Actor, Anthony Mackie has come under fire from the ‘black twitter’ this week following his remarks on about racial profiling during an interview with The Grio reporter, Chris Witherspoon regarding his new film ‘Black & White’ starring Oscar award winners Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer.
Take a read at Mackie’s statements below.
” …I think if your still focusing one race, your a ‘bata machine’ in the world of dvd’s. The reality of it is that, I want you to look at me and see a black man. There’s a line in the movie by far that is one of the most important lines I’ve ever seen in a script. Kevin Costner says ‘Your first thought isn’t what makes you a racist, it’s your second, third, and fourth thought that makes you a racist’. “
I don’t have a problem with Zimmerman seeing Trayon Martin and seeing a black man in hoodie; its his actions that followed after that, that is the problem.”
I want my son’s to be able to have white friends, asian friends, and latino friends and it be fine, and let them bring their culture into our homes and we celebrate that. We have taco nights, and we go out and eat chinese food. “
On ‘Racial Profiling’ To An Extent, Being a Necessary Evil In Society:
Mackie:I think the problem with racial profiling is the actions that come along with it. My nephew wanted to grow ‘dreadlocks’ and I’m like fine, , sit you down and I’m going to watch the movie ‘The First 48’ [which is my favorite movie], now everybody that you see on that show that’s doing something wrong are black dudes with ‘dreadlocks’ so do you want to be seen as part of the ‘problem’ or as an ‘individual’?
Because, then you ain’t doing anything wrong and the police pull you over and say you fit the description of somebody, you start yelling and arguing with the cops, and the next you know you pressed up against the wall getting ready to go to jail just because you look like somebody.
Mackie has since responded to the backlash claiming a betrayal from Witherspoon [whom he considered a friend]. Interestingly, Mackie shares a very different viewpoint or should I say explanation in his interpretation of his statement. The Grio has also released the full interview.
Personally, I think a simple ‘apology’ from Mackie would have suffice. I’ve watched both interviews and it’s more than apparent that Mackie knew he he made a ‘huge error’, and he attempted to ‘clean up’ his statement with his response interview. Here’s where Mackie got it wrong:
1) Mackie attacks Witherspoon for using a soundbite of their interview to ‘taint to his character’ but he did the very same ‘stereotyping’ when he pointed out to his nephew that the most of of young black men with dreadlocks are the one’s getting locked up in the film . Is that not the same thing?
2) Essentially, Mackie provides an ultimatum to his nephew based on his notion of society’s standard by asserting that one who has dreadlocks is subjected to ‘racial profiling’ than one one who does not wear locs. Such an odd statement from someone who use to wear dreadlocks. I guess he has not paid attention to the national headlines and public outrage over the recent deaths of black men at the hands of police due racial profiling. ‘Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and Eric Garner [all of whom did not wear dreadlocks at the time of their death].
Lastly, The ‘Perception’ Argument.
3) In his response interview Mackie says that he was responding to Witherspoon’s questioning of ‘profiling’ and the different aspects of it which includes ‘perception’ yet he implied his own ‘perception on black men with dreadlocks’ in his interview with Witherspoon and further insinuates ‘that when they get pulled over they ‘yell’ and ‘argue’ with cops’ . Huh?
Mackie then cleans it up a bit and now says that if young black men [bush hair, bald hair,etc] are not taught to say ‘Yes Officer’, ‘No Officer’, and ‘Is That All Officer’ when they encounter police, then the outcome will be detrimental because they’re not in a position of power to win in that moment.
Sidebar: Has Mackie forgotten that Bob Marley is one of the greatest musicians of all time. He also failed to mention that black men are not the only people and race that wear ‘dreadlocks’ , and for many it’s more than just a fad, or popular trend but also for religious purposes. Brad Pitt [on left] championed the popular hairstyle as an ‘homage’ in the 2014 ‘Interview’ magazine.
Take a listen to the full interview below. Mackie also responds his feelings about black actors being ‘snubbed’ at the Oscars, and why we’re seeing foreign black actors like Idris Elba, Carmen Ejogo Lupita N,yongo, Chiwetel Ejofor, David Oyelowo gaining the lead roles in blockbuster movie films.
Simply put, Mackie says Hollywood film makers and foreign film makers live by the movie business motto that ‘the world is more in tune with seeing ‘white people’ in films than black people’, so if you’re in the business you must understand that.
He goes on to say when foreign filmmakers such as ‘Europe’ finance movie projects, they hire more ‘british’ actors. ‘People go to the movies to see their resemblance on the big screen’ – says Mackie. Kevin Costner put up ‘9 million dollars’ for the new film ‘Black & White’. Therefore rather than complain about the business of hollywood, black actors should follow in the steps of the Wayan’s brothers and invest their money into films.
Mackie Responds To Backlash
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