I stayed up late last night to watch CNN’s updates on the Election, when they announced Obama had crossed the finish line first, I went to bed. I slept well.
This morning I got to thinking about how everyone is focusing on the “First Black President” and I joked with my wife that he wasn’t the first. Of course Morgan Freeman and the guy from Fifth Element sprung to mind first, but way back in 1972 (mine and John’s Birth year) when it was a bigger controversy, James Earl Jones played a president on screen.
So I did a quick search on IMDB and found a list of other Black Presidents.
The Man (1972) – President Douglas Dilman – James Earl Jones
The Fifth Element (1997)- President Lindberg – Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister Jr
Deep Impact (1998) – President Tom Beck – Morgan Freeman
Head of State (2003) – President Mays Gilliam – Chris Rock with black running mate Bernie Mac
Idiocracy (2006) – President Alonzo Camacho – Terry Crews
24 – Wayne and David Palmer – D.B. Woodside, Dennis Haysbert
Darth Vader gets an honourable mention since he is more machine than man, and that machine is painted black. And with the exception of one very weak “noooooo!” he was voiced by a black man (James Earl Jones) …also he was technically only Vice President to that raisin of a Sith Lord, but he did all the real work.
So has film eased the path of racial acceptance to accepting a black president? Its hardly a new thing in films and TV to depict the president with a black actor. However one thing I did notice is that in movies like Head of State and The Man, the title characters end up in the presidency (or race to) by some sort of accident. Glossing over the plausibility that such a person would have got their on their own.
I think there is a long bitter line that leads back to a different era in history that still influences people today, but at the end of this day we are in a different era where we have moved past that naive way of thinking, but some people are brought up with different values and cannot see outside of them.
I have tended to live a colour-blind existence, and the ethnicity of a president doesn’t mean a lot to me, but I am not ignorant of social injustices that might have prevented this in the past. Race is just the excuse given to to discriminate instead of looking at the politician’s platform or capabilities.
I was impressed that I didn’t hear a lot of people throwing the race card out there when trying to discredit President Elect Obama. I was waiting for it, but I guess for the most part people realize how quickly that argument would be shot down. But imagine 50 years ago, and how those conversations would be different.
Since us Canadian folk who run the Movie Blog were not allowed to vote in your election, all we could do was form our own opinions. We were not shy with them, but we form a symbiont circle with these United states. What happens to the Naboo will affect the Gungans. We see that. And no. I don’t think Canadians are Gungans.
So while everyone is saying, “First Black President! We are watching history in the making” keep in mind that it is just another President, and every election shapes history regardless of the colour of his skin. His ethnicity is a trophy of progress for racial acceptance and I hope that the world is a better place with every President you elect.
I can’t wait until you elect a woman!
Edit: This discussion is about the fading Racial Tension in the US, and if you think depicting the President as a black man had anything to do with it. (Or perhaps the other way around) Please refrain from making this a platform to insult the candidates.
Regardless of whether or not it had any bearing on Obama’s election, Barack Obama is really similar to David Palmer from 24.
Oh and by the way, I’m from the Philippines and our current president is a woman. She’s our 2nd female president. But I can’t ever remember their gender being a topic of discussion.
Caveat – I didn’t vote for him and disagree with him on a ton of issues, but have a lot of respect for the man and only wish him well. I also wish his grandmother could have been alive to see her grandson take the oath of office.
Having said that – I hope Idiocracy didn’t help anyone soften their views on black presidents. As someone who used to have a professional wrestler as their governor, I’d hope it would teach us to worry more about having media celebrities as our leaders.
Besides, it appears that Air Force One didn’t get us prepared to have a female VP. I guess we’ll need more movies to coach us ;)
Black Power is what our country needs folks. I’m happy we’ve a black president.
The crowd: “A black sheriff?”
Acho: “And why not? It worked in Blazing Saddles.”
-Robin Hood: Men in Tights
I have no issue with a black president. It is a monumentous step for our culture and society. This truely is the death of racism and I am thrilled with that. My problem with Obama lies not with the color of his skin but with his policies which i fear most people who voted for him, knew little to nothing about. As a clean face to the Bush administration he certainly looks apealing to many. McCain from an apearence stance was nothing but more of the same. Catchy slogans and great campaigning made it easy for Obama to pick up uninformed voters. The clear cut help from every major media source other than Fox and Talk Radio also brought out the apealing side of Obama. The problem is I dont think he was vetted by the mainstream media enough. I feel that once he enacts his policies there will be a great sense of buyers remorse throughout the nation. I pray that I am wrong. But i fear that I am right. cutting and running in Iraq creates open oportunity for terrorists and extremeists to take over once more. while starting the war may be debatable leaving it desabilized shouldnt be. We leave Iraq, our country will be attacked again. say what you will of the Bush admin but after 9/11, once we brought the fight to the terrorists, our nation hasnt been attacked again, If you dont wanna thank Bush thank the brave men and women who have fought and died to keep us safe. I could go on about this stuff all day but I have to go do stuff so in conclusion I congradulate Mr. Obama on his historic victory but I just hope he can handle the job. and when he screws up big time I hope he gets railed like Bush did. Its only fair. Have a lovely evening.
