I get it. We’re all rightfully mad at Zoe Saldana for playing Nina Simone in Black face? But be mad at David Oyelowo too. Here’s why.
First of all, according to the Simone Estate, the Clifton Henderson, who David Oyelowo plays, character was a complete fabrication. In 2012, the Simone Estate released a statement that said, “as has been stated before but is worth repeating: Clifton Henderson was a gay man. He was an out gay man. I met him at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem during Nina’s memorial service. He was neither a heterosexual male nor a man with whom Nina Simone had any kind of romantic relationship. This might be a forgivable “fiction” for Cynthia to slip in if not for how many other fictions and whitewashings are built into this tale.” Yesterday they dropped this gem on Twitter to Saldana. Whew dang!!
I believe Nina’s family when they said Clifton Henderson’s and Nina’s relationship was a business one. The family was neither consulted or asked permission by the creators of “Nina” to do the movie. Well if that didn’t bother you, did you know David Oyelowo is the Executive Producer this f**kery called “Nina?” YES HE IS Y’ALL! Click the link here if you don’t believe me.
For me, this isn’t surprising. The erasure of Black women by our own has been going on for YEARS. It seems like behind any effort to erase Black women in entertainment, sometimes there is a Black man who supports it or even perpetrates it. Remember the Straight Outta Compton’s casting? The sad thing is Black women still supported it. This is why things don’t change. You see these Black men see nothing wrong with the erasure of Black women unless it is happening to them. A Black man dealing with this is like spotting big foot, but it has happened. Remember there is a White man playing Michael Jackson. Let’s be honest. Sadly colorism is a burden Black women generally carry.
The Owner of the studio, the makeup artist, the casting director and the director of The Nina Simone Movie. pic.twitter.com/DiV6X9FNjp
— No (@Nigerianscamsss) March 3, 2016
So no, don’t just go after Zoe Saldana, the makeup artists, the director, or the casting director. Go after David Oyelowo too. FYI, just because Oyelowo is a Black Briton who played Martin Luther King Jr. it doesn’t mean he is any different from his Black men colleagues in entertainment. This is proof he ain’t.
By the way, the movie looks like a damn disgrace. Here’s the sorry ass trailer.
What do you think? The only limit you have is the one you have placed on yourself. Think and be limitless.
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What can you expect from David; he is married to a White woman. He most likely does not have any regard for Black/African women other than how they can advance his career in a film or put money in his pocket. It is so common of Black men and African men. In fact, laws had to be written in order to stop Pan-African leaders from marrying White women once they were elected by the people. ALL of them were doing it. White-Woman worship so common in Africa.
Interracial relationships are good if they are authentic. However, Black men and African men worship White women and women that are not Black for very superficial reasons, while rejecting Black women and African women for stupid reasons. We know that this has been going on for centuries, when African men first sold African women into servitude, and took White women as concubines and began worshipping them and white skin. I have nothing against White people or lighter skinned women. I just think it is a shame that men with Black skin reject women with Black skin so much, and place all other women on pedestals just because they have lighter skin or are White. It is ridiculous.
I have lost respect for Zoe because I think that she should have declined the role because she knew she was not the right person for the part just based on her features. I would have declined the role.
I agree with your blog: this is evidence of how prevalent colorism is all over the world. The film industry and media just don’t want to see women with dark skin in any other role than those that are unflattering, if they can even get roles. Yes, they want to erase Black women. Black women don’t stand a chance, if they are depending on Black men and Hollywood to do right by them.
However, there is Karma. The person that people mistreat ends up being the person those same people need later on. Or the reason some people lose what they have or don’t get what they wish for is because they mistreated someone for no reason. This world is going to need the Black women everyone rejected and marginalized one day, and people will be hopeless to avoid it.
As it stands now, many Black women no longer support Black film makers and artists who reject and degrade them. I will not be watching or purchasing anything David appears in or produces, nor anything created by other colorists who want to erase Black woman from the planet. They can erase my money along with my image, as well. That’s gonna hurt one day. Some celebrities are already feeling that loss from hundreds/thousands of former and would-be fans that no longer patronize them for their racism, no matter what color they are.
Yup!Mic drop right here.
Thank you Bougie Black girl for pointing this out. Too often these men duck and dodge accountability, hiding behind a woman to take all the blows. They’re both dead ass wrong for this but true to patriarchy & sexism, we only focus on the woman’s crap while stupidly letting his bs go (which arguable does more damage since this is a man’s world). We gone learn soon enough though.
What stupid long comments, Zoe Saldana is from DR, she’s just trying to get pay. She got the part because she’s a very talented actress.
Save your money, support ONLY black actressess/actor, such racism!!!! At least her story is coming to the big screen and should be a celebration…..get a life!!!!!
And plenty of stupid, clueless people on blogs who do not comprehend well, nor do they read long enough to understand what is being said. Hurry up, the club awaits you….
Thanks for the extra heads up about David Oyelowo. What a piece of work. And no, not watching that fuckwad of a film. 😐
I had a feeling it would have been a ninja behind this! I keep telling BW that BM worship the s*** that comes out of ww’s asses. They marry these sunburnt pig skinned women to reach the white man’s status, as a fellow black brit it doesn’t surprise me. The bm over here disgust me with a passion and when I see them with ugly ww I just cut my eyes and keep it moving. Keep it up black men! You’re going to need BW one day and we wont be here to save your sorry black @sses.