Angelina Jolie playing Cleopatra angers black community

Brotha Ajax said:
I wonder how many times Cleopatra has been portrayed by white women.
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Including Elizabeth Taylor? Who knows, but enough times for most Americans to think that she's White... Not that it should anger Black People per say but as is often the case, America seldom gets history right.

White Men find it hard to believe that a woman, let alone a woman of color demanded such respect and attention.
 
Steven said:
I'm going to have to disagree with some of you brothers on this one. Knowing your place in history is very important it tells who you are. From what I was taught has a child is that black Africans was nothing more than hunting and gathering savages that couldn't run a state. We have are own king arthor and heroes of old.
Egypt or Kemet what the black Africans call it had a rival and that was the Kushite Empire the kushites was dark skin black Africans to the south. These Nubian kings invaded Egypt and became the 25th dynasty of Egypt. They also build pyramids and other monuments in Egypt during their reign. Some of the kings in the bible was in fact black Africans. In fact Will Smith is suppose to be making a movie called the last Pharaoh of Egypt he plays King Taharqa ruler of two empires Egypt and Nubia. The is the Axum empire there is the Mali Empire of west Africa and their is the Dogon tribe they are like the druids of Africa so our history is great and should be taught. I guarantee if Hollywood would make a movie about Caesar and cast Denzel Washington has Caesar I think many white historians may have a problem with that. And I'm not saying that Cleopatra was black I don't know and we probably will never know for sure but I have a problem with people that can't even entertain the notion that Egypt had a black queen called Cleopatra after all Egypt is in Africa. Check out the video below.

[youtube]3hPn_V-iDfM[/youtube]
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As has been mentioned earlier you can make claims of several Egyptian rulers being black. That's not the argument here. The argument is about Cleopatra based on what we know regarding her family, ancestry and the period in which she ruled. Period. There are more worthy kings and queens who you can claim were black so why are black folks stuck on Cleopatra whom the evidence (you know that boring stuff that is known as research that people who are paid to do the job) suggests was not black. All the stuff in the post above about the Nubians and such is common knowledge to anyone who has studied the subject. I for one already know about that and trust me as a sort of fan of the subject every time I can get my hands on a magazine that discusses the black Pharaohs and the African antiquity of Egypt I do. And none of those mags or books have ever given any credence to the notion that Cleopatra was black. So again I'll ask why is this a sticking point for some of you people? You act as if by not claiming Cleopatra was black means suggesting that none of the most prominent ancient Egyptians were black either. That's not the case.
 
xoxo said:
Mariane Pearl didn't have a problem with it.
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Which says all about Mrs. Pearl that I need to know. My opinion of her has stayed the same ever since I learned she was 100% okay with Angelina going semi-blackface for the role.
 
rich665 said:
Jake Gyllenhaal caught heat for playing Prince of Persia.. Hollywood makes everybody white. White actors have played just about every minority there is.
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Problem is the Persians, particularly of that era, were considered Caucasian. And you couldn't find many modern Persians/Iranians arguing over the choice of Gyllenhaal because most would prefer to be viewed as white anyway.
 
dj4monie said:
Including Elizabeth Taylor? Who knows, but enough times for most Americans to think that she's White...
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Take away the movies and those same white foks would still never think she was black either. You know the only group in the world to go around making claims that she was assuredly black? African Americans.

White Men find it hard to believe that a woman, let alone a woman of color demanded such respect and attention.
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Yeah, but you see Cleopatra didn't command as much respect as you think. Under her watch Egypt essentially cede authority to Rome. Her "important moves" were to kill off her husband (who was also her brother) who asserted he was ruler of Egypt and to sleep with every important Roman leader in order to give birth to their children and thereby remain in control through the help of these men. Maybe I'm being too dismissive of her but some of you are going to far the other way. She was not a great leader.
 
Iggy said:
Angelina Jolie Playing Cleopatra Angers Black Community
Posted: June 21st, 2010 by WorstPreviews.com Staff

It was recently reported that Angelina Jolie has been hired to play Cleopatra in the upcoming biopic. Some in the African-American community found this as an insult, stating that the actress is "too white" to play the famous Egyptian pharaoh.

Essence magazine commentator stated: "Honestly, I don't care how full Angelina Jolie's lips are, how many African children she adopts, or how bronzed her skin will become for the film, I firmly believe this role should have gone to a black woman."

Others are simply tired of seeing white actresses playing Cleopatra, including Claudette Colbert in 1934, Vivien Leigh in 1945 and Elizabeth Taylor in 1963.

