Are non-white people EVER hired based on their skills?

Affirmative Action hurts EVERYONE.

Amen

As for Tyler Perry dressing like a woman, it’s his Madea character which is so freaking popular among this set, his fans have bootlegged his Madea stage performances and exchanged them with friends. Sometimes at church.

Look, I’m not a fan, but you can’t just write something off as “who likes this crap” when you simply don’t know. It’s great that you asked actually.

Peace.
Norm from Meet In the Lobby

Now, I LOVE star trek, I’m a big fan… but this movie sounds ridiculous with all the D-list actors they’ve cast. I don’t really even know why they’re making this movie to begin with. The idea that a Tyler Perry cameo (I can only pray it’s a cameo) will bring in the “urban” audience is probably unrealistic. I can’t imagine TP’s general fanbase being interested in sci-fi. Oops! Am I being stereo-typical? lol I’m disturbed that he was cast because he’s a poor actor, unbelievable, and whenever I see him, I associate him with Madea… all of these reasons have made me less likely to see the film, and so they’ve lost at least one urban audience member.

Mr. Perry’s works themselves are the perpetuation of racist stereotypes and do nothing to further the African American cause. Before you go slinging the word “racist” around I would hope that you would analyze the messages you are so quick to condemn. Rather than analyzing an argument, you safely attack it with ad baculum counter arguments.

Not liking a black man’s work does not make you a racist. Pointing out the ridiculous stereotypes Mr. Perry inserts into his films does not make you a racist. Although calling someone a racist for pointing these things out does make you an idiot. sir. But you should already know that about yourself, you enjoyed Madea’s Family Reunion.

I dont say “Aw laud”
I dont get the vapors
I dont carry a rolling pin.

I happen to be a 30 year old white male from California and a very avid fan of the fundamental underlying message that is imbedded into Mr Perrys works, that of family and faith being two of the strongest things people should embrace and share to get through the trials of life. He may get that message through with camp characters and sometimes overdramatic themes but its there. Ive seen all his films, his two most recent stage productions (Madea Goes To Jail, and Whats Done In The Dark), own all his works on dvd and will continue to enjoy his style of comedy and wit as long as Hollywood keeps slinging tripe in the vein of Aliens Vs Predator:Requiem to the masses.

Im a huge fan of the Alien series and the latest film was a travesty. Also a big Trek fan and while not too enthused about the new revamping, Tyler Perry will add more acting credibility to the cast than the likes of Chris Pine Im sure.

Yes, I’m a Trek-Geek.

When a sure thing like Will Smith says he has to beg the studios to let him promote his movies overseas –the studios don’t feel a movie with black lead will sell in a foreign market– you know TPTB in Hollywood are reluctant to back an AA movie.

To me, Spike has more than conquered what he set out to do, and the 25th Hour is one of the most underrated flicks I’ve ever seen. A masterpiece in my opinion. It makes me pretty damn sad however, that no young black directors have broken through. I have a hard time believing that the opportunities aren’t there - simply from a financial standpoint, there is a hunger for black films - but maybe that is the case. I’ve seen John Singleton speak and it was funny how many black students sort of trashed him in the Q&A for making garbage. He dismissed them with a big ego and said he didn’t want to make only black films and that he was a Hollywood director and how that kind of thought was old and tired. Not sure I agree. I think he also said something like “How would I date models” - I swear to god. Hah. Singleton’s ego is bigger than the Beatles.

When I was at college (CAU) there was a panel that included Spike Lee, Matty Rich, Earnest Dickerson and some others, and the filmmakers were complaining about how hard it was to get a quality AA movie the green light from a big Hollywood studio. A student asked the panel, (paraphrasing) “Why not pool your talents, start your own production company, and consolidate the power to produce your films on your terms?” the panel balked, said that their goals and styles were too varied and such an alliance between Hollywood power players would never exist.

this was about 1994.

a few years later, SKG/Dreamworks was founded.

I do however disagree with your last sentence. I think Will Smith, Denzel, Morgan Freeman, John Singleton, and Samuel L. Jackson are all at a point of success/longetivty to get great black films made and released, but they haven’t fully delivered yet. Sam Jackson’s performance in Fresh in one of my faves and actually influenced my style of dress - what I like to call “alcholic cheess master.”

Did anyone see this cool article on a 17-year-old black director backed by some big Hollywood names in the NY Times? You can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/2ktdxt

I hope Spike Lee’s James Brown flick with Wesley Snipes ends up becoming a reality. And I’ve always wanted to see Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man adapted - that’d be one helluva fiery epic.

Unfortunately, African Americans in cinema are not really in a position to “demand something better”. Hopefully, that will change in the near future.