“All black film”??

If I’m not mistaken, the main love interest is a white woman.

Clearly black films don’t market to many groups outside of black people. But perhaps Mr. LUCAS is more interested in telling the story than he is making money with THIS FILM with the ALL.BLACK CAST. PERHAPS he checked his bank.account and decided he could afford to dump almost 100 million into a film that will present a POSITIVE image of black people knowing he would probally lose money in the process. Perhaps he knows that the film pirates ALREADY have their copies of.the film for sell. BUT maybe, people VIEWING this film and learning something means more to.him than making a profit THIS TIME.

Besides, all it would take is another episode to.Star wars and he can make his 100 million back 3 times over. So I think he will be OK either way.

I respect Mr. Wilson’s take on Lucas but to me it’s much more about the kind of image white (and some non-white) people want and expect of black people. We still linger in minstrel era typecasts as the comic sidekick, the hustler/gangster, the fat loud black women, w***es I could go on. And that is what white (and sadly most black) people accept from Hollywood. Too be so “liberal” Hollywood has been in many ways our biggest enemy for it single handedly shapes visions and values of the masses and ours has been savaged by it. Image is everything!

Case in point, the comment under me points out the love story is inter-racial. I don’t condemn inter-racial romance but get real, it was the 40s!! If true, why couldn’t Lucas cast obvious black women and men in a loving relationship? I guess we hated ourselves so much that we would risk death in Europe and death in Alabama or New York to be with a white woman. Insulting, “Jar Jar Binks” Lucas!

That’s an interesting point and one I didn’t consider. But the “all-black” comes from the fact the far majority of the cast is black.

Thanks for reading. You make a good point. I didn’t consider the interracial relationship angle. If Lucas did it to possibly get a more diverse audience, as you say, it’s historically inaccurate and, worse, it won’t work anyway.

Thanks for reading. That could be the case. And I see how that may benefit Lucas’ ego, but what does it do for black film? Nothing. Actually worse than nothing because if the film bombs financially it makes it more likely that Holllywood fears making black films in the future. But you got to the crux of it: this was about Lucas’ ego and his ability to afford for this to fail.

Gee, an all-black film about an all black outfit?? Am I supposed to be surprised??
These Airman were hero’s , not just for the service they gave, but also for giving it while the country would not give them even their basic rights.
I am a WHITE 20 year Air Force vet, I give these men the highest of honors for their service.
If the movie has some F-ed up love story, I just ignore it like I do in most movies. THAT is not the story here.. the Airmen are.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for your service. I don’t think it’s surprising that the film is all black. I think it’s surprising that Lucas would spend such an inordinate amount of money and then not even market it any better than Hollywood would have. The worst part about it is that the black community really wants to like this film, yet I don’t even think they’ll come out in full force much less the mainstream community.

I don’t think its ego. Nor do I care about what white people think about black film. I don’t care to see race mixing and homosexual behavior being glorified on film. I know Hollywood loves that kind of B. S. But I don’t have the taste for the MAINSTREAM Hollywood movie criteria.

I don’t like the bafoonishness of Terrence howard and Cuba gooding ( I like Omar Gooding~~Baby Boy). They have been doing the gamut of T.V. shows and behaving very JUVENILE ( the european women they chase may be a factor ???) Keep in mind that george lucas is a businessman in a competitive genre ( Tyler Perry/John Singleton/Hughes Brothers/Spike Lee…and steven spielberg). Who is to say what the motivation was/is…..the BEAUTIFUL NUBIAN women that he embraces?????????????????????? The setting is 1940~~~~he should have only included Afrikan Amerikans loving each other during JIM CROW, John Birch and k.k.k. years………………..I will be sending him some communication…….FO SHO………………

WATU WAZIRI

Well, it does matter what whites think about black film. For black film to be successful financially it will take a larger audience than just blacks. And why wouldn’t you want black films to be seen by as many people as possible?

If Hollywood execs could make money off of black films they would. The truth is they know the majority of racist white America would refuse to go see it no matter how interesting the story is. Why do you think an actor like Denzel always have to have a white face supporting actor next to him sharing a large portion of the screen time?

People are FREE t o make their money in whatever way that they choose. But at some point, it would be.nice to see some truth being put on display. If its only.about the money, then.your article is.spot on. But if its about producing something positive about black men, then it will never be.a cash cow. Uplifting black people by putting positive messages in their heads has never been the way of.this country. And that includes.Hollywood.

That’s very true.

People of all races need to see Red Tails this weekend. Let’s prove to Hollywood that we are serious about showing Black People in a positive light. Hollywood is still set in its ways. The reason so called black films don’t make it to the big screen is because there aren’t any Black Executives in Hollywood. We need more Black, Latino and Asian Studio Executives. When we are the ones telling the stories, then our plight will change. You know what really gets me. The fact some Black filmmakers make films that are so sterotypical. Films like Soul Plane, Booty Call and every other garbage film. These films don’t improve our image in America and around the Globe. Imagine you’re in China and you don’t interact with Black People. You only see them in the Media. They base their opinions of Black People on what they see on t.v , not in real life. That’s why when they come here America, they think they are better than us. Like we are beneath them. I say let’s boycott garbage sterotypical black films. One last thing why do black people win Oscars for subordinate or violent roles. Why didn’t Denzel win an Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Malcolm X . Yet he won for one of his most violent roles. Hollywood does things half backwards.

But Precious , The Help, or Tyler Perry Presents: A Homosexual Minstrel Show didn’t set back “black” film?

