Taboo: The Controversy of Black/White 'Race Mixin

[Plainview1981]

Found this on another site.

http://taboothemovie.com/index.html

"I was checking out the upcoming indie movies in Indie Slate mag and came upon this documentary. The title says it all, basically why interracial unions between blacks and whites are still considered taboo from each sides. Two black women are the filmmakers and minds behind the docu; executive producer Leslie Lewis Sword & writer/director/producer Abiola Abrams.

Currently, the film is in production so it may be a while until the release date. From the site, it looks as if they'll be addressing a lot of interesting topics. Many that have been discussed here.

I can't wait to see this one. Even moreso can't wait to see the reaction it gets.

Here's the official website with filmmaker contact info:"

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here is what it says on the site...

WARNING: TABOO is not your mother's documentary...

* Christian Mann, specialist in interracial porn, reveals that the biggest purchasers of black male-white female porn are white men in the red states. They want to see “blonde sluts” violated by “Mandingos.” Why? We have some of these men, ready to tell us. This porn is still so controversial that many pornographers won’t make it for fear that if they are charged in court it will inflame the jury. White porn actresses fear losing their “market value” if they do scenes with black men.

* Why did America freak out over Janet Jackson’s nipple? Were these the same people losing it when Nicolette Sheridan dropped her towel for Terrell Owens in the controversial NFL promo?

* Why did so many black men feel that Halle Berry “cooned herself” with her brazen interracial sex scene in Monster’s Ball? Are black women still considered “an exercise in kink?” And by whom? Is there a difference between preference and fetish? What do Whoopi Goldberg and Robert DeNiro think?

* Are white women “the black man’s kryptonite” as joked about in Undercover Brother? Is it true, as Denise Martin, Captain of the National Socialist Skinhead Front, put it in our interview, “All of the powerful black men want to marry white women because we’re the best, and who wouldn’t want to marry up?”

* And what’s the deal with “angry black women”? If African American women are no longer desirable to men of their race as Wesley Snipes says—then what? Why are African American women least likely to date interracially?

* We will inter-cut racy discussion groups and interviews with edgy, comedic vignettes. For example, a dance music video for the Ku Klux Klan extolling the beauties of white womanhood, then they pull off their sheets to reveal black rappers, or a dating auction block for white men and black women …

* Why, as scholar Jane Lazarre noted in our interview, when polled, most Americans believe that the stereotype of the hypersexual black man comes from "the historical fact" of black men raping white women when in fact the exact opposite is true? Why do African American men continue to play into these stereotypes?

* Why after fighting for freedoms does it seem that some black people are the ones most vocally opposed to interracial love? Why is that that people of color are allowed to mention race while white people are not?

* Is it wrong for Greeks, Jewish people, African Americans etc. to say that they want their children to marry in group to preserve their culture? Why or why not?

* generalizations noted...

Let's get uncomfortable...

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What do you think?

[RAHMOR]

I believe you should have the right to date whoever you want regardless of skin color. If that person works for you than do what you do. Being black, I dated someone for another race and for the most part it didn't bother me. There were times I felt uncomfortable because I thought people were judging me, but I realized worrying about the opinions of people I don't even know was my own hang-up and not theirs.

I think something being TABOO is one of the dumbest things in the world. To me it means you know it exist, but you would simply rather ignore it than address it so I am glad that documentary is being made. The question is will it pick up enough momentum to catch enough eyes and ears.

Alot of steroetypes and racial hatred still exist. The civil rights era was not long enough ago that many of the people who were against civil rights aren't still alive today or the children that they raised aren't still alive.

There were too many example to touch on with the time I have but just some of my thoughts.

[Wretch]

I've been married to a caucasian woman for 11 years. We've been together for 13...and I've heard it all and seen it all. I do feel that most of the problems that I've had come from my own people. And it's mostly from black women. They just can't stand it.

What's really funny is when you take a look at us in the grand scheme of things. For example... When I know that two black women are cutting us up in a private conversation (happens all the time). More than likely they're saying the usual bullsh!t...

"Oh, now look at this...got himself a white woman..."

"He just can't handle this..."

"That kind of sh!t just get on my nerves. She can't do nothing with that..."

They look at us like we're some trifling little interracial experiment when in fact we were serious, and probably married, before any of these chicks were out of elementary school...some maybe hadn't even started school.

