Underappreciated Musician of Color #7: Litefoot

~Special Edition Post~

Tisket the tasket, tasket the tusket
An arrow don't compare with the white man's musket
I seen 'em comin' thick as syrup
Thousands and thousands they bailed here from Europe
...So forget wut ya heard in ya school book
Forget a treaty I still call 'em all crooks
Our reservations, the apology, anthropology
Shows the truth but they still won't acknowledge me
And now they talkin' this "my country 'tis of thee"
And my people, they people went through misery
Raped our women, they killed our children
Replaced all the greenery with concrete buildings
And make me feel like I'm less than a man
And make me carry ID to prove who I am
And now they wanna be a friend again
Damn...you better run from this Indian
~Litefoot, "My Land"

As the first known Native American to perform rap music, Litefoot's social and musical accomplishments have been woefully underappreciated outside the Native American music scene.

Underappreciated Actor of Another Color #5: James Kyson Lee

I know, right?!!?? *giggles like a dumb-ass*

No, let me quit bullshittin'...I didn't know.  There, I said it, okay?  I didn't know.  I didn't know all that was going on under there; I really didn't.  I know I'm supposed to know...if I'm gonna run this feature I'm supposed to know all of these things.  But honestly, y'all...I just knew what you knew.  I knew about Heroes.  I knew about the being 34 and Korean-American.  I knew about the talented, funny, and multiligual thing - I knew about that.  I knew about Akira's Hip-Hop Shop, and the blazin' Blasian love scene - I'd heard naughty rumors and breathless whispers about all of that.

But about this?  This shit right here?  This shit right here?  Somebody should've told me!

Side Effects of Being Invisible in Hollywood

When I was growing up, I was always reminded not take film and television seriously.  "It's just a movie," my parents would say.  "It's just TV," my sisters would say.  Believe it or not...that all really stuck with me, right up until today.  And yet I noticed that even though my family would tell me not take certain things seriously, it didn't stop them from taking some things seriously.

My (first) point?  We are not immune to media, especially when we like to think we are.  Jean Kilbourne's work on exposing sexism and racism in American advertising is an excellent example.  I remember watching one of her presentations and she said something to the effect of, "The first thing people always tell me is that ads don't have an effect on them."  And yet, she adds, the average person is exposed to hundreds of ads a day, each one filled with sexist and racist imagery.  Psychologists and sociologists have already established that people internalize what they're exposed to, and it's a predominantly subconscious process.  So they can protest and argue all they want, but it won't change the truth about what they are.

I Need to Clear the Air on "Ninja Assassin"

I'm not trying to declare war on movie reviewer BionicSlime--let me make that clear now.  I do, however, think that by the way he reviewed Ninja Assassin, he's in desperate need of being bitchslapped.

This in not in defense of the plot (there was none) nor another one of my complaints about its glaring lack of explicit Blasian love (I'm getting to that later, just wait).  No, no, kids; I'm talk about the way he describes the starring actors Rain and Naomie Harris.  Listen to how he talks about these two: he thinks Rain is "a singer or something" from either "China or Japan" even though all the hype surrounding the film consistently stated Rain is a popular R&B/pop singer from Korea.  More importantly, Rain is a highly successful singer, with an impressive international following, so there was no way interviewers and commercial designers were going to leave out that particular piece of info when promoting a movie that's little more than blood...and yet more blood.

Underappreciated Actor of Another Color #4: Taungaroa Emile

I first fell for Mr. Thang here when I saw him on Xena.  Now...I'd seen him before on Hercules, but he was a bit "young" then so he didn't quite register.  But when he showed up Xena...*shrill whistle*...talk about being all growed up!

Taungaroa Emile is a 32-year-old Maori actor born and raised in Flaxmere, New Zealand.  If you've seen his first film, Once Were Warriors (at fifteen, he played Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell's brother) or the very popular Whale Rider, then you know this man.  Don't you love these names?!  They just roll off your tongue!

He's done fairly well since his days as a child actor, and has continued to choose very good movies, but I still think Hollywood could stand to have a tall, brown sizzling hunk with that accent hanging around its sets.

How POC Screw Up Our Actors' Careers...

...and by Extension, Ourselves

I can't be a hypocrite, guys.  *shrugs* I can't sweetly and patiently suggest white folks self-examine individually and communally, and not suggest the same for us.  With that out the way, we can properly begin.

My dearest fellow people of color, all of whom I honestly love and adore: stop fucking with our actors' careers.

