ALICIA BANKS

Radio Producer, Talk Show Host, DJ, Columnist

ELOQUENT FURY



REVOLUTIONARY AFRICAN TRUTH

EXPRESSLY FOR RADICAL INTELLECTUALS WHO SEEK KNOWLEDGE
   (*******WARNING: HAZARDOUS TO NEOCON DELUSION*******)

OSCARS 2002: COLORIZED HISTORY, COLORIST REALITY

WOW! What a night at the Oscars! It is a show I usually avoid due to its habitual Apartheid vibe. But, all that changed this year. I typically boycott the Oscars. But, there was something in the air that drew even my jaded attention. I hope that this fresh new air is permanent. I hope that Hollywood's racist doors have been opened and chocked, not just temporarily cracked, for a thrilling but brief peek, only to be bolted shut again this time next year.

Kudos to two actors whom I adore. I have penned other tributes to Halle Berry herein. I adore her and Denzel Washington. I truly admire both of them beyond their gifted acting skills. I admire them for their afrocentrism, beauty, and African-American spirituality. They were regal long before their newly bestowed Oscar crowns.

I have penned columns on the Oscars in the past. They have been filled with rage and longing. Both emotions have been significantly satiated by this most recent award show. I can now say that I have seen two African-Americans who truly earned these honors finally get the recognition they so deserved.

Both Halle and Denzel were eloquent as they gave their acceptance speeches. Like all of us passionate Leos, Halle's emotions were raw and sincere. Though clearly overwhelmed by her legendary feat, she remembered to thank many other African-American actresses, who are her less lauded mentors and peers. Denzel was more self-centered as he tactfully reminded the Academy of his own superior and more deserving work.

Less lauded but equally important and legendary, both of the films that garnered Halle and Denzel these Oscars were produced/directed by African-Americans. As Spike Lee often laments, we do indeed tell our own stories best. Congratulations to Lee Daniels, producer of Monster's Ball, and Antoine Fuqua, director of Training Day.

Both films, and the performances within them, are oustanding. However, as great as both of these films are, we must remember that, essentially, Halle plays an interracial lover, and Denzel plays a sadistic criminal. Both roles are comfortable for racists in a eurocentric reality. I still long for the day when I see Oscars awarded to African-Americans who play positive afrocentric characters. When the revolution comes, like white Oscar winners, African-Americans will be awarded for playing role models. And, the revolution will bring African-American power brokers behind the cameras. Those who actually control Hollywood are still vastly white.

We must speak truths unconditionally, in joy and pain. On that note, all was not joyous on Oscar night. For years, I have been angered by the flagrantly racist disrespect that black-skinned spouses of black male celebrities receive at the Oscar preshows. Announcers routinely state the actual names of anonymous white spouses who accompany their famous white husbands on red carpets. Yet, black spouses are selectively referred to only as "his wife".

This year, the toxic Joan Rivers dared to take this disrespect to bold and new heights by daring to ask Sam Jackson: "...and who is that with you?" The fact that his spouse, Latanya Richardson, is a great actress in her own right made this racist slight even more offensive. Sam replied: "This is my wife...she is with me every year." Insult duly noted Sam. Thank you brother!

Just hours after the Oscar broadcast, racist hackers sabotaged Halle's website. They defaced her image and posted sore loser kudos to fellow nominee, actress Nicole Kidman. See it at www.hallewood.com.

Like racism, colorism rules all, especially in Hollywood. I am convinced that light skinned wives with long hair, who look more like their white spousal peers, would prove far more memorable in the eyes of racist announcers. Similarly, black-skinned Eddie Murphy is infamous for casting black-skinned women as whores and fools in his films, while yellow women are his stars, spouses, and heroines. In the loosely autobiographical "Purple Rain", Prince tellingly cast an Italian woman who looks like Sophia Loren, in the role of his real life mother, who looks like Oprah Winfrey. I love my homie Bernie Mac and his new show. Yet, weekly I notice that the actress who plays his wife is lighter skinned than himself...

A culture shocked Spike Lee created "School Daze" to capture the uniquely rabid Southern colorism that he endured as a New Yorker at Morehouse in Atlanta, Georgia. As a native Chicagoan transplant and talk radio veteran in Atlanta, I was often appalled at the colorism that callers would brazenly express on my shows. At election time, many arrogantly ignorant fools would call in to bash candidates expressly because they felt they were "too dark skinted to vote for."

