a life of "crime" or overly corrupted and successful. I mean, damnit, even President Palmer got owned on 24. WTF!? (He was so pissed too, lol) And yeah, black directors and most black artists feel like the world owes them something. As if they are so struggling, as if they are still slaves.

Good job. Most black entertainers (and I say most because not all are at fault) are ruining the reputation of their race by either being super "low-brow" or super "the world hates me!"

Honestly, why can't you have a voice other than the immaturely comedic or harshly urban? Black people can live on farms too, or be in a predominantly white situation without being some kind of reformed thug.

 

[Chris Wallace]

Because those two voices speak the loudest.