I initially intended to leave black men off my blog in the realm of entertainment (not social issues, FYI).  Black men get plenty of love in the entertainment arena and have been very successful in Hollywood--yes, I said it.  Because when you compare black men's accomplishments in music, dance, and film to those of women of color and men of other colors, black men have done well.

When Dehumanized, Raise Hell

So I glimpsed the SWPD blog today and under the "Feel Entitled to Touch Black Women's Hair", a commenter wrote this under the name "Get Ready":

Are you ready for this? I had just graduated from college and got my first "real" job at a mostly white law firm. I was bent over my desk picking up some paper clips off the floor and a white woman who also worked there smacked me on my butt, right in front of everybody. She smiled and the white men she was standing with chuckled and one even said "oh now sweetie how could she resist". The white woman went on to state that my backside was "just so round and perky". I felt so sad and humiliated. I felt like I was on an auction block, like "look'a here we have us a high yellar gal here with a big round arse for ya'll". I also felt ashamed of myself because I said nothing. This happened in 2003. In the 21st century they felt comfortable enough to do this and I felt powerless enough to let them.

Wow.

Underappreciated Musician of Color #6: Michael Castro

My fascination with his brother was more about looks and less about music.  His brother's singing style, while occasionally charming and endearing, was too light and breezy for me.  But with this amigo right here...his voice has got gravel, y'all, and his body has got...I don't even know what.  I mean, check out Mr. MMA Bad-Ass!  I didn't even know he was into all that but...I loves me an ass-whoopin' man (so long as he ain't whoopin' me).

Anyhoo, fellow middle child (which explains a lot, by the way) Michael Castro has been axed from Idol twice now (the second time for doing this...which simply tells us that show really isn't for peeps like Michael).  Meanwhile, I'm listening to his vocals and lyrics (yes, I do realize some of those are covers; I'm not giving him credit for those) and he's obviously an awesome performer (the looks don't hurt)...and I didn't realize he could play guitar and piano like that!  Music really does run in that family! His debut album drops soon, and I hope it does decently; it would be nice to have him stick around in the public eye for a while.  'Cause honestly...how often do we get an MMA fighter turned singer-songwriter who looks like this?

Underappreciated Actor of Another Color #3: Jay Hernandez

He was the only reason I bothered to see Crazy/Beautiful.  He was the second reason I went to see Hostel.  He's the main reason I'm debating whether or not to rent Carlito's Way: Rise to Power.

If you're wondering why the picture's kinda big, it's 'cause Jay Hernandez (born Javier Manuel Hernandez, by the way) is my only actor so far who's got a shirtless pic...while he's in the shower.

Ain't no way I was passin' that up, feel me?

So Jay's stayed pretty busy since he's early stints on TV and in bad films, but this too-fine Latino man is 32 and I think Hollywood should have given him more starring roles in the big flicks than just supporting roles. I mean, after roughing it during his first forays into the industry, his career started to take off when he was discovered while riding an elevator.  Does that even surprise any of you?

What I don't get is, what casting agent took a look at him and said, "You know what?  Naaah.  Just not what we're looking for."

Uh...not what who's looking for?

Gay Marriage in South Africa

While only the South African Civil Union Act applies to same-sex couples, should the couple themselves choose to call their union a marriage partnership, then they can enjoy all the same rights and perks of a heterosexual married couple.  Some of you, of course, already know this; it's been legal for years.

And very quickly: yes, I am proud of my continent for this.  Yes, I am deeply amused that a nation on the supposedly most "backward" continent on earth supports gay marriage while the great USA continues to drag its heels on the issue.  I was just as amused when another nation on the same "backward" continent put a female president in office...also before the great USA.

How Hollywood Derails Racial Progress in America

Hollywood detests people of color, even when its fetishizing us in some way. Let me get that out now.

On a very heated SWPD debated which had to do with a wholly different topic, I listed eight movies and asked a commenter to choose which of them he liked. Another commenter stepped in and decided to play along.

Now they want to know what their choices "mean". But first, here are the films I listed:

Blood Diamond
DragonBall Z
The Last Samurai
Journey into the West
Dances with Wolves
Avatar
Memoirs of a Geisha
The Forbidden Kingdom

By the way, I forgot to add Beyond Borders to the original list.

Underappreciated Actor of Another Color #2: K.T. Tatara

I don't know about you guys...but I cannot stop staring at this picture.

This Virginia-born, D.C.-raised, (proudly) W.V.-educated, and now Los Angeles-based comedian/actor/model is suave, sexy, and witty as hell.  I practically shiver whenever he says his first name... and then talks smack about people who ask dumb questions about it (word!).

