Comments on: My Struggle with Hollywood’s Quintessential Negro http://mesoamused.com/2008/08/24/my-struggle-with-hollywoods-quintessential-negro/ waxing poetic in trying times Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:13:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: James Nelson http://mesoamused.com/2008/08/24/my-struggle-with-hollywoods-quintessential-negro/#comment-186 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:45:27 +0000 http://mesoamused.wordpress.com/?p=102#comment-186 Back in the days of “At the Movies” with Siskel and Ebert, I remember them reviewing a film, a foreign film and Siskel raving about how it had shown him people and places he had never seen before. I in turn compared that to good movies I’d seen about the Black experience, and why the good movies seemed to be overlooked by the country in general and blacks in particular, but I believe that Siskel’s comment had something to do with it. There is an old axiom that goes, “familiarity breeds contempt” I believe that whites for a good part believe that there is nothing new to the black experience that they don’t already know, and what they do know, they have no interest in paying to see in the same way that I don’t believe “Shindler’s List” did boffo box office in Germany. The only way you can get them to go is by showing it from a white viewpoint character, like “Glory” and “Amistad” and countless other films you can name. Now we all know this is a fallacy, but the problem goes deeper. People feel that for some reason a story told from a black perspective can’t possible resonant with anyone who doesn’t happen to be black themselves. Why this logic doesn’t seem to work in reverse is never questioned.

I think a part of it is Hollywood’s focus on the bottom line, but I think society bares responsibility as well. The fact is that if it isn’t a comedy, or exploitation flick, people don’t really spend money to see quality films with Black themes. Whites tend to stay away in droves. I honestly believe the that one exception “The Color Purple” only broke that rule was because people felt they could trust Spielburg to entertain them, even if it happened to have a basically entire black cast, and the white characters were not sympathetic. If we want to see more dramatic portrayals of the black experience, or even a “universal experience” as seen through the eyes of a black protagonist, someone is going to have to write a good story, and its going to have to make money — and I mean a lot of money! Period. Hasn’t happened yet. I don’t see it happening anytime soon. I’m not holding my breathe, but I am keeping my fingers crossed

]]> By: Brad http://mesoamused.com/2008/08/24/my-struggle-with-hollywoods-quintessential-negro/#comment-154 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:18:53 +0000 http://mesoamused.wordpress.com/?p=102#comment-154 As a West Virginian, I believe it’s important to note that the scenes depicting racism experienced by Mr. Davis at West Virginia University are pure fiction. Both WVU and Syracuse representatives say the events portrayed never happened. In Fact, Mr. Davis only visited WVU once in his career and that occurred after his Heisman year…in 1959 WVU played Syracuse in New York, not Morgantown. Why on earth it is necessary to fabricate a sequence of injustice in an ostensibly non-fiction film is beyond me…particularly when the film is attempting to show the injustices of negative stereotypes.

http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/WVUSports/200810080283

]]> By: Scott Thomas http://mesoamused.com/2008/08/24/my-struggle-with-hollywoods-quintessential-negro/#comment-147 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:23:56 +0000 http://mesoamused.wordpress.com/?p=102#comment-147 I have some photos from the Ernie Davis statue unveiling which was attended by members of Ernie Davis’ family and cast from the move, The Express.

http://stphoto.wordpress.com/2008/09/15/view-38-the-express/

I know, there’s some controversey surrounding the statue at the moment but SU says they’ll have it fixed soon.

I’m looking forward to seeing this movie as the premiere was well recieved here in Syracuse.

]]> By: amused0472 http://mesoamused.com/2008/08/24/my-struggle-with-hollywoods-quintessential-negro/#comment-133 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:01:03 +0000 http://mesoamused.wordpress.com/?p=102#comment-133 A big shout out to Donnie Webb at Syracuse.com who quoted me today regarding “The Express.” Check out the link at : http://blog.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2008/08/the_orange_has_a_date_for_the.html

To further expound on my impression of The Express, I would say the movie has something for everyone. It has a historical context, focusing on how Mr. Davis’ success, as well as that of Jim Brown, encouraged other African-Americans in their struggle for Civil Rights. It’s about championship football with many football sequences, especially highlighting the 1960 Cotton Bowl in which the Orangemen beat Texas 23 to 14 and Davis was named the MVP. It has drama, particularly regarding the racism the team experienced while playing games in the South. And finally it had tragedy as Davis was sadly unable to realize a promising NFL career with the Cleveland Browns–hence the source of my blubbering. It’s an all round good movie and I encourage people to see it. If you liked “Glory Road,” this film is better.

]]> By: dgravity http://mesoamused.com/2008/08/24/my-struggle-with-hollywoods-quintessential-negro/#comment-132 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:52:38 +0000 http://mesoamused.wordpress.com/?p=102#comment-132 Quintessential Negro.

Great title. Interesting reflection. I too would like to see blacks in non-formulaic roles.

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