Is this racist?

[Denny Crane]

So here's the deal. Robert Downey Jr. is an actor. He's playing a black man in a movie, as you can see from the above photos.

White people have put on "black face" makeup in the past. Like Al Joelson:

I can see the beef with the Jolson style black face. It makes him a charicature of a black man; he's not playing some actual black man as an actor. And in this charicature, black people were put down. It was a racist thing to do, to have white men play black men while not allowing black men in front of the camera.

I'm not sure I see the beef (there is one) about Downey Jr., though. I suppose there's similarity that he's wearing makeup to play a black man. I suppose there's the argument that this similarity dredges up the black minstrel show stuff of the past. I suppose there's the argument that no white man can possibly know what it's like to be a black man.

But there's the rub. Downey is an actor. Actors play people they are not. I'm not seeing any ridicule in this; he sure looks like he's doing his job as an actor, and taking on one of the more challenging roles. Would we be sensitive over some actress playing a man? I don't think so.

So the real beef seems to be that they didn't hire a black man to play the black man in the film. Of course there are plenty of well qualified and otherwise outstanding black men who could play the role. The question really is whether we can move past all this bullshit and let actors be actors and artists be artists, especially when their intentions are good.

The Wayans brothers put on makeup to look like white women in one of their films. It was fine with me, funny, I suppose. Certainly they were even playing on stereotypes of how white women behave. Regardless, they weren't doing anything wrong, nor anything for the wrong reasons. Just to make a buck, doing their jobs, which they are good at.

Tony Shaloub is of Lebanese descent, yet nobody complained about him playing an italian, complete with accent, on the TV show Wings.

My point is that acting is what actors do. They wear makeup to look like someone they're not.

If it is true that no white man can know what it's like to be a black man, then Downey's task is a daunting one. If he pulls it off, it might show he's actually a fine actor.

The reality of this may be that it's white people who are offended and black people just don't care because there's nothing wrong.

What do you think?

 

[Chutney]

I realize that people cite the historical precedent, but eventually I think you have to get past that to make any sort of progress. I look at intention more than anything. That older blackface focused on an unfair caricature of an entire race. It's despicable because it demeans and degrades to elicit cheap laughs. This is nowhere near that. Downey Jr. intends to play a character properly and the makeup is purely meant to make his portrayal more believable. This is legitimate acting and, if anything, it shows that we're moving in an opposite direction of traditional blackface: characters and actors are transcending race. If anything, "White Chicks" retained the spirit of the old blackface.


btw, what movie is this?

 

[GMJ]

I agree with everything you said Denny. It's important to remember that minstrel blackface was aimed at portraying black stereotypes, not black people.

It would appear that Downey Jr. is just playing a black character.

edit: hah! I guess I agree with you too Chutney. Good point on 'White Chicks.' Dave Chappelle as also dressed up in white face to portray traditional white stereotypes, it's interesting that those were more acceptable by both communities.

 

[RipCity]

I don't think it's racist at all..So he's playing a black guy in a movie, not exactly a big deal.

Making a big deal out of nothing (like this) is exactly what perpetuates whats left of racism in this country. People just need to let it go.

 

[Denny Crane]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1773

Race row as actor Robert Downey Jr 'blacks up' for new film

Actor Robert Downey Jr has in the past been applauded for his edgy roles.

But his latest may be a step too far - as the actor dons make-up to play a rather convincing looking black man in a new Hollywood film starring comic actor Ben Stiller.

In a still from film Tropic Thunder, Downey Jnr is sandwiched between Ben Stiller, and a blonde Jack Black.

With his afro hair and brown skin, he is virtually unrecognisable as the 42-year-old star of stage and screen.

Downey Jr plays a worthy Oscar-winning actor taking on a role originally written for a black actor, and rather than re-write the part, he goes method.

Clearing anticipating a backlash, Downey Jr told a US magazine: "If it's done right, it could be the type of role you called Peter Sellers to do 35 years ago. If you don't do it right, we're going to hell."

But the backlash has clearly begun as one comment on a showbiz blog Just Jared said: "I'm not black and I find it offensive; are there not any talented enough black actors out in the world that they feel the need to hire a white guy to do a black guy?"