The first film they was all I needed to see,this is just a remake.They want to push war on the young minds,glorify war that the white man fights with his white brothers to be top dog in the world,it all boils down to white supremacy in the end,Blacks serving as cannon fodder and paid mercenaries.In WW2 many whites were pro Nazi,they marched in Nazi uniforms and supported Hitler.The Nazi’s did not lose the war,they simply moved to Amerikka and south to set up shop,the war was about the technology that the Nazi’s obtained from the dark forces from other worlds,and the occult knowledge that the Nazi’s obtained from Tibet[the Black monks on the dark side],and their conquest conquer Africa and rule the world for a thousand yr rule as the Roman Empire,the eagle is the symbol of Amerikka,Germany and Rome.Research the books of Joseph P. Farrell,the war was not about freedom for mankind,this war was a war of Clash of The Titans,who will have the technology and natural resources to rule the world.

When I first read the title of this piece I totally disagreed with it and was seething at the fact that J. Wilson could write such a piece, himself a black man and likely movie-goer. But after reading the whole thing I must say he makes salient points to support the argument that this movie could indeed hurt other black films in the future.

It is unfortunate that movies with predominantly black casts are always labeled as “black” when others are just called “movies”, plain and simple, with no mention of race. And why should Hollywood producers have to ensure that movies about us are within certain budget guidelines if they want them to be successful? No one else has to do that. And why doesn’t Hollywood know how to market a movie with an all-black cast? They’ve done it before with “The Color Purple”.

The playing field in Hollywood is clearly not a level one. While I salute George Lucas for doing the unpopular and gambling on Red Tails (which I will definitely go see) I must confess that if this movie flops, it will only reinforce what Hollywood and J. Wilson have said. I hope that Mr Lucas proves us all wrong!!!

No Vic, I think they did not set back black film. Movies, black or white, should be about everyone and everything, real life (and it’s ugly dark truths like Amistad, Precious, The Help and The Color Purple) and the not so real as well. Not every movie portrays every race in a positive light. It’s the way of the world.

What is this writer talking about. The actors have been all over black radios talking about it. They been all over the morning news and I have seen trailers for the movie every other day. What more is he supposed to do. Will Smith has twelve 100 million dollar movies. The real problem is getting blacks to support positive black movies instead of blaming it on racist white people.

There are over 40 million African AMericans in the U.S. if only about 25% of of African Americans saw the movie at ten to eleven dollars a ticket the movie would gross over one hundred million dollars. Once again our communities problem comes down to simple economics. We don’t know how to use our leverage and thats why we are failing.

P.S. Cuba Gooding is still a great actor and unfortunately hasn’t gotten many good roles lately so the writer needs to stfu.

Thank you for your service.

I’m so worried about this film as I’am about the next positive black film.

Also Oprah and Tyler Perry have seen VIP screenings and have promoted the movie. This writer needs to do some research.

Mr. Wilson I highly disagree lets not forget the amount African Americans that loved Star Wars and Indiana Jones that will head out to see this movie based on the action in the film alone. Keep in mind there are still millions of filmgoers that would love to support George Lucas. He did prove Holloywood wrong once before with Star Wars. Let me educate. In 1971, Universal Studios agreed to make American Graffiti and Star Wars in a two-picture contract, although Star Wars was later rejected in its early concept stages because of some of the same issues that seem to be hindering this film.

I have a question for you, freelancepimp; do you enjoy classical music?

I’m going to assume you don’t. Now, take into account that the composers and musicians involved in the production of classical music are nearly 100% white. Based on your logic, it would seem that you are racist for not supporting white musicians.

Do you understand how nonsensical your viewpoint is? I won’t be seeing Redtails because it looks like garbage. Is that racist?

I would like to see Mr.Lucas make a film on the flying saucers that the Nazi’s invented,or the Black man who flew around the world in a single engine aircraft,google it ,Barrington Irving with donated parts had inner city youth build a kit plane that he used for his history making venture,or in ancient Kemit on the wall in stone was the proof that the Black man first invented flight,and in ancient Peru small models of aircraft in gold they found,and the doc**entary of Idi Amin shows you Africans flying fighter aircraft in his air force,this was always in the DNA of the Black man and women to be scientist and adventurios,the white man will lie and show you we are only good fighting his wars,know your history and true self!stop eating up their propagnda,you give away your power,read books that will open your consciousness,the creator will walk and talk with you!boycott white lies!

I notice a lot of black feminist websites also hating on the movie, because there no black female love interest but theres is a italian woman love interest for one of the airmen.

Everybody should go see Red Tails this weekend, I willing to bet it is gonna be the number 1 movie this weekend.

No black directors has stepped up to make this movie, and from what I heard this story is told by surviving members of the Tuskegon Airman. I don’t think this movie is gonna failed either, their is gonna be a large turnout for african americans to go Red Tails, I am going and I am gonna wear my Tuskegon Airmen jacket.. The Color Purple was done by a white man with an all star black cast.

Couldn’t agree with you more on that. Cuba is a great actor who has been marginalized by Hollywood. Not his fault that he can’t get roles. I however don’t think that blacks alone can make this film a huge success, at least not enough to recoup $100 million, far less turn a profit. We need big turn outs by all races in order for this to be seen as a major success by the Hollywood powerhouse. That explains Will Smith’s success over the years, his ability to cross demographic lines with his movies, and maybe the fact that none of them were all black. While we may not want to bring things down to that it is the truth. It’s also partly the reason why Spike Lee hasn’t had better success in Hollywood.

