Angelina Jolie As Cleopatra:Black Community Angry – When news recently broke that a Cleopatra film was being developed with Angelina Jolie in mind as the leading lady, it was initially met with excitement from Jolie’s fans.
However, in the days that followed the announcement, an uproar was observed from the black community. Some are angered that a black actress was not cast as Cleopatra, a role that instead will be handed over to Angelina Jolie who is planning to adopt a child from Haiti.
Several civil rights groups have made mention in the past of white actors receiving roles that are intended for black actors. Recently, Jake Gyllenhaal came under fire for staring in the “Prince of Persia” movie, rather than finding a Persian actor to play the part. The question that these organizations would like to know, is why a black actress was not chosen for the part of Cleopatra?
“It seems that not a year goes by where this debate isn’t had, and I think it’s a worthy debate,” said Andrew Wallenstein, editor for The Hollywood Reporter. “I think this stems from a long held frustration regarding the access of minority actors to leading roles.”
He is right; this is not the first time that this debate has been held in a public setting. It is no secret that white actors traditionally receive the leading roles in movies, but an outcry is usually not heard until a casting decision like the one we see in “Cleopatra,” is made.
One fact that many have overlooked is that even though Cleopatra was Queen of the Nile, she was not Egyptian, and in fact was of Greek descent. Even so, her skin color was much more of a bronze color than Jolie’s, which has caused some to question the motives behind the casting.
They asked Angelina Jolie for the part due to her fantastic job as an actress and her resemblance. I would rather watch a great actor/actress than one who looks picture perfect toward the character, but has sub-par acting abilities. Minorities always scream racism is involved; the race card is out-of-date. Get over it.
Preposturous!
Didn’t Elizabeth Taylor play this role many years ago????????????
I agree stop bringing out the race card?????
Angelina Jolie does not “resemble” Cleopatra – or, if she does, there’s not way to prove it since none of us has met her. She does, however, have something in common with Elizabeth Taylor (beauty and more men in her bed than Snow White).
ANYWAY … Cleopatra was a Ptolemy, a descendant of Macedonian Greeks. In fact, her family was in the habit of marrying brother to sister for the express purpose of keeping their genes in that Greek line. I agree that she probably had a more Mediterranean complexion than Angelina has, but by no means was she black.
Sheesh, people.
Give props where props are due! I’ll leave it at that.
This now wide-spread and media fueled controversy is getting silly if not embarrassing. There is simply no credible evidence to believe that Cleopatra VII was bronze skinned. What does that even mean? She got a tan under the Egyptian sun? No one really knows what her skin color was but there’s enough historical references to reasonable infer that she was pale skinned.
This ado over nothing is just embarrassing. History knows for a fact that Cleopatra came from a long line of Macedonian Greeks (Ptolemy ‘s line) who were from the north and mostly fair looking. They rarely married other “darker” Greeks let alone Egyptians. Even allowing for the chance of offspring by a concubine that child would never have reached the throne. The Royal Ptolemies were incestuously inbred for that very reason.
What is this irrational need to claim Cleopatra as black or “close to black,” i.e., “bronze”? She was a conqueror. She was a colonizer. She was most certainly not of or from Egypt or Africa. She merely ruled there.
It is unfair to hurl false accusationsof racism based on historical inaccuracies. I’m more concerned with lack of color among every day actors and the myriad career opportunties in the rest of the TV/Film industry. Jolie as Cleopatra is a non issue.
When Alexander the Great conquered Egypt ,he began the line of the Ptolemies, Greek Pharoahs who ruled Egypt. Cleopatra was a daughter of one of the Ptolemaic Pharoahs.Ancient greek were White (this was before the Turks invaded). A movie was made a few years ago with a black actress playing Cleopatra, so a lot of black people now incorrectly assume that the real Cleopatra was Black. If you look at the bust made of cleopatra back during the period you’ll see that she has Greek (Caucasian) features, not Black features.
Bottom Line: Cleopatra was NOT, I repeat, NOT a beauty by any means! She was average at best.
History has always been re-written so that we are lead to believe that Cleopatra was a white woman when in fact she was a person of color. Many people that was of the “ROYAL BLOOD LINE” during acient time were featured being very dark complexion individuals. Television means TELL LIES TO YOUR VISION! Educate yourself people and wake up!!!!
Why am I supposed to support the possibility of Donald Glover as Spider-man and not Angelina Jolie as Cleopatra?
