Posted on 12/05/2015 8:25:57 PM PST by Impala64ssa
Some folks in the Twitterverse apparently don’t know their musical history.
Angry Twitter users took to the social media platform in the days leading up to NBC’s broadcast of “The Wiz Live!†to decry what they considered racist casting. The Thursday-night live production featured an all-black cast led by Queen Latifah, David Alan Grier, Ne-Yo and newcomer Shanice Williams.
That is in keeping with the history of the stage musical, which has always featured a black cast, as well as the 1978 film starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
However, many Twitter users vented about the casting nonetheless.
I just learned there is a black version of The Wizard of Oz called “The Wiz†– how is this not racist?
– Evan (@MJTM) November 23, 2015
This is how I feel. Remaking something with an all-black cast seems…a tiny bit racist. #TheWiz — Jessica (@90s_Jess) November 19, 2015
One user, after tweeting, “This is how I feel. Remaking something with an all-black cast seems…a tiny bit racist. #TheWiz,†deleted her tweet, then went on to explain the thinking behind that deleted tweet.
I deleted a tweet. I was trying to bring awareness. No race should be proud about excluding other races. Not the original. Not the remake.
– Melly (@4princessmel) December 4, 2015
Those complaints about race sparked a heated debate during Thursday’s broadcast. As the hashtag #TheWiz trended throughout the night, the complainers came under fire themselves.
Please have a seat somewhere far in a corner. The wiz was an all black cast. Do your research. https://t.co/of9iZxdpTH — Ms. Misha (@Michele_Myjoy) December 4, 2015
So white ppl mad bc “the wiz†cast is all black,talking about “what if we had a all white cast of the wizâ€umm y’all did… the wizard of oz
– Chardae (@Justcallme_dae) December 4, 2015
Fellow white people, I need all of you to realize that we aren’t fierce enough to perform The Wiz. We gotta stick to Oklahoma and stuff… — Jordan Milam (@Jordan_Milam) December 4, 2015
People not realizing The Wiz and The Wizard of Oz are two different shows and wondering why the cast is all black….. I’m just……..
– Kirstyn Hippe (@kirstynhippe) December 3, 2015
There’s already a “White Wiz.†It’s called the Wizard of Oz & there were no blacks in it..So they made the Wiz! The Wiz isn’t racist,stop it — Maya Beatty (@_mayamia12) December 4, 2015
Laughing at all the ppl mad at @nbc for the #Wiz stating its racist the cast is black. Umm did they not EVER watch the Wizard of Oz? Duh
– Ms. China (@mschinapojazz) December 3, 2015
So ppl are mad that this is an all black cast.. But the original The Wiz was too.. I’m confused. — Zandra Mackey (@I_am_zee_M) December 4, 2015
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron executive produced NBC’s “The Wiz Live!†with Kenny Leon serving as stage director and Matthew Diamond as TV director.
Oh sorry, not just a bald black guy, a bald black guy who Supergirl has a crush on and is dating Lois Lane’s little sister.
Dunno, never watched either show. Not a TV sort I guess. Just read about it.
The Wiz worked very well, better than the others. It didn’t try to be a clone of WOO with the film shading reversed. “No Bad News” is a teriffic song. Those complainers are just trolls.
this is amusing. But if non-blacks appeared in the Wiz then Blackliesmatter would be protesting and calling that cultural appropiation...tho isn’t the Wiz cultural appropiation since it riped off the Wizard of Oz...
Lancelot and Merlin are black on Once Upon A Time TV Series. So was Maid Marion but she has since been killed off.
Also when they remade SWAT as a movie, the main guy became black.
Do your research. Most of the female characters in Shakespeare’s plays were originally acted by men. Does that mean they should do a live homo Romeo And Juliet?
I honestly don’t care if the original cast was all-black or that some people decided the play was racist. Aren’t we not supposed to notice?
I think the re-makes you mention reflect the fact that blacks are gullible in terms of marketing such movies; whites make up a rapidly-decreasing portion of young people, and many of those are more likely to turn on a computer at night instead of planting themselves in front of a TV for hours on end. Thirty years ago a friend teaching in a nearly 100% black school district wore a pin (shaped like a TV) saying “Turn it off!”; the impact on the literacy problem was identified back then. I see it in the noticeable increase in the number of blacks in commercials for various products that never had targeted them in the past; think tanks must have realized that this is the last, most reliable TV audience (and it translates to theater as well).