I just shake my head; because 99% of these women aren't strong enough to keep a relationship together for longer than a year - let alone effectively manage issues that have pushed my marriage to the brink of destruction over the course of a decade.

It's also funny considering the sexual comments that they make because I have dated all kinds, sizes, and colors and lol, none of 'em can hadle it lol.

I think the biggest and most telling situation happened when we went out. The format of the club was changing and we just got caught in the middle. This woman twice my wife's size took issue with her. She didn't come out and say what was wrong, and she tried to act like someone was bumping into her, but it was clear she was upset because my wife was getting my attention. LoL, Sandy beat that b!tch down in front of all those people...I had to pull her up out of there and could barely do that.

This whole thing is so stupid though. We are the most ridiculous race of creatures on this planet. Race is a farce. I am more genetically similar to a white man my height than a black man 6 inches shorter. We're all of the same species and don't live long enough to trifle over whether or not I should be your friend because of your genetic heritage. To say that people should not date outside of their "race" is a stupid as saying people with blonde hair should not date people with red hair.

It is amazing how retarded my fellow man is.

[Plainview1981]

I think you got to look at it from a BW's point of

view ABIT. People are pushed that it's really is

white women > anybody else. That's what the media

pushes and it has alot to do with the entire thing

in my mind. Thing about this, the fact is that the

highest IR is WM/AW... What does the media push as

far as IR's go? BM/WW as if it's all there is out

there. It happens on TV shows often. I think so

many people just give in to what the media shows.

These people like to be told what to like. Why do

you think Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears sell?

Why does so much bad mainstream music sell? It's

slighty offtopic, but I believe so much of it is

the media's fault.

Why can't Jackie Chan get a different type of role

in Hollywood? Asian men probably get the worst of

it because Hollywood wants to continue the belief

that nobody wants to be with them.

As for me, I don't just like black women... I like

black women with certain features such as:

Gabrielle Union

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.co...ntertainer9.jpg

Sanaa Lathan:

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.co...l_franklin8.jpg

Bambi BLiss:

http://sclorch.net/uppost/bambi-bliss-blow...es/images/1.jpg

I think you probably know what I'm talking about now. My

first attraction was probably in the 7th grade, but I

ignored it for a while because of what the media puts

off you know. For a while I used to get frustrated

because I appear to be in the minority in what I found

attactive. But now I could careless. Anybody that has

a problem with who or what I like can kiss my @ss.

[Plainview1981]

Btw, taht last picture doesn't show anything nude.

[Admin]

I really like her in that last movie she did with Jamie Foxx, Breakin all the rules or something like that.....she had cut her hair to try and look like Halle Berry and I might be in the minority, but I think she is hotter than Halle.

[Plainview1981]

It's just a look. Halle isn't ugly, but she just

isn't... well you know. She doesn't have the look

that I prefer. There is more than just looks, but

GU and Lathan seem to be more than that to me.

I've read some about Union and I believe she has

more than just looks. Question is well hollywood

ever give her the big role?

[Plainview1981]

Bad Girl Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union (Photo: CBS/The Early Show)

Gabrielle Union in "Bad Boys II." (Photo: COLUMBIA PICTURES)

Martin Lawrence, left, Gabrielle Union, center, and Will Smith in "Bad Boys II." (Photo: COLUMBIA PICTURES)

MOVIE TICKETS

To find movie times and purchase advance tickets, see Hollywood.com.

(CBS) Since co-starring in 2000's hit comedy "Bring It On," Gabrielle Union has gained a reputation as one of Hollywood's hottest rising stars.

In her latest film, "Bad Boys II," Union plays an undercover DEA agent who can't let two very important Miami cops — her brother, played by Martin Lawrence, and boyfriend, played by Will Smith — know her assignment.

“She's filled with intrigue,” says Union to The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler. As agent Syd Burnett, Union finds herself in deep trouble after investigating a ring of ecstasy smugglers. But with the help of her brother and boyfriend, the three bring the drug smugglers to justice.

And then, there is the personal aspect of the story. Syd Burnett wants to make her relationship with Lowrey (Smith) more public, at least she wants to share that with her brother (Lawrence). But Lowrey is “trying to keep it on the d.l. I think a lot of women have that problem,” Union explains, noting that d.l. stands for on the down low.

As for working with Smith and Lawrence, Union says, “I have never laughed so hard in my whole life. I just had the best time for five months.”

