Black Woman Questions Hollywood's Leading Lady Choices
This is a question which has been asked forever, but someone posted this on Black Movie Reviews under The Great Debaters movie review. Really it is an open ended question rather than a review, and the username was "Don't Understand." I think the answer is the choices selected a money driven, and because those who are responsible for hiring these women hire them, because they can. It's a valid question, and the people who do the hiring should answer it.
Here is the entire question:
"I am a Black women and as you can see in for my alias I do not understand.
Why does every Black movie there has to be a lightskinned woman to play a part?
Why does every leading black man Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Will Smith, have to have a others or they have to look white to play leading lady?
Lets start with Mr Washington.
1. The Great Debaters - Jurnee Smollet
2. Deja Vu - Paula Patton
3. Inside Man - Jodie Foster
4. Man on Fire - Dakota Fanning
5. Out of Time - Eva Mendes
6 - Antwone Fisher - Salli Richardson
7. Training Day - Eva Mendes
Will Smith
1. I am Legend - Have not came out yet but she's not black
and if he has pull enough to get his kids in all his movie he need to pull more black actress.(just a thought)..
2.Seven Pounds - The story centers on a man who inadvertently falls in love with a woman while attempting to kill himself. (And you know it will not be a black woman saving him).
3. Pursit Of Happiness - Thandie Newton
4. Hitch - Eva Mendes - I like her and think she has skills but is she the only actress in Hollywood?? just a ?
5 - I Robot - Bridget Moynahan - Do anybody know who she is?
6. Bad Boys - Tea Leoni
Now in writing all of these are there not any black actress who could have played any of those parts well just let me name a few.
The Ladies
Angela Bassett Kent King
Nia Long Sanaa Lathan Vanessa L. Williams
Gabrielle Union Maya Rudolph Alfre Woodard Rachel True
Regina King Anais Granofsky Regina Taylor
Tamala Jones Pam Grier
Lynn Whitfield Cicely Tyson Nicole Ari Parker
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Victoria Rowell Khandi Alexander Audra McDonald
Valarie Pettiford Bianca Lawson Debbi Morgan Wendy Raquel Robinson
CCH Pounder Fredi Washington Rowena King
Leslie Silva Aunjanue Ellis Kimberly Elise Drena De Niro
Loretta Devine Lela Rochon Lynne Thigpen Theresa Randle
Sharon Leal Kenya Moore Malinda Williams Persia White
Kerry Washington Rosario Dawson Vivica A. Fox
Joy Bryant Gloria Reuben Jada Pinkett Smith Kasi Lemmons
Phylicia Rashad Tracee Ellis Ross Penny Johnson Jerald Meagan Good
Nicole Lyn Victoria Dillard Viola Davis Golden Brooks
LaTanya Richardson Nina Mae McKinney Cynda Williams Lisa Gay Hamilton
Rashida Jones N'Bushe Wright Lorraine Toussaint Taraji P. Henson
Elise Neal Stacey Dash Queen Latifah Essence Atkins
Robinne Lee Carmen Ejogo Jayne Kennedy Anne-Marie Johnson
Debbie Allen Troy Beyer Hattie McDaniel Nona Gaye
Brenda Sykes Kellita Smith Gina Torres Kristen Wilson
Denise Nicholas Renee Jones Nell Carter Michele Lamar Richards
Tyra Ferrell Robin Givens Tamara Tunie Jill Jones
Merrin Dungey Lynne Moody Anna Maria Horsford Tamara Taylor
Jenifer Lewis Tatyana Ali Oprah Winfrey Sheryl Lee Ralph
Tonea Stewart Holly Robinson Peete Beah Richards Aisha Tyler
Karyn Parsons Beyonce Knowles Naomie Harris Vanessa Bell Calloway
S. Epatha Merkerson Zoe Saldana Juanita Moore Jasmine Guy
Rosalind Cash Marsha Thomason Irma P. Hall Tisha Campbell-Martin
Regina Hall Renee Elise Goldsberry Charlayne Woodard Samaria Graham
Alexia Robinson Angelle Brooks Donzaleigh Abernathy Eve Jeffers
Telma Hopkins Lisa Bonet Eartha Kitt Tyra Banks
Tina Andrews Ruby Dee Diana Ross Tangi Miller
Adilah Barnes Jurnee Smollett Anna Deavere Smith Mari Morrow
e Tonya Lee Williams Gloria Foster Michelle Hurd
Megalyn Echikunwoke Diana Sands Sharon Warren Sophie Okonedo
Barbara McNair April Grace Gail Fisher Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon Brook Kerr Mary Alice Keshia Knight Pulliam
Anika Noni Rose Tracie Thoms Ellen Holly Reagan Gomez-Preston
Chandra Wilson Lisa Arrindell Anderson Keke Palmer Tichina Arnold
Sherri Saum Esther Rolle Rochelle Aytes Nichelle Nichols
Napiera Groves Tonya Pinkins BernNadette Stanis Kandyse McClure
Kristen Ariza Novella Nelson Ryan Michelle Bathe Erika Alexander
Margaret Avery Danielle Nicolet Carol Speed Tamara Dobson
Judy Pace Paula Patton Jennifer Hudson
Just to name a few but I hope whoever reads this know what I mean.."
Let me first just say I see what you are saying in those particular films,however, you left out many films where those two gentleman did work alongside leading black women. I just watched the Hurricane last night where Denzel was with Debbie Morgan in the movie, and as far as Thandie Newton goes she is African. Her father is African. I noticed many of the ladies on your list who have worked with Denzel and Will. Denzel workked with Teresa Randle and Angela Bassett in Malcom X. He also just starred in a movie with Sanaa Lathan and Paula Patton,who is black, and Will was married to Regina King in a movie.
The other thing you failed to realize is these guys dont pick their leading lady. They are picked by the producers and directors, and they tend to pick people who are hot at the moment, who will bring in people to see their films.
You also contradict yourself by listing some very fair skinned actresses on your list including Paula Patton, and Maya Rudolph, who I believe who sways latina.
In addition, there are not many black leading ladies because many black actors and actresses tend to type cast themself. I just came from a discussion where Gabrielle Union was being discussed for playing the same role all the time. The single black female after a man. She, as well as some of the others, will take anything that comes their way and unfortunately you will get typed cast that way. Sometimes, like their white counterparts, they should turn a film down, and try to do an artsy indie film to show their versatility.
Lastly, half of the people on your list dont even act anymore (some deceased).
I dont understand you, most of the women that you have listed on your "Light-skinned" probably circle black or African-American or another color instead of white on their application just like you. So, let ask you a question,What's the problem? Are you upset that these women are a different skin color than you? Plus all those women that you have listed as other black actress that should have played in those films, Most of them are old and it is time to see new faces in films instead of seeing the same people in every film. All I can say is this keep complaining and in the future there will be NO black actress in anybody's film. You can also see it in Music videos and commercials where people are replacing black women with other women(such as white women), for example: Have you seen Nike commercials latley. Stop hating and get a psychiatrist.
Aesha,
This was taken from another forum. No one here wrote it, so you are probably attacking someone who may not even read your comment.