Lupita Nyong’o: Hollywood's Roles For Dark Skin Women

There is an unspoken code between poets, actors and performers. We believe that we feed our audience from our souls. In Miles Davis: The Complete Illustrated History, comedian and legend Bill Cosby recalls seeing Miles Davis perform in London. He and his wife were invited to Miles’ dressing room.  Cosby stated that more than 200 people rushed Miles’ dressing room. Miles simply stated, “ they came to get what is left”.

Miles’ words rang in my head, as I read a Hollywood Reporter Article on  Lupita Nyong’o. The article described her as the Cinderella of the Oscar ball and explores  her career opportunities since the Oscar hype has died down. Notable quotes from the article:

But now that the ball is over and the applause is dying down, what can Nyong'o really expect from Hollywood? ….there's never been a black actress who has become the equivalent of a Julia Roberts or Angelina Jolie.

"I don't think she has an audience -- not yet," says one studio executive. "And there are so few roles for women of color; those roles are just not being written."

Further complicating Nyong'o's prospects is the fact that her dark skin challenges an industry prejudice that traditionally has favored black actresses and performers with lighter complexions. "Would Beyonce be who she is if she didn't look like she does?" . "Being lighter-skinned, more people can look at her image and see themselves in her. In Lupita's case, I think she has two-and-half, three years.

Historically roles for African American/African women have existed in the following archetypes:

- tragic mulatto ( Halle Berry in Monster's Ball)

- the welfare queen ( Gabby Sidibe and Monique in Precious)

- Comic relief ( Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost)

- The slave/Object of White Man's desire ( Lupita in 12 Years A Slave)

- The Manny ( Hattie McDonalds in Gone With The Wind)

The Oscar community has awarded these very actresses with Academy Award nominations and awards for portraying negative archetypes that have plagued African/African American women forever. The roles for African/African American women seem to be limited in Hollywood. The choice and less degrading roles for African American/African women have gone to light skin African American, bi-racial or racial ambitious Latina actresses. 

As the Hollywood Reporter referenced, actresses of a darker hue and prominent African features have a tougher time garnering an audience. Why? From the articles that I read, we now exist in a world of post-racism. Our society has to be liberated for a  bi-racial man to be elected president, right?

I don't buy Hollywood's explanation of why dark skinned actresses are not chosen or successful! Hollywood creates reality for the world. If Hollywood choose to make dark skin actresses the new "it" girls and choose to give them " Angelina Jolie/Julia Roberts" type roles, the rest of the world would follow suit. It only takes one media executive with courage to change the world. 

What was Halle's groundbreaking role after winning the Academy Award? What was Gabby's groundbreaking role since Precious? What was Whoopi's groundbreaking role since Ghost?

My final question is what happens to African/African American actresses who have bowed and played stereotypical roles, when the Hollywood has taken EVERYTHING that they had left?

ASE