Tyler Perry Responds to Spike Lee

Recently I provided video from Black Enterprise of Ed Gordon interviewing Spike Lee. In that video Spike Lee was asked about the state of Black culture and coverage in movies and television. The response was very critical.

Specifically, without directly naming him, Spike called the work of Tyler Perry "coonery and buffonery". He found it akin to Amos 'n Andy. I essentially took it that he found Perry's work - no matter the income it draws - little more than the minstrel show. Which for my readers that are not familiar is possible one of the worst things that can be said of any Black entertainer or celebrity.

There was no question that Perry was going to respond. Here is what is available on that response.



I understand the anger that Perry has. At the same time, there are legitimate issues with some of the work Perry has created. The question I suppose is which is the correct stance, or is there some middle ground?

What do you think?

Bill Cosby given the Mark Twain Prize

There are but a few comedians that have had the ability to entertain the masses for more than just a moment. They are people whose names can be remembered by gerations, across the globe. To these few, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is given.



Bill Cosby recieved this honor yesterday, at an event filled with stars and fans. Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Sinbad, Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Phylicia Rashad, Rita Moreno, and many others were on hand to celebrate the gift of humor that Cosby has shared with us all for decades.

Without a single curse, without a need to be ghettofabulous, Cosby has acheived greatness and opened doors for all that have come after him. There would be no Martin, no Lining Single, no In Living Color, and on without Cosby and I Spy. There would be arguably be no Tyler Perry without The Cosby Show. His footprints cover movies, television, and stand-up comedy.



Many may not realize it, but back in the 80's as the Cosby Show was shocking Hollywood that an African American family could be successful and funny, and America would flock to it in droves, Dr. Bill Cosby had the chance to buy NBC - and turned the deal down. Just having such an option is remarkable. In fact I only can recall one other star that was capable of such a feat, Dezi Arnaz (who oddly enough was also a person of color).

These days Dr. Cosby may be covered by the media mostly for his comments about our society, and Black culture. It's an insight that is both piercing and accurate. No statement ever causes more discussion and complaint than the absolute truth. But I believe he has earned the right to chide the very same people that he joked with through out their formative years.



For all these reasons, I am glad to know that Dr. Bill Cosby has received the Mark Twain Prize. Because it is his ability to communicate with us, in humor and abject gravity, that defines what he was and is today. Like Mark Twain he has used the American language and culture to inform, educate, and unify us. As I said, few can ever hope to acheive such great levels, and when they do we should take note.

Keep an eye out. The tribute will air on PBS on November 4th. It will surely be worthy of watching.

Entertainment Tonight goes too far with Michael Jackson photo

I understand that the death of Michael Jackson is enormous news. There has been nothing else on the cable news networks for the last 2 hours. Every entertainment outlet is searching for a story and angle on this. Including myself to a degree.

But Entertainment Tonight has gone too far. They went to a place that the realm of good taste forbids. Even tabloids tend to not tread this path - at least not hours after the death of a celebrity.

Entertainment Tonight has placed on it's website a photo they claim is the last ever taken of Jackson. Jackson was intibated and on a strecher. Some time shortly after this photo he was dead.

I find photos of dead celebrities to be disgusting. It is an insult and a disrespect. It does not shed new light on the event, it does not inform. And I can imagine the horror it can evoke to the family and friends of the deceased. Especially 2 hours after the news has just broken.

Imagine that if for some reason you were a friend of Jackson and you turn on your TV or computer and that ewas the first thing you saw. Imagine if you are a family member and you get to see that after the wake or funeral. Imagine if you are one of his children some years from now, and you get to see that this was how some exploited your dad after death.

Entertainment Tonight has acted as only scum would in my opinion. I accept that the photo was taken while Jackson was alive, with expectations that he would survive. But ET knew he was dead when they published this photo. So their only decision was to release this photo in an effort to profit off of his death. It's the modern equivalent of grave robbing.