Halle has truly earned all of her accolades. Yet, I know that she would win far less adoration and favor if her skin looked like Denzel's. Halle has no equally praised or popular dark-skinned African-American peer in Hollywood. And, it is common industry knowledge that actresses who play the love interests of black men on film are always deliberately chosen to be lighter-skinned and shorter than their black-skinned leading men.

Two grossly belated Oscars do not a revolution make. Racism and colorism still rule the land that Queen Halle and King Denzel reign over. For the moment, I am a very happy villager, in a global village from which the movies, and their awards night, are merely an escape. In our righteous elation, let us remember the real life battles that rage on in our real world.

If I could make this year's wonderful experience at the Oscars comprehensive, these are the actresses/actors that I would honor as nominees/awardees. Feel free to email your additional selections to this wish list at radiorebel@juno.com. For retroactive Oscars/Emmys for Best/Supporting etc.:

DIANA ROSS- LADY SINGS THE BLUES

HALLE BERRY- BAPS

HALLE BERRY- LOSING ISAIAH

HALLE BERRY- JUNGLE FEVER

SNOOP DOGGGY DOG- BABY BOY

VING RHAMES- BABY BOY

ADRIENNE-JOI JOHNSON- BABY BOY

GABRIELLE UNION- THE BROTHERS

KHANDI ALEXANDER- SUGAR HILL

KHANDI ALEXANDER- THE CORNER

KHANDI ALEXANDER- CB4

LYNN WHITFIELD- A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE & HATE

LYNN WHITFIELD- THE WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE

LYNN WHITFIELD- THE JOSEPHINE BAKER STORY

DE'AUNDRE BONDS- GET ON THE BUS

DE'AUNDRE BONDS- THE WOOD

DE'AUNDRE BONDS- TALES FROM THE HOOD

CLARENCE WILLIAMS III- TALES FROM THE HOOD

CLARENCE WILLIAMS III- SUGAR HILL

CLARENCE WILLIAMS III- HOODLUM

CYNTHIA BOND- DEF BY TEMPTATION

LEON- THE TEMPTATIONS

LISA BONET- ANGEL HEART

DENZEL WASHINGTON- THE HURRICANE

DENZEL WASHINGTON- MALCOLM X

DENZEL WASHINGTON- PHILADELPHIA

DENZEL WASHINGTON- MISSISSIPPI MASSALA

DENZEL WASHINGTON- CRY FREEDOM

DENZEL WASHINGTON- DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS

REGINA TAYLOR- SPIRIT LOST

CYNDA WILLIAMS- ONE FALSE MOVE

MICHEAL BEACH- BAD COMPANY

LAURENCE FISHBURNE- WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT

LAURENCE FISHBURNE- CORNBREAD, EARL & ME

LAURENCE FISHBURNE- JUST CAUSE

RUBY DEE- JUNGLE FEVER

SAM JACKSON- JUNGLE FEVER

HALLE BERRY- JUNGLE FEVER

JADA PINKETT-SMITH - SET IT OFF

WESLEY SNIPES- SUGAR HILL

TUPAC SHAKUR- POETIC JUSTICE

TUPAC SHAKUR- JUICE

ERIQ LA SALLE- THE DROP SQUAD

DON CHEADLE- BOOGIE NIGHTS

DON CHEADLE- DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS

ANGELA BASSETT- WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT

VANESSA BELL CALLOWAY- WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT

WHOOPI GOLDBERG- THE COLOR PURPLE

WHOOPI GOLDBERG- HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK

WHOOPI GOLDBERG- HOMER & EDDIE

NATALIE DESELLE- BAPS

LISA NICOLE CARSON- DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS

