Wonderful Women Of The World
Posted by Michelle Moquin on April 5th, 2014
Good morning!
If you watched the Oscar’s, you would know that Lupita Nyong’o won an Oscar for her performance in “12 Years A Slave,” the very first movie she has ever acted in. What you might not know was that a few days before her historic win, Nyong’o delivered a moving speech on beauty, as she accepted an award for Best Breakthrough Performance at the seventh annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon hosted by Essence magazine.
Nyong’o's speech was spoken with an honest and open heart, that is sure to give HOPE to young girls, inspiring them to believe that their dreams are possible, just as women in her life growing up, awakened that possibility in herself.
Peace & Love…
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April 5th, 2014 at 11:16 am
I think Lupita is just gorgeous!
Please allow me to correct a statement you made above. Lupita has been working in Hollywood for a few years. 12 years was not her first acting job. It was her first feature film. She had been in a short film and a Kenyan television series prior.
Yesterday Lancôme, the French cosmetic and skincare company announced that the 31-year-old will be its new brand ambassador and star in ads launching this September. This is fantastic news not just for her but for WOC worldwide.
Thanks for blogging about her today Michelle. I’m a big fan.
/SB
April 5th, 2014 at 11:18 am
I guess I need correcting too. … I see I misread your comments slightly. Oops ;-)
/SB
April 5th, 2014 at 2:03 pm
Do you think she’ll ever get the chance to star in a ROMANTIC LEADING ROLE, perhaps beside one of her fellow Oscar winners such as Leto or McConaugahey?
Sanaa Lathan managed this in “Something New” but will Lupita? This is not a slam against Lupita herself but Hollywood’s fickle love affair with what they like to coin the new “it” (read “exotic”) girl moniker. Her sense of fashion doesn’t hurt either.
While I applaud her success, the true Hollywood test is whether she’s just flavor of the week or if she is presented a variety of roles that don’t involve maids, slaves, prostitutes or sidekicks to a white actress.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:04 pm
The term “blackness” in itself is very objective. What I believe she is saying is that the experience of a person who is “racially ambiguous/biracial” is much different than that of a person who is not and has a complexion that has been kissed by the sun. That’s a fact not an opinion. And it was partially expressed in the documentary called “Dark Girls” by Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry.
In my nuclear family alone, we have a wide array of complexions. But the truth is…the way majority of our society views my very fair skinned mother is different than the way they view my very dark skinned father.
It’s just the truth. Highlighting that experiencing is by no means diminishing another’s.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:05 pm
Ive seen a white Woman play a slave .Im not a hater of Lupita not a fan either I havent even seen the movie just heard about it a lot sense the Oscars I think she just is having her 15 min.of fame.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
If your sole purpose for being in Hollywood is to accept whatever roles come your way no matter if it promotes stereotypes or negative images of black people, then getting such token trinkets from them is the highest achievement you can get.
But if your purpose is to CHANGE the image of black people in media and movies to something positive and uplifting, along with a true retelling of the horrors, then getting an Oscar is not the goal and does not represent true achievement.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
You go beautiful black sister, I celebrate you to the highest honor you make me proud. Your class, beauty, and style, blows me away, Halle played a degrading over horny hoe, yet we celebrated her.
But we give Lipita flack. You color struck ass black folks slay me. Guess for some of you, we are still in slavery. God help your lost confuse black children. Ride n Lipita. Alright Alright Alright!!!!
April 5th, 2014 at 2:14 pm
Can someone tell me why, black women in Hollywood have gotten this so called statue of prestige for playing degrading, rolls .. mammies , slaves , whores, and like Monique a fat black woman with mental issues ,Gabby Sidibe a overweight black teen with a baby ..
Jennifer Hudson, a overweight derranged black woman single mother with a a diss from a black man for a white woman named Beyonce… lol .. Ok this is why so many people don”t co sign on Lipita’s win …
Then to add salt to the wound, whites sit in their little decision rooms and decide to pick a Nigerian .. who doesn’t understand anything about the american experience and how much did Lupita learn in her college studies about African Americans ..
Why didn’t that roll go to an accomplished actress like Nia Long, or Angelia Bassett? I’m sure they really didn’t want to be put in such an offending role. Because look what happens when massa gives you a house dress and some hair combs and nizzzz shoes ??
i mean if your white in america you had no black history books to read to know the impact of what your white folk still do to inslave black peoples minds ..using slick tactics to demoralize us and show us what we are worth…. its not fair….to the blacks who have built this country on blooded knees for no pay ..to have to continue to be offended. … they know its true ..
the academy executors and board members are white and their decisions are based on white opinion only…and not on what blacks think… and just like the teen choic award these …oscar winner should be choicen by viewer black and white that would change a lot of the sterio typing
April 5th, 2014 at 2:15 pm
It doesn’t matter because the entertainment industry was founded on racism and the promotion of stereotypical images of black folks as sambos, mammies, slaves and criminals.
