BET aired Roots today :)

[SFK]

It's the whole "National Geographic" mentality, that viewers will accept the nudity and not find it "offensive" when this is how people of a particular culture realistically dress (or rather, don't dress ). When I was a kid, I remember being surprised by all of the nudity in the African miniseries Shaka Zulu (this was 1986 and I believe it also aired on ABC here in the states).

[marceline]

The 70s was simply more liberal time on television. It was the time of Maude's abortion, George Jefferson's constant use of the word, "h*nky", MASH creating a character named "Spearchucker" and throwing around the slur "g**k," constant homophobia on Three's Company and the epic bigotry of Archie Bunker. Television wasn't afraid to deal with ugly themes.

Just imagine trying to make Roots in the current environment. Not only would the nudity not be allowed but people would be freaking the hell out over the use of the n-word. When was the last time you saw a TV character use the n-word even when it made perfect sense?

[SFK]

The nudity was also presented in a non-sexualized manner, it wasn't meant to titillate (even if that's the effect it had on some people... the age old joke about young guys getting off to National Geographic because that's the closest thing they had to porn in the house). On the other hand, you have a case like that of I, Claudius. In the opening scene, the main characters are being entertained by topless African dancers, reflecting the sexual and decadent lifestyle of these Roman royals. This aired on PBS in the late '70s.

Yesterday evening at Christmas dinner we were talking about Roots and Django and all of the "n-word controversy". I'm glad that networks like Antenna TV don't bleep it out in old sitcoms like Sanford and Son and Good Times. Editing out reality, the truth really pisses me off.

[Cheap21]

Queen is on BET right now!

[ChitHappens]

Halle Berry is supposed to be passing for white in the movie? LMAO!

She stinks in every role! Every role.

[SFK]

Off the top of my head, the only celebs whose blackness wasn't immediately apparent to me were Rashida Jones, Wentworth Miller, and Jael from Top Model.

[Eric83]

Did you see the part where Queen is at the white soup kitchen and the man grabs another lady passing for white and says you don't belong here and she says "Massa I'm white" girl you gave it away the moment you said "massa"

I forgot the All State man was in this movie. He looked good! Yum.

The scene where she goes to a white dancehall she walks in and looks like a black girl and yet no one bats an eye. I just can't . LOL!

[Eric83]

Did you get to catch Queen? The whole thing is on Youtube if you haven't. Would love to hear your opinion on it.

[Cheap21]

Unfortunately I didnt get to watch it so I missed that

My sister asked why the hell does she have so much makeup on and then I explained the plotline to her...lol. I think maybe i bought this when I was younger but dang it looks so obvious now. They should have gone with an actress with lighter skin bc the makeup on Halle looks bad

[SFK]

loLOUD! Oh my God, hilarious...

I was trying to flip back and forth between Queen and the Kennedy Center Honors, but the Honors kept winning out. I only caught some scenes with her and Danny Glover, Danny and their son. I will definitely check it out!

[ReddFoxx]

I watched Queen when it first aired back in 1993, of course I was a child then, but I did understand most of what it was about. When I watched it again years later, I thought Berry did a great job in the role, but that's just my opinion.

The best scene is when Queen walks into the black church, worn out from all that has happened to her before. I also thought some of the best scenes were Queen's dealings with those two religious fanatics.

[ChitHappens]

Wentworth Miller is black?!

[Cheap21]

see and there proves SFK's point! Granted he's multiracial. His mother is caucasian but his father is a mix of Jamaican, German, English Cherokee and maybe something else. A small percentage of his mix is black which is why its not so apparent

[marceline]

Just another role given to Halle Berry that she didn't deserve. That woman has spoiled more movies than the IMDB discussion boards.

[ChitHappens]

Not sure if Wentworth Miller is a good example here because he's not just caucasian and Jamaican. Rashida and Jael are better examples because one parent is clearly black. Victoria Rowell's daughter is another great example (even though VR is biracial herself)!