Tabloids and paparazzi act in low manner all the time. They have the least respect, unless a dollar is attached. But this is inexcusable. I mean can't they let the man's memory, family, and friends have even 1 night before they disgustingly hustle for a buck on his grave.

I too am a member of the media. A small part, but still part all the same. And I deplore and am insulted by this desecration of Michael Jackson. The executives that ok'd this decision should get beaten with a stick by the Jackson family.

Maybe I am too sensitive (which may be the first I would be called that) or my morality is too high. But I think the outcry from the public should remind the media that there are limits. That the chase of a buck does not justify everything. That good taste still is more important than a scoop or quickie journalism.

Do you agree?

Australian movie exec calls Forest Whitaker 'ugly, black, unbankable'

Australia is an interesting nation. The people I have met from that nation have been pleasant and good natured. They have provided America with several excellent entertainers, most notably Mel Gibson (who is American but grew up in Australia).

Yet that nation had, and continues to have many problems. The interaction with the native Aboriginal population is in many ways similar to the slavery issues that were found in America. Even to this day there are extreme racial conflicts between the 2 groups, though the distance to the rest of the world helps to ensure that most of this news is unseen.

It is perhaps because of this racially derisive past and present that an Austrailian film executive felt the need to claim this about Forest Whitaker

“Even if he wins the Oscar he's ugly, he's black and he's unbankable.”

Bollocks! Who the hell is this executive?

I realize that Australia, along with neighbor New Zealand, have gotten quite a bit of attention from Hollywood in recent years. I understand how they might see their importance growing with this greater influence. But that does not justify such comments.

Forest Whitaker is an acclaimed actor, director and producer. His credits include:

• Last King of Scotland – where he received an Oscar, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and BAFTA Awards
  
• Color of Money
  
• Bird – Cannes Film Festival Award and Golden Globe nomination
  
• Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai - an exceptional film that I recommend people see
  
• The Shield
  
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High
  
• Good Morning Viet Nam
  
• Platoon
  
• The Crying Game
  
• Prêt-à-Porter - National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble
  
• Panic Room
  
• The Great Debaters
  
• A Rage in Harlem
  
• Waiting to Exhale
  

I could go on as his career spans 26 years. In fact he will be working steadily into 2010, where he will be directing and acting in It's A Wonderful World about Louis Armstrong. There aren’t many actors that can be assured of leading roles 2 years in the future, and those that can are the best in the entertainment industry.

Somehow I think the fact that Whitaker is this successful, in all aspects of film, does not only make him bankable – it makes him one of a few actors that are bankable over decades.

To say that Whitaker is ugly is just a base, moronic, and unrealistic comment. It’s similar to the inane argument made by racists that people (usually implying Whites) will not go to see a film starring an actor/actress of a different color. The financial success of films by Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Samuel Jackson, Jamie Foxx, and Forest Whitaker to name but a few prove that to be absurd drivel.

Now the issue at hand was the upcoming movie Winged Creatures, directed by Australian director Rowan Woods. To the credit of Woods he fought to have Whitaker as the lead. He believed that the ability, look, quality, and bankability of Whitaker would be an asset to his film. And he would not budge on his choice of lead.



The Australian entertainment industry responded to this with a racially based slap-in-the-face. The initial budget of the film was $11 million, it was cut to $4.5 million. Who did the racists want? Al Pacino or Michael Douglas. Now I personally don’t think that Al Pacino was ever the most handsome leading man. And Michael Douglas is a good looking guy, but his age shows through these days. So the reality was that they just wanted a White face as lead.

To the credit of the director, Woods, he was able to fill out his cast – on a budget that was a pittance of the initial target – with actors of high quality. I have to believe that each of these actors had no problem with a Black man, and more importantly a quality actor who happens to be Black, as the lead. The other actors are:

Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Jennifer Hudson

Racism is a despicable thing in any nation or part of the world. It is usually based in unfounded, illogical, small-minded, envious, mindsets. It is the reason that so many are persecuted by so few. It is the worst image of any group of people.

