The Movie Barbershop
In an article in Salon, Earl Ofari Hutchinson writes, “they (Rev. Al Sharpton, and Rev. Jesse Jackson) took seriously the deliberately silly and inane crack by Cedric the Entertainer that the towering contributions of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. to the civil rights struggle had no value.” The two Reverends also requested that the section be cut from the film.
How ridiculous is that? No one in the African-American community sees the contributions that Parks and King made to the civil rights movement as less than what they were…REVOLUTIONARY. The two “leaders” have been bartering with the greater society on the backs of blacks for far too long. Subsequently they both are out of touch with the community and its differing sections. Blacks are not ALL alike. The Reverends should, and I suspect do, know that diversity within the black community is as varied as the society as a whole. Commonalties can be found wherever you choose to look. I agree that the white community has given these two “leaders” currency and an authorization to speak on behalf of all blacks, as the Rev’s are the people that whites want to deal with on issues regarding blacks. Both Jackson and Sharpton have helped the community, but they are not the end all be all on all things black. It's a movie that depicts a part of who we are as African-Americans, let's enjoy it for what it is.
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Article comments
1 - Rodney Welch
"Deliberately silly," "inane," and "enormously off-base" -- that's Earl Ofari Hutchinson's take in Salon on the comments by Cedric the Entertainer regarding Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King. Jr., in Barbershop.
Have you read Slate? As far as Rosa Parks is concerned, Cedric may have a point.
I haven't seen the movie, so I just throw this out there for comments.
2 - James Thomas
tony, some of what you say is true but to assume that white folks like jessie or al is more of an indication that you are not as aware of their work as your comments suggest. they are not out of touch with blacks. it is because they are so intouch that they do and say what they do. i work for sclc and we have reieved so many calls by black folks who have been insulted by what was said and want action. the barber was a fictional character and in no way represents the views of the actor. yes, the comments were in poor taste but aren't most movies and tv shows in poor taste. to my knowlegde, you are not an actor and unlike cedric, you mean the words you speak. do not make what is fiction your reality: speaking against leaders because they expressed their views. like it or not these are the feelings of many. just as king and rosa can not be discredited neither can jesse and al.
make the contributions and sacrifices they have and one day dear brother people will say the same of you. if anyhing, this issue speaks the brilliance of cedric's acting because he was able to deliver a line that has awakened the passions of many.
God bless
3 - jazzie
the barbershop was the best movie.& micheal eally
(ricky) is the bomb...
4 - jazzie
the barbershop was the best movie.& micheal eally
(ricky) is the bomb...
5 - Krystal
Micheal Eally is the sexiest black guy in the world i watch barber shop everytime it comes on just to see him he sis so sexy