When Forest Whitaker appeared on the show recently, he addressed a piece in the The New York Times entitled "Hollywood's Whiteout," about the absence of Black artists in the 2011 Oscar nominee class. Whitaker admitted that while there was a "paradigm shift" in the industry where Blacks are concerned, African Americans are by no means at a "destination point" with regard to their presence on screen.
Even though this year's Academy Awards ceremony has come and gone, the "Whiteout" conversation isn't over yet.
Tonight, Tavis sits down with actor Anthony Mackie of The Hurt Locker and Million Dollar Baby fame, who argues that African American artists need to create their own film projects.
"This is a business," Mackie says. "Let's be smart about our business." Later he adds, "If we don't tell those stories, then we can't expect someone else to tell them for us."
Watch the clip below, where the actor discusses the business side of filmmaking and explains why he feels African Americans in film have been "lazy" on their game, and tune in tonight for the full conversation.
Also, be sure to share your thoughts. Are African American artists to blame when they're not in Oscar contention? Are they "lazy" on their game or being shut out?
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Even though this year's Academy Awards ceremony has come and gone, the "Whiteout" conversation isn't over yet.
Tonight, Tavis sits down with actor Anthony Mackie of The Hurt Locker and Million Dollar Baby fame, who argues that African American artists need to create their own film projects.
"This is a business," Mackie says. "Let's be smart about our business." Later he adds, "If we don't tell those stories, then we can't expect someone else to tell them for us."
Watch the clip below, where the actor discusses the business side of filmmaking and explains why he feels African Americans in film have been "lazy" on their game, and tune in tonight for the full conversation.
Also, be sure to share your thoughts. Are African American artists to blame when they're not in Oscar contention? Are they "lazy" on their game or being shut out?