Boycotting the Oscars

[TippeeCanoe]

Can we please stop using the phrase "white privilege" in a thread about the Smith's? I'm struggling on feeling sorry for them if this is, indeed their house. Oh, poor Will Smith!

You and me both. I have a hard time feeling sympathy for someone that lives in a $20 million dollar compound.

 

[TippeeCanoe]

Here's a checklist . . . http://crc-global.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/white-privilege.pdf
I find that my white friends and I get these perks regularly and routinely.

Things in the world have changed a lot since 1989, when that list was made up.

 

[JaxDad]

You and me both. I have a hard time feeling sympathy for someone that lives in a $20 million dollar compound.

I definitely have some sympathy--it looks like they have a trampoline, which is probably increasing their insurance premiums...

 

[Gumbo4x4]

You do realize that Jewish isn't a race, right?

Ditto for Hispanic.

 

[TippeeCanoe]

I definitely have some sympathy--it looks like they have a trampoline, which is probably increasing their insurance premiums...

And a pool! I can't imagine those suckers are cheap!

 

[SydSim]

In your above quote, to me, it seems you would be afforded more opportunities then a white actress. If it calls for a female then anyone, AA or white (or any race) can audition. If they call for an AA female, then that means white actresses are ineligible to audition. So in a sense, you are afforded more opportunities then a white actress. Now if you feel white actresses are getting called in more often, then (to me), that is an issue with the agents.

When a casting breakdown calls for a "female", most of the time it is the white actress called in for the role. Why?, couldn't tell you. Does it start with the casting rep from the film? The casting agent that contacts the managers/actors' agents? I believe it's just an unwritten/unspoken rule that if they wanted to see an AA for an audition, then it would say AA female.

One of the big casting companies in my area holds several different casting calls at once, so you can see the "type" of people that are called for specific jobs. One area will have all black women, another all white women, etc. I have seen the "breakdowns" for the white women casting and the large majority of time, it will just say "female".

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Contrary to popular white belief, having money does not change the issues people of color face.

Contrary to popular belief, being white does not make you immune to racism.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I never said it was for one thing but it is still considered a minority group. Also although Jewish is not recognized as a race many do argue that it is just as much a race as a religion but that is a whole different discussion. It is still a group of people that has to change to be more appealing to the mainstream Christian white audience.

Then you should have said, "... in order to appear more traditionally Christian." Plenty of actors change their names for a variety of reasons: Karen Johnson to something astronomically more memorable (and Jewish-sounding ); Angelina Voigt to separate herself from her estranged and well-known father; Eric Bishop to something more distinctive; Carlos Estevez, á la his father, to sound less ethnic and perhaps get more roles.

Here's a name for you: Maya Rudolph. Birth name Maya Rudolph. Race African-American/Caucasian. Religious heritage Jewish. Here's another name: Sammy Davis, Jr. Buoyant convert to or from a race. You can, and he did, convert to Judaism.

 

[CPanther95]

Of course. And, the film industry has shown itself remarkably implacable at refusing to cast actors of color in major roles. I agree that the lack of actors in color in roles causes the lack of awards, but what explains the lack of black actors?

That's an entirely different issue - and not one that the Academy should be pressured to offset.

But the movie industry is a for-profit entertainment industry. If there is an opportunity to make more money by changing the casting norms, some studio will take advantage of it.

 

[cabanafrau]

However there are discriminations that don't involve color that would make one more empathetic to racism. Being denied something because I am female is as bad maybe worse since instead of denying something to 13.2%(us census) of the population you are denying it to more than 50%.




If wee are talking grammar, the "they" are refer to is specifically in the 2 named in previous sentence.

I wasn't talking grammar at all. Merely pointing out the hypocrisy of Jada and/or Will Smith asking others to do something they seem at this point unwilling to practice themselves.

 

[PrincessAbi]

Miriam Webster definition: of racism:

a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

Oxford dictionary definition:

Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior:



I think I trust there definitions more than a movie definition.

Great definition, but again, people of color don't benefit from racism as a practice. We are a minority. Look at US World History. We are still fighting for equal representation in movies. We have subcommittees in politics BECAUSE lack of representation.

It must be nice to see yourself represented everywhere and not have to worry about changing your name so people will hire you, or listen to racist remarks on the daily, or being pressured to conform to white beauty standards.

White Americans can cry racism all they want, but jokes at the expense of white people do not come close to the real systematic racism people STILL feel on the daily. I don't get why white people WANT to believe that they are oppressed.

 

[CPanther95]

We are still fighting for equal representation in movies.

That's silly. That's like saying there should be equal representation of whites in the NBA.

Movies can be made by anyone with enough money to produce one. Are you suggesting we should tell producers how to spend their own money?

 

[MickeySP]

Great definition, but again, people of color don't benefit from racism as a practice. We are a minority. Look at US World History. We are still fighting for equal representation in movies. We have subcommittees in politics BECAUSE lack of representation.

It must be nice to see yourself represented everywhere and not have to worry about changing your name so people will hire you, or listen to racist remarks on the daily, or being pressured to conform to white beauty standards.

White Americans can cry racism all they want, but jokes at the expense of white people do not come close to the real systematic racism people STILL feel on the daily. I don't get why white people WANT to believe that they are oppressed.

