Anthony Mackie is promoting his new film, Black or White, which also stars Octavia Spencer and Kevin Costner. The movie has themes like family forgiveness, but it also discusses race in America (as the title would indicate). Costner plays a grouchy old fart an alcoholic who struggles to raise his biracial grandaughter. Octavia’s character (the girl’s paternal grandmother) fights him for custody. Mackie plays the grandmother’s lawyer. You can see the trailer here.
Mackie sat down with The Grio and the subject of Selma came up. Mackie feels good about the Academy, I think. He’s appeared in two Best Picture Winners, Million Dollar Baby and The Hurt Locker. He answered some questions about how how the Academy overlooked Selma for many major nominations. It nabbed a Best Picture nod but didn’t receive any acting or directing noms. Mackie also discussed racial profiling. His words are … interesting:
On Selma‘s troubles: “People are just tired of being bombarded with race right now. So everybody is shying away from certain topics and certain movies.”
He doesn’t believe discrimination happened: “If you look at all the movies and actors that are nominated, they all gave damn good performances. Me specifically, if thats something I want, I have to step my game up. I have to do better movies and I have to act better.”
His solution? “Hollywood believes that there’s no market overseas for black actors. They say that about Denzel Washington, they say they have no foreign value. If we’re not financing and doing our own stories, we can’t expect to see ourselves come award season.”
On racial profiling: “Like my nephew wanted to grow dreadlocks. I’m like fine, I’ll sit you down and I’ll watch The First 48 with you and everybody you see on that show, that’s doing something wrong, they’re black dudes with dreadlocks. So, do you want to be seen as part of the problem or do you want to be an individual? Let’s just say you have locks and you walking down the street. The police pull you over and say you fit the description of somebody. You start yelling and arguing with the cops. Next thing you know you pressed up against the wall going to jail for something you’re not even involved in just because you look like somebody and you don’t know how to handle yourself.”
[From The Grio]
I like Mackie, really. He’s abrasive, but he’s a good egg (other than that DUI) and funny as hell in all his Marvel interviews. It’s true that audiences can feel fatigue on just about any subject, but the “bombarded with race” statement is bad. With all of the stuff that went down last year — Ferguson and Eric Garner included — it’s clear that race is a topic that still must be discussed on the big screen.
Anyway. I know the word “problematic” is overused these days, but that’s what’s coming to mind. Mackie paid lip service to Sony’s treatment of Denzel and other black actors, so he has awareness of continued discrimination against black actors and their projects. What I’m seeing is something similar to Meryl Streep’s endorsement of Russell Crowe’s sexist comments. Meryl doesn’t think older actresses should complain about available roles because she stays employed. Likewise, Mackie is in good with the Academy, so there’s no problem?
More Mackie stuff. Mackie’s return as Falcon for Captain America 3: Iron Man, Ugh has been confirmed. Mackie spoke with a DC news station about picking up the wings again: “I love working with Chris [Evans], he’s one of my closest friends. So, as long as it’s me and Chris playing Falcon and Cap, I’m all cool with being Falcon.” Does this mean Mackie doesn’t want Evans handing off the shield to Sebastian Stan? Nah. Mackie’s a subversive Marvel boy. He tosses fake shade on Twitter all the time.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & WENN
The dreadlock comment made me laugh, its true for white people too. You see a white person with dreads, and automatically assume that they are on drugs, or dealing them. So far I like this guy, his interviews seem interesting.
So you don’t see how that type of stereotyping is unfair? I’ve had faux-locs in a few times in my life, I wonder what you would think of me.
It is unfair but it is true. You can’t make it less unfair by doubling down.
@anon explain what you mean by doubling down please.
I do think the stereotyping is unfair, my comment was more targeted toward it being a stereotype around the hair and not the skin colour. I’ve had faux locks too.
@Meaghan I never mentioned race, I know that’s not what you were trying to say, I hope I’m not coming across as aggressive, that’s not my intention. I just mean that even if it’s not a skin colour thing, that’s still a very prejudiced thing to say. I’ve had faux locs, and I’ve never smoked weed in my life and i don’t intend to (not that I have a problem with it). I just think that you can be completely wrong about someone.
@dani2 Its sooo prejudiced, I’m not agreeing with it. My comment was more towards it not being racial profiling, and more all around profiling.
I think it’s racial profiling. White people with dreads are considered “alternative” or “fans of Marley” and that’s all. And I have to admit, I find it disturbing that he thinks the solution is to not do it. His nephew should not do something to his own looks and body, so as not to be wrongly perceived/accused/arrested by the police. Why not change the police/racism rather than following it??
It may be unfair, but if people are thinking like in reality then that is something you may come up against.
Are you white? Just wondering cause all my black friends read this interview and were incredibly mad and disappointed that he would say that. It’s the same as telling kids not to wear hoodies just cause they’re black.
I laughed because t’s not a ‘black’ thing, its a stereotype thing all around. I don’t think its right, but its a stereotype thing for everyone with dreads regardless of your skin colour. And my I like this guy so far comment is because I love the interviews celebs give when they start getting attention and haven’t hired people to filter them yet. I’m laughing evilly in anticipation for all the fodder we will get out of him in the months to come.
What he is saying is the best way to not be a victim of a stereotype- either race based on gender based – is to be your own person and differentiate yourself from the crowd. And he’s absolutely right individualism should be embraced.
I agree with you, Jenny – I was disappointed as well. I’m an individual, but if I (as an individual) decide that I like dreadlocks and that’s how I want my hair styled, why should I have to “fall in line” with what’s “normal” because other people have preconceived notions of what “normal” people should look like? What should I do to ensure that I’m not profiled? Fall in with the crowd, not stand out, not be different? How is *THAT* being different?
This interview didn’t offend my black friends. After reading your comment I asked them to read this and give their thoughts. They said something to the sum of you’re preaching to the choir. They believe in this equality message and hope for moree to share that, but laying it on thick with these movies will burn out the public on the message. And the message will get balled up with other more specific messages that can lead to people changing the original message for their own self promotion/gain. And you can’t come right out and say i’m burned out on race related movies beacuse then you become a target.
And everytime I see dreadocks on anyone of any race or skin tone I only think 1 thing. They go to a liberal arts college.
@Brokenhalo: Yes, because nothing screams individualism like conforming to others’ definition of a safe and proper person so as not to be a target of discrimination or violence.
Jesus Christ… Respectability Politics ON TEN huh?!? NO,Dreads Mean NOTHING other than : Here, THIS is How I Like My own hair that grows out of my hair, This IS super offensive and Disappointing as hell, and also Tell PoC that they are being hit with the race thing again TOO MUCH and see how that goes over, cause is a DAILY thing and it’s THE WORST
Why Just Yesterday My Boss said This BS in the guise of a Joke about Palestinians and ISIS and I wanted to Throttle him and I told him that sh!t wasnt funny but that kind of micro aggressions and stupid assumptions is what we live with on the regular
THIS.
“NO,Dreads Mean NOTHING other than : Here, THIS is How I Like My own hair that grows out of my hair”
Well if you’re black they could mean you getting kicked out of school or fired. If you’re white they mean you’re a free spirit! Isn’t it grand?!
This a thousand times.
I disagree. Dreads are a political statement that people should be proud of. It’s not just ‘my hair the way it grows out of my head’, it takes a lot of maintenance, and both Black and White people grow dreads to make a point about their own identities. It’s like a crewcut on a skinhead or a Mohawk on a punk or a right-wing gun nut.
I love you, QQ. I really do.
This, +1.
I’m so done with respectability politics and these elitists within the black community. I used to love Mackie but not anymore. This was so shtty of him to say and I don’t think its really appropriate for non-black people to be telling us what we should find offensive or not (based on comments about this on here and other sites), it’s not their place and we have every right to be livid with Mackie. He was such a “hero” to young black kids ever since he became the Falcon and I feel like he’s let them down now.
EVERYTHING you said, girl! Let’s not forget that respectability politics is part of what helped Bill “I Put the Pills in the Hoagie” Cosby get away with being a rapist for so long!
Anthony is getting dragged mercilessly on Twitter for his ignorant comments. All the unarmed blacked people who’re Ben murdered by white cops DIDN’T have dreads. That said black people get profiled wearing an array of hairstyles.
In addition saying Selma was snubbed because people are tired of being bombarded with race. What people are these? Hmmm.
Respectability politics won’t save his nephew or him from being profiled.
.
Oh dear.
faux locks??
Lol please don’t compare black people with dreads and white people with dreads and say “it’s the same too”.. It’s offensive and you basically just admitted to racial profiling
To me, dreads on people of any race make the statement: “I don’t wash my hair and I’m proud of it.” Maybe that’s because I have long, fine, frizzy red hair, and in the summer if I go too long between hair washes my hair changes from Bozo the Clown to dreadlocks. Just wanted to throw that in to show that one can make obnoxious judgments that aren’t race-based.
Black people with locs definitely wash their hair.
