Help Me Out Here AfAM Group - Regarding the Oscars

[JustAnotherGen]

Posted in the African American Group


A few threads on this -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141314734
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027542960
kwassas back here (this isn’t showing up in my list on the page – don’t know why)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027537110
randy’s back here– this one is showing up
http://www.democraticunderground.com/118736390


Now - remember the ORIGINAL Aunt Viv? Ohhh - she has something to say. Set yourself down and watch at the link.
Remember the original Aunt Viv?

Read more: http://theculture.forharriet.com/2016/01/janet-hubert-original-aunt-viv-is-not.html#ixzz3xhh0Rt88
Follow us: @ForHarriet on Twitter | forharriet on Facebook

Janet Hubert, best known as the original Aunt Viv on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, took to her Facebook page today to air her distaste for Jada Pinkett Smith's Oscar boycott.

Plainly, Janet is not impressed. "People are dying. Our boys are being shot left and right. People are hungry. People are hungry. People are trying to pay bill and you talking about some motherfucking actors and Oscars."


According to Janet, The Smith's boycott is completely self-interested. She says, "I find it ironic that someone who has made their living and made millions and millions of dollars from the very people that you're talking about boycotting because you didn't get a nomination and you didn't win." She continues, "That is not the way life works, baby. It's very suspect to me."


Janet went on to say that Will Smith's performance in Concussion did not deserve an Oscar nomination, and that Idris Elba should have been recognized for Beasts of No Nation.

Truthfully - I've made clear - Chris Rock is hosting... so I'm watching. He's a wild card and if they cancel their contract it's going to look bad. They just have to keep cutting to commercials.

Outside of this group - it's worthless to even have this discussion because I have to ally with a bunch of people that will never admit on DU - but they really aren't 'here' for the African Americans in America. That has nothing to do with a candidate - that OBSERVATION/OPINION goes back to 2013 - long before anyone announced. It has to do with a series of posts that leads one to believe that SOME here are not my 'friend'.

So back here can I bring up Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith refusal to get in line with other movements/social paradigm challenges? I.E. - Black Girls Rock: Jada wasn't here for that. Will: believes in prejudice but not racism. Jada: believes dominant culture fashion mags will do the right thing if Essence, the former print edition of Jet, etc. etc. will put white women on the cover.

She didn't go so far as to suggest they put white women with 8 white great grand parents on the cover of black hair style magazines - but c'mon . . . If will had been nominated she just might have thought to put that out there.

I dunno - I know Aunt Viv and Will had a falling out years ago - but even weighing that - I tend to think along the same lines as her.

Hence why I'm not going to get faux outrage du jour nonsense arguments outside of this group.


As randys1 succinctly put it last week:
This groups concerns are not even on the radar with certain folks
http://www.democraticunderground.com/118736325


And its true. . . Oscars they have opinions on - but breast cancer death in black women vs non black women is off the charts and that's not an issue. No - not discussing Jada vs Aunt Viv with those folks.

[randys1]

1. Thanks for this thread. I think it is possible to recognize that both Jada and Will

do not need our sympathy, and that Hollywood has a Black problem, as

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027542960

puts it.

Oh, before I forget, go here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/118736622

watch the video of the interview if you can, DeRay puts shit in perspective in a hurry.

It again all comes down to white privilege, whether in Hollywood or Ferguson.

If the Academy isnt careful, people will stop caring. Remember, we are watching and caring about which multi millionaire will get a prize for play acting. NOT important, really.

What is important is racism and Hollywood has it's share, so if you have to boycott the Oscars to bring attention to that, do it.

If you have to stop traffic to bring attention to murder

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Bridge-reopening-after-protesters-chain-6767354.php

[The Polack MSgt]

2. Just an observation...

It doesn't seem that the film industry has changed much in the last couple of decades.

[Number23]

12. How the hell do you know this song???!

My opinion of you was high already. Now it's skyrocketing.

[Digital Puppy]

3. Polack beat me to punch...Randy is on point

I'm definitely in the "Burn Hollywood, Burn" camp, but I realize what TV & Movie imagery does to (not just young) minds and perspectives. I think the Academy does have a problem with its membership (over 96% white, over 75% male) sort of like the Republican Party to be honest...

Ratings have steadily gone down over the years and my prediction is that the ratings for the first hour will be up because folks will want to hear what Chris R has to say...And the internet buzz will be up - but not in a good way - looking at all of these white folks congratulate themselves. When the Academy lets in a larger swath of cultures and background to its membership, we will be having the #OscarSoWhite for a long time.

I'm probably not going to watch it unless Mrs. Pupp has it on. Like Randy said...there are bigger issues for us to work on and focus our energy.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. Jada and Will can kiss my ass. I'm probably a bit more militant than many people here are, but

I'll try to be more diplomatic with my words.

