Anthony Mackie disrespects people with dreadlocks

After reading and watching the interview with Anthony Mackie online for The Grio:

http://thegrio.com/2015/01/20/anthony-mackie-selma-oscar-snub-black-white/

My thoughts are as follows:

First of all, basically what you are saying anthony is that black actors and actresses are NOT “damn good performers “ or “the best the industry has to offer”.?  I guess to you a black person would’ve had to create the first movie, produce, direct, act in it, do hair and make up, edit, promote and sale way over budget in order to be considered for an Oscar in your book. Humph… inserts blank stare. I’m just saying, there are way too many talented, best in the industry and damn good black performers that have been snubbed time and time again, when it comes to the Oscars.

Anthony Mackie blank starring at himself

Side note: Honestly I didn’t think that 12 Years a Slave deserved an Oscar. It was not the best acting that I’ve seen. Just a different version/view point of the same old slave story that been told over and over and OVER again. Lupita, I love you lady with your gorgeous dark skin tone and eloquence that surpasses most.  But why did you really get that Oscar… Let me remind you: it was a hand me down just to say “Oh we gave Y’all an Oscar, so shut up with your nagging and take this award for being a concubine of the slave master.” Oh wait isn’t that what Halle Berry won her Oscar for too… being the white man’s concubine.  Hmmmm seems to be a trend her for black female actresses. Let me go even further Hattie McDaniel won an Oscar in 1940 for playing a “Mammy” role in Gone with the Wind. Fast-forward to 2009 and when Mo’Nique wins it for playing a drug addicted, welfare recipient, bad mother, and angry black woman in the movie Precious. Let’s not forget Octavia Spencer in The Help, serving white people and raising their children in their homes.  So it looks to me as most of the wins are for black people playing negative roles. As far as the male actors we are not going to speak on that, too much too little time.

Secondly you said that, “People are just tired of being bombarded with race right now,” Mackie said. “So everybody is shying away from certain topics and certain movies.”  Soooo the movie “Black or White is not a race movie… Hmmm title sure does state otherwise.

Now on to the most blatant lines of self hate.  ““Like my nephew wanted to grow dreadlocks. I’m like fine, I’ll sit you down and I’ll watch The First 48 with you and everybody you see on that show, that’s doing something wrong, they’re black dudes with dreadlocks. So, do you want to be seen as part of the problem or do you want to be an individual?”

“Let’s just say you have locks and you walking down the street. The police pull you over and say you fit the description of somebody.  You start yelling and arguing with the cops. Next thing you know you pressed up against the wall going to jail for something you’re not even involved in just because you look like somebody and you don’t know how to handle yourself,” Mackie said.

Anthony Mackie giving side eye to own comments.

Like really dude, I’m curious to see your response would be the same if you had a niece and she wanted to date a white man. Would you sit her down and have her to watch episodes of COPS, because just about every person on there is a deranged white man on drugs. Crazy right, yeah I know.

The third thing for you to stereotype dreadlocks says to me that you have zero interactions with people that have them.  *In my snooty white voice* I take it all of your friends are white.  *Does snobby fake laugh* TUH, Dude give me a break. I have a well assorted group of clients and most of which work in corporate America, working as high as C level executives and some are well to do self sufficient entrepreneurs. These men and women are law-abiding citizens who not only stand out as an INDIVIDUAL because they don’t conform to the standards of what America sees fit for a black man or woman.  You my friend, blend in and make the white people feel safe when you have a low cut hairstyle for men or a long flowing weave or relaxed hair for women.

The loc stars and dread heads that I know definitely don’t contribute to the problem when they are consistently overcoming barriers, roadblocks and pure hate from those that don’t share the beautiful hue of black. Matter of fact when they excel they stand out and never do they blend in, showing people that you cannot clump “everyone” together. Your comments were just as ignorant as someone saying Every black person receives welfare benefits. Numbers show that most recipients are white.

I get it you are trying to play it safe so you can continue to work, but you fail to realize that you, mr mackie are part of the problem, much more than you know. For you to belittle your own race proves you have no backbone, no love of self and furthermore no respect for our race. I officially revoke your black card and shred it to pieces. Your love of money and self-hate is proving you to be a disgrace to even be called black. Your own mother should spit in your face while your father bops you upside the head. How dare you to even form your lips to say that every black man with dreadlocks is a part of the problem? Or maybe this was a stunt tactic to drive people to go see the movie you play a supporting role in. You boy are no Denzel Washington, Not even a Will Smith, or even a smidgen of Samuel L. Jackson. Get over yourself, most people only know you from your 1 blockbuster hit The Hurt Locker or the movie Notorious.

It’s sad to see when someone makes it to top the feel the need to deprecate the ones that supported him or her from the beginning. I pray that you become conscious and wake up then I can reissue your black card. LOL Understand that you have a platform that can be leveraged in a positive way, yet instead you used it in a negative light. I hope your nephew does grow a set of “dreadlocks” and he will come to me to get them started.  I will sit him down and show him the true king that he is. I will enlighten him on how our ancestors were kings and queens and wore their hair in its natural state. The opportunity to open his mind to see how beautiful, intelligent, creative and unique our people are would be priceless. Teaching a young king to be unlike you would make a world of difference. Meanwhile I'll leave you with this video: 

Post your thoughts or comments below.

