This just in: Will Smith not black enough to portray a black man?

[jimyee]

So Appearently will Smith isn't dark enough to portray Serena and Venus William's father in the upcoming movie about his life.
"Sports writer Clarence Hill Jr. went viral on social media after bringing attention to the casting, writing, 'Colorism matters. Love Will Smith but there are other black actors for this role.' "
www.indiewire.com/.../
Is this really what it's come to?
I wonder what Jada Pinkett-Smith will think if Will gets nominated for an Oscar for the role.

Lol.. ridiculous, just ridiculous

Too light, might as well be white

[RolandCuthbert]

Haha!!!

Dude, colorism has been an issue in the "Black" community since we have been called the "Black" community. Just because you are an outsider to the experience doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

In old African-American cinema, "we" internalized racism. So all of the good guys in films would be light skinned "Black" people. The heroines, the heroes, etc. All of the villains would be the darkest skinned folks we could find.

It is a pretty well-documented history actually. But it is one you have to read.

In fact, growing up, the number one insult within the "Black" community among children was to mock each other based upon our skin tones. And you did not want to be dark-skinned.

I remember one insult vividly.

"T, you are so black, you don't even walk into a room. . . you just appear!"

www.bet.com/.../young-hollywood-colorism.html

[jimyee]

Honestly, from what you just described, that sounds like a problem within the "black community".

[RolandCuthbert]

Yeah man, what's your point?

Dude just posted about "Black" folks complaining that Will Smith isn't dark skinned enough to play Richard Williams.

Maybe you didn't read what he posted about Will Smith and Richard Williams. Its up there at the top.

[reptocarl]

This is like asking if Bruce Lee could play James Bond or if a very tall woman could play a little person. I don’t think it’s racist at all

[jimyee]

I don't get your sarcasm

[MysteriousDarkness]

It would be colorism.

[MissPeach35]

This is ridiculous.

There is no such thing as not being black enough, who do those people who said that think they are? From what I have seen of Will Smith he has been a good representation for black people and not just black people- but ethnic minorities too.

How dare somebody debunk him for a reason as stupid as that?

He's a good actor but you know what? Let's not look beyond anything other than his skin colour. Ridiculous.

[MissPeach35]

Thanks for MHO :)

[lforman007]

He's black, therefore, black enough to portray a black man.

[Miristheiss]

That is silly... unless it is 100% solely based on him just not looking that much like the real guy.

Why the hell are they doing a movie about these tennis sisters... who are still actively playing tennis?

I think they should put a wig on Ronnie Coleman and have him play Serena.

[Bananaman177]

[wankiam]

did they mean not black enough in a literal sense or were they perhaps the publics perception of will smith in many cases is that he is infact a coconut? just asking

[madhatters4]

i am not all too concerned but i find a strange irony that he is not black enough to play a black person because of his skin tone however, we often have people of different races and ethnicity playing characters not of that same demographic

[curiousnorway]

Agree. I also think it's ironic. Will Smith is black enough to me. I've seen many times white playing black characters and the other way around. I've even seen white people that were supposed to play white characters, but the director changed his mind and made them Latino instead. So the white people had to dye their hair etc.

[madhatters4]

@curiousnorway exactly. acting is just that... acting. the aim should be to get the best actor to bring a character to life rather than focus on the fact that his skin tone doesn't precisely match

[Anonymous]

weird, right? And that one dude, oh what's his name, Alexander Hamilton was... white but they had no problem with him being portrayed by a black man for "art". They already crapped all over Zoe Saldana for not "being black enough" to play a historical black woman. These people are some sick f*cks.

[curiousnorway]

I'm agree. Even if Alexander Hamilton was a "PoC", something he most likely was, it would be wrong to portray him as black. He was half-Scottish and half-French, so a South-European appearance would suit him better. Black hair, blue eyes and a tan.

[Anonymous]

Well, every race has lighter and darker skin variations.
For example, Sudanid Africans (e. g Dinka) have quite darker complexion than South African Bantu people (e. g Zulu).
Chinese and Indonesians are both Mongoloid race, but Indonesians have a bit darker skin color.
Scandinavians and Persians are both Caucasians, but Scandinavians are obviously much lighter skinned.

[SuccessfulHornDog]

Omg, you're the worst kind of racist ever.

[Opinion Owner]

@SuccessfulHornDog LOL, I'm not racist at all, I'm just saying that every race has lots of variations (because of the climate conditions).

[SuccessfulHornDog]

I was kidding

[Opinion Owner]

@SuccessfulHornDog Ok :D

[Texaskid1]

If Will Smith is not black enough than I am the Queen of England.

All Hail Texaskid1 the First!!!

[alexd666]

Well his skin isn't as dark as the person he is supposed to be portraying.

[jimyee]

So you have to match 100% to play the role of someone? What about Christian Bale playing Cheney in vice? He had to gain weight and use a lot of makeup and possible prosthetics to appear to look like him. Is that wrong? Should they have gone to a senior center and found somebody that was Cheney's age to play the part?

[curiousnorway]

They can use makeup. It's ironic people complains about this, yet allow Hollywood white actors to play black characters and visa versa. They even cast white people to play white characters, but then change their mind and make the white actors Latino instead.

[CocoXD]

Its understandable that they would want an actor that looks like their father. But he’s black so 🤷🏾‍♀️

[Pink2000]

Well their father is a very dark completed man... they could’ve gotten someone with the same skin color.

[jimyee]

I didn't down vote you but how is it any different than when an Italian plays a Greek or vice versa? Can now no one portray a character that isn't 100% the same? They're actors, it's better to pick a competent actor than the exact same skin tone.

[Pink2000]

There are several actors who could’ve played their father. John Amos would’ve been perfect. They know good and well their daddy is not that light. That’s man is black as all get out. My father is very dark and I would want someone who resembles him to play him...

[Anonymous]

Eww he reeks of privilege, we need someone more opressed

[SuccessfulHornDog]

Thanks actually a good point

[humanearth]

What I have seen over the years. Black people get lighter as the age. That is normal. Some people are just not dumb enough I guess.

[Triple7s]

I was more pissed off that they made him Deadshot and ruined the character

[MarketData]

It doesn't matter. The film is going to be a pack of lies anyway.

[SuccessfulHornDog]

Why do you say that?

[MarketData]

@SuccessfulHornDog Because Hollywood :)

[SuccessfulHornDog]

Hard to argue against that

[Anonymous]

I wonder if they bitched about freckled-faced geeky ginger Jimmy Olsen being cast as an athletic black dude on Supergirl? I bet not.

[mycatsanoyingaf]

I think you mean " dark enough" not " black enough; lol

[jimyee]

Nope, I meant what I said.

[bladedshard]

The dad looks darker skinned from what i see and its good they are using other black actors instead of the usual ones.

[SuccessfulHornDog]

They're probably trying to be as realistic as possible

[OfDeath]

Who is going to play Serena?

[MarketData]

Scarlett Johansson

[OfDeath]

@MarketData hahahaha!

[ChiPaPa]

What the actual fuck?