Angie: I worked at a hair salon for years and I washed locs many, many times. As a matter of fact, the young woman that worked in the booth across from me specialized in natural hair and locs.
Have you seen Ava Duvernay, the gorgeous and talented director of Selma? She has locs. They are clearly well-kept and clean.
Thanks for the info–I guess it’s just us fine-and-frizzy-haired pasty people get dreads from not washing our hair.
Agreed, I really like this guy!
“but he’s a good egg”
He got a DUI. He’s garbage.
(and yes, I have a very valid reason to hate all drunk drivers)
Oh, interesting, I didn’t know that. Yet he feels that he gets to sit up on his high horse lecturing people?? Perhaps he was sporting dreadlocks at the time and they caused him to drive while drunk and be “part of the problem”.
I’m sorry something horrible happened to you, but to say someone is “garbage” because of one DUI is not rational.
How so? If you choose to get drunk, and then drive, you are garbage. The end. There is no middle ground. It’s not something that just happens by accident, and “oopsie” moment.
People make mistakes. It doesn’t make them garbage. Have you ever made a mistake? Or done something stupid or irresponsible!? Are you garbage, or just perfect?
No, I have 100% never made a “mistake” that was actually a rational decision to put other people’s lives in danger.
I agree.
I am with you to a point. I have told my husband that drinking and driving is a deal breaker for our marriage for me. It is beyond selfish, and I am not okay with the decision to do so.
However, many limits are very low – was he .2, or .06 in a .05 state? Did he act like he’s an entitled Reese “America Citizen” and get jackassy, or was he accountable an respectful? I think there is a significant difference.
I’m not saying it’s ok to drink and drive. I don’t drive if I’ve had anything to drink, even if I wouldn’t be legally over the limit. I just think it’s harsh to say someone can never be considered a worthy human being again after making a bad decision. Maybe he is truly remorseful and will never do it again. But I suspect Jenny’s judgment and anger is coming from a place of deep pain, so I don’t want to keep pushing it.
I guess you dind’t read a thread about Witherspoon’s husband and his DUI.
One that sums up some of 300 comments: “He’s trash and so is she”.
Others called them potential murderers (which they were), calling them out for not using a cab or a chauffeur (again rightly), claiming the guy should go rehab.
I didn’t feel any lenient mood then, but forgiveness seems to be easier when it’s a well-liked celeb involved. Which Mackie is (was?) on is site.
Manta
I’m one of the few people on here that has said, several times, that Reese apologized sincerely and people should move on. I do agree with you that some celebrities get away with more than others, and I’m sure I’m guilty of that sometimes, but in this case, I think I have been consistent.
supposedtobeworking says:
January 21, 2015 at 11:32 am
Seriously, you would leave your husband if he got a DUI? SMH.
Garbage might be harsh. Perhaps overwhelmingly stupid, childish and selfish is better. But how many people get charged with a DUI on their first time driving while intoxicated?
Here’s a quote from MADD:
“Conservative estimates show that a first-time convicted OWI offender has driven drunk at least 80 times prior to being arrested”
DUI’s are one thing that I absolutely consider a deal breaker. If you’re willing to knock back a few and get behind the wheel of what is essentially a metal death machine on wheels when you’ve been drinking, you’re putting me, my family, and everyone else at risk. I don’t care how many times they apologize. You’re being absolutely selfish, and thinking your ‘need’ to drive is more important than the safety of others. And in this day and age – there is absolutely no excuse for it. There are friends, cabs, buses, etc. Nearly everyone has a cellphone. No excuse makes this okay.
@katherine – I’m with supposedtobeworking. I’d probably leave my husband if he did something so petulant and reckless as well. Luckily, my husband has enough brains in his head not to drive if he’s had any alcohol in his system so it’s not something that would come up.
yes @Katherine, I am serious. He was a bit reckless when he was younger, and I wanted him to know that the selfish and inconsiderate behaviour would be a deal breaker. He knew that 16 years ago, and he has respected it, even in circumstances when it was much easier not to.
When your family has been forever altered and effected by the decisions of someone to drive after enough drinks to alter their ability to keep others safe, you understand the severity of it. Losing his ability to commute to work due to a suspended licence, crashing a vehicle and causing financial strain on a family, and bodily injuring or killing others are very likely outcomes of the decision (all of which are preventable). I’m not okay with it.
I know it’s not a good thing, but there’s a big difference between making a huge mistake once and paying for it, and having a repeated problem. I’m not trying to be dismissive of what he did, but theres room for forgiveness too. I know some people who have one, and I can’t bring myself to judge everything about them on one mistake, and I would hope people don’t judge me the same way for mistakes I’ve made. Also think its interesting Rdj doesn’t get this treatment. He might not have gone down for one, but you hes done it given his history and everyone seems to respect him now.
I agree. I do not look at all favorably on anyone who chooses to drive impaired, and it’s something I will always remember about them, but I also think people are capable of change, and capable of learning how dangerous and irresponsible their action was. If you can learn from your mistakes and never repeat that action, that is better than those who simply don’t care and keep doing it.
a bazillion times yes, Jenni!
People make mistakes, Jenny. I assume for things to be so black and white for you, you’ve never driven over the speed limit or rolled a stop sign or driven while tired or driven while eating, on the phone, or anything else that is dangerous or distracting? We’d all be garbage without second chances.
I think it’s a topic that always needs to be revisited. In a perfect world we would all get along and be respectful of each other. Sadly and recent events have shown that isn’t the case. Racism,sexism and homophobia does exist and it should always be challenged.
+1 to everything. We should always be discussing/revisiting these issues, regardless of whether people are tired of them or not.
Yes.
I wonder if slaves ever got tired and didn’t want to be slaves anymore? oh wait.
WTF with – “so do you want to be seen as part of the problem or do you want to be seen as an individual?” I can’t with this guy.
Well, if you are seeing a guy on a street with pants down and tats, are you going to think him dangerous or not?
He could be the nicest guy out there, and I met very nice guys who look like they just escaped jail. But image matters. If you want to be suceessful you ahve to maintain you image.
“Well, if you are seeing a guy on a street with pants down and tats, are you going to think him dangerous or not?”
Congrats on being part of the problem! Your other comments make it quite clear what type of person you are.
But is “the problem” the way they dress, or that we accept stereotypes of people based on their clothes? Maybe we should look at our own assumptions.
But dreadlocks are not a part of the problem. There’s well groomed men dressed in perfect attires with locks.
Heck, there’s clean cut guys like him who are criminals. So should they grow their hair to escape the stereotype?
My brothers have locks and they’re nerds who dress and speak eloquently and are not profiled. WTF is with this uncle tom?!!
> Congrats on being part of the problem!
Yes, so sorry my desire to live is stronger than my desire to be poltically correct.
At least I am being honest, unlike some people who won’t acknowledge it because it is an inconvinient truth.
> But is “the problem” the way they dress, or that we accept stereotypes of people based on their clothes?
There is a a correlation between the people who commit crimes and how they dress. Yes, it is not the cause but it is a correlation , a signal. To expect that we ignore this information is irraitonal.
It is like seeing a guy with a gun pointing at you and saying, – well, you don’t know if he means you any harm. May be not. But why tempt the fate?
@anon I’m really hoping that you’re about 15 years old because if you truly believe that people with dread locs all sell weed and/or are out to hurt you/steal from you, then you must not have travelled a lot or have a wide range of life experiences. I bid you a good day though, I know you don’t intens to offend with your comments, you’re just being honest like you said, I appreciate your honesty and I wish you all the best ✌️
@anon,
Guess what? I am a woman of color and I live in the SOUTH. When I walk down the street by myself I am leery of ALL men. And in this post 9/11, post-Ferguson, post-Eric Garner climate in the United States of America, the people who I am fearful of, who I think might have evil intent towards or seek to undermine me are usually not young black and brown men.
> I’m really hoping that you’re about 15 years old because if you truly believe that people with dread locs all sell weed and/or are out to hurt you/steal from you
I don’t have a problem with dredlocks but with tats and pants at the ankles and chains and so on. If it is a person with dreadlocks in nice clean clothes with good manners, no problem.
And no, I don’t believe all such people mean me harm but I am not willing to take a chance.
And it has nothing to do with race. If I see somone white/ black/ asian looking like a gang member, I’ll make myself scarce.
@anon
If you want to be suceessful you ahve to maintain you image.
LOL, did you know most abuse doesn’t happen on the streets but inside the own home?
A lot of serial killers were ‘good’ people, loved by the community, good jobs, nuclear family etc…
What about rich people committing fraud and abusing drugs far from the public eye and scrutiny?
How many middle-class boys go out and shoot people because pretty girl A doesn’t want to date them? Or the type of people that go on sex tourism trips?
Political and religious figures commit crimes on an international scale and they are immune to punishment. I think that aspect of the law is much more scary.
How about the people involved in human trafficking? The people who employ trafficked victims are NOT poor, the border security who obviously are keeping one eye closed, do they also exhibit those ‘signals’ you talk about?
