Black Actors Oscar Winning Performances For Racist & Stereotypical Film Roles
Although, black actors are winning Oscars this decade, there is a pattern that Hollywood is still promoting racist and sexist stereotypes about black people.
Hattie McDaniel was the first black to win an Oscar for her role in the movie “Gone With The Wind”. McDaniel’s character was an asexual, nurturing, faithful, black mammy that is subservient to white folks.
Halle Berry won an Academy Award for her performance in the interracial drama “Monster’s Ball”. Berry’s character Leticia Musgrove was a filthy slut and a whore. Leticia sold her body to Hank for shelter in exchange for sex. Leticia and Hank’s relationship was not love but a transaction.
Would Hank “allow” Leticia to move into his house if she wasn’t a young, beautiful, black woman?
Halle Berry’s Oscar victory was also very disappointing because once again Berry had to “strip” in order to obtain mainstream attention.
Berry is typecast as the black whore of Hollywood she became famous for taking on trashy, slutty, and disgusting roles.
Throughout Halle Berry’s career, she has always been the stereotypical black Jezebel. For instance, in the movie “Swordfish” Berry exposed her breasts and her character Ginger was just a slut.
If you look at Halle Berry’s career you notice the pattern she is consistently typecast as the licentious black whore.
The mainstream media praise Halle Berry because she is an attractive woman but isn’t Berry also an actress?
Where is Berry’s sense of pride and integrity? Does Halle Berry have any class? Halle Berry is promoting these negative stereotypes of black womanhood by accepting these racist and sexist film roles such as Swordfish and Monster’s Ball.
Berry obviously doesn’t care about the bigger picture here. Berry’s Oscar victory was a hollow one, because she hasn’t had a hit movie in several years, except for the” X MEN franchise”.
In a famous interview with “Newsweek Magazine”, Angela Bassett said Halle Berry’s character Leticia Musgrove was a “prostitute”. Bassett is correct, black women in Hollywood are typecast as either maids or whores.
Where are the diverse film roles for black women? Why does a black woman have to take on the role of a tramp just to win an Oscar?
Angela Bassett refuses to degrade herself in racist and sexist film roles she is extremely fastidious.
Some people say since Bassett turned down certain roles this hurt her career. At least Angela Bassett sees the bigger picture here, she has her digntity and pride.
Jennifer Hudson won best supporting actress for her role in “Dreamgirls”. Hudson’s character Effie White was the classic stereotypical black female R&B singer. A young black actress can only be a “singer” in order to win an Oscar.
Jamie Foxx won for his performance in the bio pic Ray. Foxx won the Oscar because Ray Charles death was still fresh in the memory of the Academy. A closer examination of Charles life illustrates he was a disgusting, junkie, womanizing soul singer.
Denzel Washington won best supporting actor for his performance in the movie “Glory”. Of course, Denzel’s character in the movie was also a slave.
Denzel won a best actor Oscar for his performance in Training Day. However, Denzel’s character in Training Day was a crooked cop. Denzel should of won for Malcolm X. The Academy gives Denzel an Oscar for a negative film role instead of a positive film role.
Morgan Freeman won a best supporting actor award for the movie ” Million Dollar Baby”. Freeman has been consistently typecast throughout his career as the classic wise, older, black man.
Forest Whitaker won a best actor Oscar for his performance in the movie “Last King of Scotland”. Whitaker’s character Idi Amin was an evil tyrant. Whitaker’s skin tone was “darkened” in the movie to give the actor a more sinister appearance.
29 responses to “Black Actors Oscar Winning Performances For Racist & Stereotypical Film Roles”
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- - Wednesday , September 8 , 2010
Gayblackcanada 
Okay Orville, with all due respect, I really have a problem with this post for the following reasons:
1. Yes, Hattie McDaniel did play a Mammy character but she was the first black person, male or female, to be recognised. We have to take that for what it is worth. It was 1939! It’s incredible to think that even then, somehow, she was recognised. And even though, she did play a Mammy character, she was so electric as an actress anyway.
She will always be remembered and you know what, ages ago, I did a feature post on Hattie McD on my blog and you know what? It’s the one of my most active posts by page views. Even to this day, people are still amazed by her.