Again I note that the Australians I have met have been great people. The director of Winged Creatures helps to show that not every Australian is the closed-minded, repugnant, imbecilic racists that seem to populate their entertainment industry (and more than just a few in Hollywood too).

But I think that future directors should think twice before going to Australia for a film. Because if the film has anyone that is Black it seems they will shun the film. And in an industry that is supposed to represent the boundless depth of the human imagination, this repressed limited and potentially psychologically damaged view is a cancer that sours the best of work.

**I want to thank the owner of 1800blogger for bringing this to my attention, and D.C. Moviegirl for speaking on this**

Celebrity donations - some numbers and organizations you may not know

Recently I had the opportunity to share my thoughts about how Reuters deliberately diminished the generosity of Oprah Winfrey, and the lack of major media attention to the kind and helpful donation of Tyler Perry. That got me wondering, who is giving back to the public and not getting any attention – or worse being diminished – for it.

Well my first stop was at The Giving Back Fund. I looked at the donations made by celebrities for 2006 and 2007 (the last full years of donations reported). In addition I wanted to see how many African American celebrities and entertainers were on the list, as I feel they are the least reported or acknowledged of all high-profile donors.

For the prior 2 years Oprah Winfrey set the bar high. She donated the single most of all celebrities each year, and combined. Her donations totaled $118 million. That 66% of the total of the top 12 White celebrities combined.

The total donations made the top 16 celebrities and entertainers combines to $316.5 million dollars. That’s a huge amount of money. This money went to help prevent and cure HIV/AIDS, provide scholarships, cancer research, Katrina relief, hospitals, day cares, organizations that help various groups and nations in Africa, and more.

Another interesting thing of note is that the top 4 Black celebrities and entertainers’ donations are equal to 77% of the top White celebrity and entertainer donations.

I mention that last part because one of the points of notables making these donations is not only what they can do but also the attention they can being to an issue, and the fans they can inspire to do the same. The more that is mentioned about these donations, the more these issues get attention over Miley Cyrus career decisions or the outing of Clay Aiken – which really don’t matter.

In addition I feel it’s important that African American celebrities and entertainers are symbols of success and inspirational in the Black community. They have broken the stereotypes, and excelled in an industry that affords them few opportunities. And when they do something as important and beneficial as the donations I’m mentioning, they often are either ignored (like Tyler Perry and Don Cheadle), or are diminished (like Oprah) by the major media.

Out of all the donations made in 2006 and 2007, only 9 made donations each year (for a total of $183.6 million) out of over 48 from both years. Those consistent and vital personalities are listed below.

• Oprah Winfrey - $118 million, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy,
  Oprah's Angel Network
  
• Barbara Streisand – $22 million, Barbra Streisand Foundation
  
• Tiger Woods – $10.8 million, Tiger Woods Learning Center, Earl D.
  Woods Sr. Scholarship Fund
  
• Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt - $10.8 million, School and Community Center in
  Swakopmund in Namibia, Daniel Pearl Foundation, Namibian hospitals, Doctors without Borders, The Jolie-Pitt Foundation
  
• Rosie O’Donnell – $9.2 million, Katrina Relief, day care centers, Habitat for Humanity, Broadway Kids Initiative
  
• Lance Armstrong - $5.5 million, Lance Armstrong Foundation
  
• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson - $3 million, University of Miami
  
• Andre Agassi - $2.3 million, Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation
  
• Denzel Washington - $2 million, Save Africa's Children, Wiley College
  

I hope you take a moment to look into the causes that they each have made donations to and if you agree make a donation yourself.

Tyler Perry helping more families than Congress right now

I have often said that the major news media gives short shrift to celebrities and entertainers that are doing the right thing. With all the media swirling around the mortgage bailout plans, you might think that all other news has been thrown to the wayside but that would be untrue.

A casual look in the search engines finds that there is plenty of news on celebrities. There is news on Meg Ryan and her divorce. There is news about whether Miley Cyrus will stay or leave Hanna Montana. There is even a focus on Isis King, the first transgendered model in the ridiculous and brain-cell depleting America’s Next Top Model.

