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Why the MCU's Falcon is wrong about his racism charge against Marvel.

posted 4 years ago by DarthRoger (867)
26 replies | jump to latest

I've been like a lot of people, a little taken back by some of the invective being hurled around since the killing George Flynn. So many who are likely well intentioned are using this tragic act to go off on some truly bizarre side rants that have little to do with it. The latest seems to be actor Anthony Mackie, a guy I really like in the MCU.
His Falcon is one of the best supporting characters in the franchise. He's been a great advocate for the movies, was outspoken about Civil War's chances against Batman V Superman and he's always seemed like a decent person in general. That's why his complaint about the movie crews attached to the MCU movies being "predominantly white" surprised and disappointed me. What does the color of the movie crews have to do with racism? Perhaps there are more white people on these movie crews, because those crews are comprised of those interested in working on movie crews. Those slots generally don't get a lot of publicity, they are the behind-the-scenes grunts who facilitate sets, costumes, new copies of scripts, assisting the camera crews, making sure the actors/actresses have what they need, etc. Is it racism that maybe more predominantly white people apply for these jobs than non-whites? I just think the tenor of the national debate gets poisoned with nonsense like Mackie's comment, plus there really is just no rational reason I can think of why he'd say these things.
The MCU has had pretty dang good representation, considering the popularity of characters like Nick Fury, War Machine, Black Panther, Valkyrie, Okoye and yes, Falcon too. So accusing Marvel of being racist for not hiring more people of color would have made more sense if he had concrete evidence that it was done deliberately. He needs to walk his statement back. He's just wrong and he's better than this.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7393) 4 years ago

I agree. I am tired of this, "I can't relate to any character that's white." bullcrap. Frankly though I hope Marvel gives Bishop a lead role in a future X-Men movie. They should adapt Forge too.

[–] DarthRoger (867) 4 years ago

I would also like to see Denzel Washington in an MCU role. I think he'd be great as a Spiderman villain or a cosmic being, like the Beyonder.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7393) 4 years ago

I think Denzel should be Robbie Robertson.

[–] DarthRoger (867) 4 years ago

He'd be good as the Spiderman villain Slide. He was a minor villain but a cool one. A laid-off chemist who designed a nonstick frictionless solution that he applied to a suit. It gave him the ability to zip around corners and dodge and dunk his way out of trouble. He used the suit to rob mob banks in order to finance further research and get revenge on the crime boss who raided his company and laid him off.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7393) 4 years ago

I haven't heard of the Slide. But I quit reading in 2016 when they turned my favorite character Black Cat into a psychopath who killed innocent people. And of course the story only happened because durring the aftermath of the horrible Spider-Man story One More Day, they erased her knowledge that Peter Parker is Spider-Man along with billions of other people. I hadn't known they did that til Superior Spider-Man where Doc Ock who had taken over Peter's body had punched her in the mouth. And that story only worked because if she knew his secret identity she would know he would never do that to her and that he was being mind controlled by someone. Also that she did not remember the time she was with him romantically due to it being erased.

But after that story I thought about One More Day where Spider-Man and Mary Jane sell their marriage to Mephisto to bring Aunt May back to life, I sold my run I had collected from 2011 to 2016 and also decided I am only reading older Spider-Man comics. Frankly I hate that Joe Quesada and the other heads of Marvel forced J. Michael Stracinski to write that story and that they approved of it because they really wanted Peter to be single and didn't care how they had to do it even if it meant making a deal with a demon! Screw Joe Quesada and the other heads of Marvel!

[–] DarthRoger (867) 4 years ago

I often wondered why Marvel's editors make some of the choices they make. Your explanation reveals a lot of what's wrong with comics since the early 2000's. Give me the 80's and 90's comics all over again. I'd spend hours laying around during a rainy Saturday, comic books spread across the floor. The stories then were good, the artwork was fun to look at and the characters had believable motivations. I can't even pick up a modern comic book without being hit with social messaging and treated to nonsensical plot twists. It's sad what the industry has become.

[–] PaladinNJ (20308) 4 years ago

I'm guessing Falcon & Winter Soldier has not been picked up or renewed before it even airs and he is bitter about it.

[–] DarthRoger (867) 4 years ago

Interesting you mention Falcon and Winter Soldier. Since they ran commercials back during the Super Bowl, there's been nothing else online about it and I've heard no discussions on the show. Is it not trending well with viewers?