And to this day, it still promotes those same stereotypes, but now you got black folks who think it means something. Did it mean something when Hattie McDaniel got her oscar?
Of course not.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:16 pm
For all of you who think the role for which Nyong’o won an Oscar was demeaning, can you imagine the uproar of racism that would reverberate round the world if a white woman had played her role.
Besides, a black man directed and co-produced the movie. Nyong’o gave a sterling performance and got a well deserved honor. Let’s be happy for her.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
I’m happy that she’s happy, but I don’t really look up to celebs as my role models. I love and appreciate ALL my ppl regardless of their status or accomplishments. We need to appreciate everyday black women-but most of these Hollywood folks don’t respect black women in general-which is clear by the roles they GIVE us.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
Honestly, I’m so tired of people focusing on some obscure but completely inaccurate “fact” that she won because she played a slave and that “black people only win Oscars if they play drug dealers, white man’s whores or slaves…ie:Halle, Denzel and I guess now Lupita”.
Are we forgetting about Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Monique, Sidney Poitier, Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Morgan Freeman just to name a few.
I really wish we would stop focusing on the negative and celebrate that Lupita won because she gave an outstanding performance. And so did Halle, Denzel and the rest of the black Oscar winners.
Be positive…it’s a beautiful thing to be positive.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
June#8, Just had to point out that Lupita is not even Nigerian. She is Kenyan. It helps your argument and credibility when you make simple errors like this. And just like Liszetai mentioned…
Africans also had to deal with oppression during the times of colonization just as blacks in America had to deal with slavery. We were ALL oppressed.
Stop adding to the division and realize we have more in common than we do differences. And those talented actresses you mentioned have supported Lupita.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
June#8, A huge tactic in this war against people of African descent is to pit Americans against Africans, and Hutus against Tutsis, and coiled hair against straight hair, and Haitian against Dominican…
This beautiful sister was just as subject to colonization as we are to Jim Crow.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Tee#10…Not just a white woman, but even a mixed race or racially ambiguous woman, claiming to be black, would be just as much a slap in the face, because it would continue to perpetuate the media’s perceived love of light skin, in all races. And we already see enough of it in the black community, when the mixies are the ones that are praised over the others.
I think it’s a wonderful thing and despite my partial African ancestry, I felt like a full-fledged black woman, welling up with pride for her and the rest of black women in this country!
She is indeed beautiful and her demeanor is that of humility, grace and poise. She carries herself with pride and with that, demands great respect.
It’s a good thing for the black community and for this country to see beautiful black women, such as her, being regarded worthy in all aspect of popular culture.
If there are more examples of this happening, I guarantee that more black women will feel more self-pride in the color of their skin and in their image in general.
No more comparing themselves to white women or women of racial ambiguity. They are beautiful in their own right and it’s been long overdue that they be allowed to celebrate that! :)
April 5th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Wow…honestly shocked. Especially about the Jerry McGuire/Cuba Gooding Jr. synopsis. That’s not even close to what I see when I watch that movie. I see a romantic comedy with one of the most quoted lines, “You had me at hello”.
I see a football player who nobody didn’t believe in but still didn’t give up on himself. I see a beautiful black couple who love each other unconditionally and a black wife who is so supportive to her husband.
And if I remember correctly I recall Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger’s characters envying this beautiful black couple’s relationship at one point.
It’s all in how you look at things. If you want to see the negative of something then I promise…you will. But people, the law of attraction is so real. I wish everybody realized it.
What you give energy to will grow. Mother Theresa is quoted saying that she will never go to an anti-war rally even if you invite her. But invite her to a peace rally and she will be there. She understood the law of attraction.
This view of these black Oscar winners takes me back a little because you can use your exact point of view for white films. Just for arguments sake…here are some white winners who played “negative or bad” roles.
Matthew McConaughey – druggie/drug dealer who has AIDS, Charlize Theron – crazy prostitute serial killer, Daniel Day-Lewis – a corrupt oilman who murders a man, Jeff Bridges – alcoholic country music has been, Jared Leto – transgender ‘mammy’ (not my words), Natalie Portman – mentally ill crazy dancer, Jodie Foster – woman gang-raped for dressing provocatively (btw her performance in The Accused was outstanding, watch it if you can..my words).
