Author: Warin

Is an Oscar Win the Kiss of Death for Black Actors?

Posted on by in Academy Award, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Hollywood, Octavia Spencer.

I rooted for both Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis during last Sunday’s Academy Awards. I’m not one who usually cares for award shows, but this year’s Oscars had the weight of history on its broad shoulders.

See, not only were two black women nominated for Oscars, they were favored to win. Both Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis had received critical acclaim for their portrayals as Minny Jackson and Aibileen Clark in Dreamworks’ “The Help.” The idea of black women playing maids and being awarded for it, is in itself nothing new. You can go as far back as 1940 with the case of Hattie McDaniel, who won an Academy Award for her portrayal as (you guessed it) a maid. 72 years later, it seems Hollywood has not come as far as one would expect in acknowledging black women (or women of color for that matter) for roles beyond that of domestics.

An even more troubling development is that an Oscar win hasn’t exactly been a golden ticket to unlocking better roles or more consistent work within Hollywood. This has especially been true for black actors and actresses. Octavia Spencer is just the latest actress of color whom people are wondering what her next step will be. If the past is any precedent, Spencer’s future might be murky at best.

Since winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2010 for her role in “Precious,” Monique has had a canceled late night TV show on BET and nary a film role to speak of. Halle Berry, who won the Best Actress Award for her role in “Monster’s Ball” in 2002, hasn’t sniffed another Oscar since. Her most memorable film since “Monster’s Ball” might be her work as Storm in the X-Men series. The lack of consistent work isn’t just limited to the ladies however. Cuba Gooding Jr.’s career basically fell off the edge of the earth after winning for Best Supporting Actor in “Jerry McGuire.” He too has not come close to winning another Oscar.

It hasn’t all been negative though. Since winning an Oscar for Best Actor in 2002 for “Training Day,” Denzel Washington has only garnered more acclaim and recognition for his work. Finding work has not been trouble for Mr. Washington. The problem is Denzel is the exception and not the rule when it comes to black actors in Hollywood. Maybe things will be different this time for Octavia Spencer. Or maybe, after 72 years, we still have to wait yet a little bit longer to the day when an Oscar win by a person of color is no longer a noteworthy thing.

Racist Political Ad? Nah, of Course Not.

Posted on by in Debbie Stabenow, election, Michigan, Pete Hoekstra, Politics.

Things just got real in Michigan. U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra is gearing up for a senate run against Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow, and is coming with serious heat. In an attempt I guess to show Sen. Stabenow as some spendthrift politician who could care less about shipping jobs overseas, Hoekstra drops this ad on Michigan voters:

http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/F4F_rv9i9s8&source=uds

In one thirty-second ad, Hoekstra manages to offend just about everyone. First, he makes it appear that there are many smiling Asians across the Pacific just happy as can be at the prospect of American jobs. Also, in Hoekstra’s ad, there is no country mentioned just the euphemism of ‘we’ as if to lump all Asians together as those pesky American job thieves. Maybe if Mr. Hoekstra picked up a paper as of late, he would’ve seen that things are starting to change.

What a bout the young woman in the ad you ask? As it turns out, she has since expressed regret at being in the ad and interestingly enough doesn’t even live in Michigan. Sadly, this is probably the first of more than a few racially insensitive campaign commercials coming to us during this election year. Let’s hope there’s better judgement over the coming months.

A Last Farewell to Whitney and Don

Posted on by in Don Cornelius, Soul Train, Whitney Houston.

So far Black History Month 2012 has hit us like a sledgehammer with the recent passing of icons Don Cornelius and Whitney Houston. Both left an indelible mark not only on African-American history, but the larger American media and entertainment industry as well.

Don Cornelius was the creator and innovator behind “Soul Train” which aired on Saturday mornings and featured people getting down to the latest grooves. Beginning in Chicago in 1970, “Soul Train” would air for 36 years providing a showcase for dance moves and fancy clothes while serving as a platform for up and coming artists to gain exposure. “Soul Train” was one of the few shows with an abundance of people of color who could be seen by mainstream America without having to cater to the same tired stereotypes so prevalent then and now. Don Cornelius will definitely be missed.

What can one say that hasn’t already been said about Whitney? Graceful. Star. Talented. Singer. Soulful. Troubled. Inspiring. The young girl from Newark who began singing at her church at age 11, who would go on to sell more than 170 million albums, is an incredible story indeed.

Sadly, Whitney’s struggles with addiction and drugs became press fodder. There was the infamous 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer. The reports that she blew through her millions to support her habits. In truth, we all have struggles, vices, things we do battle with on a daily basis. Most of us though don’t have to worry about TMZ following us around though either.

Despite her struggles, Whitney Houston is arguably one of the greatest singers of the the last 25 years. Her single, “I Will Always Love You,” from the the 1992 soundtrack of the hit film, “The Bodyguard,” shattered billboard records and has become a timeless classic. Whitney Houston leaves us as one of the most accomplished, award winning, and influential singers the world has ever seen. We will always love you, Whitney.

