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[Herb.]

I can understand being upset with the casting directors, etc. but why go after Zoe's throat?

She's always proudly identified herself as a Black woman, and seen herself as a woman of color. It makes sense that she'd take on a role of an amazing Black woman and portray her. I'm sure she didn't see the makeup as "black face" or some sort of joke, I'd assume she takes her acting career more seriously than that. 

So what happens if Halle Berry decides to put on an Afro wig? Is she a willing participant in mockery as well?

[SouravMay]

Because she does not face the scrutiny and disadvantages in life an African American or dark skin woman feels, as she is neither.

[BigDawg]

Im not mad at Zoe, I am just dissappointed that she took this role on and the lengths she allowed the studio to strip her of her features so she can resemble Nina. 

[Herb.]

Because she does not face the scrutiny and disadvantages in life an African American or dark skin woman feels, as she is neither.

But race is socially constructed in America, it has next to nothing to do with your actual heritage. I think she realizes that, which is why she's always identified with being Black.

A police officer isn't going to stop a brown skinned man and ask for his ancestry report before wrongfully arresting him or blowing his brains out. He sees skin that is not white, nor beige. He sees a person of color.

And even if we take it back into history and ancestry a bit, Dominicans have both African ancestry and slavery in their bloodlines as well. She happens to be one of the rare Dominicans that realize this and how it contributes to the color of her skin. She doesn't look like J-Lo, or Jessica Alba, etc. To me, for one of them to take a role like this would have been quite offensive. Because they could almost pass for white.

But Zoe is a Black woman. Black doesn't always mean "African American".

[death]

Because she does not face the scrutiny and disadvantages in life an African American or dark skin woman feels, as she is neither.

;

[death]

i thoughts she did luvly btw

prett' self

[yummy]

It's insulting to have someone's skin darkened and wearing prosthetic features to play a musical icon whose constantly spoke out against the colorism and bigotry that nearly derailed her career. That and the fact that she's not that great of an actress.

[SouravMay]

Because she does not face the scrutiny and disadvantages in life an African American or dark skin woman feels, as she is neither.

But race is socially constructed in America, it has next to nothing to do with your actual heritage. I think she realizes that, which is why she's always identified with being Black.

A police officer isn't going to stop a brown skinned man and ask for his ancestry report before wrongfully arresting him or blowing his brains out. He sees skin that is not white, nor beige. He sees a person of color.

And even if we take it back into history and ancestry a bit, Dominicans have both African ancestry and slavery in their bloodlines as well. She happens to be one of the rare Dominicans that realize this and how it contributes to the color of her skin. She doesn't look like J-Lo, or Jessica Alba, etc. To me, for one of them to take a role like this would have been quite offensive. Because they could almost pass for white.

You do not have to explain to me that Zoe has black ancestry lol. I am the king of ethnology round here and been doing my lecturing years before you found the light, luv.

And yes a police officer might treat Zoe differently than a Viola Davis/Nina Simone looking woman, I truly believe that. Non-white is not non-white, there is levels to it. I know many people treat me more favorably because I am not as "African" or "dark" as others and I am aware of my privilege in that sense.

Nina Simone's brand is so heavily built on her strong West African facial features, her wooly hair, and her being a descendant of U.S. American slaves, a different history than that of Zoe Saldana, blacks in the DomRep. Because even though mulattos/Blacks there might be a product of slavery as well, in their country they constitute the majority and Saldana does not face the same systematic disadvantage in her home nation, as Nina Simone did in the U.S.

It is just wrong on so many levels, and Zoe Saldana should have realized that. You cannot be black only because it is convenient. OK, you relate to your background, and you are proud, but at the end of the day, you, luckily, do not have to confront the same issues and obstacles as a woman of Nina Simone's phenotype, so don't pretend as if you do.

But really it all boils down to her skin being too light, her hair being to straight and her facial features not being up to par either.

