In 2002 Halle Berry made history when she won the Oscar for Best Actress: she was the first black actress to win it. Ever. And so far it is the only one to go to a black woman out of the 79 Oscars for Best Actress that have been given – in a country where one woman in 8, not 80, is black.
The Oscar for Best Supporting Actress is only somewhat better:
- 1939: Hattie McDaniel for “Gone with the Wind”
- 1990: Whoopi Goldberg for “Ghost”
- 2006: Jennifer Hudson for “Dreamgirls”.
In 1951 in “Showboat” the half-black character Julie was played by Ava Gardner (white), not Lena Horne (light-skinned black). They made Gardner dark-looking and she was good to go.
In 2006 in “A Mighty Heart” the half-black wife of Daniel Pearl was played by Angelina Jolie (white) and not, say, Thandie Newton (half-black). They made Jolie dark-looking and she was good to go.
What is going on?
There is no lack of black female acting talent. Far from it. Anyone who is a fan of, say, Angela Bassett or Cicely Tyson, knows that their talents have largely gone to waste while white women with far less talent get the good parts in films.
Why?
- In Hollywood skin colour matters. Gabrielle Union has been told, “Gabrielle, you gave the best read! If we decide to go black, you’re at the top of the list.” Black actresses are limited to parts for “black women”. Imagine if Natalie Portman or Lauren Bacall were limited to just playing parts for “Jewish women”.
- Those who make films are almost all white: the producers, directors, writers and so on. With the rise of black directors in the 1990s it is better, but it is not enough. Spike Lee: “The way for black actresses to start getting more roles is for black women to start directing and producing their own films.”
- The moneymen stick with the tried and true. They get rich by backing hits. Few see a film starring a black woman as a possible hit. That is why so many black actresses wind up playing the Black Best Friend of a white woman.
- Black actresses are women. Most leading characters are men. There are fewer parts for women, black or white. That is why black men have done so much better in Hollywood than black women. Will Smith can star by himself in a film meant for a largely white audience without a white “buddy”. That is huge. But black actresses are still a long ways from doing that.
- Black actresses do not fit Hollywood’s ideas about beauty, which prefers thin women with white skin and yellow hair.
- Hollywood seems uncomfortable with showing black love, limiting the parts black women can have even more.
While it is not as bad as it was in the 1950s or even the 1980s, it is still bad.
See also:
- “Is white the new black?”
- How white people think
- The most beautiful black actresses
- black women
- film
- Hollywood
- video vixens
- black actresses:
Abagond 
A question. Was there ever a case, from the 1930s on, preferably in the 80s, when a black actress ‘passed’ as white?
2d question In the 80s or 90s were there any prominent half black actresses show on the screen?
Thanks.
Clancy
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Abagond,
Don’t forget when they cast Jessica Alba instead of Mya in the 2003 movie Honey. It’s easier for a white-skinned, non-black Latina to play the wife of a Black man than for a Black woman to be cast as romantic lovers of any man.
What say you?
Stephanie B.
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Some of the half black actresses I know of from the 1980s and 1990s:
Lisa Bonet (Cosby)
Jasmine Guy (Whitley on Different World)
Halle Berry
Sharon Leal (Guiding Light)
Gloria Reuben (ER)
Salli Richardson
Michael Michelle
Jennifer Beals (Flashdance)
Karyn Parsons (Hillary on Fresh Prince)
Rae Dawn Chong (Soul Man)
Lonette McKee (Flipper’s wife in Jungle Fever)
Cree Summer (the hippy airhead in Different World – and the voice of the black girl on Rugrats)
Stacey Dash (Clueless)
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I do not know of any black actresses who have passed for white, though maybe there have been some.
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Stephanie: It is strange how Hollywood often shows black men with wives and girlfriends who are not black. I think it comes down to my last two reasons: the casting directors and so on do not think black women are pretty enough and Hollywood does not like showing black love affairs in a good light for some reason.
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Abagond,
This is sad. Hollywood prefers to exalt white womanhood over black and the saddest part of it all is that their strategy worked then and it works now. The general American public is so closed minded that they couldn’t accept a Black leading lady because the white women can’t relate and that it would contradict the ideal white beauty America so indoctrinated in since its founding. Hollywood is no different from other media. They’re all the same to me.
What are your thoughts on the overemphasis by the media on missing pretty white women?
Stephanie B.