Loc Myths Dispelled

5 Misconceptions about Locs

1.     All Locs Stink and are Dirty

Why are people assuming that because you wear your hair loc’d that it must stink and be dirty? Hair will usually smell bad when it’s bogged down with build up; they never dry their hair or sweat lot and never cleanse it. I have come across plenty of naturally straight hair and weaves that sucker punched me in the nostrils by rudely impeding my sense of smell. Like really??? WTH? I know many locstars that cleanse their crowns waaaaay more often than those who don’t have locs. I’ve even have had clients to tell me they were told that their locs always smell nice. 

2.     All Loc wearers are Pro Black (Who and what the heck is a Dread THOT

TUH!!! *Gives side eye* Sooooo just because some people wear locs does not make them conscious black people. I am seeing a trend that locs and dreads are just to immolate celebrities in the media. So unfortunately as I would like to believe that my fellow brother and sisters are wearing locs for a deeper meaning, most are doing it for style purposes. There is an influx DREAD THOTS, DREAD RATCHETS and BAD/BOSS BISHES (I despise these terms, but since they refer to themselves as this why not). What is a “DREAD THOT AND DREAD RATCHET”, you ask? – A girl who wears dreads not locs (because she lets her friend twist them with beeswax or black gel in exchange of a bag of marijuana or a 6 pack or Lime-o-ritas) she embodies all typical traits of a Thot, Ratchet or Bad/Boss Bish. She has a million booty bathroom pics, displays her best assets for all to see, has a ton of followers on social media, will be at the club every week any time of the week, always seeking a “boss”, “hustler”, “baller”, thinks that a boy or female that drives a Charger, Challenger, or Camaro is a catch, and wears two tons of make up. Let’s not forget about the boys that wear dreads (inserts reason for dread not locs from above) He wears them because Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Future, Young Thug and a few others have them. He seeks to be a rapper and thinks that dreads will make him famous. His idol is the dealer in the neighborhood. Also goes to club every week dripping in knock off clothing items and calls himself a boss.

(inserts my side eye here.) Yeaaaaahhhh SMH. 

3.     Locs are the same as Dreads

Ummmm yeah NOPE. Originally dreads are what Rastafarians grow for religious purposes. Dreads is the word used to describe the hair as being dreadful looking.

Dreadlocks - Day 1 #SkyhhSalon

Then you have dreadlocks, which are usually done, on straight to wavy hair textures – Caucasians, Asians, and Hispanics. Dreadlocks are maintained less often as well as in a totally different way and are more time consuming to start and maintain. Techniques and products used to maintain dreadlocks differ slightly from those of locs.

Locs - Full Color #SkyhhSalon

Locs are cared for usually every 4-8 weeks depending on length and profession of wearer. Most people who wear locs prefer to use natural oils, butters or gels on their crowns. Many Locstars will keep the hair neat and tidy by enlisting the professional care of a loctician while others prefer to maintain on their own.

4.     Locs are limited in styling

LMAO, chile boooo! So when was the last time you’ve seen a weave wearer rock a French Roll and by sophisticated with it? Orrrr when have you seen pipe cleaners or pin curls on a weave and it was beautiful? (I’ll wait, for your response) Ha Haa! So the next time a chic tells me that locs are not versatile in styling options or that locs are too restrictive, I’ll just simply ask: “Straight, wavy, feathered and curly are considered versatile unrestricted styling options?” (Gives blank stare, while awaiting her response) TUH.

5.     Locs have to be cut off if you decide you don’t want them anymore

Locs being combed out

Total myth. With an extreme amount of patience, gallons of conditioner, some assistance of a loved one or friend, several combs and exorbitant amount of time, you can comb out your locs. Yes you read that correctly, I said YOU CAN COMB OUT LOCS. You DO NOT have to cut off your locs if you’ve come to the end of your journey with them.  Now during this process you will experience a ton of shedding and breakage, which is due to combing out matted hair and the hair that would have been shed if hair was not loc’d is now embedded in the core of each individual loc. Keep in mind most people shed 50 -100 strands per day, so multiply that 365 days in a year times the number of years you wore locs. (yuuuup, that’s a lot of hair) This process is not suited for everyone, that’s why you have people that just cut them off and others that will allow new growth to get to a certain length then cut so they will have hair to style after blade-to-blade treatment. 

It amuses me with some of the things people believe or think when it comes to locs. I’m sure you have heard all of this before and you may even have more to add to the list. Please be sure to comment your thoughts and experiences with myths you have heard about locs below in the comment box. As always it’s easy to S.imply K.eep Y.our H.air H.ealthy

Post your myth that you've heard or your thoughts on this topic below.