More Proof That America is a Racist Country
by Larry O'ConnorAmerica is an inherently racist country.
Oh, sure, we elected a black President (or is this our second black President? That whole Clinton-as-first-black-President thing always confuses me). And yes, our biggest sports, TV, music and film stars tend to be black. And sure our past Secretaries of State, National Security Advisers and the current Chairman of the Republican Party are all black. But this proves nothing, NOTHING!
If you ever wanted more proof that America is, at its heart a racist society, Universal has provided us with the perfect smoking gun: They re-designed a film poster for overseas distribution and in re-designing it, they removed two black actors. I will let the horror of what they did soak in for a moment while you read the report from London’s Daily Mail:
The American advert for Couples Retreat, a comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Kristin Davis, show all eight principal actors – six of whom are white and two black. But the poster in Britain, where the film is on general release, omits actors Faizon Love and Kali Hawk.
That’s right, Kali Hawk is our generation’s Rosa Parks.
Take a look at the American Poster which includes Love and Hawk:
And now, take a look at the poster in question which was used in the UK:
Set aside for a moment that the second poster is cleaner and more effective. The fact that an American company would remove these two actors from this poster SOLELY on the basis of their skin color is proof positive that the country that spawned this movie, this studio and yes, even this industry, is racist to the core!
Let me tell you a little secret we use in the theatre world when negotiating contracts with actors (I suspect it is used in the film world, as well — actors are actors, after all). Whenever you want to get an actor to take less money than they want and you still need to make their agent look good, you give them as many things as you can that won’t cost you anything. The number one thing in this category is: Billing.
Billing costs the producer NOTHING, yet agents have convinced their clients that it is priceless! It’s the perfect storm in negotiating a deal. Take a look at that first poster again. Look at the billing and the location of Hawk and Love in the poster. Does anyone really think they are included because they help sell tickets to this thing? If you are stumped, ask yourself this: If it were Jamie Foxx and Beyonce’ do you think they would be positioned on the poster in the same way?
I see billing like this (for relatively unknown actors like Hawk and Love) and I think one thing: They got that billing instead of more money. But, clearly, the billing arrangement was only limited to the domestic release of this film. (Thus further proving that their inclusion in the US poster was a vanity move, not a marketing move).
But the Politically Correct industry sees this and jumps to one conclusion: They were taken off the poster because they are black. They reach this conclusion because the Politically Correct industry views the world as a collection of different groups of people all defined by their skin color. In short: Politically Correct people are racist. Isn’t this the purest definition of a racist? To immediately categorize Kali Hawk as a black actress who must have been discriminated against because of her skin color instead of what she really is: a promising, young actress whose biggest credit last year was as “Nurse” on an episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (and who happens to be black, by the way).
So, of course, Universal’s response to the racists was to appease them.
A spokesman for makers Universal Pictures confirmed the poster had been changed to ‘simplify’ it for the UK and international market outside America. The studio said it regretted causing offence and has abandoned plans to use the revised poster in other countries.
You know who should really be pissed? Jean Reno. He’s in this movie and he’s a better actor than all of these people combined… why isn’t HE on the poster? I suspect it’s because folks in the UK and America aren’t too fond of the French.
I don’t know about you, but I long for a simpler time when we can root out the REAL racists in our society… you know, the people who are against the President’s Health-Care Agenda. In the meantime, corporations like Universal will have to do the yeoman’s work in purging the racists from their own ranks and empowering the truly offended who have been forever damaged by a poster being released without an image of the fat guy in “Elf“.
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76 Comments
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Big Hollywood, Michael Chavez. Michael Chavez said: More Proof That America is a Racist Country: America is an inherently racist country. Oh, sure, we elected a black … http://bit.ly/1qdBRq [...]
Quick question: Did anybody actually see "Couples Retreat"?
No one more racist the the UK and the Euro's.
look, if the Plack Panthers and the KKK can protest together, haven't we solved this racism thing?
I like Vince Vaughn when i catch his stuff by accident. But I don't seek him out.
