I think it talks about the fact that there are black people in the world who have tremendous amount of talents and have no channel through which they can those talents.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
It's about very talented writers, directors, producers, and actors being in a position for their projects to be supported, but there's just not enough black projects being made.
There haven't been enough profound things written about what being black means and what a black character is. Nobody knows.
'Roots' did show that the audience would be receptive to black talent and a black story.
I think that black people, to a degree, need to have a certain level of dexterity. If we want to be at the highest level of whatever our field is, we have to be able to navigate both worlds. We all just know that you gotta be able to put that suit on and have a conversation with people that don't look like you or your family.
When the culture is strong, you've got this consistency where black people can grow up in these places with this voice just resonating about our special-ness in the universe. And I always say you're in trouble if you get too far away from that core that grounds you.
This is about black people selling out other black people.
Certain black leaders would believe that you have to go through their prism: 'If I lay my hand on you, you're OK.' So many people have made a living off of the pimping of race.
There are many positive things to say about the black community. No question about it.
It's the same old story. Nothing in this world happens unless white folks says it happens. And therein lies the problem of being a professional black storyteller - writer, musician, filmmaker.
Being a black artist, the first thing people want to talk about is your blackness, the importance of your blackness, and your black presence.