Not a single one of those ‘news’ items are worth the time to read more than the headline.

But what you haven’t heard, what isn’t rushing across the internet or the cable news networks is a simple bit of good. Yes, a celebrity is actually helping regular people. Just because it felt like the right thing to do.

The celebrity in this case is the renown Tyler Perry. In case you are unfamiliar with this acclaimed director, actor, movie writer, producer and playwright I’ll give you a bit of help. He created Diary of a Mad Black Woman which he may be best known for. He is also responsible for Tyler Perry's House of Payne. If you are unfamiliar with either of these it may be because all of Perry’s work focuses and stars predominately Black actors and actresses.

Tyler Perry grew up with abuse as a child, he has been homeless, he dropped out of school at 16 but went back for his GED. His book Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life was number 1 on the New York Times Best Seller List. He has released 5 films (his 6th just hit theaters) that have made $187 million dollars just in the U.S.

Tyler Perry is a success by virtually any standard you chose to mark him by.

And he went out and donated 2 weeks worth of food for 1,000 families today. He is actively helping families in Atlanta that are struggling and hungry. And the major news media seem to not care.

The people at Hosea Feed the Hungry and the Homeless care center certainly are happy to have received this huge gift. I cannot fathom how families in need in Atlanta are not happy as well. But it seems that the major news media aren’t happy reporting a successful Black man directly helping people in a way that virtually every politician refuses or is incapable of doing.

Keep an eye out though. I guarantee that the second a Black entertainer is arrested, or does something stupid, regardless of the financial woe of the day you will see it on the national news. Miley Cyrus on a drunken binge will get a side note, but say a rapper getting arrested will upfront news. Yet improving the lives of 1,000 families is a minor footnote.

It makes me sick. Especially when polls show that some 48% of White Americans think Blacks are violent, or that 38% think Blacks are lazy. Tyler Perry, and many other African American celebrities, proves that the stereotypes that survive and plague this nation right now are wrong. But you wouldn’t know it from the major media.

OJ Simpson trial - injustice unreported

I did not want to discuss this case. But when I listened to the glee from Sheppard Smith (news anchor for Fox News) as he spoke on the news I made up my mind to say something.

The case I am referring to is the OJ Simpson trial. You may not have heard much on this, you might even be surprised to know that his trial in Las Vegas is already underway. And the reason there has not been much media on this is likely because of what the outcome will be.

At this point I feel incredibly confident that OJ Simpson will be sentenced to jail for his life. For all those cheering that sentence realize this – OJ is being jailed based on prejudice and the bias of America.

Whether or not OJ Simpson is guilty of the charges, all 12 of them, stemming from his arrest in Las Vegas is not important. It’s the fact that after more than a decade the legal system, and most White Americans, now have the chance to convict OJ for the murder of Nicole Simpson; which he was found innocent of. The major news media has never accepted that answer. Shepard Smith has always made it clear he despised that verdict. And double jeopardy be damned White America could not live with this.

Every misstep OJ has made since the murder trial ended has been publicized. The media has maintained an onslaught of coverage aimed at 1 goal, tarnishing his image and guaranteeing every American would believe he was guilty of murder and deserved to be in jail. And this trial will be the fruition of all that work.

On the 10th of September the Las Vegas judge, Jackie Glass, decided that 2 members of the prospective jury being contacted by a reported member of the press was not a problem.

On September 12th the jury was selected. 9 women, 3 men. Not a single person on the jury is Black.

On September 16th, after being told not to take into account any of the news or rulings dealing with OJ’s murder trial, the prosecution has introduced it as part of their case.

So let’s look at this. Reportedly 4 men and OJ entered a hotel room to recover stolen goods that belonged to OJ. Questionably the meeting was set up by one of those men, who has given evidence against OJ for reduced charges. 2 men in the room that day are reported to have had guns, neither of which was OJ. Both of those suspected men have turned states evidence to get off their charges in return for being a witness against OJ.

