Posted on 12/05/2015 8:25:57 PM PST by Impala64ssa
Some folks in the Twitterverse apparently donât know their musical history.
Angry Twitter users took to the social media platform in the days leading up to NBCâs broadcast of âThe Wiz Live!â 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 âThe Wizâ â how is this not racist?
â Evan (@MJTM) November 23, 2015
This is how I feel. Remaking something with an all-black cast seemsâ¦a tiny bit racist. #TheWiz â Jessica (@90s_Jess) November 19, 2015
One user, after tweeting, âThis is how I feel. Remaking something with an all-black cast seemsâ¦a tiny bit racist. #TheWiz,â 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.
â Melly (@4princessmel) December 4, 2015
Those complaints about race sparked a heated debate during Thursdayâs 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 â Ms. Misha (@Michele_Myjoy) December 4, 2015
So white ppl mad bc âthe wizâ cast is all black,talking about âwhat if we had a all white cast of the wizâumm yâall did⦠the wizard of oz
â Chardae (@Justcallme_dae) December 4, 2015
Fellow white people, I need all of you to realize that we arenât fierce enough to perform The Wiz. We gotta stick to Oklahoma and stuff⦠â 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 blackâ¦.. Iâm justâ¦â¦..
â Kirstyn Hippe (@kirstynhippe) December 3, 2015
Thereâs already a âWhite Wiz.â Itâs called the Wizard of Oz & there were no blacks in it..So they made the Wiz! The Wiz isnât racist,stop it â 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
â Ms. China (@mschinapojazz) December 3, 2015
So ppl are mad that this is an all black cast.. But the original The Wiz was too.. Iâm confused. â Zandra Mackey (@I_am_zee_M) December 4, 2015
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron executive produced NBCâs âThe Wiz Live!â with Kenny Leon serving as stage director and Matthew Diamond as TV director.
When they come out with a remake of "Mammy" I'll know PC is dead.
Racist ******* claiming de-facto segregation and demanding inclusion make film after film of blacks in white roles
And when THEY don't work, re-make a traditional white film and call it black
WHO would star in "A Christmas To Remember" ?
Dave Chapelle for president !!!
You’re quite welcome; thanks for starting the discussion!
Think of these “black re-makes” as “colored drinking fountains”; they may allow non-blacks to enjoy themselves in other parts of the theaters...
They are so stupid, it is mind boggling. I watched the Wiz, it was pretty good. I have a soft spot in my heart for that show since I saw it on Bway years ago, that production was very fun as I remember.
I wasn’t overly impressed by the gal who played Dorothy but Ne-Yo, who I guess is a rapper in real life, was excellent as the Tin Man. His one big number was the high point in the show for me.
One thing that really did annoy me was that they didn’t give full credits for the cast. They named those playing the big parts at the start and then they had two long lists of “the ensemble” at the end. But there was some secondary parts that were well done. Esp. the guy who was the head lackey for the Wicked Witch of the West.
I’m waiting for the black remake of “Gone With the Wind” with Kathy Bates starring as Mammy!
So, according to the logic displayed by the author of this piece, continuing racism is not racism?
Wow.
IIRC George Jefferson was actually a Republican, according to Norman Lear.
That was a funny show. Kingfish would be working some scam around BLM. He'd have Andy selling signs.
Actually there was a study I read years ago. It stated that research shows that white people do not look at ads with blacks negatively. Whereas blacks are more likely to respond positively to ads with blacks in them. For marketers, doing ads with blacks is a win win.
Or the Black Shadow
For me it wasnt i did not watch
The one with Bill Russell?
"He fails, not because he's colored
but because he'stroubled and bewildered.
The team cares about him because only they
know his background.
He's the Black Shadow.
He's a coach in trouble.
He's the Black Shadowwwww!"
omg i forgot that one it was funny as heck also the white shadow was a great show
-PJ
That’s why I remembered that skit, because back then The White Shadow was one of my favorite shows.
I didn’t realize American blacks had any position on the transition from the “Gold Standard” to greenbacks.
Seriously funny movie.
My liberal ex-GF, was not only shocked that this movie was ever made but that it was on TV.
We watched and she laughed.
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