No Vic, I think they did not set back black film. Movies, black or white, should be about everyone and everything, real life (and it’s ugly dark truths like Amistad, Precious, The Help and The Color Purple) and the not so real as well. Not every movie portrays every race in a positive light. It’s the way of the world.

Red Tails” Could Set Black Film Back…. only if Black films weren’t already relegated to the one dimensional condition in Hollywood that we have been used to since the inception of the craft of film making…. Red Tails is NOT a BLACK film…. it’s a film about American Heroes who have not received proper national recognition for their courageous acts…. it presents their story to the nation with the 100 million dollar budget it deserves…. Go see it …take ur kids… grandkids etc. so they can see that we are more than pimps, hoes, and rappers… It was produced by George Lucas but directed and written by African Americans…. hopefully that will make some people sleep better…. DON’T LISTEN TO THE NONSENSE IN THIS ARTICLE ….SUPPORT THIS FILM

No, they didn’t. All of those movies made money and The Help nearly was nominated for serious awards. If black films don’t make money the genre ultimately is invested in less. May not be nice, but that’s how the business works. We can have a separate discussion about the merits of the movies you mentioned. But when it comes to what Hollywood watches most — money — those movies made black film look good.

In order for your comparison to make sense you would first have to assume that I do like classical musc and that I only listen too black composers refusing to listen to whites. Also, If I used a blanket word like “garbage” as my reason for not supporting white composers it would do very little to help my argument.

Exactly. Plus black filmmakers aren’t in the business — or art for that matter — to create films that are only seen by blacks. It’s a slap in the face of artists to think they want to marginalize the audience for their work. Every artist I know wants to share their talents with as many people as possible.

Let’s SEE how many MORE films of this will FOLLOW after DEVOTING it to ONE race……..but I doubt that Hollywierd would go for EQUALITY over yuppy bucks…..

Wouldn’t it be great if Black people OWNED movie theatres like we did back in the day?

BLACK WALL STREET: PLEASE MAKE A COMBACK!!!!!

The Tuskegee Airmen are apart of AMERICAN HISTORY—– NOT just BLACK HISTORY..

thanks for your service.

I’m going to see it but I don’t expect it to be a commercial or critical success.

I will be seeing it, but I fear there may be one-dimensional characters galore and maybe even some racially offensive stereotypes. Remember George Lucas is the one that brought us Jar Jar Binks.

Why are they trying to pressure black people into seeing this film. If we don’t see it(whether we want to or not) there will never be another black film. If that is the case black movies are already dead. I think part of this was brillent marketing by Lucas to get us to see his films. I rarely go to the movies. I have been twice maybe in the last four years. And the movie might be good, but come on if we don’t get behind this one there will never be another black film made ever?

“But perhaps Mr. LUCAS is more interested in telling the story than he is making money with THIS FILM with the ALL.BLACK CAST.”

I think you’re right.

I think our people have been so brainwashed with the caucasoid’s lies, when they hear the Truth, they don’t even beLIEve it themselves!

This is what this racist school system did to Black people’s minds…just teach them, that OURstory is just a hisSTORY of being enslaved! If you notice, my brother, most of the Truth you speak, negroids seldom reply to it!

THIS JUST PROVES THAT NEGROIDS ARE NOT CONCERNED WITH THEIR TRUE OURstory; they just want to know who has the biggest booty, who Lil Jayne is fighting and dating, what cracker will ‘save’ them, vote for a demonRAT, vote for a rePOOPlikkkan, and who Jay-Z and Beyonce will get to sell their baby’s clothes line!

I’M READING WHAT YOU POST BLACK MAN!

I agree that it does feel like pressure. I don’t get it either. I think it’s mostly Lucas’s ego than anything else.

What’s nonsense in the article? The fact Lucas overspent to make this movie, or the fact that it won’t make a profit?

There is a black director. And there’s also a black writer as well, Aaron MacGruder of Boondocks fame.

I never said Tyler Perry and Oprah didn’t promote this movie. And that won’t save it from not making money. What I did say was that both Tyler Perry and Oprah invested in “Precious”.

You proved my point for me. Lucas marketed this film as a black film, hence why you’ve heard the actors on black radio. Take another look at my article and you’ll see that I believe Lucas should have marketed this film to EVERYONE.

“…the eagle is the symbol of Amerikka,Germany and Rome…”
===========================================

Absolutely on point! What most people don’t realize is that the BLACK RAVEN was the Black Messiah’s favorite bird of flight!

The Raven NEVER leaves its mate. They stay together for life! The Raven was also used to bring food to Musa, erroneously called Moses when he was hungry, and it was a bird that carried messages! The white boy has made the eagle the symbol of authority when in actuality it was the BLACK RAVEN!

The titans were a bunch of catholic murderous theives and usurpers. The same can be said of emperor constantine, who was a xtain murderer, who killed his wife and son over the kjv of the bible! He LEGALIZED xtianity in 325A.D. and made the trinity, [father, ,son, holy ghost] negroids honor in the church today!

xtianity and islam are the most murderous re-ligions on the planet.

JUST LOOK AROUND!

Peace & Truth

it’s getting bad reviews. so word of mouth won’t save it & its now down to the core black audiences to save it.

Like everyone else, I thank you for you service. What I don’t get is why is Hollywood hung up about color? This shouldn’t be hard to market, Hollywood has been in the business of doing war stories since before WWII, and this is a great war story about a period in our history any American should be able to take pride in.