I haven't seen any of the Disney Plus shows that Marvel has but then I found the Phase IV announcements to be underwhelming. The only items that got my attention were the next Doctor Strange movie and the animated "What If" series.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7393) 4 years ago

It got delayed along with every other show and movie because of the Corona Virus. Sadly the way it's looking we're probably not going to be able to go to the movie theaters again for a few years.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

OP, your ignorance on this issue is astounding...

[–] DarthRoger (867) 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

And I suppose you'd tell Steve McQueen to f*** off as well...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2020/jun/20/to-see-race-and-class-at-work-in-britain-just-try-a-film-set-steve-mcqueen

[–] DarthRoger (867) 4 years ago

Okay, explain your charge or are you just a name caller?

Your reflexive response to simply call me ignorant doesn't answer any of my points. At the end of the day, studios are going to hire the best people for the job, whether their skin color is white, black or brown. That's a fact, not an opinion.

And I'd still tell you where to get off anyway, since your response is nothing more than a veiled attack.

Just saying.

[–] Missemd (274) 4 years ago

I agree with OP on this.
I think a lot of people don’t realise that working behind the scenes in Music, TV, Film and the Arts in general, is pretty much always contact (networking) driven work.
The saying, “It’s not what you know but who you know” applies 99% of the time in getting picked up for work.
Given that most who do work in these fields are as creative and liberal as they come I don’t believe that racism has anything to do with their actual ability to gain employment or not.
It’s such a tiny world and pretty hard to crack into - maybe that’s what he was referring too here and just as lamenting the lack of opportunities available in general?

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

If the majority of the movers and shakers, in the film and television industry, are white and largely interact with white people, of course there's going to be a racial discrepancy. But that's only part of the issue - the other is these white industry insiders being aware of the issue and doing NOTHING about it to change things (and this has been going on for decades).

It's all well and good producing content about racial issues and employing black actors, but such production companies and TV channels are shameless hypocrites when most of their scriptwriters, crew, directors, producers, commissioners and controllers are white.

That glass ceiling, for many non-white industry insiders, is real.

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 4 years ago

No one should be hired or fired based on skin color.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

See, you can't even comprehend the situation.

This isn't about positive discrimination but about racial attitudes. If you think the only reason why most companies and corporations have largely white management is because whites are better candidates, you seriously need to check yourself.

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 4 years ago

What is it about then?

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

*facepalm*

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 4 years ago

What if whites are better candidates?

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Have you ever considered that the system, in the the West, places a heavy emphasis on favouritism towards whites over other ethnic groups, whether it's employment, promotion, education, crime, dating or other aspects of everyday life?

Seriously, do some research, if you're genuinely concerned about this issue. In the internet age, there's no excuse for ignorance.

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 4 years ago

But what if white people are better qualified? That's the question. People are not all the same. Certain people have different strengths and weaknesses. In this 'enlightened' and politically correct age, few want to admit it but the studies are consistent, even though there are always outliers.

[–] Missemd (274) 4 years ago

Oh yes for sure - if you are talking about the big-wig movers and shakers in these fields (hell, all fields of business really) then you are absolutely spot on Vetiver.

I‘m going to source the actual quotes/story the OP is talking about - something I should have done before commenting.

I like what you’ve said here - very succinct.

[–] DarthRoger (867) 4 years ago

And you know all this due to your extensive experience in the movie making business? I doubt it.

[–] Missemd (274) 4 years ago

Me DarthRoger?
No I’m originally from the Music Industry (20 years) and now work in Theatre (14 years).
You’d be surprised how small the circles are though in film, tv, theatre, comedy, music etc - especially when it comes to back of house type crew which is what I thought was being referred to on the original post/ discussion from Mackie.

I think what Vetiver correctly pointed out, is the people that drive the content and narrative in these particular Industries, so the people with power, money and influence to make projects happen, are mainly white (nearly all male too) and could most definitely do better when it comes to inclusivity and diversity in their orbits.

[–] DarthRoger (867) 4 years ago

I think people are confusing nepotism with racism. There's certainly a distinction. I viewed (not exactly incorrectly) Vetiver's original comment as a personal attack. If the point you are making is that people favor people they know via a professional network, then you can make that argument for every profession. I see your point though and appreciate the politeness of it. In the end, I still don't believe Mackie is being fair but that's his issue.