During a recent interview with Esquire UK, actor Idris Elba said that he no
longer wants to be identified as a “black actor” and that he wants his talent
to be recognized regardless of his race.
Elba is best
known for playing the titular character in the BBC detective series Luther. Elba found
fame in the US as drug kingpin Russell “Stringer” Bell in the crime drama The
Wire. He also starred in The Suicide Squad movies and F
The
following are Elba’s exact words:
“As
humans, we are obsessed with race. And that obsession can really hinder
people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth”
“I
stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box.
We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it’s just skin.
Rant over.”
Elba was referring to the perils when group identity supersedes individual identity. He was probably calling out the left for their obsession with race.
So let's look at the bigger picture.
Most
individuals aspire to be the best in their profession.
But
when group identity becomes the focus, the individual starts being called the best <fill
in the minority group name> professional. The meaning is that the eminence
of the individual is only among a small subset of peers and not all. It also
implies that the professional is unworthy of competing with the vest best.
But matters have changed in recent times.
In
Hollywood, adding race as an adjective often helps the mediocre.
If
they fail to get work because of their lack of talent or box office appeal or if they don't receive any nominations
for their film, they rush into the overcrowded tent of victimhood and claim to
be victims of bigotry.
This
ploy does work.
The powers that be do not want to be called bigots so the accusers continue to receive work. Critics retrain or euphemize their
disapproval. If they are lucky they could even receive awards for their acting
or at least their activism.
Activism
in itself is a lucrative career option, there is copious money to be made in writing books,
doing documentaries, podcasts, or running lobbies for any minority group.
But
for the talented who know they can compete with the best, the tag of belonging
to a minority group is a hindrance.
A talented actor would consider it an insult to be called a great <minority
group> actor, he’d rather be called a great actor.
The other disadvantage of being permanently tagged with the minority group label is that it results in typecasting. They are automatically excluded from mainstream parts.
This
may not apply to established black stars such as Denzel Washington or Morgan
Freeman or Samuel L. Jackson or Eddie Murphy.
These
actors are considered for all kinds of parts and once they sign on the part is altered to cater to their background, as it happens for any actor
irrespective of race.
For
instance, in The Wind and The Lion, where Connery played a Moroccan leader of a
warring tribe, Connery’s character explains that he was
taught English by a Scotsman. This was to account for Connery’s trademark Scottish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUtyWSwaN4
But
for actors such as Elba who may not be in the top tier as yet, being tagged by race
is a
punishing encumbrance.
Elba
was making a nuanced point, he wasn’t rejecting his race or racism in general, he
was just saying that he rejects the tag in his professional life.
But
nuance has no place in the age of outrage where being offended is disguised
with virtuousness.
Elba
was attacked.
Democrat
strategist Ameshia Cross claimed “Something about Idris’ commentary here
doesn’t sit well. I get where he’s going, but he took a dangerous path.”
https://twitter.com/AmeshiaCross/status/1624042149925847042
Screenwriter
Kellee Terrell attempted to call Elba selfish
https://twitter.com/kelleent/status/1624116147254861826
NYT columnist
attempted to claim that Elba was repudiating his race to advance his career
https://twitter.com/msshanitarenee/status/1624458672716800002
Designer
Ced Funches also attacked Elba
https://twitter.com/cedfunches/status/1624036909008969734
There were many more who attacked Elba viciously.
Most
of these may not have read the entire interview where Elba also said the
following
“I
accept that it is part of my journey to be aware that (his race), in many
cases, I might be the first to look like me to do a certain thing,”
He also
attempted to focus on inspiring working-class people irrespective of their
race.
“And
that’s good, to leave as part of my legacy. So that other people, black kids,
but also white kids growing up in the circumstances I grew up in, are able to
see there was a kid who came from Canning Town who ended up doing what I do. It
can be done.”
Elba
also explained the capriciousness of identity politics.
Elba
revealed his British citizenry is recognized more than his race when in the
U.S.
But
the bogus outrage was so much that Elba took to Twitter to explain his position
https://twitter.com/idriselba/status/1624445115224686592
An
important section of what Elba said is the following:
“I
didn’t become an actor because I didn’t see Black people doing it and I wanted
to change that. I did it because I thought that’s a great profession and I
could do a good job at it.”
“As
you get up the ladder, you get asked what it’s like to be the first Black to do
this or that,”
“Well, it’s the same as it would be if I were
white. It’s the first time for me. I don’t want to be the first Black. I’m the
first Idris.”
Most in
Elba’s place would have claimed that they are doing what they are doing to
inspire others from his race. They would have talked about a fan overcome by emotion telling them ‘Thank you for your work. Finally, I see someone that looks like me on screen." They would have claimed that the moment made their career worth fighting for.
But Elba stated the truth.
People enter show business because they want to be rich, famous, and successful and if they happen to inspire people while doing what they do, it is an added bonus.
Showbiz, despite the claims of many in Hollywood, is not where societal upliftment occurs.
This
is an admirable act of frankness on the part of Elba in an era of pretense for which he should be commended.
Elba must also be commended for his ideas on racial matters.
To overcome racism one must not only confront bigotry but also not trivialize it by claiming victimhood where it doesn't exist. It also means looking beyond race when it doesn't matter.
Post Script:
Back
in 2015, Sir Roger Moore was accused of racism, for saying that Idris Elba
wouldn’t be suitable for the part of James Bond.
Sir
Roger dedicated a significant amount of his life doing
charity in poor nations including those in Africa. He often traveled to these
countries and helped raised money for their well-being.
But
none of that mattered, armchair commentators who never raised a finger to help the less fortunate branded Moore a racist. It would have been much worse in today's time.
Moore
denied
the claim but nobody apologized.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7fkfCo-34o
Also appears on American Thinker
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