Have you seen the movie as yet? I wanted to share some thoughts:

The new George Lucas movie “Red Tails”, is a box office film that is inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII. Now, while the movie is about the Tuskegee Airmen (black servicemen), It appears that there are no black women in any of the supporting roles, much less in the film. Even the few scenes that were to showcase one or two black female actresses, appears to have been omitted. I have yet to watch the film, so my views and opinions may change or vary.

Now, if one was to depict such a historical time period of war and racial injustice surrounding black servicemen in a blockbuster movie, why disregard the historical black female love interest of the main black male character, and replace her with a “white female” love interest? Could they not make their… um ‘point’ with someone else or in some other way? I am not saying that there is anything wrong with black male/white female interracial relationships (Ironically, Lucas is presently married to a black woman), but I am usually repulsed at anything which may psychologically suggest that black men being able to sex white women without being ‘lynched’ as the symbol for racial progression. No thanks, I’ll pass.

Most people should realize by now that black female actresses are still getting passed over for even the smallest of supporting roles in large blockbuster films. I can name countless movies, television shows ect. where there are no black female faces at all (Are there no black females in Smallville? well, I think one actually showed up). And sometimes when there is a black female character, she is usually typecast as some sort of unpleasant individual.

I’ve stumbled on a few compelling blog posts that I linked below, and a Youtube contributor with some very interesting thoughts.

Should (black women) Boycott Red Tails?

 

Blog – Black! Not White Dipped in Chocolate: “So, why do Black women appear to be conspicuously absent from this rendition of the Tuskegee airmen and not only that, but they’re replaced by a white woman. My Great Uncle told me when he was overseas in Europe, he and other Black soldiers were routinely approached by German and Italian women and asked if they had tails…The racism that Black men faced both at home and overseas was very intense and frequently it was Black wives, daughters, mothers who had to support them because no one else would.” Read more…

Blog – WAOD:  “Marry who you like. But when you basically say that marrying or having sex with a White woman symbolizes “freedom” and progress what does that say about having relationships with Black women?” Read more…

Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo.

Clips from the upcoming documentary exploring the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin color—particularly dark skinned women, outside of and within the Black American culture.

This film will be released in Fall/Winter 2011. You can “Like” the Dark Girls page on Facebook, and they will keep you updated with news.

Directed by Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry
Produced by Bill Duke for Duke Media
and D. Channsin Berry for Urban Winter Entertainment
Co-Produced by Bradinn French
Line Produced by Cheryl L. Bedford
Edited by Bradinn French