Ok, people who are having there panties in a bunch should check their history because Cleopatra ,Queen of Egypt. was not even Egyptian. Both of her parents inbred or not were both greek,therefore that would also make her Greek,so next time you want to give anyone some racist BS check your f***ing facts.Maybe ,i don”t know like a history book. Her royal blood line was GREEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You people are soo funny and who ever wrote this article is an ignorant, Cleopatra was Greek..he grand father was plotemy first i think..he was a general in Alexander army.
It’s not a race “card” when you ARE that race and CONSTANTLY see your race being underminded in Hollywood! White people BARELY get shunned (if at all) so you don’t know what it feels like to see a purely white person playing a role where NO white people originated! Cleopatra was a woman of color! SO GET A WOMAN OF COLOR TO PLAY THE ROLE! There are SO MANY great actors and actresses of many different colors other than white. Angelina Jolie should NOT play Cleopatra. Her being cast in that is PURELY marketing! PURELY! Jake should not have played a Persian if he is not Persian! That’s like casting a black man to play Frank Sinatra in a movie! That’s how we feel!
I am a black born and raised in africa where we are the majority and are treated like serfs by neocolonialists. having said that i dont care if they cast a man as cleopatra as long as the scrips is good and the movie is spectacular. if you want to bitch about MINORITIES not getting good acting roles then tell them to make movies about the queen of sheba, the nubian warrior queens and a myriad of great AFRICAN heroines who were ACTUALLY BLACK in the first place. Jolies is a husband snatcher with extremely poor taste in men and questionable maternal tendencies but i LIKE her movies!
This is totally stupid!! Why do you people care. This country is so star celebrity struck, that we are losing sight of what is really important. Some of these people are famous for doing nothing, I do mean nothing!! And we emulate them, for what???
It does not matter, Hollywood will and can do what it wants.
There are more important things to blog about and comment on. Put some of that wasted energy to a good cause.
Or did you forget ,people, our soldiers are dying every day!!!
Don’t support these films anymore! Actions speak louder than words! Let white hollywood support themselves and their white actors without the support of the “color” community. See how far that will go. The only reason they get away with the contiuation of the disrespect of history is because the “color” community help them continue to commit highway robbery without guns by always running to their film entertainment, with all of their white actors and actresses. Sheesh! I’m so frustrated with the ‘color” community, particulary black america. We are not willing to sacrifice nothing anymore to right some wrongs. In this day and age, black america can produce our own leading roles for our great actors and actresses. And tell our own true historical stories with faces that look like ours. Hell, if push comes to shove, do what the white people do, take some of their made up stuff and put color to it. They wouldn’t care! That’s the type of language they understand. They’ll be saying “it’s about time the “color” community caught up to the game. If you can’t or didn’t really create it and you want it, just take it and Re-construct it.” That’s how white hollywood operates. Hands down. If the “color” community is going to continue to take the “game” so damn personally, the game you did not even create, then get with it and start changing the damn rules, just like white hollywood, in your favor. Stop standing around crying foul all the damn time. Our ancestors and predecessors of the Civil Rights Era made it possilbe to change the rules in mid flight of an assumed “slam dunk” from the opposing side/competitor or whatever you want to call them. Nollywood (Nigerian films) is already miles and miles ahead of black america in telling our stories using our people. Black America, we could learn from our extended family in Nigeria. Again, stop supporting white hollywood. No matter what. Want entertainment? Start writing, directing and producing your own stories. Begin to work with the local theatre houses in your areas for performance venues. Be patient for our current black writers, directors and producers in the different genres, and then fully support their endeavors and the same will support yours. We REALLY DO NOT NEED white hollywood anymore. Or do you? Get your damn cameras out and pen and paper. Get your research on. Write, direct and produce for ourselves. No matter how small from the beginning. Get busy. We can do it!
Love you all, but stop all the damn crying before you be made to go to your rooms and don’t come out until you either get yourselves together or white hollywood tell you you can come out. LOL. (They really are not your momma and daddy. Stop giving them that role. The “color” community is way to grown for this nonesense whining all of the time. We been free for a very long damn time, now. Grow the hell up! Own your Grown-upness!) Now, I’ve got to go to my booth and the Malvern Brickfest. Sponsored and hosted by the Acme Brick Company. Of which most of you with brick houses, got your bricks from this company – headquartered in my home town. My organization is raffling a beautiful quilt (the history of the quilt – our history- could be a story for someone to research and write about, put into a film, hmm). My organizatin is Domestic Violence of women, children and men. (Who’s willing to tell these stories? We all know something about it.) But, of course, all of the stories do not have to be so serious. Entertain me. And I want to see all black faces. I am totally hooked on Nollywood. Just because the faces look like mine. I’m burned out with white hollywood. You should be to.