Experts believe that Cleopatra didn't look anything like Angelina Jolie, but she also didn't have any African lineage. Instead, she was a descendant of aristocratic Greeks. Historians says that the pharaoh was "short, fat and homely," with a pointy chin, thin lips and a hooked nose. :smt078
Source: Examiner



http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=18078&count=0
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I don't think Angie playing Cleopatra is the issue but the totality of incidents like this is what bothers me and many other people. Hollywood, scientist, historians, etc has a tendency to whitewash history. I understand that history is written by the victors but that doesn't mean it is correct for doing that. Watch any show on the History channel about Egypt they always have white actors/actresses playing the Pharaohs and Queens. Take a look at "The Prince of Persia" or "The Passion of Christ" have white people playing roles of Middle Eastern people. There are already a lack of movies and TV shows that features minorities so when a movie comes along that should star a minority and they give it a white actor/actress it is just another smack in the face.
 
reggie2k8 said:
I don't think Angie playing Cleopatra is the issue but the totality of incidents like this is what bothers me and many other people. Hollywood, scientist, historians, etc has a tendency to whitewash history. I understand that history is written by the victors but that doesn't mean it is correct for doing that. Watch any show on the History channel about Egypt they always have white actors/actresses playing the Pharaohs and Queens. Take a look at "The Prince of Persia" or "The Passion of Christ" have white people playing roles of Middle Eastern people. There are already a lack of movies and TV shows that features minorities so when a movie comes along that should star a minority and they give it a white actor/actress it is just another smack in the face.
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Oh give me a break, sista. There are more actual middle-easterners playing middle-eastern roles than ever (hell 75% of them have played on "24" alone). "Slumdog" put Bollywood actors in the spotlight. And what about Sayid from "Lost?" Cleopatra was not black and I'm a black man saying this. Like Jamal said, if it were Nefertiti you might have a case. And black audiences would fall asleep at this kind of movie, they only pay attention if it's a Tyler Perry flick and Bishop TD Jakes has a cameo.
 
karmacoma. said:
Oh give me a break, sista. There are more actual middle-easterners playing middle-eastern roles than ever (hell 75% of them have played on "24" alone). "Slumdog" put Bollywood actors in the spotlight. And what about Sayid from "Lost?" Cleopatra was not black and I'm a black man saying this. Like Jamal said, if it were Nefertiti you might have a case. And black audiences would fall asleep at this kind of movie, they only pay attention if it's a Tyler Perry flick and Bishop TD Jakes has a cameo.
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I think it funny you keep calling me a sista. There maybe more middle easterners, playing middle easterners than ever before but that still doesn't negate the fact that Hollywood and historians does have a tendency to "whitewash" movies and the history books. As a black man I also know that Cleopatra VII was probably a Greek also. But I do sadly agree that more black people would rather go see a Tyler Perry flick than something involving substance.
 
reggie2k8 said:
I think it funny you keep calling me a sista. There maybe more middle easterners, playing middle easterners than ever before but that still doesn't negate the fact that Hollywood and historians does have a tendency to "whitewash" movies and the history books. As a black man I also know that Cleopatra VII was probably a Greek also. But I do sadly agree that more black people would rather go see a Tyler Perry flick than something involving substance.
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I have never seen/heard a black man refer to anything as a "slap in the face." I have heard "dissed," "dogged out." But black women have and do, especially when white women are in question.
 
karmacoma. said:
I have never seen/heard a black man refer to anything as a "slap in the face." I have heard "dissed," "dogged out." But black women have and do, especially when white women are in question.
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That is a good point. But I was using the "slap in the face" phrase from the perspective of how some black women would feel. I personally don't feel like it is a slap in a face but it does piss me off everything is whitewashed. I know it is done like that because most white audiences can relate more to movies starring white people. And since white people are the biggest consumers in this country I understand that they will try to cater to them.
 
karmacoma. said:
Oh give me a break, sista. There are more actual middle-easterners playing middle-eastern roles than ever (hell 75% of them have played on "24" alone). "Slumdog" put Bollywood actors in the spotlight. And what about Sayid from "Lost?" Cleopatra was not black and I'm a black man saying this. Like Jamal said, if it were Nefertiti you might have a case. And black audiences would fall asleep at this kind of movie, they only pay attention if it's a Tyler Perry flick and Bishop TD Jakes has a cameo.
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Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha :smt011
 
andrae09 said:
I think I was the only one who said our history doesn't matter because I don't view African history my history. I view global history as our shared human history. And to be honest it matters very little because we define ourselves and who we are by our actions. All our supposed history defines is what clothes I might wear or food I eat but it will never define the kind of man I am. Worrying about who conquered who is childish those supposed accomplishments don't inspire me. The works of Ghandi, Mandella, Chavez, Jesus of Nazareth, and the Buddah inspire me. I inspire me. So like I said earlier focusing on this horse shit doesn't accomplish one positive thing. We just waste time focusing on who pissed the furthest thousands of years ago.
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Why you don't view African history has your history you are African or you at least have African ancestry right. Shared global history what does that really means anyway everyone history is different do you know what happen in history still determine how you are treated by people in the future. The past affects the present and the future and if your not aware of history you are truly doomed to repeat it. History isn't just about things has superfiscial has what clothes you buy from the mall or what you eat. It tells your story of your people what they are capable of and what happen to them and how it affects their present situation. And who conquered who is very important or we wouldn't have history class thru out school teaching who conquered who. Ghandi, Mandella, Chavez, Jesus of Nazareth are they not a part of history you had to at least listen to a history teacher lecture you about these historic figures or read about them in a book. So focusing on one of the most influential ancient empires in the world is some how a waste of time why? We are just having a friendly debate about history it's no need to view this discussion has negative and I don't know why anyone would.
 
