i was thinking about how few black celebrities are covered in popular media. how many are there? 3? 5? Denzel, Will, Oprah…who am i missing?

this question relates to something i thought of a long time ago, but was reminded of yesterday. where i currently live, a local college station runs old films, television shows, cartoons–key being made over fifty years ago (i'm guessing).

every time i've happened to catch it, there is some caricature of a black person. i kid you not. every time. whether it be "crows" cartoons or "yessum" valets and maids from movies, the stereotyping images are broadcast dusk till dawn every day.

would it have been better for people to have not hired blacks and exposed the audiences to the black face? or are we better to have at least gotten our faces or voices out there, even though accompanied by repulsion and/or ridicule?

What happened to those "Parting Shots" posts? I liked them.

The way the photogs hunt white celebs down like animals, if I were a black celeb I would consider being ignored a positive thing.

Take Will Smith for example. You hardly ever see pics of him outside of an event(premiere, award show,etc.) but that has not hurt his career, popularity, or bank account at all.

Now, I will say, I do notice how popular magazines like Instyle or People hardly ever feature black celebs on their best dressed lists, etc. They have their favorites, Beyonce and Halle, and that's about it.

Young Black celebs at least should have the option of charting those tabloid waters.

There is a term here in Hollywood called "tear sheet casting". That means that major casting directors and studio types go through magazines, see whose hot and cast based on whose in the mags. Why? Free publicity. Most celebs have publicists who make them famous. When those celebs get cast in movies, that fame and publicity follows them into their films. Which is why Scarlett Johanssen and Natalie Portman have the careers they have and Sanaa Lathan is simply not in that position. That is why Beyonce has a film career. She is one of two, maybe three Black women who are regularly covered in the mags. And Beyonce and Halle are the only ones who are being followed by the paparazzi. A shot of Beyonce is worth something, a shot of (insert young Black celeb here) is pretty much worthless.

Michelle: Really good points…but to throw you out a bit, Paris Hilton gets snapped a lot but her films have NEVER made any money or broken even? Same with Lohan..Johanssen…..Portman? I think you're point is valid if you want endorsements-which is how a lot of them do make money but the link between exposure and bankeability has become a lot more blurred since our obsession with everything celebrity..

But in an ideal world you would be looked on for just your talents and not snaps of you with or without underwear.

Positive if it avoids negative press.

Negative if it avoids positive press. Negative also if it perpetuates the sentiment that black women are not desirable (ie best dressed, or best body).

Well there is old saying, all press is good press.

@rant…I totally hear you about the money. But, we are talking about the opportunity that celebrity affords you. Portman and Johanssen navigate the tabloid waters well, and they are talked about and seen and they get the chance to make movies. What I am talking about is irrelevant to how much money those movies make. If were about the money, then…well….it's not just about the money movies make. I am just talking about the access and opportunity that celebrity affords the Portmans and Johanssens of the world. Another good case in point would be Renee Zellweger. She has a good choice of movie roles and an Oscar to boot!

But, like I said, I hear you.

Michelle:

Of course. Sucks doesn't it? Sigh.

It's a blessing in disguise.

First of all, having your name out there is not a good thing nor is having people all in your business 24/7. Examples: Lindsay Lohan, the celebutards, TomKat, Brangelina & family, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon & her personal life. It's probably hurt Tom Cruise the most since he's always been bankable but since he lost his mind and became a tabloid darling, people like him less and won't watch his substandard movies.

Natalie and Scarlett aren't really paparazzi darlings. Other than the "who are they dating now?" or "omg, Scarlett's cellulite!" news, I don't see much about them while I stand in line at the groceries.

Renee Z's coverage is mostly regarding rumors about her love life, that 20 minute marriage and those eating disorder rumors.

The value of shots really vary. Taking a picture of Halle or Beyonce doesn't get you anything unless they're doing or wearing something special or scandalous. The fact that there are about 100 photogs with that same picture and random fans with camera phones drives down the value drastically. If you got a picture of Christina Millian doing lines in the bathroom, I'm sure they'd be worth way more than yet another picture of Halle or Bey. Halle/Bey goes shopping! is not a cover story.

Do you really want pictures of the masses of B-list black celebs being followed and acting up so someone will take a picture? Um, yeah. Please show me Tracy Morgan violating his probation.

Positive.

and the award for most succinct answer goes to…