PAM GRIER- COFFY

PAM GRIER- JACKIE BROWN

PAM GRIER- THE VINDICATOR

MARGARET AVERY- THE COLOR PURPLE

DESRETA JACKSON- THE COLOR PURPLE

OPRAH WINFREY- THE COLOR PURPLE

DANNY GLOVER- THE COLOR PURPLE

DON CHEADLE- BULWORTH

ALFRE WOODARD- MANDELA

DANNY GLOVER- MANDELA

ALFRE WOODARD- DOWN IN THE DELTA

BEAH RICHARDS- HOMER & EDDIE

DELLA REESE- HARLEM NIGHTS

DOROTHY DANDRIDGE- BRIGHT ROAD

DOROTHY DANDRIDGE- CARMEN JONES

HARRY BELAFONTE- WHITE MAN'S BURDEN

FOREST WHITTAKER- GHOST DOG

FOREST WHITTAKER- JASON'S LYRIC

FOREST WHITTAKER- THE CRYING GAME

CAMILLE WINBUSH- GHOST DOG

DARNITA HENRY- PARIS TROUT

BLAIR UNDERWOOD- JUST CAUSE

BLAIR UNDERWOOD- SET IT OFF

TARAL HICKS- A BRONX TALE

ENEMY OF THE STATE- WILL SMITH

REGINA KING- JERRY MAGUIRE

REGINA KING- POETIC JUSTICE

RICHARD PRYOR- JO JO DANCER

PAULA KELLY- JO JO DANCER

GLENN PLUMMER- SOUTH CENTRAL

SAMUEL L. JACKSON- A TIME TO KILL

SAMUEL L. JACKSON- 187

SAMUEL L. JACKSON- SHAFT

SAMUEL L. JACKSON- AMOS & ANDREW

LONETTE MCKEE- WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE

LONETTE MCKEE- JUNGLE FEVER

PAULA KELLY- WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE

LOU GOSSETT- THE COLOR OF LOVE: JACEY'S STORY

TYRIN TURNER- BELLY

LARENZ TATE- MENACE II SOCIETY

ROSALIND CASH- CORNBREAD, EARL AND ME

CCH POUNDER- BAGDAD CAFE

KEITH DAVID- THEY LIVE

BOKEEM WOODBINE- DEAD PRESIDENTS

JADA PINKETT-SMITH - JASON'S LYRIC

ALLEN PAYNE- JASON'S LYRIC

BRENDA SYKES- MANDINGO

DEBI MORGAN- MANDINGO

DEBI MORGAN- EVE'S BAYOU

HALLE BERRY- QUEEN

TYRA FERRELL- POETIC JUSTICE

TYRA FERRELL- BOYZ IN THE HOOD

JANET JACKSON- POETIC JUSTICE

KADEEM HARDISON- PANTHER

KADEEM HARDISON- A VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN

ADOLPH CEASAR- A SOLDIER'S STORY

ESTHER ANDERSON- A WARM DECEMBER

MUTABARUKA- SANKOFA

ROBIN GIVENS- A RAGE IN HARLEM

ROBIN GIVENS- BOOMERANG

DOROTHY DANDRIDGE- CARMEN JONES

HARRY BELAFONTE- CARMEN JONES

PAM GRIER- FORT APACHE THE BRONX

DUANE JONES- NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

GLENN PLUMMER- SMALL TIME

GLENN PLUMMER- SOUTH CENTRAL

LYNNE MOODY- NIGHTMARE AT BADHAM COUNTY

PHILIP HEPBURN- BRIGHT ROAD

QUEEN LATIFAH- JUNGLE FEVER

QUEEN LATIFAH- SET IT OFF

QUEEN LATIFAH- MAMA FLORA'S FAMILY

BLAIR UNDERWOOD- MAMA FLORA'S FAMILY

NICK MEDLEY- SANKOFA

OYAFUNMIKE OGUNLANO- SANKOFA

ALEXANDRA DUAH- SANKOFA

LAMONT BENTLEY- TALES FROM THE HOOD

JI-TU CUMBUKA- ROOTS

JI-TU CUMBUKA- MANDINGO

DJIMON HOUNSOU- AMISTAD

INGRID WALTERS- AMISTAD

JAMIE FOXX- ANY GIVEN SUNDAY

ICE-T - SURVIVING THE GAME

NIA LONG- SOUL FOOD

TICO WELLS- THE DROP SQUAD

LAWRENCE FISHBURNE- DEEP COVER

VICTORIA DILLARD- DEEP COVER

VIVICA A. FOX- SET IT OFF

KIMBERLY ELISE- SET IT OFF

LL COOL J- IN TOO DEEP

ANGELA MEANS- FRIDAY

ANGELA MEANS- A LUV TALE

GINA RAVERA- A LUV TALE

MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN-THE GREEN MILE

DON CHEADLE- REBOUND: THE LEGEND OF EARL "THE GOAT" MANIGAUT

ERIQ LA SALLE- REBOUND: THE LEGEND OF EARL "THE GOAT" MANIGAUT

