rant · moment 19 of 22
Hollywood's Blind Spot for Black Talent
from #184 - Skid Ray | The Tim Dillon Show · #184
6 min
Tim argues Hollywood will cast anyone but funny/talented black performers, mocking white-savior Civil War films, a hypothetical Julia Roberts as Harriet Tubman, and fashion week's tone-deaf use of dreadlocks and Native American imagery on white models.
- Hollywood has found unfunny black women, which is almost impossible given how much they've been through.
- Everything has to be cuddly and comfortable for white people.
- Movie about the Civil War where Robert E. Lee's wife has a hero arc after meeting a black person.
- A character explains fried chicken like it's a stereotype, even though historically accurate people ate it.
- White savior narrative: a movie about one of history's most heroic women becomes Robert E. Lee's wife learning about racism.
- Executives once planned to cast Julia Roberts as Harriet Tubman.
- Fashion runways put white models in dreads and Egyptian headdresses looking wildly inappropriate.
- Johnny Depp, who played Tonto in The Lone Ranger, sells a fragrance campaign about the Native American experience.
- Gucci makes prison-themed collections with orange jumpers.
Harriet TubmanJohnny DeppJulia RobertsGucciRobert E. LeeCharlize TheronHollywoodMorgan FreemanAlcatraz