I do know that marketing this as a “Black” movie sure wont help sales. I wouldn’t risk going to a movie where the majority of the audience was black, simply because at some point, in a movie like this, some white character is going to drop the ‘N’ word which might lead to a popcorn box off the back of my head.

If it gets good reviews I’ll check out the dvd.

No, you’re not understanding the point, freelancepimp. I was trying to articulate how absolutely ridiculous it is to judge someone as a racist according to their personal preferences.

Must I present all of my own reasons as to why I consider a film like Redtails to be garbage?

BEETHOVEN WAS BLACK, LITTLE DUDE! BLACKS WERE THE FIRST INVENTORS OF MUSIC!!!!

The question of Beethoven’s ethnicity began with the Nazis, who wanted to be certain the composer’s music was “the essence of Germanic and Aryan strength.” They did extensive research into birth records and found him “pure.” However, modern writers have made the claim that Beethoven was, in fact, Mulatto, and many books have been written on the subject.

To begin the question of Beethoven’s ethnicity, we must look at his parents and grandparents. Proponents of the “Beethoven was Black” concept point out that the composer was Flemish, and Flanders had been occupied by Spain for 200 years. It’s true that Spain was home to a number of Moors (people, usually Muslims, of North African descent), but it does not mean everyone under the Spanish flag was Moorish. Beethoven’s ancestry is well-doc**ented. His father Johann was half Flemish, half German. His mother, Maria Magdalena Keverich, was the daughter of Heinrich Keverich, chief overseer of the kitchen at the palace of the Elector of Treves at Ehrenbreitstein, in Germany. Beethoven was only 1/4 Flemish. The rest of his family, including his mother, from whom proponents claim his African ancestry originated, were German and of well-to-do stock. The Flemish connection only means there is a possibility of Spanish and/or Moorish influence. A small chance. Less than a quarter.

There is the argument of Beethoven’s features. His teacher, Haydn, was famously called a “blackamoor,” yet portraits show he had only a red tinge to his pockmarked cheeks. Alexander W. Thayer, one of the foremost authorities on Beethoven says, “Beethoven had even more of the Moor in his features than his master, ‘Haydn.’”

Beethoven’s contemporaries described him as having “thick, bristly coal-black hair,” a “flat, thick nose,” large mouth, and what is described as alternately “ruddy” or “swarthy” complexion. In the middle of Teutonic Germany and Austria, where the average citizen had light skin, blue eyes, and blond hair, he must have made a striking, memorable presence. But what constitutes “swarthy” amongst such a population might not be what modern people consider “negroid.” It just meant he was darker than the pale-skinned Germans. A Californian with a tan would have been classified as “swarthy.”

It’s obvious from the doc**ented ancestry and many paintings that Beethoven was not “out of Africa,” but there are some who claim his mother’s family was from the Caribbean, where black slaves and Natives worked in the oversea trades. However, there is absolutely no evidence toward this claim, let alone a blood connection to African slaves. Although there is some credence to the argument that portraits were idealized, ancestral doc**ents could have been faked, and the African and Arabic presence in Europe was suppressed by the Inquisition, a lack of undeniable evidence does not immediately prove the opposite.

The research team also said that future DNA analysis might answer lingering questions about Beethoven’s ethnicity. As a young man, the dark-complexioned Beethoven sometimes was called “the Moor,” and some historians have questioned whether he had African blood. Walsh said his analysis of the hair strands showed “no wrinkles or bends” typical among people of African descent, but that more tests may be conducted.

All that can be concluded about the matter of Beethoven’s ethnicity is that the master of music was indeed “exotic” in looks. He might have been darker than his contemporaries, but calling Beethoven “Black” would be extremely misleading. In that day, even most people claiming to be “Moors” had lived in Europe for hundreds of years and only had darker hair to prove their ancestry. If you can call a person numerous generations removed from an African ancestor “Black,” then maybe–maybe–Beethoven was Black. Just as a person whose family has lived in America for 500 years, but had an ancestor who sailed over as an African slave on a Dutch frigate, might call themselves Black.

Despite who his ancestors were, one only has to listen to the symphonies and concertos, music the deaf composer probably never heard except in his own mind, to know that he was a genius who, to this day, transcends time, age, gender, and ethnicity. Listen, don’t look. Music is colorblind.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BLACK BLOOD RUNNING THROUGH YOUR BODY…DON’T YOU?

YOU CAME FROM BLACK PARENTS, WHO BIRTHED THE WORLD!

Remember, back in the day, if a cracker had 1/3rd of Black blood in his body, he was considered BLACK!

YOU’RE JUST A “LIGHTER” SHADE OF PALE, MY NIGGA!

Talking to these ignorant white niggas is like talking to a brick wall!

THEY NEVER WILL OVERstand the TRUTH!!!!

A black man has no place in a white mans army.

What would you do for America???? Everything except for go to war!!!!

I think you only read the first sentence of my comment. If you read the rest you would have noticed that I said that I have seen the trailer for the movie almost everyday (not on BET) and I also said it has been all over the morning news. Ex. the Morning show, the Today Show, and several other non ethnic outlets. I agree with you as far as the film should be marketed to everone. What I’m saying is I believe he has. I can only speak for my area and my news.

Iwillbfree, you’re kidding, right? Where is your source? I have never, in any of the books I’ve read about Beethoven, heard this “theory” of yours.