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I remember those pretty and talented Black actresses of the 80s. They were legion, given Hollywood’s abysmal treatment of such women. They deserved better. Here are the following actresses:
Whoopi Goldberg
Jennifer Beals
Robin Givens
Lisa Bonet
Debbie Allen
Lonette McKee
Ellen Holly
Phylicia Ayres (of Cosby Show)
Sabrina LeBeuf
Margaret Avery
Rae Dawn Chong
Oprah Winfrey
Tempest Bledsoe
Holly Robinson Peete(of Jump Street)
Jasmine Guy
Vanessa L. Williams
Shari Belafonte
Diahann Carroll (Dynasty)
Vanity
Troy Beyer
Irene Cara
Shari Headley(Coming to America)
Vanessa Bell Calloway
Madge Sinclair
Keshia Knight Pulliam
Akosa Busia
Those were my favorites during the 80s
Stephanie B.
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Yeah, I remember them too, most of the ones you listed. I especially liked Holly Robinson and Lisa Bonet.
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The Missing Pretty White Woman syndrome: that deserves a post of its own:
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/the-missing-white-woman-syndrome/
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To Abagond,
Thanks.
Stephanie B.
p.s. Would you like to read my essay on violence against Black women? It’s on my website. You have my permission to link it onto your website.
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Thanks!
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Thank you Abagond. I love watching black movies not all of them are great but it is good to check them out. I would have do say that one of my favourite shows at the moment is The Cosby Show yes it is old but a classic.
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I still watch Cosby from time to time. Now that I am a father and a husband I understand and appreciate Bill Cosby more.
When it was on in the 1980s I was into Lisa Bonet: besides being pretty and great to look at she was like me at the time: confused, well-meaning but hopelessly self-centred.
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It looks like even light-skinned black women who are not biracial are not good enough for white Hollywood. That’s why I don’t go to the movies as much anymore. Even if they do show black women, she’s wither light-skinned or mixed, but even that’s not good enough. Compare to white women, Asian women, white-skinned Hispanic women, black women of ALL shades are at the bottom. Sad.
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It is. Most white people have no idea this sort of thing is going on. After all, how could they know that Nia Long or Gabrielle Union are getting passed up when they do not even know who they are?
Ask a white person who Nia Long is. See how many of them know her.
White people see Halle or Whoopi or Queen Latifah in a few films and think all is right in the world.
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You are all right. I met a young girl when I visited Germany and I was talking to her. Because I was curious about “blacks in Germany” She told me her name is Dayan Kodua, (www;dayan-kodua.com) and she is an actress and how difficult it is to get parts, because all scripts are “white” and not many autors come to the idea there are “blacks” living in Germany. So she moved to L.A and see how things will worked out there…this is where she realized that it is not easy for anyone that is darker than what some people think its beautiful. I think she looks amazing…so not only hollywood is white, almost all media in the world is white…
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Today I think it’s critical that BW take charge of our image, especially in the media/entertainment industry, and hammer home the fact that Black actresses are beautiful, desirable, and talented enough to play any role opposite any actor regardless of race. If I had the money, I would set up a production company that would feature films where today’s most talented Black actresses would be mainstreamed by being given the role of leading lady opposite the hottest White/non-Black actors. These films would be written/directed by Europeans and Americans who have a pro-BW perspective and would present IRR’s in a positive, matter of fact manner as opposed to the tragic manner IRR’s involving BW and WM/non-BM are typically portrayed in Hollywood. I would also strive to end the unequal PAY Black actresses receive by insuring they receive EQUAL wages to what White/non-Black actresses are being paid.
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Laromona said: “Today I think it’s critical that BW take charge of our image, especially in the media/entertainment industry, and hammer home the fact that Black actresses are beautiful, desirable, and talented enough to play any role opposite any actor regardless of race.”
*************
I definitely agree
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The truth is Black women earn and spend enough money to create or support a production company that is designed to produce movies featuring black women. One thing more, black women are not going to get the opportunity to work in “mainstream” movies including those featuring black male celebrities such as Wil Smith. Rather than complaining, black working actresses need to organize and pool their resources and take their mission, which is our mission, to Black women because this lack of representation affects us all.
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Right: if you wait on Hollywood you will be waiting a long, long time.
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Hi Abagond! This is the first time I have been on this site. I really enjoy it. I’ll definately stop in more often. Well, to add my 2 cents to the convo, I am a beautiful proud black woman. I have been dating an older gentleman who is white. We’ve been madly in love for the past 8 years, and his mother can not stand me. See, she’s in her 70’s, so we all know what that means. One day I thought to myself why does she not like me? Is it because my skin is rich with color and ages well? Or is it because my lips are thick and suckulant, or my naturally curvaciousness that I know white women usually dont have? Then it hit me! I think she’s basically angry because I’m everything she cant be, and I could replace her. Black is natural, and black is beautiful. Which brings me to my point. Hollywood is sooo afraid that if people start liking black females and placing them in a better light than just the angry black B. Sorry. We have legs, and thighs, and hips, and lips. We’re naturally sultry. Much easier on the eyes. If that were to happen, then white actresses will be replaced all together. Of course you cant have white men lusting over black women, right? It’s been going on for hundreds of years, and they are still just to afraid to acknowledge it. I am so glad that we live in a country with a “black” president, and I hope it opens up many doors to those who deserve it, and have struggled for so long.