All people you wouldn’t suspect of doing these horrible crimes because they project an image of success or whatever the hell that is supposed to mean because success is objective, yet it happens on a daily world-wide basis.
Evil has many faces, to only see one side is also irrational and typical. It is why so many ‘normal’ people get away with crime and why people are overzealous and overconfident to what they perceive as ‘obvious’ evil.
Your ‘signals’ do NOT justify killing innocent people, it does NOT justify stereotyping and reacting in the worst way instead of exploring the other options that are available most of the time. It does NOT justify police brutality, racism and moral panics.
Obviously, if there was a direct correlation between wearing certain clothes and being a criminal, there wouldn’t be a problem. We could just avoid or arrest anyone dressed like that. The problem is that perfectly innocent people are being stereotyped as criminals because of the way they dress or wear their hair. I get that the easy thing to do is say don’t wear those clothes or hairstyle. But I think what really needs to be addressed is the unfairness to young, black males who are seen as “threatening” or “dangerous” because of how they look. This is not only unfair and hurtful, but threatening to their lives.
I’ve always told my high school students to consider the message they send with their choice of presentation. If they dress goth, and they KNOW that there is a perception about people who dress goth, they are consciously making the decision to relate to that stereotype, real or not. Same thing with hoodies, dreds and facial piercings. Those choices come with a history. His nephew would need to be prepared to handle it in a way that opposes the stereotype and preconception of his values.
I think he is saying if you are going to attach yourself to something that has a negative connotation (not that IS negative, though), you need to be prepared to handle any situations that arise because of the decision in a way that doesn’t perpetuate the stereotype or get in trouble. I don’t think the message is wrong. Go into it with your eyes open, and be prepared. Good advice.
At least anon is being honest. A lot of people hide behind the political correctness of it all. Yeah it all sounds good in print but what about in reality? I think people secretly stereotype people they see dressed a certain way or because they are a certain race or ethnicity but won’t admit to it on a public forum. You can say she’s part of the problem but I’m thinking if some posters saw a Black man with a hoodie covering his face and saggy pants walking in their direction or behind them certain thoughts of danger would enter their minds. Even years after 911 some people were saying their fear radar went up when they saw a passenger that resembles the ethnicity of the terrorists that destroyed the towers. Some New Yorker were saying they’re more cautious getting into a city cab. We can say it’s wrong to think this way but we have been conditioned to think this way because of those stereotypes. Let’s keep some truth to this. Most of the time when you see on the news where a store was robbed, a rape occured or someone was shot, the suspect is usually wearing a hoodie.
I’m not upset at what Mackie is saying about the way a person looks because there is some truth in what he said. Until cops change their views on what is considered to be a dangerous looking Black man, why should a Black man continue to put himself in that situation to constantly be harassed by cops. And of course I know a Black man can be harassed even if he’s in a three piece suit heading to work on Wall Street. In NY we have the stop and frisk that the mayor is trying to do away with.
I think once we open our eyes to our own truths we will see where anon and Mackie is coming from. We don’t mean to be this way and it doesn’t make us racist or prejudice but we have that conditioned fear inside of us due to stereotypes. How many of you wouldn’t be a little bit cautious if you were walking down a dimly lit street by yourself and you had to pass by a group of Black men dressed in hoodies hanging on the street corner. Who would clench their purse just a little bit tighter?
What Mackie said about race is tamed compared to what this YouTuber Tommysotomayor has said.
Thanks ANON for letting your racist beliefs show today!! 🙂
Wait what – are we still at a point where we think tattoos mean you’re a thug? My husband has his family crest on his forearm. The man has a hard time killing spiders. I have a small tattoo on my arm as well. Neither of us are intimidating people. My manager actually has multiple tattoos on his arms, and a lip ring. Besides that, he dresses business casual and is one of the nicest, well spoken guys you could meet. I honestly don’t think anyone looks at the three of us and ever things “dear god, we have to cross the street, these people are dangerous”.
I’ve also never looked at someone with dreds and thought they were intimidating either. I find this whole thread surprising, really.
If anything, I’d cross the street if someone was BEING violent, or acting erratic. Other than that, I’m good – regardless of what they look like.
Sorry that people are coming after you, anon. I Don’t know why. It’s crazy that people are pretending that humans don’t have instincts. If we perceive someone to be dangerous, whatever that means to us personally (and it may be different depending on differing experiences), of course we avoid that! People have thrown out all honesty and logic, I swear.
Some of the comments on this post are really problematic. People like Mackie can sit here and pretend to express concern about people being profiled in the guise of telling them to change their behavior. However what they don’t understand is that it provides the rationalization to blame the victim. It gives value to the way the system currently is rather than recognizing that the system should be changed because it’s not ok to assume that Black person or Dreadlocks = Criminal. Someone above wrote “until cops change their view on what is considered to be a dangerous Black person, why should a Black man put himself in the position of constantly being harassed by cops” ? Statements like this imply that if you’re Black and you make yourself acceptable to the masses then you will be exempt from racism. That it’s your fault if you don’t engage in behavior as a Black person that minimizes being threatening to mainstream society. I’m telling you as a Black person in America that this couldn’t be further from the truth. The notion that this will make you exempt from racism is ridiculous. I know because I’m working on a doctorate and I’m telling you that I still experience racism in so many forms. I don’t get the luxury of behaving in a way that will obliterate it and he’s naive to think that it’s so clear-cut. Mackie has the luxury of being on the inside looking out so for him, it may be that simple but it doesn’t mean it will be that simple for Black people as a whole. Finally I agree that there are a lot of people that don’t want to be honest about their bigotry. But I won’t give anyway props for honesty because whether overt or hidden I and many people I know that look like me or stereotyped unfairly and experience it on a daily basis. People can rationalize such continued bigotry/stereotypes by calling it concern for safety and security of the themselves(or the victims). Yet this bigotry/stereotypes is not based on fact, but possibly experience (if that), but how does that justify generalizing a whole race/group of people? Congratulations, you’re not David Duke but for you, but to reference Dr. King in Letter From A Birmingham Jail you just might be one of the moderates who complicity allows unjust behavior to continue. If you are, then I agree with Renee, you’re only adding to the problem and not the solution. Finally most people that have a presentation outside the norm are prepared to handle the negative regardless of the circumstances because they get people that unfairly make assumptions but that does not mean they are consciously making a decision to relate to a stereotype and accept a negative connotation. That is way too simplistic. if I decide to wear my hair in Locs and you have a negative connotation of that particular hairstyle and decide to place value judgements on me then the problem is with you, not me. I might just be deciding to wear my hair in its natural state.
Tell that BS to Ted Bundy’s victims.
Not sure why @anon’s comments are so controversial. Anon is speaking from their own experience and entitled to their own opinions. It’s true that we are ALL judged on our appearance. Be it white, black, short, tall, fat, thin, pierced, tattooed or not, etc. I don’t think @anon is saying that it’s FAIR to judge people on how they look, they’re just stating that this is the REALITY of how the world works.
@Yup,Me – Ted Bundy presented as clean cut for the very reason that this look would inspire trust, so that would prove the point that people do judge based on looks… and would also prove the point that it’s not necessarily accurate!
“Well, if you are seeing a guy on a street with pants down and tats, are you going to think him dangerous or not?”
Not. If there’s one thing you learn on this planet through logic and experience, it’s that hairstyles, whether or not one has tatoos, or the way a person wears their clothing- none of those things tell you the character of a person. Not everyone shares this irrational belief that those things make a person dangerous.
@anon: “Yes, so sorry my desire to live is stronger than my desire to be poltically correct.
At least I am being honest, unlike some people who won’t acknowledge it because it is an inconvinient truth. ”
So sorry that in 2015 you’re naive enough to think your survival and safety are dependent upon whether or not the person you pass on the street has tattoos, what their hair looks like, or if they wear their pants at their natural waist. And equating a person passing you by on the street sporting any of the fashion choices discussed here with a person POINTING A GUN DIRECTLY IN YOUR FACE is such an obvious false equivalent. The person with their gun aimed at you is presenting you with a physical threat and deadly weapon; the guy just strolling by with his tats and baggy jeans is not.
And you get no cookie for being honest; nobody here is debating whether or not that is how you honestly judge people or if there are others who judge in that way.
What people are debating is the impact these attitudes have on society, and whether or not encouraging people to accept to and yield to these attitudes instead of confronting them and pointing out what’s wrong with them- both logically and socially- is helpful or harmful. That’s the point that the people screeching, “BUT IT’S THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT TRUTH!” are missing, as always.
I dont know why this thread reminds me so much of ‘Everyone is a little bit racist’ from Avenue Q.
Ted Bundy wore slacks and ties. Think about that for a second.
Let me preface this by saying I’m a white woman in LA (and, boy, am I tired of writing that on this thread, so I can only imagine how it is for black Americans to have to constantly defend their race)…
But it’s part of what I’m about tell you; that I sometimes wear a black hoodie pulled down low with my shoulders hunched when it got chilly here, and people really did seem to look at and regard me suspiciously.
