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How Cord Jefferson Made the Oscars Not So White

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A number of weeks ago, an area supermarket owner informed me that he was halfway through my newest book, “Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed Story of America,” and said he had never read anything prefer it. His compliment made no mention of history, research or storytelling, but since I had received the same compliment myself, I knew exactly where he was going.

“I love stories about your family,” he explained. “You never hear stories about regular black families.”

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“Yes,” I replied.

That’s all. That’s the whole story.

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On Sunday, “Black screenwriter” and director Cord Jefferson took home the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for writing “American Fiction,” a dark film about “Black novelist”, who was uninterested in writing “The Black Books”. During his victory speechJefferson graciously thanked his colleagues for “trusting a 40-year-old black guy who had never directed anything before” and implored studio executives to “recognize that there are such a lot of individuals who want the opportunity I’ve been given.” However, what caused the most emotion was Jefferson’s press conference behind the scenes.

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“There are audiences who are interested in something else.” Jefferson explained. “A story with black characters that will appeal to a lot of people doesn’t have to take place on a plantation. It doesn’t have to take place in projects. There doesn’t have to be drug dealers involved. You don’t have to have gang members involved. There is an audience that presents different representations of people’s lives. There is a market for representations of Black life that is as broad and as deep as any representation of people’s lives.”

Some viewers, each black and white, interpreted the newly minted Oscar winner’s public remarks as an elitist shot at black filmmakers or movies about black people. Others saw Jefferson’s criticism as a part of an ongoing dialogue in Black America about Hollywood’s obsession with “movies about slaves”, white saviors and movies that fetishize Black trauma.

I’m not aware about Jefferson’s internal dialogue, so it’s unattainable to say which side of this argument is more correct. Regardless of his intentions, there was a subtle, fundamental point in Jefferson’s speech that everybody appeared to miss:

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Why won’t Hollywood let black people make “white movies”?

While the mainstream media eagerly discusses “Black cinema” — films with majority black actors in leading roles — the converse is rarely discussed (even during the 337-day period of white history months). That’s why no one takes it into account Martin Scorsese a “white director”, although in his half-century profession he made dozens of movies and not using a single black lead role.

White movies are called “films”.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about American Fiction is its lack of extraordinary. It would take 4 hands to count the variety of movies depicting an peculiar white family coping with grief, loss and familial turmoil. Erica Alexander was pretty much as good in “American Fiction” as Meryl Streep in “August: Osage County” or Frances McDormand in “Nomadland” or any of her Oscar-winning performances as a white woman playing a white woman. While Jeffrey Wright’s performance was spot on, it didn’t live as much as his gut-wrenching performance in “All day and night” Or “OG” While Cord Jefferson undoubtedly made a great movie, what’s much more remarkable is that a black filmmaker was allowed to make a movie that did not depend on the tropes mentioned earlier. The fact is that it is a movie revenue from ticket sales greater than double budget just isn’t surprising. Studios that relegate black movies to lower budgets have experienced this studies which show that “African-American films are doing better at the box office.”

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In Caucasian cinema, making a great, interesting white film is the surest strategy to gain critical acclaim. Young white actresses can strike Oscar gold by playing a spunky housewife who stares longingly into the distance (truthfully, I can not tell Cate Blanchett from Kate Winslet, which is why I call all young white actresses “Gwyneth Paltrows”). More white actors won (94) than the total variety of black actors and actresses who’ve ever been nominated (76).

But because quite a few Research shows that white audiences are less curious about and fewer prone to empathize with movies that feature “minority cast members” Black characters, Black actors and filmmakers must portray a specific brand of black pain to receive the same accolades as their white counterparts. White audiences cannot see the humanity of Black people unless it falls into one in all 4 categories:

  1. Be an actual person: One-third of Black’s Oscar-nominated performances feature historical figures, including Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx), Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker), Richard Williams (Will Smith) and Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya)
  2. Be helpful: You could be a slave (Hattie McDaniel in “Gone with the Wind”; Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”; Denzel Washington in “Glory”) a servant (Octavia Spencer in “The Help”; Sidney Poitier in “Lily of the Valley”, Morgan Freeman in “Driving Miss Daisy”) or just serving the white hero. (Whoopi Goldberg in “Ghost” Morgan Freeman in “Million Dollar Baby”
  3. A black one who can sing, dance, run, or do something that white people appreciate can almost change into a human being(Mahershala Ali in “Green Book”, Jennifer Hudson in “Dreamgirls”, Cuba Gooding Jr. in “Jerry Maguire”)
  4. Suffer: High-stakes, hyperbolic trauma is one in all the few lenses through which white people can see the humanity of black people. (Da’Vine Joy Randolph in “The Holdovers”; Mary J. Blige in “Mudbound”; Halle Berry in “Monster’s Ball”)

None of which means Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voters hate Black people or think less of the movies we make. The best Black art, music, and other types of cultural meaning-making accurately represent Black lives and inform Black individuals who they’re to one another. Conversely, the job of an Oscar voter is to guage black art through the lens of how black people perceive it. And for that specific purpose, the Oscars.

