Welcome, everyone, to theblackactor.com.
Though there is plenty to talk about relating to blacks in Hollywood -- including but not limited to topics such as black celebrity gossip, the politics of black Hollywood, the history of black cinema, blacks in television, injustice, unfairness and racism -- theblackactor.com focuses primarily on performances; specifically the performances of black motion picture actors. Though I comment on those topics, they are not the principal focus of this blog.
I ask, “Was yours a credible and worthwhile performance? Are you an actor or a movie star?” I hold black actors to a standard just as I would any employee, anywhere. What stories are they telling? What images are they selling? Are their choices justifiable? These are some of the questions I pose.
This blog exists because there is too much acceptance – acceptance by us – of mediocre entertainment. This is due in large part, to blind race loyalty. Of course, there exists a historical context for this response. Nevertheless, this response is not serving the race or the arts. We stand up and cheer whenever a black film is produced – regardless of how preposterous the theme or subject matter is; regardless of how abominable the premise is; regardless of how incomplete the actors are. We cheer. We cheer for our black moviemakers and actors for they are the ones who have placed on the silver screen the images that reflect our lives. Everybody is always hootin’ and hollerin’ when a film with a largely black cast is produced, or when a black director is attached to a film. Too often this praise is skewed, undeserved and in a broader sense, harmful. This infinite and undue praise is detrimental to the arts, to the youth and to black flim and filmmakers. I think we are not served in any meaningful way by unwarranted adulation such as this.
This site examines today’s black actor. And not our black actors of yesteryear. There is no place on this site for celebrity worship or celebrity bashing.
The opinions set forth on this weblog are merely the author’s – and no one else’s.
Commenting Policy
You are welcome to leave comments. And I encourage intelligent debate, disagreement and discourse about topics relative to the content of theblackactor.com. Comments which are abhorrent, derogatory to other commenters or otherwise malicious in tone will be deleted. You are more than welcome to express views that are contrary to my own. In fact, I encourage opposing viewpoints.
Welcome to theblackactor.com. I hope you enjoy reading this blog and thank you for stopping by.
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