That’s how ridiculous all of this is now, everyone fearful of other people but most unwilling to acknowledge our prejudices (and that’s why, MeloMelo, your Avenue Q reference wins the internet today!)
“Selma” wasn’t a good movie… It just wasn’t as great as everybody now is saying it was. That’s why it wasn’t nominated. But lack of diversity in movies is a huge problem, no doubt. First to be accused should be producers and distributors who don’t pick up diverse project and don’t support them.
The imitation game is not great movie either. Its a run of the mill movie with some good acting. So wether selma is good or not i am not sure thats all there is too it. “Black” movies should get Harvey to produce them, that might help…
Oh, I agree with that completely. Imiation game is not a good movie either and, as you said, it’s success was because of Harvey’s shameless tacticts… It shouldn’t be nominated at all.
Oddly I enjoyed Selma way more than imitiatiin game – if the MLk family hadnt wanted more than 1 million for the words to I have a dream the movie would have been even more powerful. I blame greed for it not being nominated.
I agree with you about MLK’s own words. To me, this is a much greater historical problem than the LBJ stuff. Ava wrote MLK’s diologue in the move, and the movie speeches sound very 2014 to my ears.
Thank you I thought the movie was just OK, I would like to see DO THE RIGHT THING released again. It’s a very eggshell topic and many white readers or those who have yet to be profiled or disrespected because of race have yet to understand. It is not something we can ignore and some people wish not to comment on. For the record I am biracial raised by my Jamaican father who kept my hair in locks for most of my life.
“Wasn’t a good movie” is very subjective. I thought it was a very good movie. But also, let’s be honest, a lot of total crap gets nominated. I thought this was a much better film than many that have been nominated in recent years, although I can’t comment on this year because I’ve only seen a handful.
He is a very rational and smart guy. I like him.
He’s the type of a black person, whites would be comfortable around because he doesn’t call them out on their racism but submitts to their demands.
This is his way sending a message to the studios:”Look, I’m not a problematic black, you can hire me.”
And why should I want to be around people who look threatening and make me uncomfortable? The survival instinct is the strongest in us. We can reationalize it all we want but we can’t overrule it.
Just acknowledge it and move on. Be unthreatening and polite and you’ll get places.
Exactly. But it doesn’t always work out, I hope he’s prepared for it to still not benefit his career like he wants it to.
“He’s the type of a black person, whites would be comfortable around because he doesn’t call them out on their racism but submitts to their demands.”
@ann Funny story but not every white person is a racist.
anon: reading your other comments it’s clear you live in a world where anything but white is threatening. I wonder if you have ever been in other countries or bother learning about other cultures?
By the way, I’m white and live a 100% white country in Europe and don’t judge people based on their hairstyles, clothes, race, gender or religion.
Oh Ann I’m sorry but it’s time you liberated yourself from mental slavery and the bogus idea that everyone is racist. They aren’t.
Ann, if you don’t even live in the US you can’t understand what I am talking about.
By the way I also grew up in a 100% white country in Europe and skin color never mattered to me because it was never an issue or something I thought about. Even white people have differen shades of skin color, so what.
But having lived in the US for 20 years I understand what US black culture/perceptions are like and also that American blacks are also different from European blacks.
Anyway, I think the topic here is not really race as such but sterotyping based on appearances. And my point is – people can get mad about sterotyping all they want, but if they don’t want to be sterotyped then they shouldn’t follow a stereotype.
Brokenhalo: just because there are no burning crosses and lynching doesn’t mean racism is over, if anything this past year showed how backwards America is when it comes to dealing with people of colour.
He’s a nu-black. He’s protecting his position in the chain.
Anthony Mackie is an individual. This is his way of looking at the world. That’s OK. Other individuals have radically different points of view, and that’s OK, too. But to call him an Uncle Tom – which is basically what you’re doing – because you disagree with his point of view is a cheap shot.
At any rate, Ann, I don’t know of any 100% white countries in Europe. Lots of immigration, particularly in the past 10 years and – surprise! – people of African and Arabic descent also face a lot of roadblocks and racism. Clearly not from you, though. You’re perfect!
@Ultra How is calling him “unthreatening” a “cheap shot”?
Ann, I am a white girl who is not a tiny bit racist. Hearing all of us called one needs to stop. There are black and white racist, but there are plenty who are not at all
“Be unthreatening and polite and it will get you places” lol……
I think there’s truth to anon’s statement that “if you don’t even live in the US you can’t understand what I am talking about.” We are Canadian, and my hubby lived in the US for a year in college. He always said that in terms of race relations, it was a massive eye opener. He said that since he was white person from Canada, it was assumed he WASN’T racist. But it was different for the white guys from the US, the presumption tended the other way.
I’m not saying there are no racists in Canada, just that if you haven’t lived in or been immersed into American culture in this respect, it’s very difficult to understand. Which is why I appreciate movies like Selma, for the insight into the history and struggle on this issue.
I’m a black person from Canada and I get it fine. Canadians like to pretend that racism is an American problem or that of something happens here it’s because of the bad influence down south. It’s cute.
@Pepsi Presents – I’m not pretending racism is an American problem. It’s a global problem. Period. I’m saying that my perception is that it’s different in the American context, and much more of a hot button issue.
It’s true that SOME Canadians pretend there’s no racism here or that we are squeaky clean because we didn’t have slavery on the industrial scale that the US did. But to just say “Canadians” as if ALL people from Canada think that way is inaccurate, just the same as saying all Americans are racist.
Where in her comment did Ann say that ALL white people were racists, that everybody is racist,that she was perfect, or that Mackie is not an individual and that people do not have the right to have different opinions? It seems like since people have grown comfortable with and accustomed to a culture filled with different kinds of victim-blaming, they have a problem with it being called out and want to make excuses. Maybe people are tired of stereotypes and prejudices being challenged and called out, so they’re so eager to defend this one?
The question is not ‘does he have a right to his opinion,’ to reduce this argument about stereotypes, respectability politics, and racism about whether or not someone has the right to their opinion is to completely miss the point- maybe even willfully for some. The question is about the possible harmful impact that messages like these have on society.
“people can get mad about sterotyping all they want, but if they don’t want to be sterotyped then they shouldn’t follow a stereotype.”
In other words, don’t try to challenge the harmful behavior itself or change the societal acceptance of it, Instead, blame the people harmed by the behavior for the actions of the ones doing the harm. It’s so much easier to point the finger at the person dressing in a way that embodies some archaic, ignorant stereotype in YOUR mind than it is for the people stereotyping to change their ways and take a critical look at themselves and their own mentality.
And by the way, unless the person dressed in the way that offends your delicate sensitivities is performing the violent behavior that you stereotypically associate with their clothing, they’re not actually following the stereotype, are they? In other words, it’s all in your head and not that person’s problem.
Ann has a point here, and I don’t think she’s defending this kind of attitude. (Um, wait, are you? I hope not…)
Also, I don’t see anywhere here that she said all whites are racist, where did you all get that?
As I wrote way below, Mackie’s just playing the Hollywood game, going along to get along, I guess, but the Sony hack proves that prejudice (if that’s the word you prefer) in this industry and city still very much exists today.
By the way, I’m a white American woman living in LA, so I kinda know of what I speak.
Read: He gets the message! Why can’t the rest of you shape up?
No kidding. When people speak this way, it makes it easier for people who are inclined to do so to disregard the stories of people who aren’t living that experience. if one speaks to how attitudes such as his are cut off from the reality faced by many more people than not, then suddenly that person is a villain for not pretending that his statement resembles the attitudes in their realities.
To say the truth, to say that you live in a landscape that treats you in a prejudiced manner is taken as some kind of attack, and you’re left having to explain away or apologise for bad things that have happened to you. It’s not a victim’s job to give comfort. Feel self-pity for other people’s wounds if you like, but realise people are going to salve the ones that exist and stop expecting bridge-building to be a one-sided effort.
Anon- after living in the US for 20 yrs you understand that Europeans blacks are different from American blacks?! Wow, just wow! You should stop & question yourself. You live on your soapbox deciding that because someone dresses a certain way they deserve your judgement & side eye as they walk down the street? If I saw you coming I’d cross the street to not be around your scent of entitlement & judgement. Sorry- after reading all your comments on this thread it got to me….I’ll see myself out by the side door now.
M, you understand that I was a foreigner in the US, that I also had to adjust, blend in, learn the language, work on my accent for years, learn to smile like a maniac all the time (lol)? And it was my choice because I wanted to be successful.
I am just telling you the truth, how the things are because I went through this myself and I feel like I have an undestanding. I came from being completely race blind having grown up in a race blind environment to understanding the smallest nuances of the race relationships and perceptions. I don’t know why it is so offensive.
And yes, American blacks and European blacks are very different. We can have a discussion on this if you like.