2. How was Halle Berry’s character a ‘whore’ as you say or filthy? I really disagree with this. Just because she had graphic sex in the role does not make her a ‘whore’.
3. Jamie won because he was just great in the role. I think with that line, you are implying that Ray Charles was a stereotype. How was he a stereotype if that was just who he was? I don’t understand. Many men in music are womanisers (eg Mick Jagger), that does not seem like a stereotype to me.
4. Forest played a real life political tyrant. No one can deny that Idi Amin was a tyrant.
I am not sure what you are trying to convey with this post. We all have our perspectives on the Oscars and I think they have definite issues but do you think people, black/white, should be rewarded for playing positive characters all the time?
I think people should be rewarded for playing good roles. I don’t need the Oscars to tell me how to be a strong black woman. I am already like that. but I do want the Oscars to recognise fantastic black actors…which they have done to a certain extent.
Aulelia my argument is the “roles” black actors tend to win Oscars for also still relates to negative racist and sexist stereotypes about black people. Although black actors are winning Oscars they still are not in the positions of power such as the Mythical Norm. I do have a problem when blacks win Oscars that just promote negativity.
Yes Ray Charles was a drug addict and a womanizer but I also believe Charles death impacted the decision making of the Academy his death was still fresh.
I don’t know why blacks worry about validation from white Hollywood anyway? But my view is black people shouldn’t be so happy or thrilled when Halle Berry wins for her slutty performance in Monster’s Ball.
Berry’s character Leticia Musgrove is the classic black whore/ jezebel stereotype of black female sexuality. Would Hollywood allow a black male act to win best actor for screwing an A List white actress in an explicit sex scene? I doubt it.
Hollywood doesn’t mind degrading black women and presenting them as loose like Berry’s character in Monster’s Ball. But when is a black woman going to win an Oscar for a positive role?
Hollywood doesn’t mind giving black actors Oscars for promoting the same racist and sexist stereotypes that have existed for centuries.
Denzel wins for being a crooked cop in Training Day but he didn’t win for a superior performance in Malcolm X.
In the Last King of Scotland Forest Whitaker’s skin tone was “darkened” to make him appear more evil and sinister. Yes Idi Amin was a tyrant but when is a black actor going to win an Oscar for something positive like being a doctor or a teacher or whatever?
For instance, in Hollywood black women are either depicted as whores like Halle Berry in Monster’s Ball or as a mammy like Hattie McDaniel.
I agree that McDaniel’s win was important because society was much more racist in 1939 and her accomplishment is incredible. I am sadden that not a lot has changed for black women in Hollywood. For example, Queen Latifah is 21st century version of Hattie McDaniel she is a perfect example of the new asexual black mammy.
I respect Angela Bassett so much because Angela has class. Angela Bassett said Halle Berry’s character in Monster’s Ball was a prostitute. Angela Bassett is very careful about the roles she chooses and she turned down the role in Monster’s Ball. Although Halle Berry gets more media attention she is not as good an actress as Angela Bassett.
I take your point about some of the roles our brothers & sisters have had to endure in order to acheive the highest honour that can bestowed on an actor. But to blanketly tarnish each and every black actor who has won an oscar, for being less positive, I find ludicrous. Take Sidney Poitier in ‘Lillies of the Field’ or Louis Gosset Jr in ‘Officer & a Gentleman’, Then there is Cuba Gooding Jr for ‘Jerry Maguire’, not forgetting Whoopi Goldberg for ‘Ghosts’.
T merely point a few movies and then tarnish then, all the while leaving out the others that have won awards, does not bode well for us a race. Because if what you say is true and white hollywood agrees with you then they will believe that the only time we can put in great perfomances is whaen we are, prostitutes, pimps, gang bangers, singers or sports professionals, and clearly that’s not the truth.
Halle’s role in Monster’s Ball was not a slut.
She was a single mother who clearly had issues with men.
I don’t see how having sex makes her a slut.
Halle Barry playing ‘a filthy slut and a whore’? Really? In Monsters Ball? This character isn’t in the film I saw.
With all due respect, Orville, I find your post flawed in the extreme. Let’s follow your thinking in looking at last year’s Academy Award-winners:
Daniel Day Lewis (Best Leading Actor)for There Will Be Blood, in which he portrayed a dishonest, evil oil man, who commits murder in the final scene.
Marion Cotillard (Best Leading Actress) for La Vie en Rose, in which she portrayed singer Édith Piaf, the fragile ‘Little Sparrow’, who struggled with alcoholism and morphine addiction. The character is a far cry from the strong Effie White of Dreamgirls.
Javier Bardem (Best Supporting Actor), who played a psychopathic killer in No Country for Old Men.
Tilda Swinton (Best Supporting Actress), who portrayed a corrupt, murderous lawyer in Michael Clayton.
Which one of these is can be considered a positive role?
And…. Forest Whitaker’s skin was darkened because Idi Amin had darker skin, just as Cate Blanchett’s skin was lightened because Elizabeth I had lighter skin.
We agree to disagree Deedee sure you mention a few white actors that have been in negative roles. But you don’t see my argument which is these black actors are winning Oscars ONLY for negative roles. The Academy is made mostly of whites and they don’t mind giving black actors Oscars for roles that promote racist and sexist stereotypes of blackness. Denzel Washington wins for being a slave in Glory and you think that’s progress? Morgan Freeman is typecast as the wise older black man that’s not progress.
Denzel Washington should of won the Oscar for Malcolm X yet he wins for Training Day.
Deedee you clearly are not seeing my argument Whitaker’s skin tone wasn’t just darkened to match Idi Amin. In society darker skinned black men are viewed as more sinister and evil. Whitaker’s skin tone was darkened to give his character a more evil effect.
Halle Berry’s character in Monster’s Ball is a whore her husband dies and she screws the first man that can “give” her shelter. Angela Bassett said in a famous interview that Berry’s character Leticia Musgrove is a prostitute and I agree.
Also throughout Berry’s career she has consistently been the black whore/Jezebel of Hollywood. It is no surprise that Berry “stripped” in Monster’s Ball since that’s her trademark these days taking her clothes off.
Orville, I don’t think your argument about Halle’s character being a ‘whore’ stands up at all.
So what if Angela Bassett said it? She does not speak for all black actresses on what they should or should not be.
A whore is a derogatory form for a woman who sleeps around. Halle’s character was going through insufferable grief. She sought comfort through sex.
That hardly makes her a woman who sleeps for money. And even then, she would be classified a sex worker, not a whore.
I must agree with DeeDee here about the Forest W thing too. Forest is lighter skinned that Idi.
Orville, I didn’t mention ‘a few white actors’ at random, but those who won the four key awards for roles last year. Would each of these performances joined your list, had they been played by black men and women?
Where I see a damaged woman, you see a ‘a filthy slut and a whore’, who by your definition exchanges money for sex.
Denzel Washington did not win ‘for being a slave in Glory’. He portrayed a proud black man, a leader, who had escaped slavery. Was his performance in Malcolm X, better than that in Training Day? Perhaps. But then Washington wasn’t running against himself in roles created ten years apart. He lost to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman. In my opinion, neither man should have won. I thought the best performance that year was by Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven.
Forest Whitaker gained 50 pounds to play the role Idi Amin. Obviously, he was intent on looking as much like the dictator as could. To suggest that he allowed his skin to be darkened ‘to give his character a more evil effect’ is – forgive me – misguided.
Auelia and Deedee we agree to disagree about Monster’s Ball. My view is Berry’s character may be a grieving woman but the line “make me feel good” and Berry screeching the line made her look like a whore.Black feminists have written about this negative stereotype of black female sexuality and Halle Berry is often mentioned in their analysis. Berry has consistently utilized her sexuality to gain mainstream media attention by presenting negative images of black womanhood. Berry has consistently been the black jezebel of Hollywood. Angela Bassett is correct Leticia Musgrove was basically a prostitute. Leticia sold her body to Hank for shelter.
Link to article discussing Berry’s role in Monster’s Ball
http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/jezebel/
I can certainly say u are very racist, little guy. race plays no part in movie roles. Women are exposed regardless, in majprity movie roles. It reallyd epends upon the theme, whether the setting and or story of the movie.
@Orville: How is Halle Berry using her sexuality in films ‘negative’?
In Swordfish, she was topless. Does that mean that she is definitive of what black female sexuality is? Absolutely not.
I am a black feminist too and I am well aware of the arguments. We certainly don’t all have to agree that Halle Berry’s character was a ‘slut’ and I know that I don’t.
I think by saying that Halle’s character was a prostitute is wrong because she NEVER took money for it. End of. She was his girlfriend, not some woman being paid for sex work. That is something you must concede. Her character was not a prostitute.
Even when she does say ‘make me feel good’, what’s wrong with that? She wanted to be comforted in sex. She’s like many other women during the act: wanting to experience sexual gratification.
If she’s a ‘whore’ because she likes sex, then we all are.
I totally agree on the conclusion that if women sometimes (like men) seeks comfort and acknowledge through sex are ‘whores’ as you call it, then we all are. And lets say you were right Orville about blacks being stereotypied, I think you are being both racial and sexists about women talking about Berrys role in Monsters Ball like that. where are your empaty? I haven’t heard such diskriminating analysis about womens motivs when you discribe berrys character and motivations in the film. Surely you have no clue what modern women are about. You talk like it’s 1860. This was a comment from a white woman in Scandinavia, so I suppose you, with the bad reputation concerning sex Scandinavia has, problably wont take my comment seriously. Too bad for you. And good luck with your relationship to women in the future.
Malene, Monster’s Ball is a movie, but black feminism points out stereotypes travel through time. I realize it isn’t 1860, but the stereotype of black female sexuality has existed for centuries. For centuries black women have been stereotyped as either the slut/whore or the maid. Where are the positive roles for black women in Hollywood? If you look at Halle Berry’s career Malene, you will notice Berry consistently takes on the role of the oversexed black woman. Of course, it is Berry’s choice to take these roles. However, my perspective is I agree with Angela Bassett, she has dignity, and she believes it is important the social representations of film roles. For instance, Bassett turned down the role in Monster’s Ball because she did not want to play a prostitute. Leticia Musgrove, Berry’s character in Monster’s Ball is a slut.
Orville…excellent post! Thanks for reiterating what I’ve felt for a very long time.
I just recently saw Training Day mainly because I refused to see it for so long because I felt Denzel should have won for his incredible portrayal of Malcolm X. Yes, he did accurately portray the L.A. crooked cop–but WHY must he get an award for portraying yet another black man negatively? The bigger question is why wasn’t he rewarded for Malcolm X really? My theory revolves around the fact that The Powers That Be [for now] don’t ever want to show positive images of strong black leaders, female or male.
As for Halle, sorry but I’m for Angela Bassett because while both women are extraordinary actresses, Angela maintains a dignity I will always admire. She sees the bigger picture and refuses to play the fool. Perhaps if more actors did this, we would have better control over how we are portrayed.
Aulelia, I understand your point–Halle’s character shouldn’t be demonized because she actually likes sex.
I feel the problem is that Black women have a completely different beast to conquer than white women when it comes to our image, especially in the media.
Halle’s character seeking comfort through sex *shouldn’t* make her a whore, but the bigger picture is that in America, too many people constantly equate Black female sexuality with licentiousness.
There’s this insidious default position some people take that young and beautiful women of COLOR must be whores. We’re hardly ever shown as young, beautiful women worthy of respect.
And if we’re older and overweight, we’re automatically sexless. Look at every media panel or movie and you will see the same “fat, Black girlfriend of the White, skinny lead” theme over and over and over again.
Yet, White girls, young or old, skinny or not are never *assumed* to be whores, even when their actions prove otherwise. They’re always assumed to be virtuous, respectable and if they express their sexuality, it’s almost always seen in a positive light.
I don’t know why the hell should these categories even exist, yet they do and the media really makes an effort to keep these horrendous images in full motion, to our detriment.
Add to this, the interracial factor which compounds it even more because how often do you see the media portray a normal, healthy relationship between white men and black women?
They don’t. If they even bother to show it at all, it’s the sexual side that almost always emphasized, even more so than relationships between black men and white women. I have yet to see either relationship in Hollywood focus more on other relationships normally consist of *Besides* sex: love, trust, shared interests, loyalty etc. etc.
Personally, I don’t see how my Black feminism relates to white feminism–I see it as completely separate battles. How can it relate when they’re trying to rebel against society’s pedestal meanwhile women of color are trying to establish our rightful places as women worthy of admiration, honor and respect–something we should have ANYWAY.
In America, a white woman’s only “barrier” on the success ladder is her sex while women like me must battle constant degradation due to our gender *and* race. We can’t pretend racial attitudes *don’t* affect sexual attitudes towards our gender.
That’s why I can’t look at a movie like Monster’s Ball as a white feminist would because our issues are different…while I live in this country, race and sexuality remain intermingled for me, and not by choice. Not so for white girls.
Until society gives ALL women respect regardless of race, until Hollywood can show movies where beautiful Black women are cherished and honored as we are, they should lay off extreme portrayals.
Better yet, WE should STOP looking to others for validation and WE should start making & supporting movies that cater to how we feel about ourselves.
Sorry, what? You criticised the system for awarding black actors only for playing seedy or shady roles, but then you criticise them for honouring Jamie Foxxx for playing a role which overlooks the person’s seedy or shady activities? Make your mind up…
I arrived here pretty much randomly because I just watched “The Last King of Scotland” and was looking for internet references. I would just like to point out that clearly Forest Whitaker’s skin darkening was to match that of Idi Amin’s – to infer racism into that is clearly wrong. It doesn’t prove that black people only need to play stereotypes to win oscars(although maybe it supports the idea that you need to play a true life person to win. See the Jamie Foxxx thing…) Although I agree that Training Day was hardly Denzel Washington’s greatest performance. But then, the academy always gets it wrong. Take Forrest Gump…
I found your post really interesting, and whilst I think that perhaps ‘whore’ is slightly strong language but I agree with the core point; emotionally damaged or not, black women are constantly portrayed as sexual objects and not much else. Whilst all women are confined to stereotypes in the roles they get, white women clearly have a wider range to ‘choose’ from, as it were. I’d imagine that the kinds of roles Halle Berry plays are the only ones she gets offered with a nice enough paycheck.
I came across your post through researching some modern examples of the archetypal roles black women get assigned to – the mammy/Aunt Jemima, the Sapphire and the Jezebel. Queen Latifah is a great one, and there are countless examples of black female musicians using the ‘Jezebel’ as way to promote themselves.
Your “article” is so opionionated and out of scale with the truth that it made me write back. You have to be really one-sided to believe what you wrote… Halle Berry is not the whore of hollywood prior to Monster’s Ball she took roles that played up her looks and played down her looks… It’s called acting… She is trying to play all types, but since she is beautiful, I’m sure she is offered many roles where her looks play a factor. I also notice in her Bond role, she didn’t just play a ” bed buddy” but an actual agent. She didn’t play the beautiful wife in that Spike Lee movie but the junkie which at the time could have derailed her career. She get’s noticed because she takes chances.
Forest Whitaker and Jamie Foxx, played biographical roles. How is it that they be considered racist or stereotypical. Did we say it’s a stereotypical country singer when Reese Witherspoon played June Carter Cash? OR was Sean Penn stereotypically gay when he played Milk? They won the oscar, but they also played the very well known people and would not have won if they didn’t play them as close as possible as to what people believe these people to be.
You obviously just needed people to read your article, it’s trite.
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eff the haters, i love this post.people are just sugar coating the truth.
america loves to blacks suffering or acting inferior.
the only reason why halle won that oscar is because she some white man do her in the butt.
the movie was booring and slow and the acting was very mediocre?
now how come angela bassett didn’t win an oscar when she palyed tina turner? hmmmm
what about hustle and flow?
thats another example
I agree Halle Berry won an Oscar for best actress but at what cost? Berry’s character Leticia Musgrove was just a dirty whore. Where is Halle Berry’s career now after stripping for the camera? Halle Berry really has no dignity in this role she basically won the Oscar for taking her clothes off and exposing her body.
EDIT:eff the haters, i love this post.people are just sugar coating the truth.
america loves to see blacks suffering or acting inferior.
the only reason why halle won that oscar is because she let some white man do her in the butt.
the movie was booring and slow and the acting was very mediocre.
now how come angela bassett didn’t win an oscar when she palyed tina turner? hmmmm
what about hustle and flow?
thats another example
I also feel the same way about precious.precious was another very mediocre film that recieved way to much agulation just because it was so raw and provocative….but that doesn’t make it a good movie.
Your article is one-sided because you are trying to argue a certain point that has some validity, but your points are way to shallow and narrow. You are trying to address issues of the whore vs. the virgin portrayal of women, the mammy vs. the jezebel for black woman, and negative vs. hero for all black actors.
I realize this argument is through the scope of black feminism in which Halle Berry’s portrayals are analyzed, but the point of negative characters only earn Oscars for black actors is stronger with Denzel Washington. His performance and substance of character was better for Malcolm X. Now lets say he won for MX, if we take Forrest’s and Jaimee’s wins, would the arguement be black actors can only win if they play historical figures. And one could argue negative figures.
The skin darkening issue with Forrest is interesting,and the only way I can support your argument is by using West Side Story. Rita Moreno, a latina, was made-up darker, and she won the Oscar for Anita. However, her make up was a more blatant racism of Hollywood of her time because all actors playing a person of color were “darkened” up. Forrest’s make-up seemed it was trying to achieve physical accuracy of a real person, but skin tone is a very real issue in characterization argued better using Tyler Perry’s movies or School Daze.
Halle did not play a stereotypical whore or jezebel, because her character actually had a story, depth and relationships. Your are labeling the character based of personal values and sentiments along with Angela. The jezebel and mammy stereotypes are a little dated because stereotypes have emerged. The popular one is the damaged woman getting her groove back in which Angela pioneered. Halle’s win set off a stereotype of pretty women playing ugly gritty roles to win Oscars. These damaged characters get more attention because they offer tension, emotions and stories that do exist in this world.
Halle Berry’s character Leticia Musgrove was indeed a negative stereotype of black womanhood. Black women for centuries have been stereotyped as being licentious women. Berry’s character Leticia Musgrove was a whore. The sex scene when Berry screams the line “make me feel good” was just disgusting! The sex scene just reproduced all the negative stereotypes about black female sexuality. Berry’s character Leticia sold her body to Hank for shelter this was not love.
And after Monster’s Ball where is Halle Berry’s career now? Halle is going nowhere she obviously did not see the bigger picture.
Halle Berry used to be a respectable black woman. Halle realized in order for her reach the mainstream she had to capitalize off her stunning good looks. But at what cost? Yes, Berry got big money for trashy films such as “Swordfish” and “Monster’s Ball”. However, does Halle Berry have any class?
I love Angela Bassett for being a black woman that has dignity and self respect. I admire Angela Bassett because she is a black woman that has class.
Angela Bassett sees the bigger picture and she refuses to be the fool. Hollywood is racist and sexist and wants to take advantage of black women. Bassett is correct Leticia Musgrove was a prostitute.
good post and i absolutely agree. In fact, in our book (at our website, trojanhorse1_com) we have several chapters about the many ways “entertainment” is used to promote white supremacy/black inferiority.
Unfortunately, too many of us (blacks) are MORE concertned with being “entertained” than we are with being respected OR being self-respecting.
there are very few talented actors that is as versatile as morgan freeman ,'”
Come on, people. Orville is right. I’m a black actor who has lived in both LA and New York and everything Orville says has played out in my career and in those of others. I think the reason people can’t really fathom what Orville is saying because we as black folks have NO IDEA of the other worthy stories that are out there about us. We are not terribly aware of our history and the many, many diverse stories there are out about us. Why not make a movie about WEB DuBois. Do most of us even know who he is or his sifnifcance. Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes- beautiful films could be made about these people.
MJM, I would love to see a biopic about Zora Neale Hurston that would be amazing!
Orville is right.Hollywood is so slick that most folks can’t see the trickery.I am also an actor and notice the games.No way an A list White actress is doing a raw love scene or even falling in love with a Black guy in a mainstream Hollywood film.You think you’ll see Taylor Swift with a brotha in her next music video? Maybe Emma Stone with a Blak guy in a film where race is not in the plot and she falls for him like in The Bodyguard?