As to blacks “birthing the world”, who cares? I’m going to assume that you are a proponent of evolution, and as such, you can (almost) comprehend the implications of the potential physical and mental differences between the races…however, rather than attempt to join the conversation at hand, you have demonstrated your ignorance by bringing “Black supremacy” into an unrelated argument.

Bravo, Iwillbfree, you are a racist :)

I blacks alone remark was intended to prove a worst case scenario point. Our movies should be seen and marketed to all those that may have an interest in it. The key to most movies is generating the right buzz around it.

You are right they did invest in Precious. I think you are wrong about this movie not making money. We will see on Monday.

“I was trying to articulate,” you did a terrible job at it. Your personal preference argument is weak. If racism is about anything, it is about preference.

So, once again, what you’re trying to say is that an individual can be considered a racist if their personal preferences don’t include movies with majority black casts that also happen to be terrible (by the way, if you don’t believe me regarding the quality of Lucas’s latest cinematic abortion, check out the reviews for Red Tails). You’re still not getting it, are you?

This article is very trashy writing, please fired this writer!

This article is very trashy writing, please fired this writer!

The movie became a labor of love for Lucas. This is an action film, so of course the budget is going to exceed that of a drama or comedy. His target market isn’t black people… it’s actually teenage boys of all races.

The movie became a labor of love for Lucas. This is an action film, so of course the budget is going to exceed that of a drama or comedy. His target market isn’t black people… it’s actually teenage boys of all races.

I respectfully disagree. Either your theory is based on the myopic viewpoint and close-mindedness of the lowest common denominator of both African-Americans, White and non-White audiences or you are belittling the effect that African-Americans have had on popular culture in general. African Americans have dominated the music and sports world, why not film? Your argument seems hollow especially when you consider the aforementioned fact. George Lucas took a gamble and it will pay off. As for spending too much, if they can throw millions of dollars at the garbage that Hollywood produces yearly, then George Lucas can ‘waste’ his money telling the story of unsung WWII heroes that fought two wars, one for and one with their country.

I respectfully disagree. Either your theory is based on the myopic viewpoint and close-mindedness of the lowest common denominator of both African-Americans, White and non-White audiences or you are belittling the effect that African-Americans have had on popular culture in general. African Americans have dominated the music and sports world, why not film? Your argument seems hollow especially when you consider the aforementioned fact. George Lucas took a gamble and it will pay off. As for spending too much, if they can throw millions of dollars at the garbage that Hollywood produces yearly, then George Lucas can ‘waste’ his money telling the story of unsung WWII heroes that fought two wars, one for and one with their country.

Actually my view is informed and based on the history of black film and research I cited. And what you call garbage, like maybe some of the films on the top 10 black independent film list, is the stuff that is making money. That’s what Hollywood cares about — cold cash.

Trashy how?

It was maybe for you Blacks but won’t happen again lol Nobody really likes to see you fat ass women and your ugly GORILLA FACES in theaters or on TV…uggh

You are so stupid and a liar.

Was Beethoven Black?
Short answer: no, he wasn’t.
He was born in Bonn you a*****e and you can look up his family tree.

His mother, Maria Magdalena Keverich, was the daughter of Heinrich Keverich, chief overseer of the kitchen at the palace of the Elector of Treves at Ehrenbreitstein, in Germany. Beethoven was only 1/4 Flemish. The rest of his family, including his mother, from whom proponents claim his African ancestry originated, were German and of well-to-do stock.

You really believe that everything is Black or comes from Blacks,but you are CRAZY old man.

B***h! You’re looking at Black porn as I speak!

Take your girly ass back to the klan site, nigg!

NASTY SLOPPY WHITE B***H!

I think you meant to say both “Precious” and “Ray” cost under 100 million to produce and you’re right. I agree Lucas spent too much but only becasue that’s what movies of this type cost nowadays,

Blacks are not racist, you big dummy!

Only crackers are racist! A racist is a caucasoid, who practices white supremacy and world domination! I AIN’T A CAUCASOID, and Blacks are not praticing world dominance.

THE “ONLY” PEOPLE THAT ARE PRACTICING THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR ARE….YOU GUESSED IT…CAUCASOIDS LIKE YOU!

BRAVO, MY NIG!

LOOK IT FOR YOURSELF, NIGGA!

TRUE STUFF, BOY!

YOU’RE BLACK, YOU’RE JUST AN ALBINO MUTANT, WHICH IS AN OFFSPRING OF BLACK PEOPLE!

TWO BLACKS CAN PRODUCE AN ALBINO, BUT TWO WHITES CANNOT PRODUCE BLACK!!!

GENES, BOY, GENES!!! Y’ALL HAVE WEAK GENES!!!

LATER, LITTLE NIG!

The RAVEN never leaves its mate? they stay together for life? well, thats my kind of bird. :)

wow.if you google what you said, its all there . the question .its saying that his mother was a moor.. wow.incredible that blood running though his veins.

of course. :)

wow. I read the article on this website pertaining to this movie. And to be honest I never considered this particular movie to become a racial issue until I read this article. It seems that everyone is already expecting this movie to fail… I’m wondering just how many people (white or black) will take, not of what this movie is about, but what it represents. The Tuskegee airmen were one of the most feared (by the axis) and asked for (by the allied bombers) fighter squadron in Europe. The honor these men possessed in the face of military prejudice, national prejudice, and community prejudice when they returned home is something for everyone to see. And I am truly sorry to think that (according to this and other articles I’ve read) white people and few black people will not choose to see this movie based on the all black lead roles, or the “third-rate actor” cast in a lead role. I am white and have been excited as hell to see this movie since I saw the trailer. Being someone who is as fascinated with history as I am. I am hoping this movie teaches alot about the Tuskegee Airmen and not embellished for box office dollars.

although I did not know about the interracial love interest in the movie. and I agree it is most likely historically inaccurate. So that is a big negative check on this movie so far for me. I do not care about the love interests in the movie. Just make it accurate to the time. Now if it comes out that one (or more) of the Airmen had interracial relationships. then great. The movie is accurate.