9 women were reminded that this man is believed by the prosecutor, media and many Whites, to have brutally murdered a woman. They were reminded that for over a decade the media has hammered the thought that this man is guilty though proven innocent beyond a shadow of doubt.

Fear of racial bias for OJ prevented any person in the jury from being African American. Racial bias to convict OJ was never considered in the jury selection. And the potential jurors being contacted by the media, thus hinting at future media stardom – or at least their 15 minutes of fame and a nice check for a book or appearance – was not important.

And someone wants to tell me this is a fair trial. After the initial arrest superseded all other news for 1 week. After a decade of persecution. After acts of retribution by the police on Rodney King (that’s just a guess about the L.A. police). Yeah, a real fair trial.

OJ is going to be convicted of at least 10 of the charges against him. He will be sent to jail for at least 25 years. It was a foregone conclusion the day he was arrested in Las Vegas. That’s why there the huge media circus that week. Validation for all their efforts of over a decade. And it’s why right now there is so little coverage. It has to be fair if they aren’t covering ever second of this stacked deck.

I’m not saying OJ is innocent of the charges in Las Vegas. I’m not saying there weren’t guns present, or that OJ didn’t know they were there. But I have doubt, especially the way this was handled and organized, and prosecuted.

I am saying that OJ is innocent of the murder of his wife, a court said so. I am saying that White America lost their mind on this case, and the media has fed that hate and anger. I recall mobsters being acquitted of multiple murders and getting less coverage or dismay.

The glee of newscasters reporting on the OJ trial just makes me certain. It may be nearly impossible for a Black man to get a fair trial in much of the nation [Jena 6, Rodney King, Sean Bell, Wesley Snipes, and on]; but it’s impossible for OJ.

Some call that justice, I call it the legal system in action. And people wonder why people of color distrust the legal system.

Wesley Snipes news coverage minimizes Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday Part 2 - 1.15.2008.3

Concluding from Wesley Snipes news coverage minimizes Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday Part 1...

The next part of the story takes place in June of 2007. The major media virtually ignores and then spins the allegation that this entire event is racially based. They take the claims of set up and racial motivation on the part of the government to be a playing of the race card and a distraction by Mr. Snipes. Again no mention is made of a few odd facts like

“In piecing together the facts as they appear to be I gather that Mr. Rosile and Mr. Khan have not been charged, though they have 2000 clients that have allegedly made false claims with the IRS, exactly the same as Mr. Snipes though for less money. Yet only Mr. Snipes has been singled out as a ‘co-conspirator’.”

Finally in December of 2007 there was a near total major media news blackout on the comments of Mr. Snipes in this case. I noted that minor news, of no importance or worth has been covered ad nauseum by the media, but the defense of Mr. Snipes wasn’t worth 30 seconds.

“When Ellen DeGeneres cried about a puppy, it was news for 2+ days. When Rosie O’Donnell got into a battle of name calling with Donald Trump, it was news for over a month. When Anna Nicole Smith died, 3 months. And Paris Hilton has been a week each incident. And that’s just off the top of my head.”

But let Mr. Snipes defend himself, and call a list of character witnesses and the meida goes into a frenzy. They claim he is ‘most obviously guilty’, and ‘insulting potential jurors with his actions and defense claims’. Not one mentioned that Mr. Snipes tried to work out this entire matter with the IRS and the government failed to be amicable. They alluded that Mr. Snipes was passing out bad checks, which I have never heard confired or stated anywhere.

And I have yet to hear an answer to 1 key question, how do you ammend a tax filing claiming 0 and get a refund of $7 million without a single red flag appearing and no comments from the government for 6 years?

In fact the government is doing everything to hinder the case. To place as much fault, blame , and inference of guilt on Wesley snipes as possible.

“They [Snipes lawyers] have tried, unsuccessfully, to separate the three defendants at trial….

Snipes had tried unsuccessfully to get his trial moved from this central Florida town, arguing it was racist and he couldn't get a fair hearing….

Most had heard of the case, but not extensively.”