No I never saw it. it seemed like recycled celluloid to me
"I suspect it’s because folks in the UK and America aren’t too fond of the French"
Doesn't this accusation undermine your entire argument? Maybe you were being ironic, and I missed it. I'm English and a liberal, and my first thought was of racism when I read about this story, but on reflection, I decided it was most likely because nobody outside the UK will have heard of these two actors. It's pretty ridiculous to accuse the accusers themselves of racism though – the whole point is, they are accusing others of defining people only by their skin colour, not doing it themselves. Your accusation opens you up to the exact same criticism, creating an potentially endless cycle of people being accused of racism soley because they accused others of it. Where will it end!?
Good read! Call me square …but I’ve never heard of the two black actors. Racist is a Marxist boogey man anymore to quell debate. It has become absolutely useless pejorative that now works best in reverse…boring.
calm down there Ozzy. yes he was being ironic.
it is a funny statement because if he meant it it would undermine his argument.
but on the other hand, I you have to have the joke explained to you, It isn't going to strike you as funny.
I can explain it to you but can't understand it for you
yeah sad, because there sometimes really is a wolf, but I just stopped listening to cries of wolves everywhere
"Oh, sure, we elected a black President (or is this our second black President? That whole Clinton-as-first-black-President thing always confuses me). "
It's actually pretty simple: Clinton was the first black president, and Obama is the last black president.
Racist enough for you?
/sarc
*snik*
ok that was just so bad it worked
I mean that with all love
+1
[...] Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » More Proof That America is a Racist Country. November 20th, 2009 | Tags: couples retreat, movies, p/c, Race, racist, universal pictures, us | [...]
LOL – Stop it, Buckwheat. You're killin' me over here.
They removed a black couple from a poster?!?
HORROR OF HORRORS!
Still not sure I understand this whole uproar. Seems to me that, rather than showing the "racist" tendencies of the producers, it displays their impression of the attitudes of the prospective audience. In other words, it says they think the Brits are the racists. They wouldn't drop people from the marketing material if they believed the inclusion of those people would help with the box office. So, in typical victimhood mentality, shouldn't the Daily Mail be asking: Why do the Yanks think we are racists?
Vince Vaughn's headlining yet another crappy movie?!
Dear God, save us!!!!
We're doomed!
well – heck, hollywood is and has been a hot mess – the poster that includes the black couple has them in the proverbial back of the bus. Universal knows there are places in the USA where the altered poster would fly better they just don't have the nerve to use it in the USA.
I'm here to serve
if true it is funny that they think this movie is worth spending that much brain power on
Whenever Hollywood is hoisted on their own petard, I'm cool with that. I hope Universal execs were ordered to sensitivity training and an obligatory 45 minutes with Al Sharpton.
LOL – I've been overserved. You could be SUED!!!
I'm literally laughing out loud here.
That comment was satire, poking fun at the notion that the black actors were removed because Universal is full of racists.
You clearly don't understand race relations in the U.S. The problem is that the "ethnic victims" in this country continue to identify themselves by the skin of their color. They have black only colleges, black only scholarships, a Black Entertainment Television channel, a Congressional Black Caucus, the NAACP and so on and so on. No to mention, at least where I live, the black community continues to perpetuate narrow stereotypes about themselves. Racism is a two-way street, but most minorities don't realize that. What's okay for them is not okay for me. Black only scholarships are "affirmative action", but a white only scholarship would be racist. I think I speak for most whites with a spine when I say, we've had it with the double standards.
Well the President and the Attorney-General are both manifestly incompetent and hold their jobs because of their race so I suppose there might be something to the America is racist argument
I've never even heard of most of the people in this film. I've given up on movies and television though and just gone back to reading.
I highly recommend the John Twelve Hawks books: The Traveler, The Dark River and the Golden City. Excellent reading, you have to start with the first one etc. 
" hoisted on their own petard"
I've always liked that verbiage but dang it's hard to use.
Fun, isn't it? I give credit to an old boss of mine who was from England.
I've heard it as both foist and hoist. Which way is correct?
Does it work both ways?
it is a great phrase and not overused just yet
It's Hoist Buck.
It is and SOMETIMES I can fit one in but like I said it's not easy.
