Quick: Name the last black, female geek/misfit you saw in a film. Any film. I'll wait.
Yep. That's what I thought. I'm not sure when this non-trend started to bug me, but I reached full-blown annoyance around the time "Juno" came out. Don't get me wrong. On paper, "Juno" looks like the kind of movie I'd love, and it's been languishing in my Netflix queue for a couple of weeks now.
I just wonder when it will occur to some screenwriter/filmmaker to create a quirky antiheroine who isn't white. The closest example I can think of is "Bend it Like Beckham," though don't get me started on how Keira Knightley became the big movie star instead of gorgeous Parminder Nagra. There's also "Akeelah and the Bee," but while it's a sweet and uplifting movie, it's not exactly in the Judd Apatow tradition.
I remember when I could go months without seeing a black female in any film, so I guess I should be happy that we're occasionally allowed to be sidekicks, uberdivas, lawyers and pretty girlfriends. Thanks almost entirely to Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long and the fabulous Regina King, I've even seen a few characters I recognize from real life. But when is Hollywood going to give the young, black female outcast some love? You know, the one who plays the clarinet, isn't tough, sassy or streetwise, isn't being courted by Nick Cannon, and knows the difference between Wally West and Barry Allen. She does exist.
I'd also love to see an older black actress let her freak flag fly onscreen. One of the best films I saw last year was "Year of the Dog," starring Molly Shannon and Regina King. King was good in her supporting role as Shannon's ditzy, wide-eyed co-worker, and it was nice to see her play against type. Shannon was pitch-perfect as a woman who cracks up after her beloved dog dies. But as I watched the movie, I couldn't help wondering how King would have interpreted that thisclosetocrazy role.
Maybe I'd be more optimistic if Tyler Perry or any of the other black filmmakers making "positive" movies demonstrated a grasp of subtlety and irony, or an awareness of protagonists who aren't motivated by step competitions. (And by the way guys, black people do live in cities outside of Atlanta.)
Look, if America ready for its first biracial president, it's certainly ready for Michael Cera to have an offbeat black gal pal. I'm too old for the part now, but I'd be happy to provide some notes.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Joan Walsh
Kerry Lauerman
Not so reluctant
DavidLGrant
Beatrice Curry
Cheri_Noir
Salon.com
Comments
This emerging culture must be large and vocal enough to sway the industry with its wallet. Let's face it, when producers spend millions of dollars making a film, they hope for a profitable return. Most of us (Kevin Costner excluded) can't afford to donate that kind of money for art's sake.
Fortunately, digital filmmaking is driving production costs lower than ever. Not welfare toast cheese sandwich low, not yet... but from millions to hundreds of thousands and lower if you're frugal, savvy, connected or some combination of the above. However, regardless of who makes what movie, distribution is the real hurdle. In addition to more minority writer/producer representation, some of us better get busy buying up theaters! Kidding aside, even that area is progressing with the growth of the Internet and the straight-to-DVD market.
It is very funny and has an actual black man as high contrast to the not actually black man.
How about Whoopie Goldberg in "Girls on the Side"? I didn't see it, stereotype or geeky friend/mentor?
Three unique women embark on a cross-country road trip: Jane (Whoopi Goldberg), a lesbian lounge singer in search of a new life after breaking up with her girlfriend of years
I am that black (well mixed) female misfit you speak of.
And the only example I can think up from a movie is the black girl from "The Craft" the movie about private school girls that practice witchcraft and eventually turn on 1 of their friends.
Well that was pretty "different" b/c she was all into occult things, not so much trying to be the R&B diva of every basketball players dreams.
Lorraine Hansberry was an amazing writer and a great role model. She died too young. She had so much talent and she was way ahead of her time.