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Hello,

I know this is late, regarding the July 18th issue #1002. I meant to write and recently picked up the issue again to page through and was reminded that I wanted to comment.

I have a couple comments about Margeaux Watson’s Commentary “It’s Time To Put Black Actresses in Hollywood Blockbusters.”

My first is a complaint about the major spoiler she printed. Granted, she wrote “spoiler alert” just before, but I really think (and this could be a good rule for all articles or news and notes sections) that it would be a good idea to issue a spoiler alert either in the title, or as a sub-title. Once I start reading an article, I like to continue. I generally stay away from reviews, since most movie reviewers spoil most of the plot. They can’t simply comment on the quality of the film without replaying the plot scene by scene. In a commentary about black actresses in blockbusters, giving away THE major twist of Hancock was completely unnecessary to her thesis. She could have simply stated that Charlize Theron is the female lead.

Second, while I agree to a point that black actresses (and minorities in general) should get more roles, why is it only about black actresses? Why not Hispanic, Asian, etc? Why not promote diversity in film? Even so, if we’re just staying on topic of black actresses, I’d like to point out that there are black actresses in Hollywood Blockbusters. Some examples:

Halle Berry in Swordfish, The X-Men series, and Catwoman.
Sanaa Lathan (a terrific actress) was the LEAD period (over any male stars even) in Alien vs. Predator.
Vivica A. Fox starred in Kill Bill
Jada Pinkett-Smith starred in both Matrix sequels.
I’m sure there are other examples, I can’t think of any more off the top of my head.

Margeaux Watson’s subtitle to her article (only online, not in print) states: “Why African-American women like Gabrielle Union and Nia Long need to be cast opposite Denzel Washington and Will Smith.” Did she forget that Will Smith’s co-star and love interest in Bad Boys II was… Gabrielle Union? How about Vivica A. Fox in Independence Day? Or Men in Black II’s Rosario Dawson (according to about.com, she’s mixed so I don’t know if Ms. Watson counts that). But how about “Ali,” “The Pursuit of Happyness, “Enemy of the State,” or “I Am Legend?” Looks like Will Smith has had a lot of black actresses as his co-stars, in some pretty big blockbusters.

And maybe it wasn’t Nia Long, but Denzel’s last Blockbuster type movie, “Deja Vu” had his co-star and love interest a black actress named Paula Patton. Patton (apparantly also mixed races according to some sites) also is the lead in this summer’s “Mirrors” starring opposite Kiefer Sutherland (the interracial tables are turned). The list for Denzel could include his black co-stars in “John Q,” “Out of Time,” “Remember the Titans,” and more. I don’t know the stats, but I wonder if his love interests or spouses on film have been black the majority of the time. It sure looks that way.

I agree that black women (and women of other non-white races) are missing from the Summer 2008 blockbuster season. Television is also declining in diversity, which saddens me (No CSI! I loved Warrick! But you won me back with Larry Fishburne.) But I feel like commentaries such as the one in this issue are off base given the proof I provided above. And again, why is it only about black actresses? I was glad to see the article (I forget which issue) about race on TV. We should be striving for diversity and more roles for every minority, not just black. Where are the Asians, Hispanics, Middle Eastern or Native Americans in TV and film? I’d like to see more commentary on that as well.

Thanks for your time,

But yeah, I definitely agree, and it’s sad. ‘Cause I know a lot of black actresses I’d like to see doing bigger things, especially in a situation where they’re the headliner. We at least need a female counterpart to Will Smith, but there are hardly any bankable female stars in general. Even sex incarnate, Angelina Jolie, isn’t nearly as bankable as some make her out to be. I’d say her biggest hit commercially has been the first Tomb Raider, and nothing she’s done has really topped it. Not even Wanted or Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

But yeah, when even an actress the caliber of Angela Bassett can only get gigs on cable, something is seriously wrong. And it’s not just black actresses – Latinas and Asians suffer the same way.