It works everytime. This is pathetic and degrading.
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mickfoley123 — 14 years ago(February 27, 2012 07:41 AM)
To bad cause Octavia seemed really happy. It was already pointed out that not all black oscar winners have played maids but of course complaining just makes us feel better.
Earlier I clarified my point and said negative stereotypes or subservient roles.
Oscars
Denzel Washington - Training Day
Halle Berry - Monster's Ball
Hattie McDaniel - Gone With the Wind
Whoopi Goldberg - Ghost = played a con-artist and the "magical Negro"
Monique - Precious
Golden Globes
Whoopi Goldberg - The Color Purple, Ghost
Morgan Freeman - Driving Miss Daisy
Monique - Precious
Octavia Spencer - The Help
Movies that received a lot of praise in recent years
The Help
Precious
The Blind Side
There's a pattern here and I'm not the only black person to raise this issue. -
Smackdown735 — 14 years ago(February 27, 2012 07:10 PM)
mickfoley,
I understand what you're saying but trying to explain it to some of these people is like trying to teach algebra to a hamster.
THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND
You'll be met with the same tired, regurgitated canned responses:
"Stop playing the race card"
"Stop whining about race"
"I'm black and I'm sick of people like you who" -
moviegeek1 — 13 years ago(May 25, 2012 08:43 AM)
Right, because only black people win for playing "negative" roles.
Elizabeth Taylor -
Butterfield 8- Prostitute
Shirley Jones -
Elmer Gantry - Prostitute
Charlize Theron -
Monster - Prostitute/Serial Killer
Anthony Hopkins -
The Silence Of The Lambs - Serial Killer
Jane Fonda -
Klute - Prostitute
Kim Basinger -
L.A. Confidential - High-class prostitute
Mira Sorvino -
Mighty Aphrodite - Prostitute
Julia Roberts -
Erin Brokovich - Trash-talking, "sassy" single mother.
Kevin Spacey -
The Usual Suspects - Devious criminal
Kathy Bates -
Misery - Psychotic, obsessed fan
Christolph Waltz -
Inglorius Basterds - Nazi
Heath Ledger -
The Dark Knight - The Joker
And the list goes on and on. I guess in your mind, the only people who are allowed to play villians or less-than-desirables are white actors. I guess you'd prefer that black actors only play heroes. Then there's the list of white actors who won for playing drunks or drug addicts.
And 5b4people have the nerve to criticize Ms. Spencer for playing a maid.
Sister, when I've raised hell, you'll know it!
- Prostitute
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missgangsmashers — 14 years ago(February 27, 2012 09:21 AM)
It is definitely a pattern and anyone who has followed Blacks in Hollywood know this!
Why did Denzel HAVE to win for Training Daywhy couldn't he win for Malcolm X?
It is strategic and designed this way!
NINA MAE MCKINNEY IS MAGNIFICENT -
moon_river96 — 14 years ago(February 27, 2012 12:59 PM)
As a black person it always sickens me when fellow black people cheapens the wins of black actors. Acting like the only reason why they won the Oscar is because they play a stereotypical role. Octavia won because she deserved it not because she played a maid. It's not easy for an black actor to be recognize for an Oscar let alone win. And to hear your own people saying the only reason you won because you played a maid,angry cop,bad mother,or had sex with Billy Bob Thorton makes you feel like as if they don't think your performance was worthy for an Oscar.
Octavia and Viola brought something different to the usually maid role they add truth to it. They made the character seemed real. It wasn't the usual uneducated obey the master kind the role. They brought life to the role. We have to remember the past in order to know are future. It is important that we have movies like The Help how far we come.
Congrats to Oscar winner Octavia Spencer and 2 Oscar time nominee Viola Davis!
I'm not funny. What I am is brave.Lucille Ball
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mickfoley123 — 14 years ago(February 27, 2012 04:14 PM)
Acting like the only reason why they won the Oscar is because they play a stereotypical role. Octavia won because she deserved it not because she played a maid.
Yes she won because she played a maid.
Octavia and Viola brought something different to the usually maid role they add truth to it.
It's still a maid role. We don't need movies like The Help to remind us how bad things used to be. -
moon_river96 — 14 years ago(February 27, 2012 05:16 PM)
Yes she won because she played a maid.
No she won because she was good.
It's still a maid role. We don't need movies like The Help to remind us how bad things used to be.
So your saying we should forget everything that our elders sacrifice so we can have freedom and equal rights because it's bad!? How foolish can you be!!!!! It's OUR history like it or not Black people where maids111c back in the day we can't pretend that it didn't happen to us.
I'm not funny. What I am is brave.Lucille Ball
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moviegeek1 — 13 years ago(May 25, 2012 08:00 AM)
As a black person it always sickens me when fellow black people cheapens the wins of black actors.
Exactly, and I am SO tired of all the complaining. Some of us are NEVER satisfied. When we lose, we complain. And now, the new thing is, when we WIN, some of us complain and want to quantify or rationalize WHY we won. It is complete and utter NONSENSE. Some black people want to bury their heads in the sand and forget about our past. I don't choose to do that. One of my grandmothers was a maid and she was damn proud to be a maid and provide for her family. It's how she made a living for herself and for my father. She had absolutely NO shame in the work that she did. And why should she have? There is no shame in doing an honest day's work, no matter what one does for a living.
When did my fellow brothers and sisters get to be so damn high and mighty that they look down on people who serve? It is OFFENSIVE to me and to everyone who benefitted from the hard work of these people. As a people, we should honor them. We owe a debt to the Minnys out there who paved the way for us. So, how dare these idiots get on here and minimize Spencer's win, by saying, "yeah, but she won for playing a maid." There is nothing wrong with being a maid! I knew a maid who raised a son who went on to put
his
children through college. None of his children were ashamed of their grandmother. Why should we be ashamed?
Sister, when I've raised hell, you'll know it! -
sflib — 14 years ago(February 27, 2012 08:39 PM)
I think that she is a versatile performer, and has been recognized for abilities; not far-reaching roles. Some actors take a lot of jobs, and judging from her entry she is in demand.
I don't like the stereotypes, but they are what got G. Sidibe & N. Blonsky started. -
venusebony — 13 years ago(June 14, 2012 08:12 PM)
I think it is pathetic when some black people get mad at others for providing HONEST CRITICISM. So yeah, it is nice Octavia Spencer won an Oscar but again for what drum roll please.PLAYING A MAID! So no, it is NOT good Octavia won because the racist Academy just reinforces NEGATIVE RACIST STEREOTYPES about BLACK PEOPLE.
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don-lockwood — 14 years ago(February 29, 2012 12:38 AM)
Guess not since Viola didn't win. Maybe the answer is, play a maid in a supporting role. Or play a maid with enough spunk and attitude to be more than a passive cipher for the white character in the movie.