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I was totally "shot down" when I put this same video up a few weeks passed. I thought that it was a wonderful rendition of a classic period but I was criticized by someone that wasn't even Black!

I don't plan on openning myself again ... because if I leave this time NOTHING will bring me back ... but I will say that I feel extremely sorry for people who mistake entertainment for racism!

I think the movies of the 30's and 40's did not show Blacks in a good light.
But I will also say that they afforded Blacks opportunities to WORK which we would not have gotten.
It is easy for someone to sit on the sideline and comment 60 years after an event through 21st Century eyes.
That being said,
I think Spike was wrong to disparage Tyler Perry and his movies.
Although i am not a fan, he has given countless Blacks the opportunity to work.
Also many Black truly enjoy his movies and plays.
I mean School Daze by Lee, was not a classic---Let's see, 'doin the butt'.
Maybe Lee is just jealous that someone else has taken the mantle of premier Black director.
And if that is so, then to me that makes Spike the worse kind of coon and buffon.

Lady, first I must say, I must have been sleeping on the job, I didn’t see your posting, really didn’t pay attention. I too “feel extremely sorry for people who mistake entertainment for racism!” and great entertainment at that! I also think White people have something going on in their heads that I don’t have. I have some of the old musicals movies from the 20,30,40,and 50’s. I love them, they make me smile, and laugh out loud. My children love them too. They celebrate the “old ones”, they are not embarrassed or ashamed.

As far as putting our people to work, those wonderful performers did much, much more. They push back, they open doors for other performers and along with their white counterparts, they laid the ground for Michael, and for you and me.

I say this, before anyone puts them down, on a shelf, as something to hide, spend a little time with “Harlem is heaven, stormy weather” or “high society” just watched Louie and Bing the other day. See how wonderful they are.

Well ... I actually asked that my post be removed! I love the Black Comedy of years-gone-by. My brother and sisters as well as I grew up on them. Steppin Fletcher tapdancing with Shirley Temple was among of my favorite reruns to watch on the Tube ... at the time our only source of entertainment.

Everything y'all said is true.
And I agree.

BUT ....

There are still far too many white people who believe the stereotypes in those "good ol' colored movies for colored folk!" And they treat ALL Black people accordingly.

If these movies return to public view, get prepared.
A whole lot of Black people are going to get more than their feelings hurt.

We used to show these movies at our Singles Ministry and discuss afterwards.

Yes, there are some great performances
And Yes, ALL those Black people were working and getting paid....
BUT when you read their biographies and autobiographies, it's heartbreaking to read how badly they were treated by white people and how much talent was completely wasted by a racist system.

Y'all can dance around this truth all you want to, but that doesn't make it any less true. And it's this:
Put these blatently racist movies and cartoons into public rotation and there WILL be a whole 'nother battle to fight.

p.s.
I believe it was Bill "Bojangles" Robinson who danced with Shirley Temple ... and it wasn't even his finest dance ...

You know I went to school with a young man. All while he was at school, no one had met his parents nor did he speak about them. His parents came to graduation, and you could see his embarrassment. They were just “down home folk” as my mother would say, from some small town in AK, TN or somewhere. They were so proud of him; they told everyone how they worked so hard to get to this day. He tried so hard to hide them from his frat brothers, and white friends, that it came almost funny to watch him more so quickly away from them, when one of the elite shown up, all most funny He simply didn’t want anyone to know his past, the past that got him to success. Put them on a shelf, hide them away, are somebody will be mean to me, know I don’t fix, if they saw them. To be ashamed of the Old ones is just like to me this jerk being ashamed of his parents, it is just wrong.

Yes, Bill Robinson who danced with Shirley Temple. Stepin Fetchit , Lincoln Perry, acted in movies Show Boat and Charlie Chan mostly known for his “uncle tom” comedy. I have study them, and yes they took the beating in some cases who that Chris Rock, Denzel Washington and Michael could own it!

I think that these old moive classics should be viewed in the light of history. those actors played the roles that were available to them at the time. they opened the doors that Spike and Tyler were able to later enter. Mr. Perry and Mr. Lee represent opposite ends of the spectrum of black film makers. They both owe a debt of grattiude to all those who went before as we all do. I would love to see some of those old classic released so they could be used in classroom settings they are like it or not historical documents.

I agree with everything that jtrey posted except: seeing those old classics being released... It has been my experience that when things are done for good people twist it all up and make it bad. For that reason until the collective mindset of the masses of people has improved leave the movies in the past.

I continue to be amazed about how "our folks" just refuse to get it right.

rwilliery writes: To be ashamed of the Old ones ..., it is just wrong.
No one is ashamed of the old ones, nor of these movies. I just don't want vicious, twisted white people to use these blatently racial movies to characterize and judge all Black people ... as you know they will do. The "old ones" been disrespected enough?

jtrey writes: I would love to see some of those old classic released so they could be used in classroom settings they are like it or not historical documents.
Do not think for one minute that releasing these "old classics" into the media mainstream will result in thoughtful, educational classroom study. I do not want to turn on TCM or AMC or Cartoon Network one day and see this presented as an "educational experience." view link or this view link

Where these came from, there's plenty more. Plenty. And not just cartoons.

toobad writes: It has been my experience that when things are done for good, people twist it all up and make it bad
True. And true. And that's exactly what will happen if these productions are released for public consumption.

What I fear is that the conglomerates that own these productions continue to withhold them only because it's a public relations nightmare to release them.

HOWEVER ... since things are so relaxed now regarding racial stereotypes, i.e. Tyler Perry, The Boondocks, Chris Rock, and others ... DO NOT be surprised to see a gradual release of some of this stuff. If the "big white owners" find out they can make money from these productions, you WILL see them again.

And we will not like it.

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In the words of Stanley Crouch: "Simply stated, one hundred years from now, people will forget Nelly, but they will still be playing Thelonius Monk., there is some music which seeks to 'elevate with elegance', and then there is music to shake your ass to. Seeing as men and women will always have reason to shake their asses, it won't really matter if it's Nelly or someone who has yet to be born, rise to pop stardom and then fall into obscurity. The asses will be shook, the tune forgotten. But for those cultural productions which are part and parcel of the will to reach excellence and perfection, for those which sustain the spirit, the memories will be strong...... "Maybe in 80 years we will see this passion for the "Old ones"

Look the I know that the Three Stooges were Jews, their mishaps, slap stick and facial expression was stereotypical of America’s anti-Semitism of the day. Stupid 'Pollock' were the butt of stupidity jokes, came for world ll because of the fact that they tried to defend their country against Hitler's tanks on horseback. I could go on and on. These imagines have no emotional value to us, we don’t fight to turn them off or to put them away. No we laugh our ass off, and enjoy them as Classic.
Just for a point in fact, the link to “All This and Rabbit Stew (1941”) One of the "Censored 11" banned from T.V. syndication by United Artists in 1968 (then the owners of the Looney Tunes film library) for alleged racism. Ted Turner continued the ban these films will not be re-issued and will not be put on Home Video. These cartoons will probably never air on television again, and only non-Warner Bros. licensed public domain video tapes will probably ever have these cartoons on them. Note (RW)This cartoon was never fully remade substituting Elmer Fudd (dumb Pollock) in place of the black hunter
As for the other, I am not sure, but it looks like one of the songs written by Lead Belly. However, what I found interesting is the words of the song. By listening to the song, you can tell, as with most of the offering of the time, this was meant for the Black community

Don't worry, maybe in another 80 years they will be release, but not in our life time. As I have said, one corporation at this time is ready for the protesting and law suits that would occur if one of them got out.

Too bad