Damn shame brother,we and a few others on this site are last of the conscious community,I flew on a plane one day and was shocked to see a brother reading a book!Black women who are conscious are rare to find,on this site I can count them on one hand,but it is still good to know that a few of us can have stimulating conversations on the web,better and more fun than sitting in front of the idiot box that turns you into a vegetable,Peace out!

Thanks for reading, David. I think Lucas brought race into the discussion front and center when he made his comment on John Stewart’s show. However race would still be involved if Lucas had not simply because an all-black film is still rare in Hollywood, especially one that has this kind of money invested in it.

I don’t think having a fair discussion about the investment, marketing, and audience participation of black films is wrong or misguided; on the contrary, our ability to talk about such things as you have, with candidness and respect, shows that well made and well marketed black films can be patroned by everyone.

You do realize that the Moors who invaded and occupied the Iberian peninsula were Caucasoids (specifically, Berbers), right? North African populations typically exhibit the skull structures of Semetic and Indo-European populations.

But that is beside the point; Beethoven was not black (Sub-Saharan African).

Pay attention. The key point is not that “Hollywood won’t support a black movie”. No. It’s all about the Benjamins. As Cuba Gooding once said, “show me the money”.

Here’s the real elephant in the room: MOST NON-BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA WON’T PAY TO SEE A “BLACK” MOVIE. Until that simple fact changes, Hollywood has no good reason to make big-budget movies about blacks.

I think there could be an allegorical concept involved with this movie. I think one person on this forum asked the right question, “why would Lucas spend such an inordinate amount of money”, I had to re-word it because the person who stated this was going in a different direction then I thought he/she would.

However, the article states George Lucas spent “nearly $100 million” on this movie, wow that’s a lot, especially for a movie you KNOW probably won’t do to well with the “mainstream” audience, so this movie is really only intended to attract black people (especially black men), and therefore by stating key words like “all-black cast”, “black movie”, will certainly only appeal to the black masses. Why?

Well, another person here alluded to it being a hidden agenda involved in the movie. The point that there’s a portion of the movie regarding a white woman so maybe interracial relationships could be the motif. After all, George Lucas’ wife is a black woman. Did you know that?

I may sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the only way to know for sure is to watch the movie and find out, which I will do. After all, only the unconscious are naive to enough fall for mischievous tricks involved with media.

oh yeah, just to make myself clear. When I mentioned “motif” it’s not pronounced like “motive”. Motif pronounced Mo-teef is defined as the dominant idea or recurring theme. Just incase anyone was wondering.

Peace.

I was really looking forward to seeing this movie but was totally unaware of the interracial love story. I am not sure I want to take the little free time I have to see a highly promoted media release that once again does not depict positive romantic black male/female relationships!!

However, I am sure some of the black male actors in the movie could relate since they have chosen to partner with white or other nonblack women in their real life relationships!! It is always interesting to see how those actors can promulgate in the national media the importance of having positive, uplifting stories of black life, fight hard through self-promotion and good publicists/managers to win the roles and then go back home to an intimate life with someone who is not from the black community.

As you have noted, BLACK PEOPLE, largely support black films and contribute to the income and wealth of black actors. But, so many of them do not choose to share their intimate lives with black men or women. That seems to be a disconnect to me and, frankly, something that is starting to become a huge vexation. I see all of this camraderie when they promote the movies and some even have the nerve to talk about how we don’t come together to make great black films and for that reason the success of black projects are undermined but they don’t even date, cohabitate with or marry a black person and can’t seem to fathom how this could fracture the unity in the black community!!

I haven’t made up my mind about whether I will see this movie. My husband is ex-military but very much pro black male/female relationships. He is not aware of the interracial romance in the movie. Perhaps, our historical interest will outweigh our reservations.

I want to support black films but not when they promote ideals that I don’t agree with and feel are not in the best interest of black community preservation.

That’s fairly accurate. The research shows that black films don’t particularly appeal to white moviegoers.

You bring up an interesting point, and it’s one that more and more black women are bringing up. I’m not sure if Lucas chose the interracial love interest because it’s historically accurate or because he wanted a small bit of diversity in the film. Hard to say. But I do think it may turn some folks away from seeing it.

Thanks for the comment. I don’t about a conspiracy per se. I commend Lucas for making the film and investing so much into it. Ironically though, such a large financial investment creates expectations that the film can not possibly deliver on.

While I agree that the quality of black films have been less than stellar, many white, mainstream films have been terrible and also depict the average American as stupid, profane, rude, sex-crazed or materialistic.

And, it seems that Hollywood could care less about our image across the globe as they seem to be cranking out these mediocre films every week. I guess it is okay to release the same romantic comedy with the same banal type actor over and over again and crown George Clooney with the same ridiculous facial expressions and insouciant attitude in most of his flicks as the king of American film royalty.