In fact, the most notable achievement of “American Fiction” could also be that white people took notice.

Jefferson didn’t mean that movies about bandits, maids, and slaves were less worthy of attention and praise. It wasn’t even about the need for mid-budget movies (studios were greenlighting white mid-budget movies all the time). His ultimate premise was that everybody deserved to be told because… Or as some call it:

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Diversity.

Right.

Inclusion.

That’s all. That’s the whole story.

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Entertainment

Mara Brock Akil wants to make a movie “Girls” – only needs financing

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Until now, the cultural trace of the story of Mara Brock Akil is undeniable. Her latest series, “Forever”, had all of us in our feelings last weekend (including this creator). But for fans of her earlier work “Girlfriends”, “Love Is” and “The Game” there’s also also also one query that never disappears: Will we ever receive the precise sending for ladies “girls”?

Apparently Akil wants it as much as we do.

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In a recent seat in “Sherri” Akil said she was trying to revive the movie “Girls”

“I want to tell this story … I want to write an epic film (” Girls “); I tried to tell this story, “Akil admitted before I revealed that its biggest road blockade on this project was financing.

“So I have a good idea for us now,” she added. “Where is your phone? Do you know someone who has $ 50 million on your phone? Do we have five people who have $ 10 million? Do we have 10 million (people) who have five?”

Considering what variety of viewers Akil loves the work, social media users were shocked, hearing that the creator of “girls” is trying to get financing their projects.

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“From the CV Mara Brock Akil should not be begging you to invest in her stories. This is crazy,” commented one user About the actual fact.

“If sex and city got two spinoff films, we can finish girls, someone will open their wallet” Another user wrote on Twitter.

While Shepherd was joking about “handing over the album” to finance the film, she also emphasized how difficult it’s to get projects in Hollywood, even throughout the case of essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially probably probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably the most respected names in the game. The premiere of “Girlfriends” in 2000 and ran for eight seasons, giving us 172 episodes with the participation of Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones, Persia White and Reggie Hayes. The program suddenly stopped in 2008 through the writers’ strike, leaving too many unanswered fans about Joan, Toni, Maya, Lynn and William.

Still, Akil didn’t lose hope. And she didn’t lose gratitude for the fans base, which stays to be going to history.

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“I really want to thank the audience because you didn’t let go and (I),” Akil added.

Lena Waithe attributes to

To

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Janelle Monáe, Fast Cars & Future Worlds: Cadillac’s F1 Launch means a new era of American innovation – Essence

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Under the shining lights contained contained contained contained throughout the style of Art Deco South Beach, the new era of American perfection roared to life. Cadillac, a luxurious automotive brand, has long been related to innovation and cultural prestige, presented its official team Formula 1-TWG Motorsports X Cadillac F1-on one night the celebration, which gathered fashionable, future design and non-systemic expression. In the middle of all this, standing like lightning between heritage and future energy, he was an artist and 10-fold grammy nominatedJanelle Monáe.

Janelle Monáe, Fast Cars & Future Worlds: Cadillac's F1 Launch is a new era for American innovations
Janelle Monáe on the official global premiere of TWG Motorsports X Cadillac F1

In the re-image to the Queen Theater contained contained contained contained throughout the style of the Nineteen Forties-the night-transformed Cadillac-Monáe club delivered performances for a crowd as electric for the rationale that vision of the brand. It was a deliberate collision of speed, style and telling stories. Guests very very like Victoria Monét, Micalene Thomas and Jurnee Smollett were present.

“The brand had just had a place in my heart,” Monáe said, asked why she said “yes” to the performance. “Cadillac was part of my life since I was once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once small. My dad had two sedans and the wood of the fleet. I just remember how he was with him contained contained contained contained throughout the automotive, and he was collecting me from school in Cadillac. This is more more more vulnerable to be the one American company that represents the innovation, because they could thoroughly be contained contained contained contained throughout the automotive.

This kind of full moment every time you realize what this premiere really represents. Cadillac is currently the one American luxurious brand entering the exclusive, dominated by the euro world of the Formula 1-SPORTH racing, which, which, Historically, he didn’t sculpt his place for a black presence. Until now.

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And then he’s monáe-defective, futuristic, deeply rooted. An ideal character to anchor the evening.

There is a reason why Monáe moves so freely contained contained contained contained throughout the media – Music, Film, Literature, Fashion – but he throughout the least times feels as whether it’s just starting. He sees no boundaries. He doesn’t consider staying in a single lane.