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Welcome! I do not know your boyfriend’s mother, but given her age and race and how she acts towards you, most likely she is just a flat-out racist. Seeing black beauty the way you or I do would be out of the question.
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Why don’t black people in Hollywood start doing their own movies and hiring their own actresses? Why is that white producers and white owned companies are responsible for promoting black movies and actors?
As a white man who has spent the last 10 years with a black woman, it is black america who has the biggest problem with interracial relationships, at least concerning white man-black woman.
I’ve got a proposition to all black woman. Go out in your area with a white man one time, and see the reaction and comments you will get. You don’t have to be involved with the guy, just get a co-worker or an acquaintance and go out as an experiment.
As for Hollywood, with 90% of the movie-going audience being white, economics is the biggest reason for the lack of black actresses being promoted. White people in general are going to want to go see white actors and actresses. It’s that simple.
With the cost of making an a-movie at around $50 million or above, it has to gross at least $100 million to make money. Show me the “black” movie that has grossed at least 100 million? It’s pure economics.
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“Show me the “black” movie that has grossed at least 100 million? It’s pure economics.”
Coming To America, The Nutty Professor, The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps, The Color Purple, Dreamgirls
“As a white man who has spent the last 10 years with a black woman, it is black america who has the biggest problem with interracial relationships, at least concerning white man-black woman.”
You’re not the first person I’ve heard say this, but white America isn’t too fond of it either. But a WM/BW relationship may not ruffle their feathers the way thta a BM/WW one certainly would.
“White people in general are going to want to go see white actors and actresses. It’s that simple.”
True.
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actually i agree with drkgodes. black women have always been underrated when it comes to beauty in america. hell i’m pretty sure that there are white people that do think black women are beautiful but don’t want to show it or admit it because of whatever reason. so they feel the need to say that you have to be blonde, blue eyed, thin to be beautiful. beauty comes in all races, shapes, and sizes and i wish i do see more black women in leading roles than just the ghetto, single mother, baby daddy drama. bascially the negative stereotypes of black women. unless black people start having their own production and giving black women a chance to shine then we will never get the recognition we deserve.
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Black people did have an industry that was mostly controlled by black people called race movies, race films or seperate cinema. Even in those movies the black women were light (the love interests etc.)and mamma or someone like big mamma was dark skinned while the love interest black men could be black as midnight. So just because black people get out and start making movies doesn’t mean it’s going to change.
Anways I have a blog http://blackwomenmakingmovies.blogspot.com and it’s focused on us making our own movies. Right now I’m talking about other industries like Nollywood etc. and how we could mos def start our own industry.
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With the cost of making an a-movie at around $50 million or above, it has to gross at least $100 million to make money. Show me the “black” movie that has grossed at least 100 million? It’s pure economics.
With black movies budgets usually being 1-15mill that’s a load of crap. They can easily do it they just don’t want to.
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Randy, be careful of what you say, because you could offend many people. If 90% movie goers were white, then that would mean that only 10 people out of every 100 are of a different race, and the math doesnt add up honey. Also, black movies just might start making the 100 mil marks if people would make positive movies about black people, or give them proper funding. I find it insulting that many black directors and producers will make a black movie, but it most likely will have something to do with someone being on drugs, or a prostitute, abused, or bout living in the hood. I wish that more black actors and actresses would stand up about this. If it’s based on a true story, and that’s the story then so be it, but there should be other topics explored as well. Why would it be wrong to make something like a romantic comedy with an all black cast, prodominately black, or cast of color?