Anon- I appreciate a discussion! Europeans & Americans are different in general, not just black Europeans & black Americans. But we are all more similar then we are different & focusing on the differences (I think) helps discrimination thrive. You are telling YOUR truth, not THE truth. And it’s good for people to hear others experiences & opinions. I do think assuming someone is likely a criminal based on dreads or tats is judgemental. I live in a liberal city & a lot of people have dreads & tats but most are actually hardworking, tax paying, anti-discrimination, anti-violent feminists (in my experience these men readily say they are feminists more then the “straight laced” looking men I meet). I am around those people (tats, dreads, etc) all the time so your comments struck a personal nerve for me. It’s hard to have an honest view of a group when you cross the street when they are walking towards you rather then having a conversation IMO. But I only have experiences in my bubble (safe neighborhood, city, etc…..) so these are my experiences.
Yeah, I’ve lost all respect for him, this, on top of the DUI, he’s just not a person I can respect any more. 36 years old and this is all the wisdom you have to show for it.
Also, it’s funny that he says something like this with his new movie “Black or White” coming out soon, it’s a movie centred around racial issues.
EXACTLY,
If you think that people are tired of discussing race why would you make that film???
The movie was made a couple of years ago.
This is why guys like Pharell and Mackie don’t like to speak about racial issues, because the intolerance isn’t coming from white people.
Oh, I don’t think that they are afraid to speak about issues of race. They think that because they haven’t had problems themselves that there isn’t a problem. So I do agree that it is similar to the Meryl Streep attitude towards the dearth of roles for older actresses and Kaley Cuoco’s attitude towards feminism.
Exactly Renee.
You find a few dudes who jump up and bark when commanded and suddenly folks are all too eager to tell us how we’re drowning out ‘THEIR’ voices. He gives you what you want. He believes your crap and he excuses your crimes. Period.
You really don’t think they’ve ever had problems with race? Gimme a break. They just have a different opinion. And it seems if you don’t have a certain rhetoric down, then you’re seen as “problematic”. Individuals have differing opinions. Who knew?
I think what he might have been getting at is that at last year’s Oscars, the hot topic was slavery / racism, and 12 Years a Slave won best picture. Much of 2014 was dominated by race-driven headlines (Ferguson, etc). So I can see what he is saying about “people being bombarded with race issues.” I don’t necessarily agree, but I think it’s a valid point of view.
Wouldn’t it be maternal grandmother?
No. She plays the father’s mother.
The mother’s mother (maternal grandmother) is asking for custody. Sarahi is correct.
No, not unless the grandmothe was the mothers mother. Your father’s mother is your Paternal grandmother.
Kevin Costner is the child’s grandfather. He is the father if the white mother. The lady asking for custody is the mother of the child’s black father. Yes complicated. Am I correct?
He gets the same comment we gave in the Annie Lennox thread: Pleeease stop talking 😩
Nice haircut AlmondJoy!! And yeah, he needs to stop talking…
Yes, if he says things that you, personally, disagree with, he should stop talking.
Yep, because that’s usually what people are inferring when they employ that statement UltraViolet. Make sure you that you post this underneath the remarks of everyone who has written that statement on this site…bye!!
Thanks so much, Renee!! I cut my relaxed hair off so my curls can grow wild and free 😀 Anthony Mackie might not approve though lol
Ultraviolet: He should stop talking because he sticks his foot deeper into his mouth everytime he opens it. Not just because I disagree with what he’s saying, but also because he’s showing himself to be lacking in understanding.
Hey! Your hair is adorable!!
AlmondJoy –
I love your haircut as well. I love natural curls – they always look so pretty.
Hi GoodNames! 👋 Thanks so much! You’re too sweet!
Erinn: Thank you! I always liked natural curls as well, I just wasn’t aware that I actually had them! It’s kinda cool watching my hair do its thing😊
Cute curls & nice cut Almond Joy!
I thought his answer to the discrimination question was more about whether he himself felt discriminated against rather than discrimination as a larger whole. I didn’t think of his answer in the same vein as Meryl Streep’s, who seemed to talk more in generalities. He said he had to step his game up, and he seemed to be implying that he felt that other actors were better than him, so I didn’t feel he answered the question strangely in this instance. He didn’t seem to go on to speak on behalf of other black actors whereas Meryl (whatever she was trying to say) seemed to answer in context to women as a larger whole.
The thing he says about dreads is uneducated. It shows that he doesnt know much about black culture
I think you’re on to something.. Good points!
Thank You. It saddens me when I see or hear one of our own so ignorant about our culture. And he’s old enough to educate himself about lock’s history before he sits he’s nephew down and gives him “knowledge” on the matter.
I barely read the article. He is a beautiful man. That’s all I’ve got.
The dreadlocks comment was disappointing. When will people stop pushing respectability politics as if they were the gospel? It has been proven hundreds of times that you still can be racially profiled even with a suit and tie.
If you have the wrong name you may not even get a phone call, so the haircut is just another item on the long list of things someone can treat you as lesser for.
I’m a black woman and I absolutely agree with everything he said! I wish there was a bit more diversity in film but I never grew up emotionally damaged or feeling invisible because Disney and other films didn’t have many black characters. The STORYLINE itself made me identify to the character because I was raised in a great family who never saw race. Now all I see is race and division all day long on tv and in the paper and it makes me sad for this new generation.
I laughed at the dreadlocks comment because it’s true. You are treated by the way you choose to put yourself out there. On the rare days where I’m lazy and wear sweats to the store people treat me as invisible but in my everyday professional clothing people smile at me and treat me with respect because I’m treating them with respect by showing pride in my appearance… Like people did for hundreds of years. Growing up in the 50s, my mother would have given me a talking to if my skirt was not pressed and my hair not properly done. Let alone if I didn’t speak proper English or have motivation in school and college.
Your hair should have nothing to do with how people treat you.
@fingerbanger , the reality is everyone judges based on appearance. It’s the first thing you see about a person. ( and I am not talking about race here – just in general ) Even if you don’t do it consciously you are doing it subconsciously. It’s the way we are programmed. Does it make it ok? No of course not but it’s part of human nature.
Of course people are judged by their appearance. Of course people judge others because of their appearance. OP is saying it’s ok to profile people with dreadlocks. I disagree.
People have judged each other from the beginning of time and they always will. Should they? No. But they do. It’s part of human nature. You can deny that all you want, but it’s true. That’s why we don’t wear bikinis to a job interview. You can present yourself however you see fit ( in a lot of countries, not all), and other people will see you and judge you through their own filter of life experience.
@fingerbanger , I miss read your comment so for that I am sorry 😊 I thought you meant something different.
So are we using the “Everybody does it, it’s nature, and it’s been going on since the beginning of time” excuses for inherently harmful or discriminatory practices now? Do I even have to list other bad human behaviors that could also fall under those categories?
A lot of the specific ways some people judge others based on physical appearance are not based on nature, but socialization. And a lot of that is based on racist, classist, or sexist viewpoints- that’s the problem.
Yes, it’s true that your hair shouldn’t have anything to do with employment…
Yet even as a white woman, my curly hair is apparently seen as a problem in corporate America, something that needs to be straightened – because I might be Sean-Young kinda crazy!
Fortunately, I work in “creative” America where diversity is valued (ie. from home where my dogs don’t care).
Do you understand that dreadlocks is part of many cultures and does not necessarily reflect upon a persons character or indeed wether they are work shy or not?
I wonder if you would say all this to a rape victim… Her skirt is so short, and i see clevage so of course she wanted sex! How one dresses does not tell you what type of person they are. Basic human respect should not be taken away because you don’t like they’re clothing.
I would tell a niece not to wear a tight short skirt to work or to a job interview .I would tell her to look professional.You can try to be PC and say people should dress anyway they want but the facts are you can’t.Life isn’t fair.Anthony’s nephew is probably college age and depending on his career choice , having dreads may affect his job search.
@Nebby: Great point!
@Kim1 But Mackie did not mention dressing for career- when you’re at work, you’re under your boss’s dress code and unfortunately only have the choice to either follow your boss’s rules, or get out. He was talking about a person just walking down the street with dreadlocks and facing racial profiling/harassment.
Well I’m glad you were raised to never see race…but were you raised to view the world critically or also as vaguely?
I ask because when someone says, “They don’t see race” it means to me they think placing a bandaid on a gushing infected wound is fixing the problem. Or that denying the innate and unique qualities about someone is a solution. You don’t see race but over the course of so many years others saw race and felt no need to include a princess that looked like you? You think they just had it on a list and said, “Oh we’ll get to that next” and thought your skin tone was just too beautiful and special to animate and give persona to? But glad you admit when you’re not dressed to the nines people see no need to acknowledge and respect you.
Weird how we went from dreadlocks to not speaking proper English or going to college. Almost like you think those stereotypes are connected or something…hmm, just odd I guess.
Aren’t universities bursting with people with locs?
