Current Events > Dwayne Johnson faces backlash for being cast as a black character in a movie

(+) Yeah! (+)

Thats Paul Bunyan.
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I have mixed feelings about this. Dwayne Johnson does have black parentage. But in the looks department, he takes entirely after his mother's side of the family. The only thing he gets from his father is his physique.

It might be a little unfair to The Rock, but he probably should step down from this role and take another in its place.

Rob Cesternino posted...

The funny thing is that Dwayne Johnson is just as black as Obama or Colin Kapernick.

I was going to say, his dad was black, and IIRC, his mother's side was Samoan (because he's tied to a bunch of other Samoan wrestlers like Rikishi, Roman Reigns, Tamina, and the Usos).

Skye Reynolds posted...

It might be a little unfair to The Rock, but he probably should step down from this role and take another in its place.

Why? He's not black enough iyo?
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Should get Shaun King instead.
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Aparently being 50% Black and having a lighter skin complexion isn't good enough for you!
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was rachel dolezal unavailable
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The only thing he gets from his father is his physique.

Lmao citation needed

Hilarious.

Howl posted...

Skye Reynolds posted...

It might be a little unfair to The Rock, but he probably should step down from this role and take another in its place.

Why? He's not black enough iyo?

I actually disagree with people criticizing him, but to be fair, there is a gross double standard for race because skin color has much less to do with race than genetics. A single drop of non-white blood makes you black, and mixed people are often lumped in with black people, even if they are just as white as they are black. So I can sort of see why we keep ending up having these sorts of discussions, because old school racist doctrine has been so influential that we sort of are unsure how to class anyone anymore.

Is this like the Idris Elba playing Bond hate?
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if obama were elected president of kenya he would be their first white president
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Rebel_Patriot posted...

Is this like the Idris Elba playing Bond hate?

It's at least more understandable. John Henry is a folk hero to the black community, whereas James Bond is associated with Britain, which is multi-ethnic and has been for many centuries.

AlephZero posted...

was rachel dolezal unavailable

Sorry, Frauds don't count.
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Dash_Harber posted...

Rebel_Patriot posted...

Is this like the Idris Elba playing Bond hate?

It's at least more understandable. John Henry is a folk hero to the black community, whereas James Bond is associated with Britain, which is multi-ethnic and has been for many centuries.

And Dwayne Johnson is black

CruelBuffalo posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Rebel_Patriot posted...

Is this like the Idris Elba playing Bond hate?

It's at least more understandable. John Henry is a folk hero to the black community, whereas James Bond is associated with Britain, which is multi-ethnic and has been for many centuries.

And Dwayne Johnson is black

And I already agreed with that. *points up*

I'm just saying that it's a different situation, and in a Devil's Advocate sort of way, I can understand why people may be more critical of this casting, even if I think they are wrong.

StarLightGlimmR posted...

John Henry wasn't defined by his blackness.

What was important is that he was basically a giant and had a giant blue ox.

I don't know if this is a joke but I did confuse John Henry and Paul Bunyan as a kid for some reason.
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oh, another fake outrage story for dem clicks
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ITT we don't know what colorism is

Coloring books are colorist
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ThanksUglyGod posted...

ITT we don't know what colorism is

ITP: We deny mixed race black men from being black fictional characters

CruelBuffalo posted...

ThanksUglyGod posted...

ITT we don't know what colorism is

ITP: We deny mixed race black men from being black fictional characters

Mixed race people can portray whomever they want. But let's not pretend film studios don't have a history of getting lighter-skinned people (or people of a different race even) to portray characters described with dark skin.

ThanksUglyGod posted...

CruelBuffalo posted...

ThanksUglyGod posted...

ITT we don't know what colorism is

ITP: We deny mixed race black men from being black fictional characters

Mixed race people can portray whomever they want. But let's not pretend film studios don't have a history of getting lighter-skinned people (or people of a different race even) to portray characters described with dark skin.

That reminds me... Nora on The Flash is pretty fucking hot
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ThanksUglyGod posted...

CruelBuffalo posted...

ThanksUglyGod posted...

ITT we don't know what colorism is

ITP: We deny mixed race black men from being black fictional characters

Mixed race people can portray whomever they want. But let's not pretend film studios don't have a history of getting lighter-skinned people (or people of a different race even) to portray characters described with dark skin.

Where has his shade of black falled into the fable?

kuwab0 posted...

Did these people complain when he was in The Nation of Domination

Incredibly underrated post.

My wife is black and Ive never met somebody from her family who didnt love The Rock. Guarantee you most people who are complaining arent black.
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ThanksUglyGod posted...