I'm confused…
If they, the leftwing media, are claiming that America is racist, yet the movie industry in Hollywood is primarily uberliberal, are they not in fact admitting that which we already know; that it is not Conservatives that are racist but the liberal Hollywood hacks?
So… they themselves admit…they themselves…are racist….
I need a Jack Daniels
I like to try to keep things on a more respectable plane and so I usually keep from posting exactly the kind of thing that I am going to post right now!
Yeah, I saw it with my wife and there were several funny moments that I can't recall right now. I just like Vaughn.
But (inappropriate comments ahead) the real draw was that it was full of very hot chicks. Kristen Bell? Kristin Davis? The red-head (Ackerman, I think)?, Kali Hawk (very entertaining and very nice looking)as well?
It was a very enjoyable babe-fest from start to finish!
google has examples of both but yeah i ilke hoist with the double entendre meanings
"Racism" is just a club meant to beat into submission and silence everyone that doesn't agree with a stance, regardless of the truth. I propose that we all accept the label and just go with it. It is impossible to be non-racist as defined by the extreme left anyway, so I suggest we all ignore the bleatings of the mean-spirited left and move onto the real issues. For the record – I'm not a racist and neither are you.
The Russians…….
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I thought Hollywood's "compass" was above all this. I am disappointed.
That's just more proof that Hollyweird is racist. They don't represent us backwoods flyover people.
They will more than likely have to "apologize" to Jesse Jackson to the tune of a couple million dollars in "donations" to Rainbow Push.
How long and How many bad reports before
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move policies for real… http://www.bailoutmainstreetnow.com this will take some hard work
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http://www.bailoutmainstreetnow.com – Channel your energies in a positive way. Here are some suggestions, build a web page, phone your congressman, attend meetings in your local area with like minded people to form or support freedom coalitions, email your local representatives, call Washington, have group viewings videos that have verified information pertaining to amendment rights… http://www.bailoutmainstreetnow.com
So I am only a racist because of Hollywood? Whew…
My wife and I were in a small town for a wekend and needed to do something so we went to the movies and 'Couples Retreat" was the only movie being shown that was even close to being acceptable to our tastes. It was horribly bad – So much so that we at least enjoyed laughing at all of the stupid plot ideas long after we left the theatre.
Oh, it was not a "Babe-fest" in my opinion. WEAK!!
Dodge ball rules!
Agreed. For as long as I can remember Euro-trash have lectured Americans on how racist we are and how morally superior they are.
The day after Obama was elected I loved watching the interviews with Europeans who were stunned. But even better was the majority agreeing electing a black of head of state is something Europe would never even think to do.
Your accusation opens you up to the exact same criticism, creating an potentially endless cycle of people being accused of racism soley because they accused others of it. Where will it end!?
It never ends. Accusations of racism are not an end, but a means. It's a tool used by political cowards to try to silence opposition. And as long as it does work, they'll never stop using it.
Correction, removed minor characters from a poster.
Spot on!
In the UK I thought God was busy saving the Queen?
Oh dear God no! 45 Minutes with Al Sharpton is beyond cruel and unusual punishment.
Allow me to help you out. You are a logical, reasonable person. You can't think like a twisted modern liberal. Don't try, you'll only hurt your own brain.
No, I saw the previews and decided I had better things to do with my time, like washing my hair. Each one, individually.
I disagree completely. Bail out no one. Those that make bad decisions, and take unwise risks, deserve their own just rewards.
That's how people learn to not do stupid things. It's human nature. If people aren't responsible for their own actions, it can only lead to total slavery at the hands of a totalitarian government.
Here's a conundrum: Would you rather spend 45 minutes with Al Sharpton if you didn't have to hear him, or 45 minutes with Janeane Garofalo if you didn't have to actually see her?
Can I have a third option of having my finger and toe nails removed with pliers while acid is poured down my throat?
Keith: You have grasped the very essence of my post. Thank you. (And I prefer Wild Turkey, I will pour.)
THANK YOU Gumbo…you're spot on.
"You know who should really be pissed? Jean Reno. He’s in this movie and he’s a better actor than all of these people combined… why isn’t HE on the poster?"