Did On Screen Black Presidents Pave Way for Obama?

Posted on by in Chris Rock, Dennis Haysbert, election, President, Sammy Davis Jr..

Well ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year again. The news cycles are once again roaring up for another presidential election. I must be honest, nearly three years since Barack Obama’s inauguration, I’m still stunned that a black man is president of these here United States.

Now in the years since Obama’s election, many things have been attributed to his achievement of becoming the first black president. People say he ran a solid campaign. Others say he engaged the youth like few politicians have. Millions were wowed by his great speeches, and some would even say his early adoption of social media was a deciding factor in his election. Being that this blog focuses on film and television, I can’t help but wonder if previous on screen portrayals of black presidents, assisted in Obama’s rise to the White House.


The idea of a black president actually isn’t a new idea at all — at least when it comes to the confines of black actors being portrayed as president. According to Lynn Tolliver’s book, Movie Concepts Sitcom Presentations, the earliest indication of a black man (or in this case, young boy) being portrayed as president, was in the 1933 movie “Rufus Jones for President,” starring a then 7-year-old Sammy Davis Jr.

 (Yes, the stereotypes are widely prevalent here, but this was the 1930s after all)

Black Men as President in Modern Times


There have been quite a few movies and television series that have had black men leading the nation from such disasters as: death, destruction, terrorism, and even a wayward asteroid.

Tom Lister graduated from stealing bikes in “Friday,” to being depicted as president in a futuristic America in 1997’s “The Fifth Element.”  Morgan Freeman was charged with the responsibility of leading the nation in preparation of an oncoming asteroid the following year in “Deep Impact.”

2003 would bring Chris Rock’s turn at president in his film, “Head of State.” The movie took a humorous look as Mays Gilliam (portrayed by Rock) went from unknown D.C. alderman, to getting his party’s nomination, and running for president. I remember seeing this in early 2004 and thinking it would be awhile before we ever saw a black president, but sure enough, it would only take four more years.

The Dennis Haysbert Effect?



You may not recognize the name, but if I say the phrase, “Are you in good hands?” Haysbert’s picture probably comes to mind. Besides the Allstate ads, Dennis Haysbert  also played President David Palmer on the hit show “24.” He believes that with mainstream America seeing him — a black man — as president, may have very well assuaged the fears some might have had with an actual black man running for the highest office in the land. He said as much in a January 2008 interview to TV Guide magazine:

“As far as the public is concerned, it did open up their minds and their hearts a little bit to the notion that if the right man came along… that a black man could be president of the United States,” says Haysbert.

I tend to agree with Haysbert to a certain extent on this. I think his portrayal as a strong, decisive president, may have very well subconsciously opened up people’s eyes to a person of color holding the highest office in the land. An even more interesting question since the election of Barack Obama is will we see more men of color playing president in movies and TV? How a bout a black female as president? Things to think about…

Moving Ahead in 2012

Posted on by in Uncategorized.

Where has the time gone? It seems with each passing year time seems to move even faster.

I must say even though I did not get to blog as much as I would like this year, I am definitely enjoying the process and even small amounts of exposure. December has been a bit of a tough month for me (two wsidom teeth being removed and fighting a recent cold hasn’t helped matters) but I am certainly looking forward to more blogging and more topics come 2012. Just a taste of things I plan on discussing in the coming year: Blaxploitation films and their legacy, black journalists and the prime time dilemma, the movie ‘ A Birth of a Nation,’ the Poiter Persona, black presidents (yes, presidents with an S) and a host of other things.

For those of you who have read this blog from the outset or may have just started reading within the last month or so, I definitely want to say, Thank You. Here’s to a more a fruitful and productive next year to all of us. *Raises glass.*

Louis Gossett Jr. on Blaxploitation Films and Black Actors

Posted on by in Blaxploitation, Film, Louis Gossett Jr., Quotes.

 “. . . The responsibility for film imagery must be extended to the producers who come up with these scripts. The blame can’t be placed on black actors because they have to work – any place and any time they can. They have rent to pay just like everybody else.”

                                      – Louis Gossett Jr., NY Amsterdam News, 1974

Remembering Heavy D

Posted on by in Heavy D, IMDb, music video.

I was shocked like many of you were to find out Dwight Myers -better known to the rest of the world as Heavy D- had died at just 44-years-old earlier this month.

Heavy D was probably best known for his 1991 hit ‘Now That We Found Love,’ which was a hell of a popular song when it dropped. I vaguely remember dancing to it as a child way back it when.

Heavy D didn’t just leave his mark on music, his talents extended into the film and television world as well. As stated in his IMDb page, Heavy D had put in more than 20 years worth of acting experience at the time of his death. His last onscreen role occurred in the recently released film ‘Tower Heist.’

If anything, Heavy D’s death is reminder that nothing is promised to us beyond the here and now. We should all seek to leave some sort of positive impact while we still have time. It is only fitting that Heavy D’s last tweet was “Be Inspired!” Heavy D certainly was that, and a lot more, while he was with us.