There is no such thing as “too much of one race or the other in your face”. Make more movies like these, there should be even more diversity in the movie industry than what we have right now, if you ask me. There are better movies made this year than Selma. Let the best movie, Director and actors win regardless of the race and subject.
I don’t find dreads threatening or stereotypical. Why TF would you tell your younger people not to wear their hair how they want so they don’t get looked at wrong?! We need to have movies like Selma, and hear how people of color were/ are beng treated on a daily basis. It’s part of our history and reality now. So, you want to make a movie called “Black and White” but you don’t want to bombard people about race? Huh?? Ok. He’s gorgeous and talented, but I am disappointed in him.
I was trying to give him a pass before I read the full interview but no, this is just too much dumb to accept.
He sounds like an idiot. It also sounds like his Marvel-stooge media training only half took.
Oh yes, no dreadlocks, sure. Black men should try to look like clean cut suburban white boys…you know, like the one who walked into an elementary school with an assault rifle and slaughtered 20 American children at there desks? Hmmm, maybe appearances can be deceiving?
I don’t agree with him on everything he said, but he’s right about the bombarded with race comment. Last year everyone was claiming that Hollywood was finally making progress because Fruitvale Station, The Butler, and 12 Years were all getting Oscar buzz, but those films are about black people struggling under the weight of being black and that’s not real progress at all. When we can have films like Boyhood about just a normal family that happens to be black or asian or whatever race then we are making some progress. Those films are few and far between.
And I get what he was saying with his dreadlocks comment. The police will take one look at a black man with dreads or a black man wearing a hood, and jump to all kinds of conclusions. It’s f—ed up, obviously, but he wasn’t lying when he said that.
Fury, The Imitation Game, Unbroken, American Sniper, Camp X Ray, The Monuments Men, those are just some of the war feature films released in 2014. Four of those received major awards buzz and two of them received several nominations, why is nobody saying that they’re tired of seeing war movies?
Or gay issues. Last year some people said the same with regards to 12 years of slave.
Yet if you are in any equally politically correct movies about a gay man like dallas buyers club or this year the alan turing story none of this seem to apply. Why is it always black issues that make people supposedly “tired”.
As a european woman i want to see diverse stories, i am not tired of “black movies” because there are a couple out every year in the mainstream ( because lets be real its not as if the market is flooded with them).
They make tons of historical movies about important white american historical figures did anyone complain about Lincoln or the many JFK related movies that i am tired of bio movies about white men?
Because this post isn’t about war movies? I’m talking about Hollywood doing a better job at including people of all races. This conversation goes beyond just the movies themselves.
Excellent points dree and dani. I imagine because people can place themselves in a position of sympathy with gay films and say, “Those poor people, but we’re better than that now.” And walk out feeling superior and uplifted while racial movies may hit a little too close to him that all that glitters wasn’t gold.
War movies? Well come on, what red-blooded American male (I am being sarcastic) doesn’t like to watch good triumph over evil?
@Dree
Sorry, but the Alan Turing film is not a GAY FILM; it is about a man (scientist, mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst) who did something very relevant to code-breaking during the WW2—and who just so happened to be gay. It is not a movie that predominates with the GAY EXPERIENCE. I understand what you are attempting to say, but the movie cited isn’t relevant.
@christo You are right it isn’t predominately about the gay experience but the backdrop is that he is gay in a time where there was no equality for LGBT people and the circumstances contributed to his downfall. Cumberbatch and Weinstein have both talked about the gay backdrop in articles, so there is an acknowledgement of gay issues in the promotion of the movie.
Actually its an interesting question. Lets say Turing had been a black scientist henceforth the circumstances of inequality for black people in the 1940s would have become part of the story. Would it then have been considered a black movie and somewhat tiresome because it dealt even in some small way with the social injustice faced by black people?
Because it seems to me that every story attempting to deal with black historical or current issues gets the label politically correct or get ghettoised into “black movies”
Actually i would go as far as saying as its maybe a little bit insulting to say Selma or such a movie is purely a about the black experience. Its a movie about a man every bit as great as Turing or JFK or Lincoln that is part of our shared common history. Martin Luther King radicalised many people, black and white.
I don’t really get the “too much race in your face” comment. Unless someone is making a movie based purely on fantasy, the vast majority of movies produced will be reflective of what’s going on in the world. Unfortunately racism and nationalism are two such issues that aren’t going away any time soon so it’s only natural it would make its way into our entertainment. We should attempt to learn from it, not deny it.
Additionally, whether he means to or not, he’s falling prey to stereotyping when he expresses his view on the dreads. Im not confident that the issue will ever resolve, but I especially don’t think conforming to one standard for style will help win the battle.
Some of the people around me said that they hate that “black people this black people that..racist this racist that” conversations. Which is stupid in my opinion. If you shy away, it means that you’re putting it off to the side. If it’s put off to the side, then it will have to be brought up again at some point because you can see it on the side.
So according to him his nephew shouldn’t make his own decision about his appearance and listen to him and others that believe dreads are bad in order to become an individual. You know I was always told to be myself even if those around me do not agree, guess my family got it all wrong.
Are you a person of color (just wondering)? I have friends and a cousin who aren’t allowed to get braids where they are (low income, lots of crime, etc.) for exactly the reason Mackie discussed. The only difference is one of them got shot. It sucks that they have to decide whether to be an individual or be a dead individual, but that’s the reality.
I have braids and I was followed by a cop car on my way from campus back to my dorm room. the cop didn’t say anything and I tried not to bring too much attention to myself – I’ve seen cops leave cars at the sight of the slightest move – but there you go.
I’m happy you have the privilege of being a living individual. Some of us don’t have that.
I am black and from America and I also live not to far from ferguson, lots of racism, microaggression from coworkers happens in this area. At this point in my life I wear my natural hair, which is larger and curly. Even when I had perms, straight hair, weave any other style that was not my natural state I was profiled. I can remember working at mall as a teenager with long permed hair and being followed home by a police officer for several weeks till I made a complaint. My hair and respectability has never saved me from racism and profiling. Those people do not need an excuse to disregard my life, it comes natural to them. I chose to be an individual because that is who I am, if others can not see me for my own person that is not my problem. I no longer reduce myself to make others comfortable, like I said those people who are racist and profile will continue to do so.
I wonder if maybe it’s idealism vs. the reality he may have experienced. Certainly everyone should be free to look as they please and not suffer judgment from it, but I’m wondering if his comments come from simply wanting to protect someone he loves and not see him face the profiling and harassment that sadly does occur, and he himself may have experienced or witnessed.
That’s a good point Lucy. I read it as respectability politics rather than protection. But which ever it is I jut wish we as people can start putting a little more focus on teaching about not killing, harassing, and killing people different from you instead of how to not be killed harassed or profiled. I understand there will still be racist, killers, murders, ect but I believe if we started teaching those NOT to do it, it would help and be a first step.
Absolutely agree.
In terms of being “bombarded by race”, with all the police brutality stuff going on, I think it is true, and I know some white people are sick of it. But, that doesn’t make it “good” or “justifiable”. Hard to tell what is tone was. Is he telling a hard truth, or is he trying to make excuses?
I think he’s telling the truth but not smart enough to realize it. Much like his, “No it’s not racist but we just have to do everything for ourselves if we want work or accolades”
Well…Mackie, sweetie…
I think a lot of people do want the discussion of race to disappear because it’s awkward and makes them questions and feel things they don’t want to feel.
Yeah, that quote got me too.
I’m totally hurt and offended by all of his comments – especially regarding locs. BTW, I wear locs and I’ve never been arrested, don’t do drugs and earned a master’s degree. Locs are natural. Anthony doesn’t have locs and he’s been arrested for a DUI. All people should be arrested for crimes committed not more or less based on hair styles. Period.
You’re fine. It’s all code for people telling you to find a ‘white pleasing’ hairstyle. Relax that hair or if you’re a man cut it down nice and clean. Foolishness. I’m sure you and your hair is amazing.
Thanks Amy!
His comments hurt my soul tbh.
Yes especially the dreadlock comment. The thing people don’t get (surprise, surprise) is they’re taking the natural state of someone’s hair and saying “Bad! why don’t you wear your hair in a style pleasing to white people?!” As they said on Black Dynamite when mocking Cosby, “You are scaring the white people!”
Well good morning, it’s 2015! Maybe the people ‘scared’ of dreadlocks NEED to be scared of dreadlocks. Maybe those dreadlocks should put a deep fear in you that makes you catch your breath and bite your lip. How long do you have the audacity to tell another race how to act, speak, look, behave in other for them to be ‘good’ enough to join the club? If every person you’ve seen selling drugs has had dreadlocks then I’m glad you live in the perfect bubble for fueling your own racism.
I’ve seen men in suits wearing dreads. I’ve seen gorgeous little girls. I’ve seen young students and yes people of other races! If the best Anthony can offer a young black man growing up in an unfair world of discrimination is, “Hey if your rights are violated and you fit the profile, don’t be mad if you’re arrested.” Then he is the perfect symbol of the brainwashing and fear that’s gone into people trying to fit themselves into a culture not designed for them.
