Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Exclusion of Black Hollywood

As you may have noticed this Sunday, the Oscars was a washout in more ways than one. The critics certainly weren't kind to underwhelming hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway, the ceremony itself had lost life and there was the absence of black Hollywood with only Jennifer Hudson and Halle Berry to hold down the fort.

So what's happened to the state of Hollywood? How come such mis-recognition of black movie talent has been allowed to take place at the biggest award ceremony of the year in 2011? Certain black stars were understandably frustrated by such rejection from the Academy, 

"they know we're available to be on that show to represent the people of color who are in the business in town." - Samuel L. Jackson
"The Oscars aren't designed for us... let's focus on making more films." - Idris Elba

Such a shame that this is the position black actors have been placed in even in these modern times. There's an array of black acing talent out there and movies created by black directors/writers that should be commended and publicly praised. Fl@unt presents these examples:


KERRY WASHINGTON

Starred in:
- Lakeview Terrace
- Save the Last Dance
- The Last King of Scotland
- Mother & Child

Portrays an external and internal beauty within her characters but also a sense of struggle and frustration within her emotions.

MICHAEL EALY

Starred in:
- Takers
- For Colored Girls
- Seven Pounds

Able to play a man of a thuggish persona and also a soft vulnerable interior, creating sympathy for any character he plays.

MALIK YOBA
Husband tortured with grief of a dead child
in Why Did I Get Married?
COLUMBUS SHORT
Noted for heartbreaking portrayal of
doomed alcoholic singer Little walter in
Cadillac Records.
GABRIELLE UNION
Brings a sass and kick ass attitude to
most of her movie roles.
THANDIE NEWTON
No one can portray a wrecked fragile soul as
effective as Thandie.

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