What did you guys think of Viola Davis' Emmy speech? (1 Viewer)

[timschochet]

Davis made history on Sunday, becoming the first black actress to take home an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her role on How to Get Away with Murder.

Here is what she said:

The only thing that separates women of color from everyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So here's to all the writers, the awesome people – people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black.

Thoughts?

 

[eoMMan]

Racist. African American is the correct term, Violin.

 

[Chemical X]

you really can't make me care about someone fighting for acting roles for a specific group. also, she won't make me feel guilty.

 

[timschochet]

you really can't make me care about someone fighting for acting roles for a specific group. also, she won't make me feel guilty.

You should.

 

[Da Guru]

There should be something put into place that every movie and TV show has to have at least one black actress read for the given role like the NFL does with head coach interviews. They can call it "The Clooney Rule"

 

[The Z Machine]

But what if the show she was on sucked?

 

[jon_mx]

I have wondered why a black woman has never been chosen for the role of Hitler.

 

[Courtjester]

you really can't make me care about someone fighting for acting roles for a specific group. also, she won't make me feel guilty.

You should.

No, we will leave that role for you.

African Americans make up 12% of the total population, so it stands to reason there are going to be limited roles written for a specific minority group.

Where are the movie roles for Filipino Tilt-a-Whirl Operators? I tell you there is the real injustice.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Who gives a ####.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

My link

 

[Chemical X]

came back to ask who can name the prior 3 winners in this category off the tops of their heads?

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Are we sure it is Viola and not VOILÀ

 

[psychobillies]

Typical, mindless drivel. Is she suggesting that black people can't get ahead in the entertainment industry?

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Industry awards as history. I suppose it is in the penumbra of the definition of the word.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Typical, mindless drivel. Is she suggesting that black people can't get ahead in the entertainment industry?

I think she was suggesting that she should be allowed to play a white woman role.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Typical, mindless drivel. Is she suggesting that black people can't get ahead in the entertainment industry?

I think she was suggesting that she should be allowed to play a white woman role.

White Chicks Part 2?

 

[eoMMan]

Are we sure it is Viola and not VOILÀ

Waa Laa Davis?

 

[NCCommish]

Typical, mindless drivel. Is she suggesting that black people can't get ahead in the entertainment industry?

I think she was suggesting that she should be allowed to play a white woman.

Actually she is suggesting that most roles don't really need to be white per ae and it would be nice if some of those went to talented black actors.

As someone mentioned above 12% of the population is black. 12% of the people we see in movies or on TV are not black. And when we do see a black character they are usually a criminal or in need of rescue by white folks.

It's pretty blatant.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Are we sure it is Viola and not VOILÀ

Waa Laa Davis?

Yes...

 

[General Malaise]

Typical, mindless drivel. Is she suggesting that black people can't get ahead in the entertainment industry?

I think she was suggesting that she should be allowed to play a white woman.

Actually she is suggesting that most roles don't really need to be white per ae and it would be nice if some of those went to talented black actors.

As someone mentioned above 12% of the population is black. 12% of the people we see in movies or on TV are not black. And when we do see a black character they are usually a criminal or in need of rescue by white folks.

It's pretty blatant.

Did you not ever see a little show called "The Cosby Show"? No criminals there......

oh, wait.

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

So, writers, whose careers are based on ratings are writing roles for and portrayed by people of the majority. I am shocked and appalled.

 

[General Malaise]

Sandford & Son, Jeffersons, 227, Amen.....lotta nice African American shows out there.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Typical, mindless drivel. Is she suggesting that black people can't get ahead in the entertainment industry?

I think she was suggesting that she should be allowed to play a white woman.

Actually she is suggesting that most roles don't really need to be white per ae and it would be nice if some of those went to talented black actors.

As someone mentioned above 12% of the population is black. 12% of the people we see in movies or on TV are not black. And when we do see a black character they are usually a criminal or in need of rescue by white folks.

It's pretty blatant.

Did you not ever see a little show called "The Cosby Show"? No criminals there......

oh, wait.

or watch movies that Duane The Rock Johnson stars in.....

 

[General Malaise]

The show with Urkel, Good Times, What is Happening....

 

[General Malaise]

The Wire

 

[Ditka Butkus]

The show with Urkel, Good Times, What is Happening....

What's Happening!

 

[Ditka Butkus]

The Wire

How about... Blackish

 

[General Malaise]

NBA

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Tyler Perry needs to step his game up.

 

[NCCommish]

Sandford & Son, Jeffersons, 227, Amen.....lotta nice African American shows out there.

You forgot Good Times. But Norman Lead is gone and we don't seem to do these anymore.

 

[General Malaise]

CSI Gary, Indiana

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Tyler Perry needs to step his game up.

Is that a new movie title?

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

Tyler Perry needs to step his game up.

Is that a new movie title?

Yes, but Tyler Perry was replaced with Channing Tatum, so don't think that counts.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

CSI Gary, Indiana

Not Louisiana, Paris, France, New York, or Rome?

 

[NCCommish]

Tyler Perry needs to step his game up.

Having watched a few episodes of Tyler Perry's work if I was black I'd ask him to stop helping.

 

[General Malaise]

CSI Gary, Indiana

Not Louisiana, Paris, France, New York, or Rome?

I just though it made the joke complete. Probably should have gone with CSI Detroit.

 

[JNox3]

I didn't.

 

[17seconds]

Assuming that I care about how much opportunity actors have...

Is her point that the number of roles for her demographic is less that the percentage of her demographic in the US? (13%)

It would be silly to think that the number of black roles should be anywhere near the number of white roles. Is she expecting it to be higher than 13%?

 

[squidrope]

But I thought Hollywood was mostly liberals?

:shuked:

 

[Da Guru]

Typical, mindless drivel. Is she suggesting that black people can't get ahead in the entertainment industry?

I think she was suggesting that she should be allowed to play a white woman.

Actually she is suggesting that most roles don't really need to be white per ae and it would be nice if some of those went to talented black actors.

As someone mentioned above 12% of the population is black. 12% of the people we see in movies or on TV are not black. And when we do see a black character they are usually a criminal or in need of rescue by white folks.

It's pretty blatant.

Seems like the average is about right.

 

[AAABatteries]

What is Happening....

That's the white version of What's Happening, right?

 

[eoMMan]

Betheney Benz, Lavish Styles, etc....plenty of great African American actresses out there.

 

[Christo]

CSI Gary, Indiana

A few years later they can follow it up with CSI East St. Louis.

 

[Sinn Fein]

She should have just started her speech with " Hey, where are the white women at?"

 

[otello]

What am I supposed to think?

 

[otello]

1. e4

 

[17seconds]

And when we do see a black character they are usually a criminal or in need of rescue by white folks.

It's pretty blatant.

...and then the commercials come on where the black guy is always the boss or a neutral character and the white guy is the idiot or criminal

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I don't know who Viola Davis is, and I've never watched the Emmys.

 

[sublimeone]

What does she have to say about the racial hiring practices of NBA teams?

 

[comfortably numb]

I feel the same way about white defensive backs in the NFL.