You can get the right haircut Mackie, but your skin tone will always be wrong to those you’re most worried about.
What is weird, is that searching my soul for my own stereotypes, I don’t associated locs with drug dealers or thugs. Maybe just who my friends are, but I associate it mostly with arty, lefty people. Obviously people of all stripes wear them but that would be my initial stereotype. But maybe that is part of it too. Someone who is not trying to appease white people is dangerous, even if they aren’t a criminal.
@Wren33 – I agree. I don’t associate locs with anything negative. I think of the singer from Counting Crows actually…
Awesome comments, Amy. The thing that a lot of people won’t acknowledge is that what is ‘acceptable’ isn’t static but what what remains the same is the race of people who have to keep up with constantly jumping through these moving arbitrary hoops.
Dreds are scary, baggy pants are scary, zoot suits are scary, afros are scary militant, jazz is scary, hip-hop is scary, natural hair is unprofessional, hoodies are scary, too many gold chains means thuggery, rap is scary, track suits mean you’re a gangbanger, rock and roll is scary, break dancing is for gangs, blues is too sexual, overly long shirts means we can’t see the gun you’re hiding, slang is ignorance. Of course, these things are menacing until mainstream culture picks them up–which it so frequently does–and suddenly it’s okay. Oh, it’s civilized when Pat Boone does it.
Can we please have an semi-annually updated list of what we’re supposed to do in order to not be threatening, or will that not make a difference because the actions are only deemed threatening once it’s widely noticed that it’s us who act them out and it won’t make a difference anyway because people who ‘do everything right’ still often end up criminalized, regardless?
A week ago, cops beat Joseph Spinks within an inch of his life and he was wearing a suit and tie with close-cropped hair, pulling to the side of the road for them. Oops, but they made a mistake, wrong guy, they all look the same anyway with that short hair of theirs. So, you can understand, right? Whoopsie!
Just make sure that you don’t look too black, make you negate anything about your looks that’s natural because that’s scary and unpleasant and unpresentable. Be less obviously black and you’ll be fine, except when you’re not. That’s the thing, they never have an answer for when things go wrong even when the people in question took all of that sage advice.
You just made me clap my hands and yes you’re 100% correct.
The story keeps changing but the message remains the same. *You* are scary. Anything you like that is natural to you and unknown to others is scary. You need to be more like others so people aren’t scared of you. Then everything will be better! Then you’ll get the raise and the respect, police won’t profile you, store owners won’t follow you around stores. It’ll all just magically melt away.
Not.
“Be less obviously black and you’ll be fine, except when you’re not. That’s the thing, they never have an answer for when things go wrong even when the people in question took all of that sage advice.” Absolutely poignent.
I think it is 100% ascribing less humanity to another race. Like, a white person might respect a white guy in a suit more than a white guy in baggy, ripped jeans, but when they see the sloppy guy, they might be seeing their cousin, or old neighbor – whoever they see in that person will make them less of a threat and more of a human.
People are sick of hearing about racism? Do you know who is more sick of racism? The people who are victims of it. The people who are unjustly killed and imprisoned because of it. Anthony hit the nail on the head. Not talking about racism will not diminish racism. Race has always played a part in America.
exactly!
You know what? I’m tired of not being able to be me, a 41 year-old American woman of African/Native descent who wears her hair in braids occasionally or wears it straight.
I’m tired of not being able to incorporate aspects of my subculture into the American culture and be judged for it. I canbe a white collar professional and be natural as long as i do my fracking JOB. I can listen to hiphop and classical music and appreciate both. I love comics and scifi and movies with themes directly abt social racial issues.
I am so many things related to and not related to my race why can’t I just be accepted as I am?
Thats the key……I AM (fill in the blank). And I wish I hadn’t read this post because im crying right now as I tyr this. Sorryb I need to go bak to lurkin
I’m a 41 year old African american/Korean American. I’m tired of people inviting me to hip hop and rap events. I hate rap. I like soundtracks and new wave music.
I’m also tired of people who call me sister. I want to say to them:
I’m not your sister. You didn’t cook cheese sandwiches for me after school to eat while watching Solid Gold. You didn’t cover for me with mom and dad when I snuck out of the house. You didn’t help me with homework.
I like my life, I love the people in it. I didn’t think about their skin color really so much. Now I feel like I think about it all the time, and I don’t think that’s good or healthy.
Thank you for your beautiful comment Tee Jay and I agree. Everyone is multifaceted and complex, the shame comes in ascribing negative ideas to natural parts of people and making them ashamed or afraid to be themselves. I’ve heard Mackie’s comments before from mothers and the comments are always about jobs and arrest, of being a victim or becoming another nameless faceless black tragedy. It’s difficult. It can break your heart and make you ache genuinely.
All I can say and tell myself is I am beautiful and all my qualities are worthy. I do not need to change myself to fit stereotypes or run away from things I love because others would lol and say “Black people, ammiright?”
Tee Jay —
I’m sorry this thread is such a sht show. While I cannot even attempt to understand what it’s like to be a woman of color it makes me so sad when I read things like this. You sound fantastic, and cool, and I wish you didn’t have to feel the way you do right now. At the end of the day, people should be much more concerned with actions and hate than what kind of hair someone else chooses to wear. It’s ridiculous. It’s not any of my business what someone does with their hair, or what their music taste is, or any of those things. As long as someone is kind to others, I’m happy. There are aholes of every race and culture and religion, and as long as you don’t have a big “F— You Erinn” tattooed to your forehead, someone else’s appearance doesn’t affect me.
Don’t wear dreads you might get shot = Don’t wear short skirts you might get raped.
I think he missed the mark here.
I agree with Anthony. Even I’m tired of talking about race and I’m black. I’m tired of the narrative of anger and guilt and the twisted PC psychologies that are presented and all the sad black people and all the evil privileged white people and no mention of Asians (which I am half also) who are the world majority and have nonrepresentation in media or american history….no one has answers or solutions.. Just gotcha moments where we are just picking fights to be picking fights. People just want to argue now, no ones listening. We’re just all out pointing fingers now. I want to sit with people and not have it be about race…the events of late have had the effect of introducing a complex and a stigmatizing fear of others that I know I didn’t have before. I was more confident, now I’m always worried if I’m doing theright thing, or offending someone or making them feel unsafe or whatever. I felt more myself before the issue of race dominated headlines so so.much. I just want to talk about things with people that are not shadowed by skin color.
I just wanted to say I think it’s very unique and cool that you’re half African American and half Korean American! I’d ask you more or say more but then I just inadvertently stopped myself because as you have just said, these days I’m so afraid anything else I’ll say out of curiosity and genuine desire to get to know someone different from me will be interpreted as an ignorant question or racist thoughts.
And moreover I agree with all your statements. Even this website is so polarized and it becomes like a minefield where people are so ready to attack each other.
I agree, and I don’t think we’ve progressed if we can’t even be curious about each other without someone feeling offended. I feel so trapped… Is it OK to ask this person this thing, is it OK to reflect or share an observation, is OK to say anything against the status qui of political correctness, or will I get torn up and attacked for not intrinsically knowing someone would be offended? No one offers solutions.
Lulemon- I don’t mind you asking me a question about my ethnic background at all. I can only speak to my life and my experiences, but I’m happy to share. There’s nothing offending to me about anyone being sincerely curious.
+1
He always reminds me of Will Smith. He talks a lot like him and has a similar way about him. Their voices are very similar.
I say to those who wear dreads to keep on rocking them. You have the right to wear your hair any way you want. I don’t like this whole “blame the victim” crap. It’s not illegal to wear dreads. I also think France should end it’s ban on turbans. Disgusting how they want freedom of speech in that country but won’t allow people to wear turbans. Hypocritical.
Excuse me but France doesn’t have a “ban on turbans”, they ban to use burkas or niqabs in public spaces just because of security. Apart they are a secular republic and don’t allow ANY religious symbol at schools for example. They may have flaws but they are not hypocritical and as you may see in my nick I’m not french but I’m with them in this and I’m glad that my country also banned them too. It is unsafe for the people around and disgusting and degradating for the women, and don’t start with the “they choose to wear it and respect religions yadahh, yadahh” nobody can choose to live this way unless you’re brainwashed. Even in Middle Age women were treated better.
The irony! He has a criminal record himself with drunk driving so hes testiment that just because you are clean cut you can be trouble.
Now,the director of selma has locks and guess what? She has never been in trouble with the police like mackie has.
It would be one thing to tell his nephew “don’t get dreads because people are racist and they’ll shoot you”, it’s another thing to tell him…. whatever the hell this is.
And yes, ‘race fatigue’ could be a reason why The Academy overlooked ‘Selma’, but he doesn’t have sound like he agrees with them.
*disclaimer: I am on some loopy doopy meds from a procedure and I may be reading or responding wrong. But these comments make me really uncomfortable.