My point is that Hollywood never tires of telling the white or mainstream story even though it is predictably told over and over again. The morality test never seems to be applied to these appalling films but they bring out this special test when they are asked to bankroll a black film when they know that the real reason is that many whites will not turn out to see films with a majority black cast unless the film depicts a subject matter, say, like in “The Help” that has been heralded by most critics as the the must-see “black movie” of the ______ (just fill in the blank).

And, sadly, black people seem to like the stereotypical films about us that you enumerated in your response. That is why Tyler Perry’s films and some of the black reality television shows do so well. I guess they continue to produce the products that sell. If we want more quality films of substance, we will have to demand them. The way to do that is to go to the theater and support those types of films when they are released. Otherwise, we will just receive more of the same.

When I first saw ads for this movie, I could have cared less about it. It looked like just another action movie and I’m not interested in that. When my husband said it was about the Tuskegee Airmen, I was much more intrigued. I felt the trailers (at least all the trailers I saw) didn’t explain what the movie was even about and was, thus, a turn-off for me. Maybe that would have made a difference as well?

I agree. Which should lead us to ponder why would someone make such a large financial investment knowing the risks involved and the loss that will surely present itself? I not much of a gambler, but I do understand the science of gambling. IS Lucas such a big-hearted gentlemen and is doing this out of the kindness of his heart? is it a gift to his wife? Or is there something else there we aren’t really picking up on?

I read comments regarding this movie on other sites (i.e. Yahoo) and other races of people say that they would love to see the movie but only if it’s “accurate and unbiased”. So they already know to ask the right questions. On the other hand, some African-Americans get so excited about it being a “black” movie that they don’t ask questions at all.

As I mention before, I will definitely go to spend my $10.50 to go view the film and if I’m wrong then so be it, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Excellent!!! Your comment is exactly my frame of thought regrading black actors/actresses and black films. Thanks for presenting that information here.

I agree completely. I think the trailer has not done this film justice at all. Folks going to see it either want to support the notion of a successful black film or are intrigued by the story after hearing about it. But the trailer is a turn-off.

I’m white and I plan to see this movie. I like war movies, and I like action movies. The fact that the cast is all (or mostly) is not an issue for me because the Tuskegee Airmen was an all-black unit. I hope the movie is a critical and financial success — I certainly plan to do my part.

Well said M! Here here!

The Black African Muurs dominated southwest eu(rope) during the Middle Ages for 700 years: 711-1492 A.D. When the African Muurs ruled southwest eu(rope ) for centuries, they DARKENED whites in this area, especially Portugal, which was the first example of a AFRIKAN republic in eu(rope)!

Muurs ruling Scotland in the 10th century, mixed with whites until the Black skin color disappeared [this is happening to negroids right now in amerikkka]. SCOTLAND IS NAMED AFTER A BLACK QUEEN BY THE NAME OF QUEEN SCOTIA!!! QUEEN CHARLOTTE MCKLENBURG WAS A BLACK QUEEN OF EU(ROPE)!!!! THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE AND MECKLENBURG COUNTY IS NAMED IN HER HONOR! Eu(rope) is named after Queen Europa!!! Notice, the difference is only the letter (a), which stands for AFRIKA!!!!!

The Muslim Muurs taught the savage caucasoids, how to be civilized, but just look at you people, today! YOU ARE UNCIVILIZED because you don’t OBEY YOUR BLACK PARENTS! “Honor they father and thy mother and your days will be longer.” YOU DAYS are shortened and you will become extinct by 2070!!! This is why you are killing and incarcerating Black men for your genetic survival.

I KNOW THE TRUTH, BOY!

AS USUAL, YOU CRACKERS ARE TWISTING AND RE-VERSING OURstory to fit your needs!

NEGROIDS ARE SO WEAK TO BeLIEve YOUR GODDAMN LIES!!!!

THIS IS WHY YOU DIDN’T WANT US TO READ BECAUSE YOU CRACKERS KNOW, NEGROIDS WILL BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU TELL THEM!!!

YOU ARE AN IMPOSTER!!!!

We have weak genes…and yet, whites have dominated the world since the late 14th century… yep, your argument makes perfect sense XD

“I AIN’T A CAUCASOID, and Blacks are not praticing world dominance.”

If blacks are the superior race, why are they not “praticing” world dominance? Why are they failing to ensure their survival? Why is any country or city with a majority negroid population a hellhole?

Thanks for reading, Fred. Intrigued to hear if you like it.

yes i knew his girlfriend or wife was black.I believe her name is melody and shes some kind of financial analyst I would see on good morning america alot..

and although I dont have a problem with people actually being in love for the right reasons of any race ,operative word, IN LOVE,TRULY, i am a bit disturbed that the tuskegee airmen were married to black women and that wasnt portrayed at all.

if you look at other war movies, the soldiers always go back to their wives or they show that loving aspect of the war..

why wasnt that shown here if thats true? we are just not seeing young black love being portrayed in the mainstream

purposely. I do believe that its the responsibility of these actors that are black,especially the men,to fight for this portrayal and demand it..the black actresses in hollywood deserve the backing of their counterparts.

i think im going to watch it on the net instead..

i thought you meant the keyboard. lol

I saw the film yesterday, the theater was packed and the audience was two-thirds white. I’m in Northern California. I’ve spoken with other people who saw the film this weekend and they told me the theaters were packed in their areas too. One of my friends said he would have loved to have seen the movie this weekend but he didn’t buy his tickets in advance and every theater he checked into getting tickets from was SOLD OUT. The tone of your article sounds very much like the African Americans I heard during the last presidential campaign, naysaying “We’ll never have a Black president”.