Both Jada and Will have been deeply embedded (and accepted) into Hollyweird culture and celebrity. They've embraced Hollyweird ideals and lifestyle to the fullest (Jada even carved up her face to fit the mold--YUCK! She destroyed that gorgeous face!) Anyway, Jada in particular has a history of denying the centrality of race. Indeed, she has pushed her brand of "respectability politics," which you all know I disagree fully with. And I agree about the Black Girls Rock campaign and her disdain for the Black Lives Matter movement as well.

Now that her man didn't get a nomination, it's about race? Really?

Have several seats, Jada. And take your man with you.

I never liked Will Smith, anyway. He's a mediocre actor at best.

[tishaLA]

5. I'll co-sign this.

and you didn't even mention their flirtations with Scientology or that stupid school they opened. THAT'S how enmeshed in Hollywood culture those two are.

I was talking about this to a friend this morning and said, look, with Spike Lee, I can take it; he's always willing to fight for racial justice, even when it loses him money and fans. And there are some actors and films that, were I doing the nominations, I would have included. But Jada and Will are not the people I need to hear it from. To me, it looks like (even more) self-aggrandizement.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. The other point is this: There were no black people nominated last year, if I'm not mistaken.

Why didn't they boycott the Oscars that year? Could it be because hubby wasn't nominated then?

[lovemydog]

8. Another co-sign.

[JustAnotherGen]

9. This times 1000

It stinks to high heaven

[JustAnotherGen]

10. She turned me off with that

Things don't go away on the Internet Jada.

[lovemydog]

7. I'd have nominated Straight Outta Compton

for best picture and the guy who played Easy E for best actor or best supporting actor. I loved that movie. Great ensemble piece. I'm partial to it because I love the music. I know it whitewashed some stuff like Dr. Dre being bad to women and Suge Knight was almost too nice in the movie, lol. But any long and complicated story has to be summarized to tell it clearly on film. I thought it did a great job at highlighting a lot of the main information. I found it very entertaining. 'Bye Felicia.'

[Number23]

11. Aunt Viv has been hating on Will Smith for so damn long I'm surprised he hasn't tried to have her

erased from all of those old episodes of Fresh Prince.

But yeah, Jada and Will have been DAMN quiet on issues of racism -- not just in movies but period. And the last 4-5 movies Will has been in, seems his co-stars have all been white women so it's obvious that he's willing to bow down and contort for some of the racism he's been exposed to if it helps his bank balance.

I don't really care about Jada and Will too much either way. Last Will Smith movie I actually saw was "I am Legend" and Jada's career has never been much to brag about. I applaud their efforts to put the Oscars on blast -- EVERYBODY not just black folks, should be putting the Oscars on blast -- but it would probably mean more if they were two people I actually was interested in.

[lovemydog]

13. Plus, their voters have always been notoriously out of touch.

The majority of the 'academy' is retired hacks. Most don't even see the damn movies they're supposed to watch. They vote for what they 'feel' should be in the running based on the title or something they still remember, like apple sauce or Meryl Streep.

Looking at the stuff that's been nominated & won versus the movies made that year, it's atrocious how much they suck. They gave Al Pacino an oscar for that ham-handed performance where he went 'Hoo Haaa!' for two hours.

They always do 'make-up calls' like giving one to some geezer who never won anything for years & is on their deathbed. Or for a movie they think others 'should' see as opposed to what they actually like. Most of them probably thought 'Creed' was about the bible or something.

Fuck the oscars and all the self-congratulatory hollywood awards shows. Sometimes I watch them just to laugh my ass off at the stuff that gets nominated & wins. Or the stupid narcissistic acceptance speeches. 'I'd like to thank my agent, my manager, my bookkeeper, my assistant, oh and all the little people.'

Comedies & suspense (two of the toughest genres to make a great movie) are notorious for never even getting nominated. And how the the hell could anyone say one piece of art is objectively 'better' than another? It's just a matter of taste. Same with the grammies & all those other awards shows. Blech. I could go on but I'll stop because the oscars are just so goddamn stupid.

[Number23]

14. I haven't watched an awards show in probably 15 years

Not the Oscars, not the Grammy's, not the Tony's, not the Soul Train Music Awards, the MTV awards. NOTHING.

And I honestly feel that my life -- certainly my tv viewing time -- has been much better because of it.

[lovemydog]

15. Ha!

I occasionally watch with the mute button handy. Mostly I crack up at how much they act all humble. Like when Taylor Swift goes 'Who me? I can't believe I won! I'm so surprised! Little ole' me? Oh no! I can't believe it! Really? Me?' for the 300th time.

[The Polack MSgt]

16. This made me smile, out loud

They vote for what they 'feel' should be in the running based on the title or something they still remember, like apple sauce or Meryl Streep.

I truly enjoy a solid insult. Bravo

[kwassa]

17. I have two thoughts on the issue.

that have nothing to do with Will or Jada ....

1) There should be more minority roles in films. Many more, of all varieties.

2) The Academy should completely change their membership rules, and create a demographic that really represents America, not just an old white male buddy system in Hollywood.