[/caption]A couple a weeks ago, I was taken to task by some of you who peruse this blog for suggesting that Donald Glover, a Blackman, should be considered for the vacant role of Spider Man. Many of you made the astute point that Spider Man was originally written by Stanley for a white teenager and the changes would not make sense. For Example, Aunt May would have to be recast, etc.
For all those who posited those salient points, answer me this: should Angelina Jolie play the Egyptian Cleopatra… knowing that Egypt is considered to be African country? In the sixties, when Elizabeth Taylor played the roll… African Americans did not have the clout they do now to effectuate changes concerning matters of race. The truth is that the Black power structure has little influence over the powers that be in Hollywood, unless Hollywood engages in a blatant slight.
One such slight happened in the creation of the show based on those cavemen characters we see in those Geico commercials. Apparently, on the show, all the characters were white; what was so glaring was the fact that in school those who give credence to Evolution are told that life and the first humans (Cavemen) evolved somewhere in Africa. The show was cancelled for low ratings, but had it last, the producers had promised to have more people of color to reflect the teachings of Evolution.
I wondered if it crossed the Producers minds when they chose Angelina Jolie to play Cleopatra that she was playing an African. Perhaps, they thought because Jolie had adopted a black child… that this gave her a “Ghetto Pass” to play the famous Egyptian queen. There have been two great movies about Queen Elizabeth The First, yet, I didn’t see Halle Berry in either. I know with a little make-up and the mastering the British accent, Halle Berry could have pulled off the role… made famous by Cate Blanchett.
When I was a boy, I had recently come to these shores via California and Lou Gossett Jr. was cast to play the assassinated Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat… I recalled that some Egyptians were protesting the choice of Gossett to play Sadat… the statesman who signed the peace treaty with Israel.
Maybe Jolie will be a fitting choice for those who are ignorant that Egypt is in Africa…. I say again there aren’t many roles written for people of color in Hollywood… but those real-life interesting characters who are African Americans should be played by African Americans. I am almost certain when Martin Scorsese made the call for actors to play the eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes, Denzel Washington didn’t show up.
Cleo is greek not black. Some historians disagree she is mixed but most of agree that she is greek that makes Angie a perfect choice.
ردحذفCleopatra was not Egyptian but Greek Macedonian. She was married to her brother.. also Greek. And they were imperialist outsiders to Eygpt with Cleopatra being the first of their family to even speak Egyptian or embrace Egyptian customs..Therefore she can be played by someone the likes of Angelina Jolie.
ردحذفYou might have a point if Cleopatra were Egyptian. She wasn't. She was Macedonian. And have you been to Egypt? I have. Many times. They were invaded by Romans and other light skinned people for millenia. Egyptians come in all shades, so it is possible that even if Cleopatra were Egyptian, she could be fair skinned.
ردحذفWow! Are you a racist or what. What actors and actresses do is play something they aren't! The last time I looked she was an actress. Enough said!
ردحذفI have worked for a group of Egyptian doctors and they are not black. Actually consider themselves Arabs and put down white on EEO codes.
ردحذفThe only reason why Arabs dont have their own EEO Codes is because Jews are arabs by dna. The jews want to be whites, so they took off that arab box.
ردحذفCleopatra was Macedonian. Macedonians are white. Please educate yourself on the subject matter before writing....Whoever wrote this article is an idiot.
ردحذفBlack does not equate to ghetto - ghetto was a term created to describe the neighborhoods that the Jews in Germany were forced to live in during WWII.
ردحذفI think some of you sure learn your history the ancient Egyptians were not white sorry! maybe Hollywood should stop white washing all their movies. Also go read historians like Josephus who tell what the Egyptians and the middle east looked like at the time. While your at learn some African history too.
ردحذفAny story about her is a good story. Angelina is a great actress. A celebrity I both respect and fantasize about!. Can't wait for her new movie. The original painting I bought of her is stunning and will be hung on my wall forever!
ردحذف