i think in an outside way. they say (socialigists?) that younger people don’t have a many racial issues because of television and how many different races and religions, they see on a weekly basis. so it becomes normal, even in an homogeneous city or neighborhood.
Remember November The Fifth, kiddies
I have to say that 24 sold me on believing a black man could be president one day. I’ve watched other movies and something clicked with “David Palmer.” Dennis Haysbert played the role he was given all so well.
The first season of 24 was the best. It reached a large part of the American population to say the least – hence the numerous Emmy Awards. Given 24’s realistic approach, I’d say 24 opened my eyes. I’d watch TV and movies before and the thought “yeah right” lingered in the back of my mind when seeing a black man as president. Despite enjoying what I watch on TV… fiction is fiction right? Well as a black man myself, Hollywood has played a significant role in breaking ground to see President-elect Barrack Obama get elected.
I’m happy that I could witness the acceptance speech last night and hopefully the world is not coming to an end like in Deep Impact. Certainly I wasn’t thinking “yeah right” last night for once but… yes we can.
Racism is alive and well, make no mistake about it. We might not have segregated bathrooms and water hoses blasting people anymore, but prejudice is everywhere. It’s just less overt than it used to be, which is why Will Smith is the biggest star in Holywood right now. Race is still an issue. That being said, I think that people are just so sick of anything related to Bush, and were so inspired by Obama that they turne dout in droves to vote for him and flush this Bush turd down the toilet once and for all.
Like I said, movies had nothing to do with it. A movie with a Black president wouldn’t make it easier for Barack to be elected, or make it easier for people to vote for him. People voted because they like him, his policies, and his message, not because they saw Deep Impact and thought, “Let’s try that!”
I dont think it was WHY he was elected, but do you think that portraying a black president on screen made it easier for those who thought it unlikely to see it as a possibility?
Or do you think that there is less racism, and they felt comfortable using a black actor for a president?
Kristina, neither do I really. But maybe the general public’s acceptance of a black president onscreen reflects what is really going on in America right now.
I don’t think Hollywood had one bit to do with why Obama was elected.
on a side note I got the tuxedo shirt Chris Rock wore as president as a present.
I have to agree with THE DUDE. This is not just another President. We are moving forward in country and our society. But great post.
Let us not forget Lou Gosset Jr. who played the president in Left Behind 3
Hi Rodney
Interesting post. I too was having the discussion with my wife about the black president on 24. It would seem it’s possible that the entertainment media have influenced the American people into being more accepting of a black president. If this is the case it’s a good thing.
But I have to disagree with you about Obama being just another president. While you and I may be race blind, there are still many many people out there who aren’t.
Obama is the first black president and that is very significant. It shows how far we’ve come as a society. It shows that we’ve made major progess in breaking down the barriers and distinctions between races. It’s a huge breakthrough and one step in the right direction towards the enlightenment of the human race.
I think that it’s very strong evidence that one day race will no longer be an issue in our society. One day we will be able to embrace our differences and all live together in peace.
Live long and prosper.
I’d vote David Palmer for president, that actor kicks ass in The Unit! I am, however, a bit concerned with having somebody that has never served a day in the military being put in a position to control it. Maybe that is just because I spend five years in the military and feel there are things about it that you just can not learn from books. People bitch and moan about putting people on something like a movie adaptation of book, movie, or comic that were not already fans or knowledgeable of the the source material. Now we pretty much got that as the countries leader. Hope he has some really good advisers.
Actually, the election in the final two seasons of The West Wing was very much like the one that just went down, except the candidate was Hispanic (played by Jimmy Smits). Look it up on the NY Times website–they just did an article on it.
You know it’s really weird that you mention this as not ten minutes ago, I was discussing with my better half the notion, that Wayne Palmer in 24 may have permeated a certain demographic that hitherto had not been very accepting of an African American President.
“I don’t think Canadians are Gungans.”
Speak for yourself. :)
Dude, I have kids and a day job. 11pm is a weeknight.
You ‘stayed up late’ until cnn announced who won?
Dude, that happened at exactly 11pm.
I think someone’s late night definitions needs a savior.
A couple parties’ll fix that.