This goes both ways. Being white in the US means always being on trial for racism. People assume that you are a racist just because you white. And God forbid you say something not PC, your fate is sealed forever and you’ll be labled racist.
It almsot feels like certain minority leaders are looking for someone to slip up so that they can their field day with them.
Oscar campaign is a perfect example – how dare they not nominate “Selma”, they must be racist!
Another issue is that I don’t think people quite know the definition of “racist” anymore. I think racist is someone who thinks one person is better than another just because of their skin color/race. I don’t know anyone who thinks like that.
There are people who don’t like hip-hop, rap etc. which are considered “balck” music in the US. Why are we assigning a race to music/ dance now? Is not liking this kind of music racist? It is a slippery slope. The same goes for the dress style discussion on this thread.
“People assume you are racist just because you are white.”
Nope. People might assume you are racist because you might judge people of different skin tones for utilizing qualities of their culture that have typically been at odds with White America. You’re not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings but you think it’d be better for them if they didn’t do these things because some other people who look the same way and share the same qualities might be criminals or bad people. It’s not enough to judge people indvidiaully or ascribe a basic level of respect to them, rather it’s better to warn them for their own good that the system is simply naturally racist and they should play ball. In this way you’re helping them. It’s not racism at all, just helpfully suggesting someone deny something they want so that they can appease a different group of people who tend to be in positions of power and authority.
@Amy, in light of that, can you explain your comments about “white pleasing” hair styles in Posts 22 and 23 above? Why do you keep referencing only “White America”? Are white people the only ones in the world that are racists?
Sure. To clarify White America does not mean every white person in America just the way a little d democrat is different from a big D Democrat. There are many times we use terminology to assign a concept to something without it being painfully literal.
Capitol W White Capitol A America is a term referring to the manner in which the ruling class of America was successful whites. This was usually white males but could also include white females. Though they were typically less privelages than their male counterparts their race was acceptable to those in power. This privelage didn’t extend to members of other ethnicities including Latino, African, or Asian.
You can also see this in Mackie’s comments. Dreadlocks are a natural state black hair can be styled in. If black hair is left alone it will usually dread itself though some make the choice to intentionally dread their hair. In spite of this dreadlocks by both Mackie and other posters are seen as being subversive, dangerous, signaling drug use and criminal actions. Ask yourself why another race’s natural state of hair is seen as being unacceptable?
Whites are not the only one’s who are racist but in terms of this particular discussion it’d be foolish not to comment on the nature in which White America made persons of color feel bad for their hair and beauty not fitting a European ideal. Natural hair for black womn women can still be looked down on in a corporate setting while no such rule would apply to a white woman. Much like Mackie people are encouraged to make style choice appealing to that ruling class who want to see men with short hair and women with relaxed hair not revealing too much of their ethnicity.
I hope that answers your question.
@Amy isn’t it just as bigoted to assume all of “White America” is racist? Could a term like “Black America” be used and not have it be assumed that it’s used in a pejorative way?
> Natural hair for black woman women can still be looked down on in a corporate setting while no such rule would apply to a white woman.
That’s not true. Women with grey hair who don’t dye it are often seen as ungroomed, unkempt, an “old” crone, etc. Pregnant woman who stop coloring their hair can get negative comments. Yet going grey is a total NATURAL process and grey would be one’s “natural” hair. So there are two examples of when “natural” hair on a white woman (or any woman) would be looked down on, corporate setting or not. Similarly bald men can be made to feel bad about the natural process of hair loss.
So there you go. There’s judgement everywhere, based on looks, whether we as a society like to admit it or not.
“This goes both ways. Being white in the US means always being on trial for racism. People assume that you are a racist just because you white.”
Yeah…not so much. I’m lily white and as far as I know no one has EVER assumed that I’m a racist. And I’m around people of all colors daily – not just white people. I’ve never heard anyone of any color accuse a white person of being racist just because he or she is white. That’s so ridiculous.
Poor oppressed, white us! Always on trial for racism! SMH.
@Anon @Ksenja I’ve been accused of racism for the most ridiculous things. My black friend accused me of not wanting to watch any African Americans on TV simply because I didn’t like one of the Madea movies. A choir member of mine who is black also accused me of not liking black people because I liked Christina Aguilera’s voice better than Mariah Carey’s. These are very isolated incidents that obviously don’t happen often but I got to say, it is getting very hard to have my own opinion without being accused of being racist. Additionally, although at first glance it might seem like a spoiled sentiment from white people to say “poor me, I’m accused of racism”, it’s actually pretty hurtful. If another person, regardless of color or beliefs, is wanting to reach out, interact, and bond with someone else, but must be censored or accused of being hateful when it is anything but, it really puts up a barrier to forming connections. When my intention is pure and good but when I am accused of bringing hate and discrimination to the world, it is going to be hurtful.
So people are tired of being bombarded with the alleged foundation of our nation. ..life liberty justice equal opportunity….ok we will just ignore it bc ppl are “tired” of race, gender, sexual orientation discrimination….let’s just be who other countries dont even pretend to be and see how that works out.
They will just have to deal with it.
Racial hatred is sickening. Every race is capable of hate. Emphasis is being placed on differences rather than similarities more now than ever. We should all be ashamed to prosper from victimhood.
Jeez, hair is hair, and shouldn’t be associated with thuggery, filth, or lack of respect for society, or on the flip side, wealth or snobbery. Black ppl have very cool hair – it’s just different – that can be styled in many ways that whites’ can’t (w a bit of envy here). All cultures are interesting to me, as well as shades of color are beautiful. But we can’t talk about it because raaaaaacist. psssht.
I refuse to judge you by the color of your skin, and if you do that to me, walk on.
“So do you want to be seen as part of the problem or do you want to be seen as an individual?”
It is so nice that he actually thinks he has this luxury of being an individual. The reality I have lived as a black woman and the one my parents told me to be aware of from a very young age is that when you are of a different race your actions when bad always get imposed upon the rest of your race. That way it will be a justification for why people and this system of systematic discrimination will continue to treat you as less than human.
Yesterday I went to a very informative talk about the growing numbers of missing Aboriginal women in Canada. I hope to become a social worker and help those on the reserves suffering from the legacy of residential schools and women affected by racist policies of the Indian Act.
Anyways to my point… one of the speakers showed the audience a picture used by police in Saskatchewan for target practice. It was an Aboriginal women and it essentially sums up the hostile environment in which these people have to experience every day. They want to be individuals and so many work hard and so all the so called right things to garner the respect of actually being treated like a human being. But what do the police see them as in spite of all of this? Just another Indian. That’s the reality. That’s why the RCMP don’t care that so many Native women missing and Harper’s government proclaims it is not a National concern. One more missing Aboriginal person in general means nothing is the mentality they have.
I view it similarly with African Americans in the states. What’s one more dead black person? We don’t have individuality. It’s easier to continue to tell a single story of blacks being a certain way to justify why it is okay to be shooting all these black thugs. You’d think Mackie would want to stand up for this and say why race should be talked about. But to me he just showcases that he is one of those type of people that wants to make everyone feel comfortable. Having talks doesn’t have to be about a blame game (as one of the Aboriginal elders but it yesterday) it just has to be acknowledged that a lot of these problems are due to racism. From that acknowledgement we can all actually start looking at solutions.
If any film other than Selma wins Best Picture I want Kanye to storm the stage like he did with Taylor Swift. That’d be hilarious.
He’s an idiot
So a couple of years ago I chopped of all f my hair. People thought I was a lesbian or of I was on a black power thing.
I told people that I simply got tired of doing my hair and cut it out of laziness.
It’s hair, not a political statement. LOL
Being raised in the south in the 60s I have a few things to say. My daddy raised me to respect everyone regardless of their race,religion, economic background and personal appearance. He raised me to have a firm belief in God. He also raised me to accept the wrongs I have intentionally committed and also those wrongs that I didn’t realize hurt someone and set it straight. Treat others as you would have them treat you. There have been many times I have been called a racist name + lover at the end. Is this profiling. No. It is ignorance. We are to love one another and treat EVERYONE with respect. Doesn’t anyone see how simple this can be. Love one another…I don’t care if you are green with orange polka dots. I respect you because you are you. I’ve been deeply hurt over the years but I have been called to forgive and move forward. Forget the past BUT LEARN FROM IT and try and make the world a better place for EVERYONE.
What amazes me is that people actually give a shit about what an actor says. It is not like he is an integral part of some important discussion on world politics. If I saw his movies and liked his acting, I would want to see him in another project.
People should value their own thoughts and however you want to wear your hair, as long as you wash it. That works for me.
I say this seriously.
While I admit to wondering if Ferguson fatigue also had something to do with Selma being snubbed, I feel like Mackie’s just appeasing racist attitudes here and making excuses for playing the Hollywood game.
What I really dislike about this, though, is that he seems to be telling others to “go along just to get along” – that’s not how change happens, and the story of Selma itself is proof of that.