While blacks don’t suffer from a true “digital divide” (see flash robs and YouTube postings by blacks), many of them certainly use the technology in very different ways than other groups. A black co-worker with a tablet basically watches TV at her desk; she can’t type a coherent email or text, but she has gadgets far more expensive than anything I own.
Many WWII movies (including recent ones) have few to no blacks; at that time in the segregated military they weren’t permitted in combat roles. This is probably why history as taught in public schools today seems to start with the collapse of the WASP culture (1960s); students learn little about anything before that.
People are just dumb. The Sound of Music which doubled the ratings of The Wiz only had white people......Yieks! Don’t tell these fools though.
interesting observation. I’ve also noticed more blacks on commercials along with mixed race in commercials.
Regarding movies...you may have a good point.
The black Karate Kid took 40 million to make and grossed 259 million world wide
The black Annie took 65 million to make and grossed 133 million world wide.
The black Honeymooners took 25 million to make and grossed 13 million world wide
thanks for the insight.
You have a couple of different angles here.
First you have the “original “wiz”” being all black. In todays world that would be considered culture appropriation and racist. When white people do such things blacks throw a hissy fit. So I have no general problem with people doing the same. They are merely pointing out the hypocrisy of it all.
On another angle you have the “freedom to do as you please argument”. People don’t generally care that you hire an all black cast... of course writing a movie nowadays that has an all white cast is racist.
Its good that people are stepping up and whining about it so that hypocrites can be exposed. Forcing hypocrites to look in the mirror is the most non-violent way of dealing with them... though it generally is not successful it is still something.
Not that many black people in 1930’s Austria.
Just sayin’
CC
In *some* ways, yes. But George Jefferson was racist about 99% of the time.
Archie could be really tender every once in a while.
And you could laugh at and laugh with Archie.
George seemed perpetually mean and angry.
To Weezy, Lionel, the black/white couple.
I didn't think his character was particularly likeable.
By anyone.
—
Tell me you’re joking.
Please.
Would that he could, but it's true...
the infowarrior .
The “Wiz” is supposed to be all black, social media idiots.
Of course, the Jeffersons were part of the Archie Bunker show from season 1, until they got their own show. At the beginning, Archie was never tender, so he and George made perfect foils for one another. I didn’t watch the Jeffersons enough to know if Sherman Helmsley’s character grew as did Carroll O’Connor’s. I think it did, though, at least in part, as I recall.
George Jefferson in “Moving On Up” was supposed to be a black version of Archie Bunker, with some of the same attitudes of their generations, but there was one episode which should drive the leftist fans of it crazy. Here’s why.
Jefferson had hired a young black kid to work for him, and the kid stole some money. After being caught and scolded, for which the kid apologized, the kid said essentially that you’re going to fire me to which Jefferson said, No. I’m going to give you a second chance but you have to work hard, LIKE IT DID, to get to where I am now.
You could have kicked a liberal in the nuts with that line proudly saying that “I achieved what I have through hard work”.
A similar line was said by the Uncle/judge in “The Prince of Belair” when Will Smith got smart and mouthy. The Uncle rerated him and again, essentially said, “How do you think I got to where I am and what I have. I did it through hard work” (very paraphrased.
There were some honest writers in Hollywood who understood that these show characters did not need to be made into “stereo-typed black people” but who should be written as decent, honest, hardworking citizens just like white, yellow, and other different skin color people.
“The Wiz” was a great, entertaining movie with a superb cast of actors/actresses, singers and dancers.
Don’t let the few white bigots who posted stupid comments detract from something that was a positive delight, no matter who appeared in it.
And don’t let the Left smear all conservatives because of a few stupid statements made by bigots.
Talent is talent no matter the color of the skin of the performer. And only in America could these films and plays be done, especially in the past period of segregation, for all to enjoy, despite our past prejudices and misconceptions about people.
I’m bummed that I missed it.
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