Oh BTW – the Matthew McConaughey movie “Dallas Buyer’s Club” has gotten lots of criticism for it’s negative characters as well but I digress.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
But my point is these awards are for performances (white and black) that are moving and take the viewers into another world. They forget for a second that these people are acting and they begin to believe they are these characters they are portraying. Movies are more often than not filled with complex flawed characters. That’s what makes movies so good. We people simply love that drama. It makes for an interesting screenplay. And most of these stories are true stories. They are our stories and yes like another article on this site says, our stories DO need to be told. Lupita herself said she can’t forget that her award comes from the pain of Patsey’s story.
And don’t get me wrong, as a black woman I am an active social advocate for the injustices in our community. But we have to know what exactly it is we are fighting to correct.
Let’s celebrate our black sister Lupita. Our educated talented and oh-so gorgeous black sister. It’s her time to shine and in no way is her shine going to diminish our light! GO LUPIA :)!
PS: Sorry for the length lol…I couldn’t stop typing. My apologies.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
Yet another black woman has won best SUPPORTING actress. Yet again another black actor has been rewarded for playing a typical/ stereotypical role.
Why must be slaves, maids, crooks, mammy’s, etc to win or be nominated for an Oscar? I see Lupita’s Oscar win as yet another set BACK, Not a step forward.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:25 pm
I know I am far off topic talking about history, but it think is important to know that from the actual story itself, to immigration and Civil Rights laws, African Americans were crucial in creating a world where Lupita Nyong ‘O could win an Oscar.
One more thing that do not think anyone has mentioned is that it is important to depict a jet black, short haired slave woman being lusted after by her master. All of those long haired and light skinned mulattoes did not pop out of thin air!
April 5th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
A great point about African Americans supporting non-discriminatory immigration laws. In the book, Plural, but Equal, the late Harold Cruse documented that one of the NAACP’s first victory was against an attempt to outlaw black immigration in the 1910s.
This victory made possible the great wave of Afro-Carribbean immigration to America during the Twentieth century. Africans started coming as immigrants after a later liberalization of immigration laws during the 1960s.
Finally, it can never be over emphasized that when Africans could barely go anywhere else, they were educated at American HBCUs. Nigeria’s Nnamdi Aikiwe, Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, Malawi’s Hastings Banda, and early ANC President Alfred Xuma (helped mentor Mandela,) all graduated HBCUs.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:27 pm
I am not going to flip flop I am one of those people who said I was tired of the slaves/maids/butler movies. I do see both sides that this win was important and I see the other side that this is just another movie that shows black people in horrible conditions getting awarded.
I always wonder why the “Great Debaters” didn’t receive any nominations. I wonder is there any way we can attack the environment where only movies that show black people suffering are rewarded without attacking the actress/actors that plays in these roles.
I rather see the arguement about the movie behind Lupita win. Then see comments like Oh she is just hype up, she is not pretty, I don’t get the hype over her, when is this hype going to end, She just being hype becaus she is dark skinned, and other stuff.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Please note that Jamie Foxx did NOT win a thing for playing a standup, non-buckdancing, shoot-back, kill-a-white-slaver ESCAPED slave and FREE man.
Instead, someone who plays a defeated, miserable victim of white supremacy slave wins big awards from white people.
Think about that for a second and maybe you all won’t have such kneejerk reactions of support for this movie or this Oscar “win”.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:29 pm
First of all I love Lupita’s image (an authentic black women that’s attractive and natural)
But…..I have to point this out. Has anyone noticed that the only way a black woman can get a “prestigious white award” is when she plays a negative stereotypical and/or subservient role? This applies to the men as well but I’ll leave them out for now.
From Hattie McDaniel,to Monique, to Octavia Spencer. These women got awards for being mammies and maids (In Monique’s case an insane, overweight single mother). Even Gaborey Sidibe and Viola Davis received a lot of recognition for their part in the stereotypes.
In Halle’s case (even though she’s biracial) she had to play a degrading role in Monster’s ball to get an award. Now fast forwarding to Lupita she get rewarded for playing a slave.
If I’m wrong please direct me to the black women that have received movie awards for playing noble characters that fell outside of being the mammy, slave, side piece and/or dysfunctional single mother.
