Tuskeegee vs Hollywood Norm

Most would not assume that Hollywood would "throw the baby out with the bath water" when it comes to black actors or stories, that being said it is very interesting that Hollywood has zero problem telling stories about WWII when it contains issues regarding the Holocaust, these films get funded even though they may bomb at the box office like "Sarah's Key".

In 1991 Spike Lee had to raise money to finish production on Malcolm X and now we read how George Lucas has to go into his pocket to fund his historical film. Big Momma's House, Soul Plane, Death at a Funeral, comedy only films are more then likely to get a green light (no matter how bad ) All black cast requires humor before Hollywood will take them seriously even popular films like "Precious" needed pull and funding by Tyler Perry and Oprah.

Period films always have their own hurdles with the public, but when most of the cast is African American there has to be some savvy marketing to capture the attention of a multigenerational audience.

Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. On Racism in Hollywood

thinkprogress.org

At an event the Congressional Black Caucus put together to honor the Tuskegee Airmen and to promote George Lucas’s new movie about them, Red Tails, the movie’s stars, Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr., had some pointed things to say about the way Hollywood approaches black actors and directors.