Peace and Love.
I’m black and I have no problems with Angelina Jolie playing the part. It gets so old how people are always screaming racism.
Cleopatra was not white, you argument that because she was Greek she is white is European bullshit. You talk as if the people of Greece were white as milk. They were a multi-racial race and were proud of it. Even the royal blood lines had African blood mixed within themselves because of mistresses and concubines that had children that were in the royal family and actually became heads. Back then Greece wasn’t even considered a European country and actually have no ties to them. They’re cultural and art are all based off of Egyptians and even depict Africans in they’re statues and pottery. Her family was also in Egypt for 300 years. Cleopatra looks like a light skinned black person. The reason I’m angry is because when a white person plays an ethnic part all that matters is if they can act but its not true the other way around. A black woman would never get to play for example the queen of England in a movie no matter how good of an actor., But a white one can darken her skin and still play any role she wants. Ridiculous. I’m not screaming racism I’m addressing ignorance.
Im so proud of the black people who speak up about things like this. I dont think its a thing of complaining, its a thing of having a voice. I LOVE Angelina Jolie and I think she is a wonderful actress but I personally think we need a woman of color (not saying she has to be black) , someone other than a white lady. I think all minorities (including black, hispanic, persian, asian, etc) should have something to say about the way Hollywood has discriminated against the minority community. Its very appearent that minorities are discrimintated against, and its not just people claiming what you call the “race card”. For instance, the movie “The Prince of Persia” was really good. Jake Gyllenhaal did a pretty good job. But he was clearly caucasion! Why couldnt they cast a real Persian or someone who resembled a persian. I am an actor and I know plenty of persians (and persian looking people) who are amazing actors and could have gave meaning of deep profundity to the role. Not only was he white but the whole cast was white and they had the nerve to have British RP accents. Mark my words, though this will be set in Egypt, mostly everyone in the movie will be white with a British quality accent. I have watched plenty of movies about Great leaders and History of emmence essentialness and through the whole movie you might see (and thats a big might) one black person. I have seen numerous movies with no hispanics at all. And most movies with Asians has something to do with fighting and martial arts. Go figure. If you think Hollywood has no racial barriers than look up a man by the name of Paul Robenson.
As far as the argument about Cleopatra not being black and completely white greek, I thought you should know that most scholars and historians agree that Cleopatras fathers side did include Nubians. Her grandfather had a relationship with a concubine Nubian (her grandmother) and her father was of mixed race. So that makes Cleopatra atleast 1/4 black not wholey white. I just find it sad that most people on here cant see that minorities are just that when it comes to film, a minority. Not saying that everyone in hollywood is racist and dont like black people. There is just an obvious (maybe subconscious) preference for white actors even when the role screams for a minority actor (with no british accent. lol). There are some roles that spoke loud enough to demand a change in race. For instance, most people would be surprised to know that Othello, though described as a dark-skinned Moor in the shakespearean play, was originally cast for a white man (on the verge of a minstrul). But a black man by the name of Ira Aldrige played it so well that it finally became known as a major “Black” Actor’s role. Its sad that it took someone with probably the best talent in the world to change casting of the race of a role but Im glad it happened. It gives me hope and lets others know that we minorities can still change the way things are and becoming leading actors along with our fellow caucasion actors who are amazing as well!!!
@ Truth4U…you are so correct. I would love to see a movie where Angela Basset plays Susan B. Anthony 🙂
THIS IS AMERICA WHAT DO YOU EXPECT…LOL
HECK = EVEN TEXAS IS REWRITING SLAVERY AS THOUGH IT DID NOT OCCUR AS A MALICIOUS EVENT!!
lets be real – like most blacks are gonna boycott or not see the movie( how long did it take Disney to make a black princess but dumb blakcs still bought those white products up. No need for them to change!!
we don’t use our power- we only 13% but account for 70% of retail..USE OUR POWER!!!-
Majority of us “STAND FOR NOTHING AND FALL FOR EVERYTHING!!!”
that is why I donot support the movies. wait for Redboz give them all $1.
