Nick Cannon is joining the chorus of a growing number of moviegoers protesting films like “Django Unchained” and “12 Years a Slave.” The dissenting crowd differs in their views, with some believing slavery films create white guilt and allows Black people to continue playing the victim card, while others feel uncomfortable with the constant reminder of slavery that allegedly serves no purpose.
A young Black writer, Orville Lloyd Douglas of U.K.’s The Guardian, who is receiving a fresh dose of criticism for an opinion piece called “Why I Hate Being a Black Man,“ shared his thoughts on the Steve McQueen film, “12 years a Slave.”
“Frankly, why can’t Black people get over slavery?” he wrote,” Or, at least, why doesn’t anyone want to see more contemporary portrayals of Black lives?”
Cannon doesn’t share those exact sentiments, rather the young media mogul challenges movie studios to go further back into the rich history of Black people. He shared his thoughts on Twitter:
“If I see another damn slave movie…AARRRGGHHHH!!!!! I think they keep making them because they want to keep Black folks on edge! They don’t want us to get to comfortable! Yeah we know about Obama…But don’t forget about Toby!”
Cannon later shared a photo of his grandmother and added:
“They called this lady a slave, I call her my grandmother’s grandmother. Why don’t they make movies about our African kings & queens? #OurHistory I would lNove to see a film about Akhenaton and his beautiful wife Queen Nefertiti! Or Cetewayo, a King who was a war hero. Im about to drive to my office RIGHT NOW and start the development! New Hollywood Trend, Black King and Queen films! Starring Black People!! #NoDisrespectToElizabethTaylor.”
That is a trend we can get used to.
Do you agree with Cannon, Douglas or neither?
