Yesterday, while on Moviefone.com, I clicked on the site’s list of “The Top 25 Funniest People Working in Hollywood (Right Now).” Out of 25 people, three were of color: Craig Robinson, Tracy Morgan, and Aziz Ansari–all really funny guys. And the funny ladies? There were six on the list–yay! But none of them were women of color on the list–boo! Now, I’m not trying to roast the Moviefone.com’s staff. It’s their opinion, and they can put whomever they want on their list, and people can read it and give their opinions. That’s how these “
Top Whatever” lists work. And I get it–it’s who is hot right now in the mainstream arena. Absolutely no women of color? Really? Damn! It’s more of a reflection on the state of Hollywood than the tastes of the Moviefone staff. Whoopi Goldberg keeps popping into my mind. Say whatever you want about Whoopi, but when opportunity knocked, she blew the door of its hinges and burnt it down. Here was a Black comedienne who didn’t fit the usual mold of Hollywood and was the star of her films–“Jumping Jack Flash,” “Fatal Beauty,” “Burglar” and “Sister Act.” Where is our generation’s Whoopi? Oh, she’s out there. But, I guess the key word in that rant is “opportunity.” So whoever she is, she needs the opportunity to be one of “The Top 25 Funniest People Working in Hollywood (Right Now).” Somebody please give Mo’Nique, Maya Rudolph, Wanda Sykes, Aisha Tyler, Niecy Nash, Tracee Ellis Ross, Rashida Jones, Mindy Kaling the ball? Please!
Ladies of the ESSENCE.com blogosphere, who’s on your list? Click here for more of Joy Bryant’s Bohemian Rhapsody Read More: