The Writers Strike just What a Black writer needed, Not!

I was on a personal high after returning home from the Creative Screenwriting conference in LA. Four production companies requested to read my script. One of the four actually came through and I sent my script to them with the hope of getting my first sale. 

Well, all my excitement went down the drain when the writer's strike kicked off. No one has contacted me since, not the other production companies or the one that has my script. 

I know the strike is going to improve the compensation that writers receive but damn it messed up my high. I didn't realize how much writers are shafted until I heard that the writers of the Pirates of Caribbean franchise received only $6000 out of the 5 million their last movie made from DVD sales - and that was just the first week of its release. After reading that I said to myself, you better forget about your high and be glad that they're fighting for the rights of writers.

Being a Black screenwriter though, it's tough. When you get someone interested in characters that are not all white you want to get the ball running. I guess I'll have more time to write if a deal isn't on the horizon, but I sure would like to get that feeling back when they first said yes, I'll look at your script.

Hollywood's Message to Black People

I have loved movies from the time I could walk and speak. I took another path in my life and never pursued that love.

Until now.

I have written a couple of screenplays and it hit me while I was writing for my black characters. I wish Hollywood would stop demeaning black characters on film. When I go to the movies I know as soon I see a black character in the film, if he is not the lead, which you don't see often, he is going to act like a buffoon or die instantly. I've seen it in horror pictures, action movies and comedies.

Sometimes they will let the character live, but he defers to the white character to do all the heroic stuff like in the Lethal Weapon Series. I think in most movies they put black people in it because of a demographic they're trying to reach, so it's like a throw in, maybe we can get some darkies to support the movie. I feel like most black actors in movies are like that one ensign that beamed down with the Star Trek crew. If he wasn't a regular on the show he was going to die - soon. The message is clear -you are inferior and I want you to die. They really play out their hopes and dreams well on screen.

Another message they like to send out is that a black woman and man can't be together. I see Denzel Washington and Will Smith with white, hispanic or so damn near pale, we can't tell, leading ladies. I don't have anything against light skinned women but I find it odd that you rarely see a chocolate or brown leading lady.

Some people probably think this is no big deal but these images are ingrained into our minds. It's brainwashing, because if you think you're inferior, you will never achieve anything. Well, I want to let Hollywood know I hear them loud and clear and I know I have an uphill battle trying to write strong black characters who love black women, but if Tyler Perry can do it so can I.

Black Fraternities & Sororities Aren't Greek

Being a creative person, I have an appreciation of all the arts. I love theater, dance, music, etc. You name it I like it.

I love computer graphics and designing t-shirts is my true passion. I really wanted to design t-shirts for all the Black Greek Fraternities and Sororities because I thought it would be fun but something hit me when I was trying to come up with the designs. What the hell do black people have to do with Greek culture?

Stay with me here, I know some Greek's are boiling already but the last time I checked we were all descendants of Africa. Wouldn't it makes since to have Fraternities and Sororities based around African culture and symbolism? When I see these step shows and watch these beautiful black people dance, I think to myself, I've never seen a Greek person dance like that but I damn sure have seen some Africans dance the same way.

We've been conditioned in this country to be ashamed of Africa, maybe that's why we decided to copy white people at colleges and adopt their Greek culture organizations. I know some people will try to tell me about the positive history of the Black Greeks and I don't dispute, it's an unbelievable history, but that's not the point.

Recently I climbed out of my own ignorance, traced my ancestry (Sierra Leone) and discovered some beautiful West African Symbols called Adinkra Symbols. These symbols are Ghanaian and have true meanings and folklore. I've used these symbols in my designs and people seem to really like them. I wonder why these weren't adopted by the Black Greeks. Well, I know why, because we have been taught to hate our past and culture or to simply ignore it.

It's weird, I meet some black people and they say to me, I ain't from no Africa. Do they really know how ignorant they sound? Last time I checked everyone was an immigrant in this country except for Native Americans. I ain't from no Africa, feels like what you're saying when you adopt a Greek culture around your frats.

It's time to wake up, self hatred and ignorance will surely continue to destroy Black people in this country if we don't stop. And for those who think I hate black Greek's you're wrong, my partner of fifteen years is one and we've had the discussion as two intelligent adults. I don't know if I'll still do the designs but I hope one day maybe some young person on a campus will start a new fraternity or sorority and pattern it after our true ancestors.

TV Has Never Been Whiter.

I think about when I was a little boy and how much TV I used to watch and it was a lot. My pops used to call it the stupid box, he was right but I still couldn't get enough.

Show's like the Jefferson's, What's Happening and even the stereotypical Good Times, which my parents hated and I couldn't understand why at the time. Today, TV is so white they make me miss some of the black shows, even if they were stereotypical images of black life.

It's funny it's like the TV industry said okay you've got your BET and TV ONE so we don't have to put your shows on. Shoot even the WB or CW, whatever it is doesn't do black shows anymore. Man, I miss the Cosby show and a Different World. Now we goy a Hot Ghetto Mess - that's scary.

I wonder how all the other minorities feel, you don't see them being represented on TV that much either. It's funny when I step outside my house I see a rainbow of different cultures but on TV I just see white. We're moving into another age of segregated TV. I see a lot of Hispanic channels and I've heard a gay channel is being started maybe we're all tired of being ignored.

I guess it would be okay if you could get good original dramas and sitcoms from BET and TV ONE but all they want to show is reruns of Martin and Videos. If we have to go the route of segregated TV then these stations have to stop being cheap and produce better shows. As for white TV it doesn't look like it will be darkening up anytime soon.

Black Screenwriters In Da House

Wow, I just got back from the Creative Screenwriting Expo and must say it was truly an invigorating experience. I went to classes, seminars and best of all pitch sessions. For those who
don't know what a pitch is, it's a short synopsis of your screenplay and it's one way that screenplays are sold to Hollywood. Basically you sit in front of representatives from production companies and you have a ten minute session with them to pitch your idea. Man, was I scared, this being my first one. Even though my first pitch didn't get me a contact, the guy liked my idea and said I would do well. He was right. I was successful on my next four pitches and handed my cards out with pleasure to the companies. Now I have to keep my fingers crossed because one of these companies actually ask me to send my script. The other pleasant surprise was how many other black screenwriters I saw at the conference. I really wasn't expecting to see that many brown faces, it was fun to talk and network with black people who loved movies and writing. Then to put icing on the cake I went to a Steven Barnes class. He's an African American sci-fi writer and I was blown away with his intellect and knowledge of writing and science fiction. Again it was refreshing to see so many black people in his class because they say most black people don't like sci-fi. Well, it shows you can't stereotype anyone because we represented. I will definitely be at the next expo and if there are any screenwriters out there I would recommend you be there too.