‘Selma’ actor Anthony Mackie is under fire for comments he made during his recent interview with The Grio
Anthony Mackie‘s discussion on racial issues during his The Grio interview Tuesday, has caused quite a stir in Hollywood. Social media users blasted Twitter criticizing Mackie by calling him a “house Negro”, and even a “sell-out”. Issues addressed during The Grio interview that focused on his recent movie ‘Black Or White’, included the topic of the Oscars snubbing ‘Selma’; as well as, the police brutality issue regarding recent incidents involving unarmed African Americans. His comments regarding the Academy Awards voting system made his critics appalled.
People are just tired of being bombarded with race right now, so everybody is shying away from certain topics and certain movies…If you look at all the movies that are nominated all the actors that are nominated, they all gave a damn good performance…Me specifically, if that’s something I want, I have to step my game up. I have to do better movies and I have to act better.
Mackie got most ridiculed for his take on police violence against blacks, specifically young black men. In his attempt to explain racial profiling, he used his nephew as an example; however, his comments were not received well at all.
Like my nephew wanted to grow dreadlocks. I’m like fine, I’ll sit you down and I’ll watch ‘The First 48′ with you and everybody you see on that show, that’s doing something wrong, they’re black dudes with dreadlocks. So, do you want to be seen as part of the problem or do you want to be an individual?
Twitter responded rather bluntly to Mackie’s “dudes with dreadlocks” comment by stating, “No, Anthony Mackie doesn’t have a point. Acquiescing to the idea that it’s ok to qualify humanity based on hair isn’t a point.” Another tweet stated,
Anthony Mackie should just be quiet be the good lil house negro that he is since doesn’t have anything intelligent to add.
Though Mackie may have meant well with his personal take on these racially sensitive issues, many seem to disagree with his recent remarks.
-Infinite Wiz(@InfiniteWiz)