Halle Berry, Aaliyah, or another light skin or mixed woman would be just as ridiculous in this. You won't see Lupita DIPPED in powder to play Alicia Keys in her biopic.

[Herb.]

Im not mad at Zoe, I am just dissappointed that she took this role on and the lengths she allowed the studio to strip her of her features so she can resemble Nina.

For me, it's not always about a joke or trying to make fun of something.....or mocking features...sometimes it's just about becoming that person.

Tyra asked one of her contestants to pay homage to Grace Jones.





Now judging by her name and appearance, I wouldn't automatically assume Xiomara is "African American". But she is Black, which is why Tyra chose her to do this. Yes, Tyra had to darken her skin to make it more realistic. Is she guilty of condoning "blackface" as well? Was Tyra just trying to get in a quick kii, or did she really want to honor her colleague?

Xiomara was the one who didn't want to do it. Not because she felt she was being insensitive, but because she didn't want to be darker in any way shape or form. Now we have a woman like Zoe who is glad to be Black, and will take a Black role, has African heritage...but she's not Black enough so it's not OK?

[Herb.]

Because she does not face the scrutiny and disadvantages in life an African American or dark skin woman feels, as she is neither.

But race is socially constructed in America, it has next to nothing to do with your actual heritage. I think she realizes that, which is why she's always identified with being Black.

A police officer isn't going to stop a brown skinned man and ask for his ancestry report before wrongfully arresting him or blowing his brains out. He sees skin that is not white, nor beige. He sees a person of color.

And even if we take it back into history and ancestry a bit, Dominicans have both African ancestry and slavery in their bloodlines as well. She happens to be one of the rare Dominicans that realize this and how it contributes to the color of her skin. She doesn't look like J-Lo, or Jessica Alba, etc. To me, for one of them to take a role like this would have been quite offensive. Because they could almost pass for white.

You do not have to explain to me that Zoe has black ancestry lol. I am the king of ethnology round here and been doing my lecturing years before you found the light, luv.

Then why would you even think that actual ancestry has anything to do with the perception of race that leads to our struggles here in America?

Why bring that into the conversation when she's clearly a person of color? I don't get it.

['ology]

Because she did blackface in order to do the role instead of declining.

[SouravMay]

Zoe Saldana should have waited for the Celia Cruz mess to get in production. A true Afro-Latina like her.

[Herb.]

Because she did blackface in order to do the role instead of declining.

http://brandy.4fans.net/index.php?topic=13137.msg371183#msg371183

[yummy]

h

[SouravMay]

Because she does not face the scrutiny and disadvantages in life an African American or dark skin woman feels, as she is neither.

But race is socially constructed in America, it has next to nothing to do with your actual heritage. I think she realizes that, which is why she's always identified with being Black.

A police officer isn't going to stop a brown skinned man and ask for his ancestry report before wrongfully arresting him or blowing his brains out. He sees skin that is not white, nor beige. He sees a person of color.

And even if we take it back into history and ancestry a bit, Dominicans have both African ancestry and slavery in their bloodlines as well. She happens to be one of the rare Dominicans that realize this and how it contributes to the color of her skin. She doesn't look like J-Lo, or Jessica Alba, etc. To me, for one of them to take a role like this would have been quite offensive. Because they could almost pass for white.

You do not have to explain to me that Zoe has black ancestry lol. I am the king of ethnology round here and been doing my lecturing years before you found the light, luv.

Then why would you even think that actual ancestry has anything to do with the perception of race that leads to our struggles here in America?

Because people can clearly SEE that she is not as black, dark, nappy as a Nina Simone, and she does get treat preferentially because of that. Are you saying colorism does not exist?

Zoe Saldana's brand is built on her racial ambiguity, she can be in black movies, but also perch in Latino mess and is not as intimidating in a white mess.

A really really dark woman can't shift through society like Zoe can.

And tan/dark Latinos and African Americans are perceived differently in the U.S., especially Dominicans who like to feel better than, and are often treated so. Men prefer them, find them sexier, etc.