Why Are Talented Black Folks Being Dissed?

Asks Gregory Kane, a conservative Republican columnist: "I call it 'dissing talented black folks.' And the trend is downright alarming. Let’s begin with perhaps the most obvious: Does anybody in BlackAmericaWeb.com’s reading audience get the feeling, as I do, that a woman has to have a Hispanic surname in order to be a finalist in the Miss Universe pageant? Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela won the Miss Universe title for 2009. Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008 and also from Venezuela, passed on the crown. Anybody notice a pattern here? Ada Aimee de la Cruz of the Dominican Republic was first runner-up; Miss Puerto Rico was fourth runner-up. Some protesters will note that the Hispanic women actually beat the odds: Of the 15 semi-finalists, only three were Latinas. Nine were from Europe, one from Australia and one from the United States. The relevant point for BlackAmericaWeb.com readers is this: None of the gorgeous, talented women from black African countries made it to the semi-finals. And given the penchant of pageant judges for Latina beauty queens, it doesn’t look like a contestant from a black African country will make the finals any time soon."

He continues his commeentary: "Let’s move on to the most flagrant dissing: Are the people in Hollywood seriously suggesting that not one black actor in 'Cadillac Records' wasn’t worthy of at least an Oscar nomination? Jeffrey Wright, playing legendary blues singer Muddy Waters, gave his customary brilliant performance. Eamonn Walker, as bluesman Howlin’ Wolf, gave a powerful performance. Even Mos Def, playing Chuck Berry, turned in a performance that should have been considered. But Columbus Short, playing Little Walter, blew them all away, turning in an acting job both superb and poignant. For my money, he should have won the Oscar for best supporting actor. But he got nothing, as did Wright, Walker and Mos Def. These brothers, I’m willing to bet, didn’t even get so much as a postcard from somebody at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences acknowledging their excellent work. The counterargument will be made that the Oscar folks haven’t exactly ignored black folks in recent years. There was the historic double win by Denzel Washington and Halle Berry at the 2003 awards. Both Jamie Foxx and Forrest Whitaker took home best actor Oscars in recent years, and Morgan Freeman won one for best supporting actor. But those examples bolster my point: I’m saying the performances of Wright, Walker and Short in 'Cadillac Records' were better than the ones turned in by Washington, Berry, Foxx, Whitaker and Freeman. If the latter four won Oscars, Wright, Walker and Short should have at least been nominated."

More commentary from Mr. Kane: "Let’s move from Oscars to Emmys. As I predicted, the fabulous Anika Noni Rose did not win an Emmy for her portrayal of Grace Makutsi on HBO’s 'The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.' The show got only one nomination: The underrated and underappreciated C.C.H. Pounder for best actress in a guest-supporting role. She didn’t win either. With HBO’S 'The Wire' wrapping up a couple of years ago, the ABC Family channel’s 'Lincoln Heights' is the only television drama focusing on the black working class. (That’s why the show’s producers need to lose, and lose quickly, the 'Cassie-is-in-love-with-a-white-boy' story line, but that’s fodder for an entire column by itself.) The fine acting, writing and directing in 'Lincoln Heights' got it not so much as one Emmy nomination."

Booker Rising response: The fundamental questions should be: with a 400-year track record, why does Mr. Kane think black folks will get validated by these entities? Shouldn't black folks validate our own achievements? Another reason why we need a paradigm shift...