JamalSpunky said:
As has been mentioned earlier you can make claims of several Egyptian rulers being black. That's not the argument here. The argument is about Cleopatra based on what we know regarding her family, ancestry and the period in which she ruled. Period. There are more worthy kings and queens who you can claim were black so why are black folks stuck on Cleopatra whom the evidence (you know that boring stuff that is known as research that people who are paid to do the job) suggests was not black. All the stuff in the post above about the Nubians and such is common knowledge to anyone who has studied the subject. I for one already know about that and trust me as a sort of fan of the subject every time I can get my hands on a magazine that discusses the black Pharaohs and the African antiquity of Egypt I do. And none of those mags or books have ever given any credence to the notion that Cleopatra was black. So again I'll ask why is this a sticking point for some of you people? You act as if by not claiming Cleopatra was black means suggesting that none of the most prominent ancient Egyptians were black either. That's not the case.
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Has I said before I'm not sure but all I was saying is people are automatically shut down when they discuss things of this nature. Especially if it have anything to do with African history.
 
One or two black people have an opinion on something = black community :rolleyes:

For the record, I don't believe Cleopatra was black (she may have been mixed however). But Nefertiti is definitely black. She's only been portrayed once in film I believe, played by Jeanne Crain.

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But if you've seen Nefertiti's bust, she'd look more like african supermodel Iman

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or african supermodel Liya Kebede

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The comments on the site are pretty dumb too

on June 21st, 2010 at 8:18:14 AM
I'm so glad they're pissed. Hope they get more pissed as they watch the film. I'm sure it was all good when Jaden smith was doing a white role. No complaints there. But god forbid a non black person playing an Egyptian. I've said it before, watch the black community get mad when a role they think should be black go to a white person.
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Jaden Smith wasn't playing a white role, the characters in The Karate Kid remake were not the same. And a fictional character is pretty different than a historical figure.

"But god forbid a non black person playing an Egyptian."

But every movie with an ancient Egyptian has been non black.

I try to avoid blogs like this because they're full of ignorance about minorities, but its like watching a trainwreck...you can't look away.

YoungChris writes:
on June 21st, 2010 at 8:56:52 AM
Is it me, or black people are more racist than white people?
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:smt090

tino78 writes:
on June 21st, 2010 at 10:33:31 AM
hey we are giving u nick fury for what 7 movies.. so let us have cleopatra for 1. plus dont forget u have the karate kid for a couple more movies. dont get greedy now u hear. cause if u start to piss us off then we'll have harrison ford play martin luther king jr.
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I'm pretty hard pressed to see any black directors go out of their way to hire white actors, or go out of their way to tell a 'white' story. Color should not matter. But some tend to want to make it so.

Magazines like Essence, or Ebony...

Were I to put out a magazine called: 'Whitey!' then sit back and watch the shit storm.

If anyone posts after this siting that blacks are still oppressed... and can't argue... I'm not black. But try telling Sammy Davis Jr. that (an equal member of The Rat Pack!), or one of my all-time fav. actors - the powerhouse that is Denzel Washington.

Or Oprah! Anyone see anyone else trying to keep Oprah down?! No... didn't think so.
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What's sad is that they really do think they're making sense. :smt012 :smt105
 
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exist2live said:
One or two black people have an opinion on something = black community :rolleyes:
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Wow. You are one omnipresent being if you can tell us that only a couple of black folks have ever had this opinion about Cleopatra being black. How are we mortal beings ever supposed to compete against someone with such knowledge?

Please. If you are like those other folks who like to play dumb about how MANY African Americans feel about this issue then go ahead. But I have a brain and experience. Enough to brush off this bullshit at least. I've been listening to black folks discuss or write about this topic for decades. Like Americans of all colors they spout ignornce on subjects they know very little about. But, yeah, lets pretend that only a handful black people people over the last 50 or so years have ever made claims about Cleopatra being black.

And saying she was possibly mixed is just more lazy, reactionary nonsense without any reseasrch to back it up. But, hey, she may have been mixed. But being "mixed" does not necessarily mean that black ancestry was part of that mixture
 
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