Even her husband Chris Howard, a former NFL runningback, did not complain as much about the kissing scenes she had with Smith. Union says, “Will is very sweet with his kisses. You also know that Jada is not having too much of that. But [at my other] other movies, he's been just mortified. I don't tell him until the premiere and he's sitting in the theater absolutely shocked and appalled.”

The actress has come a long way in her career. She was a college coed when she saw the first "Bad Boys" movie. Union says she never thought, as a student, she would be starring in the film's sequel.

So what is it like to be a young black woman in Hollywood these days?

“Tough. In a word, tough,” says Union. “You have to be resilient. You have to develop a very thick skin. And luckily, I have a good group of girlfriends, so we can get together and vent, other actress friends. We vent and complain and kind of pull faith and hope from one another and get out each Monday and hope that it gets better.”

She notes that the roles she goes after often vary. Union says, “Sometimes it's not even a role that's specifically written for a woman. It could be a role written for a white man or Asian man, or Latino. If it's something that I feel I could do well, I go after it. Especially if it's nothing that has to be gender or race specific, I'm all over it.

"It's a challenge," she adds. "We're toward the bottom of the peck order. I'm hoping if this movie makes money. Generally people respond to cash. If ‘Bad Boys’ makes money, they'll see the dollars and cents behind the diversity.”

Some Facts About Gabrielle Union

# Born in Omaha, Neb. on Oct. 29, 1973

# While in college, Union interned at a modeling agency, later landing a contract

# In 1996, Union made a guest appearance on episodes of UPN's "Moesha" and NBC's "Malibu Shores"

# From 1996 to 1999, Union had a recurring role on "7th Heaven"

# In 1997, the actress had a two-episode recurring role on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"

# In 1999, Union made her feature debut in the teen comedy "She's All That"; she co-starred in "10 Things I Hate About You"; and she was featured in ABC's "H-E Double Hockey Sticks"

# In 2000, Union worked on an episode of NBC's "ER"; she appeared in "Love & Basketball"; and the actress made a big impression as a rival cheerleader in "Bring It On"

# In 2001, Union was cast in the first major African-American role on the NBC sitcom "Friends"; she starred in "The Brothers"; and she had a prominent role in the romantic comedy "Two Can Play That Game"

# In 2002, Union co-starred in the college-set thriller "Abandon"; and she played Michelle in the comedy "Welcome to Collinwood"

# In 2003, Union co-starred opposite LL Cool J in the comedy feature "Deliver Us From Eva"; and she was featured in "Cradle 2 to Grave"

© MMIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[cyman3]

i think mix couples is the a BEAUTIFUL thing. the kids too- makes them unique.

but i can definitely see how it'll make u uncomfortable at times.

bein korean, i have some mix friends (half white/korean, half black/korean). from an outsider lookin in, seems like they got best of both worlds. they are accepted by 1 race and all the cultures of that race, as well as the other race. Best of Both worlds, im tellin yah (if u have the right attitude).

Tony Akins (former gatech PG) is half korean/half black. same w/ Hines Ward. wesley snipes married a korean woman. same goes w/ nicholas cage.

absolutely nothing wrong w/ that...

[BOShforRoy]

Not long ago I was watching a tv show where a reporter was asking a few people in Mississpi whether they were pro or anti mixed marraigaes ans sursprisingly most of them said they were against them. I was shocked by their response. There main concern was that the kids will be confused. I think that may be valid in some sitauatuions where the kids don't know where they belong but most of the time if the parents make the effort to educate their children i think this is can be easily resolved. As an indian muslim myself i think i am not opposed to a marraige with someone outside my race but i would prefer marrying someone who has the same backgound/culture as me. However, i hate people who talk shet about people who married interacially.

[Plainview1981]

I would think that if you have mixed children(ESP black/

white) it would be best to focus on teaching them about

more respecting that they are black. Still too much of

"white is right" in america and I think it causes some

minorites to self hate. And like the thing I just posted

about Gabrielle Union were she mentions that you have

to have thick skin when you are a young black woman

starting out in movies.

Like I was reading about some asian women have surgery

so that they will look more like "white women" and I

find that really sad.

[BOShforRoy]

Also, in many countries in Asia, people with light brown skin/almost white are considered to be better looking or something. Is that right cyman?

[cyman3]

i dont think thats asia, but everywhere in general.

a stereotype

the lighter ur skin tone, the more educated/cleaner/better looking/etc