ONLY A WHITE PERSON IN AMERICA COULD SAY RACE CARDS IS DEAD. LIVE AS A BLACK PERSONA ND FIND OUT– OOPS YOU CAN’T ( STOP TALKING BOUT THINGS YOU HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT)
OBVIUOSLY RACE MATTERS A LOT- YOU CAN NOT FILL OUT AN APPLICATION WITHOUT ANSWERING YOUR RACE- WHYNOT USE SSN. WHITE AMERICA CARES WHO GETS WHAT!!! A LOT!!
To say that choosing a bronze colored actress is choosing sub par acting skills is out of line. Separate your personal feelings from Jolie (or white vs. black actresses in general) and consider the accomplishments of other good actresses. Check the list of “bronze colored” best actress and best supporting actress and you’ll find names like Halle Berry, Angela Bassett, and Taraji Henson – all who would be well suited for the role. If you believe that acting skills is the main reason why Jolie was selected, you know nothing about the business aspect of film making. Producers select who they believe will bring in the most money. They have a huge investment on the line and they need to see a return on their investment; money is first and foremost. I believe that they make improper casting decisions not because THEY are racist, but because they believe that AMERICA is fundamentally racist. If they believed that America would flock to their film based on talent alone, with no consideration to race, a bronze colored, great actress would have been selected for the role. To insult black actresses by calling them subpar displays the same racist sentiment that movie producers consider when casting. Thanks for revealing the root of this problem. Let’s end the silly, spitefull debates and enter a real dialogue. It’s the only way to make progress on race and any other issue.
There a throng a of talented black and minority actreses out there let’s go down the list
halle berry
rosario dawson
zoe saldana
sanaa lathan
keri washington
nicole ari parker
paula patton
tia mowry
tamara mowry
and many more
A few years ago Denzel Washington played Julius Caesar on Broadway…Now that’s like Tom Cruise playing Kunta Kinte. Nobody cried about it, because is all about the actor skills and not the race. Crazy ppl
Wake up people! Why does our society glorify things that don’t matter. We should be trying to find ways to protect our childrens future or feed the homeless but we to caught up into these entertainers and athletes worshiping them like there gods. I can care less about who plays cleopatra I probably wont watch it anyway. Read if you want to learn about her. Who cares if she was black or white. What is it benefiting us by arguing about it. Im also tired of my people using the race card. If yall that mad dont depend on hollywood make your own movies. Do something positive, start loving one another, stop being so selfish, instill good values and morals in your children put Jesus first[ an to you atheist I really dont care how you feel b/c you will find out, just die].
deletion of comments = you admit the ancient egyptians were not black .And since all physical evidence points to them not being black, i guess it is in your best interest to delete the comment as you have nothing to argue back with. 🙂
Cleopatra was of Greek origin. Dark Hair Dark eyed and Olive skin…not African American. Angelinas portrayal of Alexander’s Mother in Alexander the Great is what put her in the position of Cleopatra. She is believable…Brad as Achilles.
If African Americans want solid substantial movie roles…we need to create movies about Solomon and Sheba….or Sojourne Truth…Shaka Zulu was an awesome awesome movie. We need to show the African people as a strong, powerful, and culturally rich people. Something besides National Geographic presents BS. We have here in America stories about so many cultures rich in stories that would make wonderful movies.
The Native Americans….The Irish struggling against the same prejudices that African Americans did in the Northern states….so many things that if Hollywood would step out of the rut they are in and get real about real people places and things…..we would all be better off and better entertained!!!
Historically their were 7 queen Cleopatra’s in ancient Ketmit (Egypt). Cleopatra was a title and not their names. The Ptolemy dynasty from which the Cleopatra’s descended from was established by Alexander the Macedonian after he had defeated the army of Egypt. Ptolemy was appointed by Alexanders generals after his death. All of the 7 Cleopatras only spoke the Greek/Macedonian language except the seventh who was also half African and half Greek.
So the question to ask Angelina Jolie is; which one of these queens is she going to portray; the Greek/Macedonian ones or the mullatto?
With the correct knowledge one does not have to display anger. From what I read of the comments from both Black and white contributors, you all missed that day in history 101 on Kemit.
I want to correct what has been said out there by so called scholars. Cleopatra WAS NOT GREEK!!!!! Cleopatra was a product (along with her sister and two brothers) of MIXED RACES- Egyptian AND african decent.