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09-30-2005, 09:35 AM

I can't say much about the identifying yourself w/a specific race argument as I'm an ordinary Polish/German Midwestern blond-haired, brown-eyed white boy. But, I will say this: I believe this is what Jess has meant in past interviews when she said she wasn't accepted by any sides of her family's races, including the Latino paternal side. I DON'T believe she's making calculated efforts to permanently "white-wash" herself (although I personally find the brunette look so much more alluring on her as I've said before but hair color is not what makes a person attractive to me alone).

As much as you see celebrities preaching togetherness, acting like they identify w/ordinary people at political rallies and such, alligning themselves w/diverse groups in front of cameras, etc. the fact remains that Hollywood itself is a very closed, calculated atmosphere which is extremely hard to crack like Jess has referenced. This is evidenced by the fact that great actors like Denzel Washington and Halle Berry DON'T get Oscars for their best works (Malcolm X and Introducing Dorothy Dandridge) and then, under extreme outside pressure to see minorities begin to finally get recognized w/Oscars, they are "awarded" Oscars for work like Training Day (in which Washington acted like an urban black man-so demeaning in my view) and Monster's Ball (coincidently Berry's first neud scene and a very weak movie). Angela Bassett should have gotten one for What's Love Got to do With It but also didn't. Hopefully Jess is the beginning of a group of young women and men that can help to change that atmosphere but it's going to take time and playing the "game" w/them a bit to get in which isn't their fault.

You're a proud, attractive latina woman, UCLA, which is great. But until you've encountered the high school clique that is Hollywood head on, as Alba has, it's hard to say how one that wants to succeed would approach that. Do you remain true to your roots (which Jess really can't as RH mentioned w/her multitude of racial backgrounds, not just latina) and probably be shut out, or play a little bit to get ahead and then advance others that come after you by doing so. She has said she wants to start producing movies someday and that could be where she introduces more minorities like yourself to mainstream success. I don't think she's ever said "I am latina, hear me roar." Maybe I'm wrong but that's two cents coming from the self-proclaimed Knuckle-Dragging Courteous Neandethal that is me [img]smile.gif[/img]

09-30-2005, 09:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
C_Zman Guest Posts: n/a	I can't say much about the identifying yourself w/a specific race argument as I'm an ordinary Polish/German Midwestern blond-haired, brown-eyed white boy. But, I will say this: I believe this is what Jess has meant in past interviews when she said she wasn't accepted by any sides of her family's races, including the Latino paternal side. I DON'T believe she's making calculated efforts to permanently "white-wash" herself (although I personally find the brunette look so much more alluring on her as I've said before but hair color is not what makes a person attractive to me alone). As much as you see celebrities preaching togetherness, acting like they identify w/ordinary people at political rallies and such, alligning themselves w/diverse groups in front of cameras, etc. the fact remains that Hollywood itself is a very closed, calculated atmosphere which is extremely hard to crack like Jess has referenced. This is evidenced by the fact that great actors like Denzel Washington and Halle Berry DON'T get Oscars for their best works (Malcolm X and Introducing Dorothy Dandridge) and then, under extreme outside pressure to see minorities begin to finally get recognized w/Oscars, they are "awarded" Oscars for work like Training Day (in which Washington acted like an urban black man-so demeaning in my view) and Monster's Ball (coincidently Berry's first neud scene and a very weak movie). Angela Bassett should have gotten one for What's Love Got to do With It but also didn't. Hopefully Jess is the beginning of a group of young women and men that can help to change that atmosphere but it's going to take time and playing the "game" w/them a bit to get in which isn't their fault. You're a proud, attractive latina woman, UCLA, which is great. But until you've encountered the high school clique that is Hollywood head on, as Alba has, it's hard to say how one that wants to succeed would approach that. Do you remain true to your roots (which Jess really can't as RH mentioned w/her multitude of racial backgrounds, not just latina) and probably be shut out, or play a little bit to get ahead and then advance others that come after you by doing so. She has said she wants to start producing movies someday and that could be where she introduces more minorities like yourself to mainstream success. I don't think she's ever said "I am latina, hear me roar." Maybe I'm wrong but that's two cents coming from the self-proclaimed Knuckle-Dragging Courteous Neandethal that is me [img]smile.gif[/img]