CruelBuffalo posted...

ThanksUglyGod posted...

ITT we don't know what colorism is

ITP: We deny mixed race black men from being black fictional characters

Mixed race people can portray whomever they want. But let's not pretend film studios don't have a history of getting lighter-skinned people (or people of a different race even) to portray characters described with dark skin.

Trying to get a release in China, huh?

CruelBuffalo posted...

ThanksUglyGod posted...

CruelBuffalo posted...

ThanksUglyGod posted...

ITT we don't know what colorism is

ITP: We deny mixed race black men from being black fictional characters

Mixed race people can portray whomever they want. But let's not pretend film studios don't have a history of getting lighter-skinned people (or people of a different race even) to portray characters described with dark skin.

Where has his shade of black falled into the fable?

I don't even know much about the character. I'm just listening to what the people who grew up with the character have been saying.

I have no vested interested in any of this. I'm sure DJ is gonna kill it in this role and it sucks that he has to deal with this, but on the other hand I think it's important to keep these issues of colorism in mind (especially if you work at a movie studio) to avoid potential controversy like this. I get that they probably wanted a bankable star like The Rock, but studios keep doing stuff like this and that's why there's such a dearth of dark-skinned A-list actors.

Don't totally understand the problem, Dwayne is a pretty good fit for the role and while he isn't pure black, he's half black and has played black characters numerous times.

ThanksUglyGod posted...

and that's why there's such a dearth of dark-skinned A-list actors

Morgan Freeman, Will Smith and Idras Elba are some of the highest paid actors aren't they?
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He's black, seriously SJWs are dumber than doorknobs.
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Howl posted...

Skye Reynolds posted...

It might be a little unfair to The Rock, but he probably should step down from this role and take another in its place.

Why? He's not black enough iyo?

He doesn't look black. At all.

It's probably a good financial decision. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who would guarantee the film's financial success the way he would, so I guess in that regard it is the best decision to go ahead and let him play the role.

ssjevot posted...

ThanksUglyGod posted...

and that's why there's such a dearth of dark-skinned A-list actors

Morgan Freeman, Will Smith and Idras Elba are some of the highest paid actors aren't they?

Okay, that's three

How many pale(r)-skinned A-list actors are there?
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Dwayne Johnson and Halle Berry (not sure if she is still A-list)? I can't think of any others off the top of my head. I can think of more darker skinned ones like Samuel L. Jackson and Eddie Murphy, but it's kind of a silly exercise to do this, someone probably did a study or has some kind of actual data.
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I always thought of Rock as Samoan instead of white or black or even half and half.
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Funbazooka posted...

I always thought of Rock as Samoan instead of white or black or even half and half.

His mother is Samoan. His father is black
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He always looked pure Samoan to me *shrug*
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typical racists voicing racism.....who cares except their fellow racists?
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The robots care because they can't smell yet. It's last sensation they'll be able to conquer.
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Rob Cesternino posted...

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dwayne-johnson-faces-backlash-after-casting-himself-as-john-henry-in-new-netflix-movie/

Not everybody is happy that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is set to play folklore legend John Henry. The actor posted a teaser for "John Henry and the Statesmen" on Instagram on Tuesday. Henry is an African-American folk hero who, as a steel driver, raced against a steam machine and won, giving up his life in the process.

Many Twitter users pointed out that Henry is portrayed in folklore as a dark-skinned black man. Johnson is mixed race; his father is black and his mother is Samoan. Johnson has played white, black and Pacific Islander characters in the past.

The funny thing is that Dwayne Johnson is just as black as Obama or Colin Kapernick.

Way more black than Kaepernick

everyone complaining should get the shit slapped out of them. we been claiming rock for literally forever.
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Funbazooka posted...

He always looked pure Samoan to me *shrug*

lol?
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Yeah I always thought he had that Hawaiian look.

Half black/half white have a different look.
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The movie isn't about how he died a pointless death, they are setting it up as another "superhero teamup franchise". So historical accuracy is going out the window for this.
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this makes me sad
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I mean....he's not black.
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Knowledge_King posted...

I mean....he's not black.

Hurrrrdurrrrr
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Skye Reynolds posted...

Howl posted...

Skye Reynolds posted...

It might be a little unfair to The Rock, but he probably should step down from this role and take another in its place.

Why? He's not black enough iyo?

He doesn't look black. At all.

It's probably a good financial decision. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who would guarantee the film's financial success the way he would, so I guess in that regard it is the best decision to go ahead and let him play the role.

Troll somewhere else kid..

Fuck those racist mofos
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