I simply have this to say. Today is Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. A day that was ignored and denied for most of my life. A day that is barely celebrated by the nation. It’s a day in memory of a man who fought to remove bias based on the color of skin in America. And for the last 15 months the American government has been working hard to apparently keep that bias alive.

Does that deserve a bit more attention? Don’t you think so? Sadly, it seems that as we go forward the only attention will be to further demonize Mr. Snipes, regardless of his actual guilt or innocence. That just seems to defeat the whole purpose of celebrating Dr. King in the first place.

Wesley Snipes news coverage minimizes Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday - 1.15.2008.2

You know that if you only listened to the major news media you would have a very limited and derogatory image of African Americans. Perhaps one of the better examples of this is how Wesley Snipes has been portrayed by the major media. If you were listening to various pundits and talking heads on Fox News as an example you would get the impression that Mr. Snipes flagrantly defrauded the IRS and expects to get away without paying taxes simply because he is arrogant.

This isn’t exactly the case though from what I have been able to follow.

In October of 2006 the initial event starting this entire case unfolded. The IRS issued an indictment against Wesley Snipes, who was no where to be found. My thoughts at the time were,

“As a celebrity it would not be unusual for him to be on vacation, or on a trip, outside the country or in seclusion. It would not be strange for Mr. Snipes to be working on a film somewhere in the world, and not immediately aware of what is going on here in the United States. To hear the talking heads speak, it sounds as if Mr. Snipes is actively avoiding contact, which may well be inaccurate.”

There was not one major news media outlet that stated the same thing I did. Every single one took the position that Mr. Snipes was evading the law. The virtually stated that his lack of response and absence was a sign of guilt.

They also glossed over the odd facts of the case. In quick summarry they were,

“First is the fact that the government accepted an amended claim of 0 income and made a refund of $7,000,000 without a red flag popping up is not Mr. Snipes fault….

…the fact that the business preparing the taxes is considered a “tax protest organization” should have drawn some interest….

It was claimed, as reports say so far, that the funds are not available for taxation as the funds were from overseas. I do not think that funds paid out in a foreign nation, for services in a foreign land, should be taxed by the government….”

These facts of the case have been roundly ignored in all the major news media.

Then came the news that Mr. Snipes was in Nambia.

“I’ve seen anchors defend and minimize actions of dozens of entertainers. I’ve heard them brush off gun charges and violence by rappers, barely mention potential criminal actions of actors, and breeze past arrests of musicians and singers on drug charges. Yet, there has been a direct implication of Mr. Snipes being guilty and hiding. Why the difference?”

I would ammend that statement made 2 days after the first. I would include the sympathy and outpouring of emotion to the utter devestation that is Britney Spears. This woman has endangered the lives of her children, indulged in drunken and intoxicated binges, blatantly violated the law, and acted in a manner that few would call rational. Yet with all that, there are constant cries for her to get another chance, that compassion should be shown, and the need of the children to be with their mother declared. Yet a crackhead mother, or a working single parent for that matter, can have their kids removed in a heartbeat. And Mr. Snipes is demonized.

A month later, on news of comments by Mr. Snipes I was able to find I stated,

“Well I’m not sure if Mr. Snipes is exactly innocent, but I do agree that he is being railroaded. The media has worked hard to portray him negatively…”

In December of 2006 Mr. Snipes returned from Africa and peacefully surrendered to authorities as he had previously arranged via his lawyers. The media and law enforcement swoped down on this event as if it were David Koresh exiting his compound in Texas. The media played it out as if this was the government standing up against a vile wrong-doer who was evading them and presenting danger to the public.

“Mr. Snipes has not evaded arrest, has not resisted, nor hindered the authorities. Mr. Snipes was doing his job when authorities indicted him, and his work happened to place him overseas at the time. I have no doubt that the Government knew this fact, or could have known it if they chose to. To create a media event by claiming to be unaware of Mr. Snipe whereabouts, to structure this matter as if there was negative intent, is almost conspiratory.”

Concluded in part 2...