He often goes on national tours, mainly does stand-up on college campuses, so getting to see him can be easy, depending upon where you live and how far you're willing to drive.  Also his website currently offers a chance to win free tickets to his shows.

Needless to say, kids...go see him.  Make sure to buy him a drink at the nearest bar.

Underappreciated Actress of Color #22: Sarita Choudhury

Talking about Anoop and Ramon reminds me--why haven't we seen more of Sarita in Hollywood?  After playing a Latina sidekick (no, she's not Hispanic...pay attention now), her work in Hollywood didn't--but should have--skyrocket.

I mean, damn...look at those eyes.

I first glimpsed my lady here when she wonderfully portrayed a spoiled princess who becomes a maligned queen.  She was gorgeous every second of it.

British-born Miss Thang here is obviously quite talented, shifting easily from accent to accent and role to role without batting a beautiful eye.  Hollywould should have put her in way more films, and at the tender age of fortysomething, Hollywood still should.

Underappreciated Musician of Color #5: Anoop Desai

Yes.  I said.  It needed to be said.

And in case you're blinking at your screen in wonder and asking yourself why Anoop (or Noop Dogg, whatever your preference)...allow me to refresh your memory.

Get me now?

First of all, Indian men are fine.  We have the friggin' Kama Sutra because of Indian men (leave the sound on; fan was smart enough to use Sade; and by the way, that lusciously dark jaw-dropping actor I know you're drooling over is Ramon Tikaram).  It really shouldn't have taken this long for fine-ass Indian men to come to American's attention.  They've always been fine.  They never stopped being fine--feel me?

So...let's correct this egregious neglect and support Anoop's upcoming debut album.  Demand that he gets a tour.  See His Delectableness in concert if you can.  Hear that smooth, silky soulful voice and then make some babies to it, okay?  Could you do that for me real quick?

Underappreciated Actor of Another Color #1: Nathaniel Arcand

~Special Inaugural Post~

I originally started my "Underappreciated" feature with the focus on women.  Hollywood ain't run by women, in case you haven't noticed, and between the two genders, I feel we need more discussion.

However...I also feel I should point out that leading men in Hollywood tend to either be hunks of chocolatey goodness or, as we are seeing more frequently, the ruggedly vanilla, as opposed to prior incarnations.  Now, I'm not sayin' women should run out right now and sign up for a world with neither chocolate nor vanilla - *snort* - fuck that.  You might as well trigger Armageddon.

However, variety is the spice of life, and we need some caramel, okay?  We need some cinnamon and some dark golden vanilla, aight?

So I'm kicking off this new running feature with the mind-numblingly sexy Nathaniel Arcand, 'cause, like...damn. *slowly gathers what's left of wits*

Petition to Honor Native American Treaties

In his...'distinctive' fashion, Chris Rock told America that no one had it worse here than Native Americans, and that "everyone else needs to calm the fuck down".

Obviously, he was not exaggerating.

Thanks to the good folks at the Indigenist Intelligence Review, I got to retweet and sign a petition penned by Theresa Two Bulls, President of the Oglala Sioux.

I encourage everyone to sign, tweet/retweet, blog, and overall just stay on top of this.  Think of it as one of those things that just has to be done.  So let's make sure our president gets it done.  After all, it can be done.

Underappreciated Musician of Color #4: Ramiele Malubay

Yes, I know...yet another resplendent songbird.  Anyhoo, I was rooting for this gal during season 7, despite my unhealthy attraction to a certain dreadlocked Latino with stunning eyes who shall remain utterly smoldering.

But I digress.  Multilingual Miss Thang here is an Official Spokespygmy for our very proud tribe (thank you very much).  At four foot eleven she is a very curvy Filipina with a glorious voice, a luminously gorgeous face, an excellent wardrobe and awesome hair (we pygmy folk take these things very seriously, you know; I myself buy jeans for short gals and still have to have them bitches altered).  I love her personality and her presence.  That she was kicked off in the ninth spot was bullshit.  Had she stood toe to toe in the end with David Archuleta himself and then gotten knocked down, I might've understood, but even then....

Underappreciated Actress of Color #21: N'Bushe Wright

When Hollywood finally decides to start making classy, accurate epics about historical African figures when hell freezes over, it would do well to cast N'Bushe Wright in the role of a queen or deity.  She would suit either one.

Tell me this woman isn't fine as hell.