You do know not all white people conform white beauty standards. And no I don't see myself represented in movies a lot. Who said anything about being oppressed, delusional much.
In my professional a Black male is more likely to get a job than myself simply because I am female, so you can't make blanket assumptions.

Again if this is a problem of white people why don't these ULTRA rich black actors/actresses/producers put their money were their mouths are? Why look for to others when you have the means to do it yourself?

 

[PrincessAbi]

That's silly. That's like saying there should be equal representation of whites in the NBA.

Movies can be made by anyone with enough money to produce one. Are you suggesting we should tell producers how to spend their own money?

That's the thing. It's OPPORTUNITY. Opportunity is not given to minority entertainers that often.

Look at the number of white superheroes. Look at the number of white Disney princesses. Look at the children's television right now. People of color are reduced to sidekicks and stereotypical roles.

And by the way, mentioning the small number of shows that are led by POC isn't helping. The lack of representation is horrendous. You cannot make excuses for it. It all goes back to the racism this country was "founded" on.

 

[cabanafrau]

Here's a quote from the movie "Dear White People" that explains racism very well. This doesn't just apply to just African Americans, but all people of color.

"Black people can't be racist. Prejudiced, yes. But not racist. Racism describes a system of disadvantage based on race. Black people can't be racists since we don't benefit from such a system"

Whites don't face systematic racism in this country. I think that's why it's hard for people to understand why representation is important for self esteem and showing that eurocentric beauty and talent isn't the "norm".

Complete and utter nonsense. That claim is used as a cheap tactic to undercut any other voices from speaking out. You cannot combat racism with racism. If we want it gone we approach it with the idea we're all equal and ultimately the same, perhaps simply with some different flavorings.

Which brings up another issue, I have seen several pieces of commentary about this issue discussing the lack of "flava" in mainstream Hollywood, a statement that both demeans and offends other cultures depicted in mainstream Hollywood as somehow inferior, lacking. How does that help bridge any gap? Acceptance and respect is a street that has to flow all directions.

As for the notion that only Eurocentric beauty is to be prized and considered the norm, can I watch while someone retrieves the crowns from the heads of Queen Bey and Princess RiRi, informing them their beauty isn't up to standards?

 

[wilkeliza]

Then you should have said, "... in order to appear more traditionally Christian." Plenty of actors change their names for a variety of reasons: Karen Johnson to something astronomically more memorable (and Jewish-sounding ); Angelina Voigt to separate herself from her estranged and well-known father; Eric Bishop to something more distinctive; Carlos Estevez, á la his father, to sound less ethnic and perhaps get more roles.

Here's a name for you: Maya Rudolph. Birth name Maya Rudolph. Race African-American/Caucasian. Religious heritage Jewish. Here's another name: Sammy Davis, Jr. Buoyant convert to or from a race. You can, and he did, convert to Judaism.

I am a convert to Judaism so I'm very well aware that it is a religion you can convert into. However, I will never have the physical features of my friends and family who are from Jewish families that have been Jewish their entire lives.

Either way about this you seem to be picking on a minor detail of the race versus ethnicity which is not the point I was making. Also the fact a few people try to distance themselves from their family to prevent nepotism or comparison has nothing to do with the fact people actively market themselves in Hollywood a certain way to combat the underlying issues that exist in casting.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

No but Will Smith/Tyler Perry money means you can get proactive.

As far as racism in general goes (not movies specifically) I was going to comment that money doesn't change this type of stuff and use tennis pro James Blake as an example (who was tackled by New York Police).

But Will Smith is worth $250 million and Blake is worth only a paltry $8 million. Obviously if Blake was work at least $100 million, the officer would have recognized him and wouldn't have assumed he committed whatever crime he happened to be near.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34469294

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Jada and Will are in a position to make opportunities available, yet they don't. They're hypocrites. The best way to make changes happen is to do something about it themselves, not stand around and complain and expect others to do it for them.

 

[PrincessAbi]

For the 3rd time - Why don't the ULTRA rich Actors ban together and create Oscar worthy films rather than looking to others? You do know in the top 50 richest actors 6 are black worth more than 110 million, Tyler Perry alone is worth $450 million - hard to feel bad for that money.

Creed, great movie, great performance by Michael B Jordan, black actor, black director, not nominated. Sky Stallone was for his role, though.

Beasts of No Nation, Idris Elba, Cary Fukanaga... No nomination.

Straight Outta Compton... Black director, black actors, music created by great black musicians... Not nominated

 

[Planogirl]

Creed, great movie, great performance by Michael B Jordan, black actor, black director, not nominated. Sky Stallone was for his role, though.

Beasts of No Nation, Idris Elba, Cary Fukanaga... No nomination.

Straight Outta Compton... Black director, black actors, music created by great black musicians... Not nominated

Most reports are saying that Michael B Jordan and Idris Elba were good in their roles but not great. I'll give you Straight Outta Compton though.

The problem is still casting. If there were more films with more black actors and mixed casts instead of all one race then I doubt that anyone would be underrepresented and most people wouldn't fuss because one movie was left out. People of ALL ethnicities and races need to get more roles.