On Sunday evening, to the disappointment of many viewers, the movie Green Book won the coveted Oscar for Best Picture. The film claims to be based on the true friendship of African American musical prodigy Don Shirley and his chauffeur Frank Anthony “Tony Lip” Vallelonga Sr., but stands at the intersection of reality and fiction. As I’ve
I am so grateful for this article because I had never considered these perspectives and facts. This article is an excellent example of a voice that I would not have been privileged to hear without this new platform. I am now following Dr. Coleman!
Thank you sister!!!
Let me first start by saying that I love Mahershala Ali from his days as “Cottonmouth”. Even with the adoration, love and need to support energy I feel for this man something in me was very disinterested in this movie. Somehow I knew Mahershala’s character, Shirley would be made to look dependent. Happy my gut didn’t fool me.
Thanks so much for reading and engaging in this conversation. The movie trailer says it all. And of course black people always get coopted to cosign on this mess. ALi’s response to this was really disappointing. Octavia Spencer, who was one of the producers not so much. Her involvement did not surprise me. When are black folk gonna learn that we lose everytime we agree to play by the oppressor’s rule. Their rules, their game, we suffer.