I’m a skeptic by nature and will continue to believe that white owned Hollyweird will not give black women (black people period) something without indirectly dissing us in the process. It ain’t gonna happen.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Lola#17,18 Cuba Gooding Jr.- Loud mouth, “exuberant” stereotype in Jerry McGuire
Jamie Foxx- Drug addicted, womanizing, well-known musician (historical role)
Jennifer Hudson- “Big black woman” singing stereotype that got played by her man for a light skinned signer (didn’t she end up a single mother too?)
Monique-Another big back woman stereotype, an abusive villain
Morgan Freeman- I didn’t see million dollar baby, but at least this particular role doesn’t seem stereotypical
Sidney Poitier- Magical Negro role
Halle Berry-Jezebel
Denzel Washington- Crooked cop (Till this day I don’t know the Great Debaters did not win anything!)
…When you compare the roles these people won for compared to their body of work, you cannot say this pattern doesn’t exist.
Sometimes being “positive” is dangerous because it’s a denial of a very real phenomenon. This is why I stopped watching movies a looong time ago..when you take away the noise…it’s the same ole damn thing.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:32 pm
Notice the IMAGE of Jennifer Hudson in the movie.Do you think she would’ve have gotten that role in Dreamgirls had she looked the way she does now? Think about it.
The recent movie she played in was The Black Nativity, I believe. And what was her role…..yup a struggling single mom. The hole of our degradation is deep.
But we want to pretend that it isn’t because whites are “validating” us with crumbs off their table.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Listen, I get how this is viewed as an important win, but are we going to choose to forget how the Academy (and by extension, Hollywood) treats dark skin in general?
I mean, this win feels deserved (in contrast to Halle Berry in Monster’s Ball), but still feels like scraps from the massa’s table. Just sayin’.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:34 pm
Before black people look to white institutions such as the Oscars for approval, we need to look at our own communitiy and ask ourselves what we are showing and saying to little black girls about their beauty, worth and desirability.
We would be found wanting. Truth is, we can’t win this war against black women if our own communitiy doesn’t value a black woman who looks like Lupita.
Instead we are more preoccupied with whether she gained acceptance from white people, in thier white media and their white institutions because it somehow “shows” that “we have value”.
If THAT isn’t white supremacy, I don’t know what is.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:38 pm
A lot of people don’t celebrate the win for the same reason they didn’t celebrate halle’s win – both beautiful back women, one dark, one light, but both winning for playing negative roles as always. same with denzel winning for playing a criminal cop.
Not everyone has low self esteem or cares about Lupita’s color. In fact, almost everybody I hear thinks she’s nice looking and only mentions her shading to say how beautiful it is.
Lupita’s looks does not change the fact that she played a raped, maimed, and beaten and defeated slave in order to win an Oscar.
I seriously doubt she would have won an Oscar if she had played anything but a negative, pathetic role for black women. if she had played Harriet Tubman, I doubt she would have won a damn thing.
April 5th, 2014 at 3:58 pm
Lola, I believe you are the new ZL in outlook anyway, good luck with it!
I totally understand all the points made here, & as based in reality as they are, they are in the way of progress bc based on law of attraction *that which you focus your attention on reflects back and gets even bigger, & again – that’s not to minimize any past or present injustices done by one race to another, though if you want to stay mired in the what was (slavery was real and she played the role well, if a movie was going to be made someone must bring realism to the role) so her winning an oscar, an honor, though not one I use to measure the quality of an actor myself – so she won and it’s because of ‘this n that’ by commenters (all under the umbrella of your own thought processes) then you will feel and keep receiving that message from whatever you see or read or watch, it’s your world view and that’s a drag bc you simply cannot escape or reshape for the future what you refuse to reshape now.
Again, I’m not minimizing racism, sexism, and -ism though I’m preferring to whip up change through consciously ignoring boundaries, called negative or positive by others, put in my own personal way…I think she’s doing that with her life as an actor, pleased she’s the new face of Lancome though again commentary about what’s ‘exotic’ is promoting more negative labeling, who cares if she’s attracted to roles with white dude, black dudes or Asian dudes or with other women for that matter, the racism eye is always going to attribute the relationship to exotiscism of her race/blackness and that to me – is part of the issue – creating boundaries for her that she may be trying to reshape by just being who she is…
Or it could just be my off world view, and I’m okay with that, too…I prefer offering no labels, kindness and forgiveness without those offerings all we’ll ever do is keep doing the judging, just my opinion and they’re like….everyone’s got one….
Thank you, Lola, and of course to everyone who comments here, it is a place of learned and diverse opinion.
Luv it and wouldn’t change a thing about it!