Kevin Hart hosted “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend and in one of the funnier skits, he played the Oscar-nominated star of “Beasts Of The Southern Wild,” Quvenzhane Wallis. While I laughed at his portrayal of her infamous muscle-flexing move, I couldn’t help but think, “There goes another Black man searching for crossover success in Hollywood.” Black actors dressing in drag for laughs has been a debate ever since the 70’s when Flip Wilson found popularity in his sassy female character, Geraldine Jones.
Must Read: Kevin Hart Hosts ‘SNL’: Quvenzhane Wallis Is The New Pope
Fellow funnyman, Dave Chappelle said in an appearance on Oprah, “I connect dots that maybe shouldn’t be connected. When I see that they put every Black man in a dress at some point in his career, I be connecting the dots, like why do brothers always have to wear a dress?” He goes on to say, “You’ve got to take a stand.”
Check Out Dave Chappelle’s Story Of Refusing To Wear A Dress:
Chappelle made it a point that he’d never put on a dress for laughs because he think it’s unnecessary because he’s already funny. However, other comedians like Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy and Tyler Perry have no qualms putting on a dress for our entertainment and it seems “TV’s First Black Superstar,” Flip Wilson was the man who started it all. During “The Flip Wilson” show, he’d put on a pair of pantyhose and his finest dress and deliver side-splitting laughs.
Although those laughs didn’t translate into ratings and Flip’s show was cancelled within four years of being on the air. Geraldine brought Flip an impressive level of recognition, creating space for him to stand out in the entertainment industry, but at what price?
When Martin took on “Sheneneh” in his vastly popular sitcom, “Martin” and Jamie Foxx took on “Wanda” on “In Living Color,” it seemed the Black community was willing to accept funnymen in women’s clothes as a piece of comic relief. Even though Lawrence and Foxx were faced with critics, they weren’t shunned for their female characters the way Perry is constantly berated for disgracing our people. Maybe it’s characters like Perry’s “Madea,” Eddie Murphy’s “Rasputia” or Martin’s “Big Momma” that irritate Black people. Who are these disheveled, disproportionate, often plus size and the butt-of-the-joke women these comedians in drag represent? At least with Kevin Hart’s “SNL” skit as Quvenzhane, there was pop culture reference and relevancy without trying to act out a Black woman stereotype.
I think Chris Rock said it best, “Tyler Perry is great in a dress, but I don’t want to see Denzel or Will Smith in a dress.” The powers that be in Hollywood have found a formula that equals success: Black man + Dress = Hilarious. With that formula, many Black people are faced with a paradox. Do we find entertainment in the cross-dressing buffoonery or do we fight against the effeminizing spectacle?
What do you beauties think? Answer our poll below:
Like HelloBeautiful On Facebook!
Related Stories:
Kevin Hart Hosts ‘SNL’: Quvenzhane Wallis Is The New Pope
Tyler Perry Wants A Time Out, Shuts Down “Madea”
Check Out This Gallery Of Kevin Hart:
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Kevin Hart hosted “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend and in one of the funnier skits, he played the Oscar-nominated star of “Beasts Of The Southern Wild,” Quvenzhane Wallis. While I laughed at his portrayal of her infamous muscle-flexing move, I couldn’t help but think, “There goes another Black man searching for crossover success in Hollywood.” Black actors dressing in drag for laughs has been a debate ever since the 70’s when Flip Wilson found popularity in his sassy female character, Geraldine Jones.
Must Read: Kevin Hart Hosts ‘SNL’: Quvenzhane Wallis Is The New Pope
Fellow funnyman, Dave Chappelle said in an appearance on Oprah, “I connect dots that maybe shouldn’t be connected. When I see that they put every Black man in a dress at some point in his career, I be connecting the dots, like why do brothers always have to wear a dress?” He goes on to say, “You’ve got to take a stand.”
Check Out Dave Chappelle’s Story Of Refusing To Wear A Dress:
Chappelle made it a point that he’d never put on a dress for laughs because he think it’s unnecessary because he’s already funny. However, other comedians like Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy and Tyler Perry have no qualms putting on a dress for our entertainment and it seems “TV’s First Black Superstar,” Flip Wilson was the man who started it all. During “The Flip Wilson” show, he’d put on a pair of pantyhose and his finest dress and deliver side-splitting laughs.
Although those laughs didn’t translate into ratings and Flip’s show was cancelled within four years of being on the air. Geraldine brought Flip an impressive level of recognition, creating space for him to stand out in the entertainment industry, but at what price?
When Martin took on “Sheneneh” in his vastly popular sitcom, “Martin” and Jamie Foxx took on “Wanda” on “In Living Color,” it seemed the Black community was willing to accept funnymen in women’s clothes as a piece of comic relief. Even though Lawrence and Foxx were faced with critics, they weren’t shunned for their female characters the way Perry is constantly berated for disgracing our people. Maybe it’s characters like Perry’s “Madea,” Eddie Murphy’s “Rasputia” or Martin’s “Big Momma” that irritate Black people. Who are these disheveled, disproportionate, often plus size and the butt-of-the-joke women these comedians in drag represent? At least with Kevin Hart’s “SNL” skit as Quvenzhane, there was pop culture reference and relevancy without trying to act out a Black woman stereotype.
I think Chris Rock said it best, “Tyler Perry is great in a dress, but I don’t want to see Denzel or Will Smith in a dress.” The powers that be in Hollywood have found a formula that equals success: Black man + Dress = Hilarious. With that formula, many Black people are faced with a paradox. Do we find entertainment in the cross-dressing buffoonery or do we fight against the effeminizing spectacle?
What do you beauties think? Answer our poll below:
Like HelloBeautiful On Facebook!
Related Stories:
Kevin Hart Hosts ‘SNL’: Quvenzhane Wallis Is The New Pope
Tyler Perry Wants A Time Out, Shuts Down “Madea”
Check Out This Gallery Of Kevin Hart: