Emasculating The Black Male: 15 Actors Who Wore a Dress For Success

Comedian Dave Chappelle explains the problem to talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Who: Eddie Murphy When: 1996 and 2007 Movie: The Nutty Professor and Norbit Roles: Eddie Murphy is well-known for dressing up and physically transforming into his characters, especially women. Murphy played two women in The Nutty Professor where he performed a total of seven roles. But his most questionable female character portrayal was rowdy Rasputia from the movie Norbit, who Murphy played as grossly overweight, wearing dresses and bikinis. Who: Jamie Foxx When: April 1990 to May 1994 TV Show: In Living Color Roles: Before he was an Academy Award-winning actor, Jamie Foxx would wear drag to entertain audiences. During his time on the hit television show In Living Color, Foxx dressed up as the character Wanda in comedy skits. Who: Chris Tucker When: 1997 Movie: The 5th Element Role: Although Chris Tucker was gaining fame at the time from his role in the movie Friday, before he could break out to mainstream success he played the flamboyant female character Ruby Rhod in the movie The 5th Element. Who: Wesley Snipes When: 1995 Movie: To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar Role: Wesley Snipes' role in To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar differs than the other examples on the list because his character was a drag queen. Nonetheless it was unusual to see the typically macho Snipes dressed as a woman. Who: Martin Lawrence When: 1992-1997 and 2000, 2006, 2011 Movie/TV Show: Martin and the Big Momma movie series Roles: Martin Lawrence, like Murphy, is notorious for playing women on screen. On his hit television show Martin, he would play the recurring female character Sheneneh. Lawrence wore a dress again on the big screen in his role as Big Momma, completing Big Momma's House in 2000, Big Momma's House 2 in 2006 and Big Momma: Like Father, Like Son in 2011. Who: Brandon T. Jackson When: 2011 Movie: Big Momma: Like Father, Like Son Role: Following in Martin's footsteps, young actor Brandon T. Jackson joined the dressing-up act in the movie Big Momma: Like Father, Like Son. Who: Tyler Perry When: 2000 - Present The Role: Tyler Perry's Madea character has been an integral part of building his multimillion dollar film and television empire. Madea, a tough elderly grandmother played by Perry, appears in a series of movies including Madea Goes Jail (2009). Perry in the role of Madea has also made guest appearances on House of Payne, the TBS television series that he created. Who: Arsenio Hall When: 1988 Movie: Coming To America Role: Before Murphy started playing female characters in The Nutty Professor and Norbit, his friend and costar Arsenio Hall dressed as a woman in their classic movie Coming To America. Hall goes full drag for a scene in the movie. Who: Flip Wilson When: 1970 - 1974 TV Show: The Flip Wilson Show Role: Flip Wilson was one of the pioneers of comedy for Black people and his Flip Wilson Show helped him gain success during the seventies. However even back then, talented Wilson resorted to drag for his character Geraldine. Who: Miguel Nunez Jr. When: 2002 Movie: Juwanna Mann The Role: The plot of the movie Juwanna Mann is a prime example of what Chappelle is talking about in the video above. Nunez plays is a Black male character who gets kicked out of the basketball league and has to dress up as a woman and play in the WUBA (a fictional women's league) to become a star. Who: Kenan Thompson When: 2003-Present Show: Saturday Night Live Roles: As a young black actor on one of America's largest comedy shows, Thompson is repeatedly asked to wear a dress. The show has historically not cast many Black actresses and instead resorts to making the Black male actors dress up as women for skits. Who: Ving Rhames When: 2000 Movie: Holiday Heart Role: Ving Rhames is typically known for playing macho roles in his movies. But in 2000 he played the character Holiday Heart in a film of the same name and he dressed in full drag. Who: Tracy Morgan When: 2002 Show: Saturday Night Live Role: Once again on SNL, the lack of Black actresses leads comedian Tracy Morgan to a tasteless portrayal of great American author-poet Maya Angelou. Who: Shawn and Marlon Wayans When: 2004 Movie: White Chicks Roles: The Wayans brothers movie White Chicks is the most egregious example on this list. In the movie, the two Black men dress up as white women to become undercover agents, equally offending men and women, Black and white people.

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