Totally agree. Reno is consistently better than any of the others.
Wild Turkey is very fine…I accept!
"I don’t know about you, but I long for a simpler time when we can root out the REAL racists in our society"
Wait a minute. Exactly who is to blame for the Greeks 'hating on' the Turks and the Turks 'hating on' the Greeks? Or the Armenians 'hating on' the Turks and the Turks 'hating on' the Armenians?
I know. I know. Trick question. Stage Right has the answers.
This doesn't make the US a racist country. It more implies that Hollywood is more than willing to cater to the racist sensibilities of other countries.
But I think they left the couple off because the actor is over-weight and the actress, while not fat, is not rail thin like the other actresses pictured. That's how they "clutter up" the picture.
They're already way back there in the back even for US audiences. They could still be in the back and not be repellent overseas … except for their size … hmmmm.
Considering how much the movie sucks they're doing Faizon Love and Kali Hawk a favor.
I thought it was decent but then I like looking at Kristen Davis. However I never heard of Kali Hawk before until this movie. She's a babe!
bbbbbbbbbbbbwwwwwwwwwwahhahahahahahahahahahahaha
{{{fell off the chair}}}}
yea, whats the deal with the black folk at the back of the poster
more of the "back of the bus" attitude of hollywood?
I'd rather take a month straight of Chinese water torture, myself.
Humorous article. Just a quick thought while reading this: Wouldn't it be racist of the people in the UK or at least Universal thinking black people wouldn't sell in the UK/Europe and not anyone in the US? The US poster has the two black actors. It's the European one that doesn't. Just thinkin' out loud here.
Poor Jean Reno! Not only is he more talented, he is probably better known in Europe than all of these actors.
Silly me, I thought it was just people that disagree with me were racists…
Generally speaking, academic and journalistic critiques of entertainment are totally naive about the business end, as you so rightly point out. Ideology is secondary to money, folks.
Photoshop Disaster has a whole category devoted to dark-skinned people being photoshopped out in overseas adverts. It is very common, and says a lot about the psyche of Europe and Asia:
http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/search/lab...
Kali Hawk should be on the poster because she is hot and you need every inducement to convince guys to watch a movie like that.
And you´re right about Jean Reno.
When you deplane in ANY European country and find yourselve behind any non-caucasian in the "Non-EU Citizens" customs line, it is always prudent to find a line with only whites. The reason? The persons of color ahead of you will ALWAYS be grilled extensively and subjected to substantial inconvenience forcing a much longer wait.
The Euros are so much more racist than we are and we let them get away with preaching to us. The jokers marketing that flick know they're dealing with extreme racists abroad and are simply making a sensible business decision. But wait! Isn't that caving in to the racism they piously accuse their own country of? Sure it is, but there is money involved here, Bub! Don't bother me with morality. I suspect the SAG members of that production won't complain either if it means more jing in their environmentally friendly flax pants pockets.
What a pile of hypocritical BS from the planet's past masters of hypocrisy.
I watched "Coming to America" at London's Odeon on Leicester Square.
The racist comments emmanating from the audience were epic.
Such epithets in this country would force the theater to stop the movie and eject the offenders.
In this case, they evoked peals of laughter from most of the audience.
When Andrew Young served as our Ambassador to the UN, he was pilloried for saying "The British invented racism."
He was hounded for that remark.
It certainly wasn't a circumspect remark for a diplomat, and most then thought he was being a racist, but I've since learned that he was mostly "spot on."
I don't understand this reasoning. If Amerikkka is the racist country, wouldn't they have eliminated the black couple from OUR version?
He may be a good actor (though I disagree with the last statement re. Jason Bateman), but he seems to be in a lotta crap like this, Godzilla, Rollerball, Pink Panther 2…seems like American actors aren't the only ones with the ablilty to see out/take crap projects…
Bateman's better at this pointl; Reno's too much of a ham in bad movies like this to my liking…
I will now second El Gordo's comments on Kali and Jean (raises glass in tribute).
I think only the press cares about this story. At our secret monthly meetings, me and my fellow blacks have moved on and are already prepping the new Oprah.
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