A Tale of Two "Hollywoods"

As Oscar weekend launches, it is clear that there are, at least, two Hollywoods.  There is Hollywood and then, there's black Hollywood.  A handful of the A-Listers overlap, but there is an obvious distinction.  With all of the progress we're making in this country, I wonder why there remains so much segregation in tinsel town.  The top stars in black Hollywood are struggling for recognition in the "greater metropolitan Hollywood area."  In the meantime, they are relegated to the "blacks only" part of town.

No worries, black Hollywood stars still shine bright!  Last week, I spent an entire week in and around black Hollywood for the NAACP Image Awards and it was an interesting, exciting, yet sobering experience.  While it was great to see these fabulous folks I lamented at the blatant segregation that still exists in Hollywood and pondered whether or not we'll ever be able to really cross the tracks.

The first order of business was to attend the nominee luncheon, which was hosted by best friends Tisha Campbell ("My Wife and Kids") and Tichina Arnold ("Everybody Hates Chris").  I remember when I first saw both Tisha and Tichina.  It was in the 1986 film, Little Shop of Horrors.  They were young doo-wop girls with major pipes.  Since then, they have continued to succeed in the business with roles on shows ranging from Martin to Rags to Riches to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.  When you think about it, no two other black actresses have enjoyed such a long-standing career in television.  So, it's baffling that they don't get the respect they've earned in Hollywood.  It got me thinking.

Upon arriving at the luncheon, I was in awe of so many of the other black actors, directors and writers that I have admired for so long.  In the same room there were major talents like Loretta Devine, Chandra Wilson, Tracee Ellis Ross along with newcomers Nate Parker, Lance Gross and Jurnee Smollett.  It was a feast of the gorgeous talent that is black Hollywood, which got me thinking again: why doesn't their star wattage illuminate the grand ballrooms of Oscar week?

At the NAACP luncheon, these stars were the brightest in the room.  But, if you fast-forward to this week and the pre-Oscar festivities you will be hard pressed to get a photographer to snap a shot.  And, why is that?  These are some of Hollywood's most talented actors and producers no matter their color, but they are not given the same respect as their un-colored counterparts.  Granted, there has been some significant progress over the years.  Denzel, Halle, Will, Eddie, Beyonce, Jennifer, Jamie and Terrence.  You could rattle off some more names, but not that many.  Truly, the list is not long for black folks who carry the same caché in mainstream (né white) Hollywood.

The problem remains that despite a plethora of black talent in Hollywood the roles of substance for black actors remain few and far between.  Moreover, the roles in which black actors are recognized tend to be in white produced and distributed productions (Ray, Training Day, Million Dollar Baby, Ghost).  The only notable time that a film produced by a black person (Lee Daniels) earned a black actor an Academy Award was Halle Berry's performance in Monster's Ball.  Quite frankly, black actors must crossover to mainstream productions even to be considered legitimate.  Think about how many amazing films Spike Lee has produced with outstanding performances by actors of color that have remained unrecognized by the Academy or other mainstream awards organizations.  Hence, the necessity for having the NAACP Image Awards and two Hollywoods.

Denzel Washington remarked in his acceptance speech at the Image awards, "I will be at the other awards ceremony [the Oscars] next week, but my heart is right here."  It speaks volumes that our most decorated black actor still feels the most at home at the Image Awards.  It might be because black people are just comfortable around other black people.  Or, it might be because he just directed and produced one of the most outstanding films of last year featuring some of the best performances by any young actors in Hollywood and the Academy failed to notice. 

Yes, The Great Debaters was snubbed by the Academy, but it swept the Image Awards.  If you've seen the film then, you understand why I am shaking my head.  If you haven't then, you need to and you will.  It's a masterpiece.  Nonetheless, it didn't quite make it across the tracks to that other Hollywood, which is sad.  Because if Denzel and Oprah can't bridge the gap then, who the heck can.

Hopefully, we will continue to push the status quo and make strides on both sides of the track.  Unfortunately, the progress has been slow coming considering how long it's been since Hattie McDaniel received the first nomination.  The good news is that most of our talent that has found a way to cross the tracks understand that we need them to come back to the old neighborhood every now and again.  Because not only were Tichina and Tisha at the Image Awards, but so were Janet, Vanessa and, of course, Denzel. 

Sitting amongst our brightest stars in all of their glory it is easy to forget that there is another side of the tracks.  Or at least, at that moment, it didn't really matter.