"They are infering that there are no good enough black actors to play a black person.

"What is the significance of hiring a white guy to play a black part? what are they trying to prove? I bet its to get more publicity."

But in support of Downey's satirical role another comment on the blog said: "I'm black too, and if they were satirising black people yes it would be offensive. but they're not.

"It's FUNNY because they're NOT legitimising negative racial stereotypes, anyone with a brain in his/her head can see how painfully clear that is."

The film centres on a group of pompous actors making the most expensive Vietnam war movie ever made.

Fed up with their self-involved cast, the film's makers drop them into the jungle to take care of themselves, where they get caught up in a conflict they don't realise is real.

The cast also includes Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte and cameos from Tom Cruise and Tobey Maguire.

Stiller said he was "trying to push it as far as you can within reality," with the intent of satirising over-the-top actors, not African-Americans.

"I had no idea how people would respond to it," Stiller told the magazine. But at a recent screening, black viewers liked the film", he said.

The film, Stiller's first as director since Zoolander, also sees his character adopt an Asian baby but worries "that all the good ones have gone".

Paramount is set to release 'Tropic Thunder' in the U.S. on 15 August.

 

[Denny Crane]

The thing is, if you didn't know it was Downey Jr., you'd probably think it was a black man and wouldn't think twice about it. And that would be the test that shows it's no big deal, IMO.

 

[Chutney]

Its even less offensive when you find out the role. He's a white actor playing a white actor playing a black character.Sounds hilarious.

The Peter Sellers comparison is right on.

 

[huevonkiller]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Mar 7 2008, 11:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Its even less offensive when you find out the role. He's a white actor playing a white actor playing a black character.Sounds hilarious.

The Peter Sellers comparison is right on.</div>

Agreed, people need to relax. Now I'm just more curious about the film.

 

[Big Frame]

 

[AEM]

I don't remember anyone complaining when Eddie Murphy played a Jewish-seeming guy in Coming to America. We were too busy laughing. Nor do I have a problem here, as there's absolutely no evidence to suggest that there is any racial mockery implicit in the role or portrayal.

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Mar 7 2008, 11:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Its even less offensive when you find out the role. He's a white actor playing a white actor playing a black character.Sounds hilarious.

The Peter Sellers comparison is right on.</div>

That's what I didn't understand. Downey's character in the movie is white!

How can there be any controversy about a white man playing a character who is white?

 

[Thoth]

Looking at the photo in the initial post, I thought it was Don Cheadle.

Spot on about Peter Sellers. He portrayed an Asian in Hope & Crosby's Road to Hong Kong in 1962. Sellers (an Englishman) probably got more complaints portraying Inspector Clouseau

FWIW; Three non-Asians portrayed Charlie Chan; Warner Oland, Sidney Toler, & Roland Winters.

It was just something that was done back then.

I recall some Mexicans being upset about J-Lo portarying Selena. What about Pacino in Carlito's Way & Scarface?

I personally could care less. Though, Denny is on to something. Could it be that because of Stiller's recent track record that this is a publicity stunt to generate hype and therefore interest?

 

[Thoth]

After further review, Hollywood is always blasted by some as being a Liberal haven. Therefore shouldn't they be more PC?

Is it just me or does anyone think its all very subjective? I recall know True Lies drawing a sh**storm of criticism for insensitivity and Sum of All Fears (based on a Tom Clancy novel) had to be revamped?

Bottom line; I wonder what Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton will say?

 

[Denny Crane]

Hollywood went something like 30 years between Poitier and Denzel getting best actor awards. How PC is that?

 

[AEM]

Hollywood has always been a "do as I say, not as I do" kind of town.

 

[Denny Crane]

I can't think of another industry with as much nepotism, either.

 

[RipCity]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Bottom line; I wonder what Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton will say?</div>

Who cares? They are both a joke. I'm shocked that African Americans haven't seen them for what they are. Two people who every single time anything happens to a black person in the US jump at the chance to involve themselves in any way possible, for the good press coverage and to line their own pockets. In my opinion they are two of the biggest racists left in the USA.