Most of you may recognize her face and name from Blade (1998), much like the preceeding goddess.  Her character was heroic, intelligent, beautiful, and capable of vulnerability (even if the latter did come off a bit erotic-ish).  And like the preceding goddess, Miss Thang here is highly gifted in more than just acting.

Now...very quickly list, oh, six blockbusters she's starred in since Blade.  Don't worry.  I'll wait.

Oh...you're having trouble with that?  Gee, wonder why?

Hollywood seriously fucked up when they let this gem go to waste, guys.  Tell me again why she's been neglected while actresses who are far less talented and attractive are rolling in more money and success than God (the male one, by the way; not the female one I sometimes refer to).

Underappreciated Actress of Color #20: Sanaa Lathan

I adore Sanaa (eyes upward, children); I believe my first memorable exposure to her was Blade.  However, I fell in love with her when she landed that kick-ass role in Alien vs. Predator, and if you are not a fan of that film, screw you then this is not a post for you, and I wish you well in all your travels throughout the blogosphere.

I particularly enjoyed her characterization on Nip/Tuck, of all shows--and as the fiancee of Christian Troy--of all people!  She was shown as smart, and strong, and resourceful, and beautiful, and vulnerable.  Talk about a fleshed out character!

But alas, it was Christian Troy they hooked her up with, so...couldn't have her around for too long....

Anyhoo...Sanaa rocks!  Though I still think Hollywood could do better by her, I remain forever in awe.

Sade

No.  I have no witty-ish title for this one.  She doesn't need one.  She's Sade, goddamn it, and at 51 years young, she's showing all these dithering twits how to properly drop an album (currently holding Amazon rank of #2 in mp3 downloads) and shoot a music video that's actually watchable.

I can't stop watching "Soldier of Love".  I heard a commercial for her new album this morning, seconds later saw the squeal-inducing video, and then spent my whole work day like weirdo, aching for the moment I'd get to run home and download her whole album.

Andrew Joseph Stack was a Terrorist (Update)

 

Terrorism is the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

And now that we've gotten that out the way, let's start again: Andrew Joseph Stack was a terrorist.

Now, it's my understanding there are some folks on the web saying, "No way! He seemed like a 'nice ' guy. He was just doing his patriotric duty--the IRS had it coming!"

Underappreciated Actress of Color #19: Golden Brooks

I LOVE her.  She was my primary reason for watching Girlfriends.  She's the reason me and my girl rented and watched Motives with Vivica Fox (hint, hint).

In fact, Motives is the main reason I'm writing this piece.  Golden Brooks went from being the funny, witty, cheerful Maya on Girlfriends to a calculating con-artist playing the role of sexy psycho to Make.  That.  Mo-nay.  Talk about serious career woman, y'all!

That and I just think she's gorgeous.  I fell in love with her face immediately.  But...alas...like the preceding goddess, Miss Thang here is 39 and yet her film list is severely lacking (though congrats to her and her castmates on their not so few accomplishments with Girlfriends).

Hollywood blows. *sigh*

Underappreciated Actress of Color #18: Nia Long

Here's a word to consider: shapely.

I grew up watching Nia Long.  I loved her on sight.  I love her now, at the tender age of 39, when she is looking as fine as ever.  And yes...Nitara "Nia" Long is 39, which means she's been working in Hollywood for a while.

From Boyz in the Hood to Friday and Love Jones, The Best Man...even freakin' Alfie...I've loved and been a fan of this woman.  She's one of those I'm willing to watch anything for.  She's had a fairly decent career for a woman of color, but that's just it.  Hollywood could do sooooo much better by this woman!

Besides, it ain't like people don't think this woman is fine, or anything.  Ain't like they're not lining up to see some of that.

Underappreciated Female Soldiers of Color

A few years ago, I went to see the comedienne Mo'nique perform live.  A historically black college had brought her to town, and so all their pageant winners were up front in gowns and tiaras.  Mo'nique asked each girl her name, her major, and her career goals.  One young black woman answered she was going into the military.  Mo'nique commended her bravery, but also stated clearly, "Never fight for a country that would never fight for you."

America often blames its populations of color for all its social and economic problems, especially its black population.  The negative parts of our lives are overly exposed and hyped (as though the negative aspects are our only aspects), our abilities and contributions are routinely ignored, our cultural heritages are--essentially--violated and our daily experiences of discrimination and exploitation are triviliazed, derailed, and ultimately dismissed.  When we try to speak out against injustices on our own behalf, we're told we're "creating the problem"...which again conveniently ignores preexisting problems, both in communities of color, and communities that are white.  No...seriously.