I don’t see the analogy between what I’m saying about George Lucas’s choice of marketing and Obama’s presidency. Not sure how you could make that comparison.

A few years back I taught US history at a high school where more than 90% of the students were African-American. It bothered me that there wasn’t a “Black History” course offered at all and that the textbooks we used were quite “limited” in their coverage of Black History. (I’m White.) I made an issue of this and was told there was a set of Black History textbooks in a closet that I could use in class whenever I wished. (They were so old that they still used the word “Negro.”) I’m not sure what kind of reaction I expected from the students but certainly not the one I got. Most students were just as bored with “Black” history as they were with “White” and more than a few resented being taught Black History by a white guy. It should be interesting to see the response to “Red Tails.” Will the “kids” the movie is trying to reach see past the action sequences and comprehend the history lesson being taught? Will it make another generation of Black kids resentful of their ancestors’ unjust treatment at the hands of White America? Will this, in turn, cause racially-tinged fights after showings? Will they be annoyed that a white guy has decided to preach to them about revering their past? I certainly hope not.

Why would you assume he doesn’t listen to classical music? Considering there was no commentary about music in his statement, what could be deduced about your stance towards him? Presumptious? Prejudiced? Racism is like that. That need to force your opinion and when power permits, impose your will on another person or people. If you have that power and are not subject to that power, you are harder to convince of it’s presence. All you really have to do is listen to yourself. If George Lucas has been in the industry long enough to acknowledge how Hollywood treats Black movies AND he had $100M to put toward a movie HE believed in, I’ll take his word for the racial climate of an industry that used movies like Birth of a Nation to establish racism as an institution in America over some person making weak analogies to try and seem intellectually superior.

The point wasn’t whether or not he enjoyed classical music, it was that he’s probably not going to support a genre or a particular work that he isn’t interested in…

As an older African American male, I am mystified by the discussion that I have been tracking re: these comments. I went with a bunch of teenagers and parents to see the movie (we filled the theater). I must say that it was a good time had by all.
The movie was informative, it was well told, the cinematography was excellent and people clapped and cheered throughout the screening. Were there parts that I didn’t care for?—of course. My wife commented on the interracial aspect and expressed regret that a hugh opportunity was lost for promoting a healthy black male and femail relationship. I completely agreed with her, however, we both know, based upon comments from our parents and other of their generation that such relationships did in fact exist.
In closing, I would simply say that this discussion would be a lot more interesting and informative if it occurs within the context of participants who have at least seen the film. (Postscript: I congratulate George Lucas for investing to make it a quality film — his investment may or may not turn a financial profit, however, it will, at least for me, rank with the incredibly high standard set by Bill Cosby in promoting positive images for young people, not the least of whom are African American.)

i dont know how well the movie will do, i will probably see the movie, im not a hundred percent, if i will because a white man, helped produce and finance the movie, if it was fully a black production, i would have gone to see it at half price(before 12am) already!

Let me premise my remarks by saying that I’m just about as white as you can get, so consider my comment in that perspective. I don’t know Mr. John S. Wilson, but I hope and believe that he will be eating every word of his critique’ of George Lucas AND “Red Tails” the movie. I don’t make a habit of writing movie reviews, but this evening, I posted one to my Facebook page. I’d like to share it with your readers:

“Linda and I went to see “Red Tails,” a George Lucas movie, based on the Tuskegee Airmen. I had no idea that this honored group of air warriors accomplished so much and were so decorated as a group and individually. No one in Hollywood was willing to bankroll George’s movie. They said no one would want to go see an “all black” war movie. So George financed the whole production, himself. “Red Tails” is a great movie. I recommend that you go see it. You will leave the theater feeling good, and feeling proud of those gallant young men.”

And Mr. Wilson, sir, I want you to know that there are a lot of white folks in this world that don’t care what kind of label is put on a movie. As long as it is a good movie, we will go see it. And Mr. Wilson, Red Tails is a really good movie. You should go see Cuba Gooding, Jr. at his best.

Well, I do understand the logic of writing in a white female love interest. After all, the location was supposed to be Italy, and correct me if I’m wrong, but most of the people in Italy ARE white. If there were black Italians during WWII, I doubt their percent of the population would be near as high as in the USA. So to me, the inter-racial match-up did make sense. And I did not think of it as something thrown in for nefarious reasons.

SERIOUSLY, I couldn’t agree more, and it’s not just the ones on the big screen or the athletes. It’s becoming a natural trend, but they get the same treatment we do. I’ve never seen so many single parents of other ethnic groups raising half african-american children alone. Now who’s the problem. My other point is, has anybody noticed that George Lucas’ comment about Hollywood (about supporting black films) is the same as Spike Lee’s?

Here’s the REAL problem. When black people flock to see ridiculous movies like Baby Boy, what do you think Hollywood is going to do? They are not going to go out of their way to create a really deep film with an 80-90% black cast and market it to black audiences. They are not going to cook beef Wellington when the customers are happy with hamburgers

I loved this movie and yes it’s a black movie but being an Army veteran I see this movie as a war hero movie. Can people see this as a great movie? Yes I think Hollywood insiders are morons, they seem to think they know what I’m thinking but are way off base. Sometimes a movie comes along and represents something more then any amount of money they could make. I watch a lot of “black movies” and you know there are many good ones. I’m a white female and I will support any movie showing our countries hero’s no matter the skin color! Shame on those who won’t go see it, this is an American hero story. Everyone should go see it. This is our history whether some people think so or not!