We were in the New Orleans airport yesterday evening and Oprah's special she always does the day after the Academy Award's was on. Jennifer Hudson came on and I was like..."Aiight JHud!" Why? Because I'm proud of her. Not JUST because she's a black woman either. But mostly because she's like the underdog. The true AMERICAN DREAM.
Isn't that what America is all about? The fact that any of us can come from extremly humble beginnings and be anything we want to be? Ms. Hudson is the perfect example of that and she seems like a good girl. "God is good. Look at what God can do." That's a girl we can be proud of.
So, I noticed a lot of black people, women, come over to watch Jennifer Hudson and we were all grinning from ear to ear. When the segment was over it got boring with some mess about Gayle's behind the scene thing (Oprah...you really need to get someone with some flava to rep you. I know Gayle ya girl and all...but her yawn factor is way up there. I'm just saying bruh.) and everyone settled into their own thing. Reading their books, mags, newspapers, turning up their iPods. And then I heard it.
Four really jazzy white ladies talking to each other and one of them said..."Now who is she again?"
Jazzy Lady 2: They said something about "American Idol."
Jazzy Lady 3: She was on "American Idol?"
Jazzy Lady 4: I don't know. What did she win for? "American Idol?"
Jazzy Lady 1: I missed that part.
So...me being me...someone who can talk to ANYBODY...said, "She was in the movie 'Dreamgirls.'"
Jazzy Lady 1: What was that?
Jazzy Lady 2: I never heard of it.
Jazzy Lady 3: Was that the movie with Denzel Washington?
Jazzy Lady 4: (Blank stare.)
Now yall...my mouf dropped open. Why? BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN INUNDATED WITH "DREAMGIRLS!" I was sick of seeing the commercials. Sick of the reference being EVERYWHERE! They talked about it on ALL THE SHOWS. All of them. "Regis and Kelly," "The View," "Martha Stewart," "Oprah," ALL OF THEM. "Dreamgirls" was EVERYWHERE!
So how is it that four happening, hip looking women didn't even know it existed?
I watch a lot of movies. A LOT. I've probably watched every black movie ever made that appealed to me...but I have watched like a hundred times that of movies wherein NOT ONE BLACK PERSON WAS IN THE MOVIE. Why? Because that's just the way it is. I can watch television all day and the ratio would be so disproportionate that it SHOULD bother me. But it doesn't. Why? Because I'm used to it. We all are.
Lesley told me that some of her co-workers were saying they weren't going to watch the Oscars any more because it has lost "it." That star power, that magical SOMETHING. Or maybe just a few too many black people have won Oscars. The world may never know.
May I say something that might be controversial? Hell...it's my site...of course I can.
HALLE BERRY DID NOT DESERVE AN ACADEMY AWARD. And everybody knows it. Hollywood was feeling guilty and Halle looks good. SHE DID NOT DESERVE IT.
Why were they feeling guilty you ask? Because of the lack of wins and, in some cases even, NOMINATIONS of EXCELLENT movies that depicted black life.
"Malcolm X" anyone?
Say now...what's up "Color Purple?"
Whatchu say "What's Love Got to Do With It?"
Why are you wilting "A Raisin in the Sun?"
I'm seeing red although "Lady Sings the Blues."
These movies...all released at PIVOTAL points in life...could have changed the fabric of what is available depicting black life now. Because they went basically unnoticed and unappreciated by Hollywood, it seemed that the type of movies they were...would not be appreciated by the masses so another direction was taken...more of entertainment instead of potential enlightenment. More comedy...less drama. Less circumstances for crossover. THE LINE WAS DRAWN.
Anyone of you going to tell me that Denzel should not have received an Oscar for "Malcolm X" as opposed to "Training Day?" DO YOU REALLY THINK HALLE BERRY AND NOT ANGELA BASSETT SHOULD HAVE AN OSCAR DISPLAYED PROUDLY ON HER SHELF?
This is what happens when it's been unfair for so long. You make mistakes trying to hastily right wrongs and you convince white people that movies with black experiences are not worthy of their time. Why? BECAUSE YOU GAVE HALLE BERRY AN AWARD FOR A SUCKY MOVIE...and when they said hey...maybe we should rent that video because she won an award for it...it comes across as a fricking joke. And then...THEN...you have white people who miss out on performances like Jennifer Hudson's in "Dreamgirls."
Jennifer Hudson deserved that award and it shows your ignorance when you say she didn't WHEN YOU DIDN'T EVEN GO SEE THE DAMN MOVIE!
I have lots of favorite movies...my most favorite is probably "The Princess Bride." Weird huh? LOL! But the movie I have in my DVD player right now...that I could watch over and over and over again is "The Color Purple" and I have a whole lot of white friends WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN THE MOVIE. Sure...they have seen "The Princess Bride" but they would have NEVER thought to sit and watch a movie as beautifully developed and as character defining as "The Color Purple."
If I see a movie and it looks like it's going to be good...I go see it. A lot of white people tune out immediately when they see a black cast. Now yall already know I have a problem with a LOT the movies that are depicting black people but Hollywood has to take some responsibility for that. Good movies with black people are not celebrated...bad ones are. *sigh* Even when it's directed by a GENIUS like Steven Speilberg. EVEN THEN.
Spike Lee and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things...but we were HERE on "Malcolm X." That was one of the most GORGEOUSLY PAINTED HISTORICAL MOVIES OF OUR TIME! And I truly believe Spike's spirit may have taken a hit when it was not received as well as it should have been by the coveted and yet DREADED crossover crowd.
White people...rent "The Color Purple" and then...check out a few more of the movies I have suggested. And lastly...put "Dreamgirls" in your Netflix queue and reserve your opinion on Jennifer Hudson AFTER YOU'VE SEEN THE MOVIE.
Black people...stop going see stoopit ish like "Soul Plane." Seriously. SERIOUSLY.