“I always discover new things about my art and who I am, allowing myself to redefine how I look at life, music and creativity. I am constantly building global building,” says the singer “Electric Lady”. “I’m in the middle of the world now – I am building more music, more visualizations, more communities, more great ideas that, hopefully, will open the future for more artists and will be as innovative as they want.”

And you greater than likely can feel that when approaching cooperation. For her it’s about energy. It’s about resonance. It’s about constructing something that did not exist before.

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“I am very non-binary in the way I think about where I can go, who I can be and who I can work. She is always sexy for me, when I can cooperate with an artist or a company or with another community in which I can not necessarily be every day, and we create something that is one of a kind,” he says.

This spirit was dense in peace. A mix of creation – musicians, technological entrepreneurs, designers, athletes and influential – like all of the tissue of real -time culture.

Janelle Monáe, Fast Cars & Future Worlds: Cadillac's F1 Launch is a new era for American innovations
Janelle Monáe on the official global premiere of TWG Motorsports X Cadillac F1

It’s easy to wander away in Formula 1 gloss and chic silhouettes. But Monáe doesn’t move through the world, making wealth. When the subject of luxury appeared, it was measured. Intended. Even a bit delicate.

“I grew up with my parents’ parents. My mother was a janitor, my father was a trash, my grandmother served food for 25 years. I watched the uniforms and live payments. My dad bought a used Cadillac at auction.”

For her, luxury was not about labels – it was about safety. It was Sundays contained contained contained contained throughout the kitchen. It was a bill that did not hang over your head. It was safety, not throwing away.

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“I try to use all my possibilities to take my family and let them experience what I experience. I hope that one day we will simply be able to remove this division [the idea that] Luxury is only for a higher level or people who earn a certain amount of money, “it stopped briefly.” I want people like my parents work for the community, have more access to things that have one percent. “

There is throughout the least times something quiet radical in watching a black woman occupying a place in high-power rooms-he does it without compromise. This made the presence of Monáe in Miami so significant. Not only did she appear. Changed the atmosphere. Its performance was electric.

It was a kind of performance that not only entertained, but completely calibrated the room again. This moment, tonight – was about honoring the roots throughout the dream of ahead. It was about taking space that weren’t originally built for us and remodeling them into our image.

It was a real present evening. Reminder that black creativity, black perfection and black luxury are fundamental.

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When Cadillac is preparing to take his place on the F1 net, the meaning of voices very very like Monáe cannot be overestimated. Her presence and vision are rooted in capital, expression and expansion, and if the long term of Cadillac resembles the world he builds, it’s a step forward.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Taraji P. Henson played in the upcoming thriller Tyler Perry

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Tyler Perry Studios is preparing for the next release of the film – and that is one other thriller. This summer, Taraji P. Henson, Teyana Taylor, Sherri Shepherd and others are to look in the upcoming thriller of Perry “Straw”.

According to Netflix“Słomiana” concerns the “Lonely Mother, whose world spreads in chaos, when her day goes from evil to worse to catastrophic, when she tries to take care of her sick daughter. Pushed to the edge through the world, which seems indifferent to her existence, is forced to face impossible elections in a society that does not offer her safety net.” Taping her character Janyah as a single mother was something she could confer with from experience.

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“Janiyah is a woman who doesn’t have much in life, but she has a lot of love for her child,” said Henson Entertainment every week. “I’m a lonely mother, so I understood her journey and her struggles. She is a lonely mother who tries to utilize the cards which have been given in her life best.

Noticing how the film “shows how easy it is that people in a difficult situation can be disregarded or deprived of civil rights by a system that is to protect them,” added Henson:

“If likelihood is high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high it’s possible it’s possible likelihood is high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high you almost actually can possibly possibly possibly be a fighting single mother, you likely can in no way times pay for this extraordinary lunch, and kids who cannot afford this extraordinary lunch, get a separate lunch. And you already know what is happening then? Children begin to hassle your child. As parents, they feel the pain of our youngsters deeper than them, so it meant for her.

The film, which based on Henson is crammed with “crazy twists”, which could surprise the viewers, was reportedly shot inside 4 days, while the actress worked on one other project.

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“Thinking that we shot in four days when I was still working on” Night Fight Night “,” Henson explained. “But that is what I like in Słrier Perry; he’s fast, and I’ll even be fast. He knew he had a limited time with me. He used it accurately … The topic is a bit dark, so I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once glad that I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once living only in the world of this character for 4 days, because this energy is transferred, and just somewhat little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little bit of a follow you. I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once glad when it happens, and I’m very different from one other character.

“Straw” takes place at Netflix on June 6.

Tyler Perry says that there is a

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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