On another note…….My honey and I have been together for quiet some time now, and we do get looks from many people. I’m pretty use to the race thing, because before him I would date people from many different backgrounds, but none would get the same reaction as when I dated a white man. Black women would say things like “yeah you look like the type of girl that dates wite men”, but that would be the end of it. Black men, would get pissed off at him because they would think that I was too attractive to date someone out of my race. There has been many times where we almost assaulted because of it. Young white people would either just stir, or whisper behind our backs if they cared about the issue any at all. He has stopped speaking to many people because of it. Older whites get highly offended, and will say things directly to our face, stirring me down, and scolding him. There is an age difference of about 20 years between us, and I know that bothers some people, but not as much as the race thing. We’ve just learned to accept it for what it is, because we make each other happy, and that’s all that matters to us. This race thing is nothing new in America, and will be around for some time. We are a country that was built on slavery and racism, and due to mindset that everyone should mind their own business and not correct racist statements or thoughts, it will be this way for a while. I have dated a few white men who when around their group of friends whether I was there or not would use the n word or allow their friends too. Then I’d hear “oh well you know Im not a racist, Im dating you!” Yeah, if you’re using it to describe anyone of color, you’re a bigot. Plain and simple. Obviously, that day I heard it was the last day of me speaking to them. Because you date someone black, doesn’t mean that you dont still have racial tendencies against black people. In the words of Martin Lawrence “Can’t we all just get along!?!”
P.S. To answer you back Abagond, his mother claims that she is not racist, but that she feels that everyone should stick to dating their own race. How that doesn’t make her racist I dont know, but it seems that most people here in America have that mind set, and it should change. I know particularly older Americans both black and white. I’m sooo glad that the world is mixing and matching soo much now, because eventually no one will be able to tell who’s who, and then maybe everyone will finally be on an even keel.
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[…] http://www.blackweb20.com/2008/10/01/black-actresses-ranked-by-google/ https://abagond.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/black-actresses/ […]
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Who was the singer dancer sister of the 70,s and maybe 80,s who became paralyzed. She was brown skinned and played vegas. she was really beautiful and was known for her sexy walk?
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sheldon ross kemper: “Who was the singer dancer sister of the 70,s and maybe 80,s who became paralyzed. She was brown skinned and played vegas. she was really beautiful and was known for her sexy walk?”
Lola Falana
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Abagond,
Don’t forget when they cast Jessica Alba instead of Mya in the 2003 movie Honey. It’s easier for a white-skinned, non-black Latina to play the wife of a Black man than for a Black woman to be cast as romantic lovers of any man.
What say you?
I’ve noticed this also. I often see Black women with a non-black mate on television/films. The only time you see a lot of black couples is when the film is produced by another black person.
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To the topic:Honestly I am really not sure if this is racism. I think whites just think of themselves as the default humans. And why wouldn’t they? I mean that is who they are after all. Sucks for us though. I agree with Spike Lee on this issue. It’s a shame there aren’t more black directors and producerss in Hollywood.
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Thought I’d mention miss Carol Channing, who was regularly on TV in the 50’s 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, who at one time was the toast of Broadway, revealed in her memoir that her father was bi-racial…half German. And Carol’s forward-thinking, Black grandmother left/fled Georgia and moved Carol’s father to Rhode Island for the perceived “opportunities” she believed her son would have. Now get this…before Carol Channing went off to college, her mother revealed the family secret about Carol’s father because, per Wikipedia, “her mother reportedly did not want Carol to be surprised ‘if she had a black baby'” That is priceless!!!
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Couldn’t agree more with your mention of Cicely Tyson and Hollywood’s total wasting of her talent. It wasn’t until much later that I decided that they’d also completely missed the boat in not giving her any roles in which she had a chance to “glam-up”. Sadly it was watching that piece of drek “Brewster’s Place” that that realization came into my world-view, but then again there has been plenty of talent going all the way back to Lena Horne and Anna Mae Wong that we’ve not been allowed to experience because of a racist society. Sadly nothing has changed and we’re only a few weeks from 2013 of all things.
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To Randy Faurote
“Why don’t black people in Hollywood start doing their own movies and hiring their own actresses? Why is that white producers and white owned companies are responsible for promoting black movies and actors?”
Firstly- if white people want to make movies for themselves that’s fine. Just let us know so that we don’t go spend our dollars on them.
“As for Hollywood, with 90% of the movie-going audience being white, economics is the biggest reason for the lack of black actresses being promoted.”
Secondly, I disagree that 90 percent of the movie going audience are white
“With the cost of making an a-movie at around $50 million or above, it has to gross at least $100 million to make money. Show me the “black” movie that has grossed at least 100 million? It’s pure economics.”
Thirdly, black movies would make more if white people didn’t see them as being “off limits” for viewing. And the reason so called white movies gross so much is because blacks and other minorities pay their dollars to see them (as per comment above)
“As a white man who has spent the last 10 years with a black woman, it is black america who has the biggest problem with interracial relationships, at least concerning white man-black woman.”
Lastly- what the hell is your black woman doing with you?
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Interesting how people don’t answer the questions, cause they are scared of it!
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