MONICA CALHOUN- THE PLAYERS CLUB

KIMBERLY ELISE- THE LORETTA CLAIBORNE STORY

JI-TU CUMBUKA- ROOTS

JI-TU CUMBUKA- MANDINGO

DJIMON HOUNSOU- AMISTAD

INGRID WALTERS- AMISTAD

JAYE DAVIDSON- STARGATE

COURTNEY B. VANCE- THE LAST SUPPER

MARQUISE WILSON- SUGAR HILL

CICELY TYSON- FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

CICELY TYSON- THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN

ZAKES MOKAE- A RAGE IN HARLEM

ZAKES MOKAE- THE SERPENT & THE RAINBOW

DANNY GLOVER- TO SLEEP WITH ANGER

DANNY GLOVER- THE SAINT OF FORT WASHINGTON

MORGAN FREEMAN- THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

MORGAN FREEMAN- SEVEN

MORGAN FREEMAN- LEAN ON ME

SALLI RICHARDSON- A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME

JADA PINKETT SMITH- A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME

CHARLES DUTTON- A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME

JADA PINKETT SMITH- THE INKWELL

JADA PINKETT SMITH- DEMON KNIGHT

JEFFREY WRIGHT- BASQUIAT

ALFRE WOODARD- HOLIDAY HEART

VING RHAMES- HOLIDAY HEART

VING RHAMES- HOLIDAY HEART

VING RHAMES- DROP SQUAD

VING RHAMES- PULP FICTION

VING RHAMES- ROSEWOOD

VING RHAMES- DON KING: ONLY IN AMERICA

MYKELTI WILLIAMSON- FORREST GUMP

JESIKA REYNOLDS- HOLIDAY HEART

HOLIDAY HEART- JESIKA REYNOLDS

FORREST GUMP-MYKELTI WILLIAMSON

DON KING: ONLY IN AMERICA- VING RHAMES

MYKELTI WILLIAMSON- WAITING TO EXHALE

DANITRA VANCE- THE COLORED MUSEUM

ANGELA BASSETT- WAITING TO EXHALE

LORETTA DEVINE- WAITING TO EXHALE

LORETTA DEVINE- THE COLORED MUSEUM

GIANCARLO ESPOSITO- THE KEEPER

GIANCARLO ESPOSITO- WAITING TO EXHALE

REGINA TAYLOR- THE KEEPER

LAURENCE FISHBURNE- HOODLUM

LAURENCE FISHBURNE- KING OF NEW YORK

WESLEY SNIPES- BLADE

CEDELLA MARLEY- JOEY BREAKER

ISAACH DE BANKOLE- THE KEEPER

ISAACH DE BANKOLE- GHOST DOG

ASTON "BAM" WINTER- THE HARDER THEY COME

ROBIN HARRIS- DO THE RIGHT THING

BERNIE MAC- THE PLAYERS CLUB

BERNIE MAC- HOW TO BE A PLAYER

BERNIE MAC- HOUSE PARTY 3

BERNIE MAC- LIFE

MARTIN LAWRENCE- LIFE

ALDITZ MCKENZIE- SANKOFA


For more on my fierce fellow feline Halle Berry, see an additional column herein:

FILM REVIEW: "INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE"-FLAWLESS PERFORMANCES/FLAWED FILM


For more information on the colorism and racism that still rules Amerikkka and Hollywood, read:

THE COLOR COMPLEX: THE POLITICS OF SKIN COLOR AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS
Kathy Russell

TOMS, COONS, MULATTOES, MAMMIES & BUCKS: AN INTERPRETIVE HISTORY OF BLACKS IN AMERICAN FILMS
Donald Bogle

BROWN SUGAR: EIGHTY YEARS OF AMERICA'S BLACK FEMALE SUPERSTARS
Donald Bogle

REEL TO REAL: RACE, SEX, AND CLASS AT THE MOVIES
Bell Hooks

ART ON MY MIND: VISUAL POLITICS
Bell Hooks

BONE BLACK: MEMORIES OF GIRLHOOD
Bell Hooks

TALKING BACK: THINKING FEMINIST, THINKING BLACK
Bell Hooks

BLACK LOOKS: RACE & REPRESENTATION
Bell Hooks

THAT'S BLAXPLOITATION: ROOTS OF THE BAADASSSSS 'TUDE (RATED X BY AN ALL'WHYTE JURY)
Darius James


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