It's always a way to respectfully speak on a topic or for a group of people you may not belong too -- but choose to continue to protray and act like.
He could have said - as a insert ethnicity-brit - I don't have the same experiences and history with race and racism as the average African American. Then list some ways how and why.
Therefore, I don't feel comfortable speaking on race or being defined as my race. I am BLANK - and I can only say that the issues AA's and other Black people America with generational history are very real and deserved to be aired, heard and respected.
I wouldn't go to any country with a black ethnic group that is not mine that has been dealing with a set of issues or a specific history tied to RACE and be like ... fukk all that ... I'm not defined by race .. I'm Me.
Then list all the movies that are majority white in America that I know I could never get or got token roles and be like... See they are not about Race!
But, knowing and everyone else know you came to that country to play the roles for the ones tied to race/ethnicity of those people. Because you couldn't get any large ones in your country cause they aint got none.
He looks dumb and disrespectful.
Would your opinion change if the full interview reveals that his comment doesn't say or imply what you believe it does?
I imagine that because of his visibility, that he is being put in a seat that he is not equipped for. In this case, it might mean addressing every race topic in UK society and entertainment industry.
Malcolm X alluded to American entertainers given that role by the media in the 1960s in the clip I posted earlier.
I think it's important for people in the public eye to use that platform responsibly. The entertainers that Malcolm criticized were right to use their star power to bring light to important issues, but when the media predictably starts treating them as "spokespersons" for their group it can become a problem.
(dikk Gregory was unfairly lumped in with the rest, but he was the exception , he put his career on the backburner and was out there, organizing, and on the FRONT LINES)
But even then, the late Mr. Gregory didn't accept or invite being a "spokesperson" for AAs .He was out there fighting for change, and putting his money up to promote that change.
I think Michael Jordan fought for change in private ways, away from cameras.I imagine that he used his vast resources in ways that we will find out about after he passes. He mostly shied away from publicly addressing certain issues and was criticized for it...but that was his way.
I think Daniel K. has used his "celebrity" and resources to affect change in the UK Black community in ways that might go beyond what public statements would have accomplished.
At any rate, let's let the man speak for himself.
When the print or video interview gets posted, I'm gonna try to put it in a separate thread so people can see it and weigh in.