That’s Not a Woman. That’s a Man, Baby!

Martin Lawrence in Big Momma's House 2

EMASCULATION PAST, PRESENT PROBLEM FOR MINORITY MALES IN MAINSTREAM MOVIES

Black actors have starred in cross-dressing comedies the past three Black History months. Which actor will Hollywood emasculate in ’08?

The emasculation of minority males – Black males in particular – is a historically documented method employed by the White majority to keep Blacks and other minorities “in their place” dating back to the era of enslavement. This emasculation strategy even pervaded White vernacular during the Jim Crow era, when it was common for a White man to address another Black man as “boy.” In light of the paucity of “Alpha-male,” heroic protagonist roles for minority males, this emasculation continues when minority males are cast in roles portraying gay characters, female characters, cross dressers, effusively effeminate characters, characters that imply homosexual behavior or characters that are sexually assaulted. These roles are often played for comedic effect. Examples include:

• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Be Cool (homosexual)
  
• Ving Rhames, Pulp Fiction (sexually assaulted)
  
• Will Smith, Six Degrees of Separation (homosexual); Bad Boys II (homosexual innuendo; “humorous” solicitation of sex with Black youth)
  
• Tracy Morgan, The Longest Yard (homosexual; effeminate, shown kissing another man)
  
• Michael Clarke Duncan, The Scorpion King (cross-dressing); School for Scoundrels (cross-dressing)
  
• Eddie Murphy, The Nutty Professor (plays female characters); The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (plays female characters); Norbit (plays female character)
  
• Martin Lawrence, Big Momma’s House 1 & 2 (plays female character); Bad Boys II (homosexual innuendo)
  
• Chris Tucker, The Fifth Element (effeminate)
  
• Wesley Snipes, To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar (cross-dressing)
  
• Tyler Perry, Diary of a Mad Black Woman (plays a female character); Madea’s Family Reunion (plays a female character)
  
• Shawn Wayans, White Chicks (plays a female character); Scary Movie (implied homosexual behavior)
  
• John Leguizamo, To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar (cross-dressing)
  
• Marlon Wayans, White Chicks (plays a female character)
  
• Luiz Guzman, Anger Management (effeminate)
  
• Miguel A. Núñez, Jr., Juwanna Man (cross-dressing)
• Brian J. White, The Family Stone (homosexual)
  
  

Undoubtedly, White male actors have played similar roles. However, are the percentages of high-profile White actors who do proportional? Is the effect the same? For more information, see “CH: 8 The Physical Wonder,” p.128.

Note: The Minority Reporter is not condemning homosexual behavior as an outright form of emasculation. However, mainstream Hollywood often depicts, utilizes and regards homosexuality as a form of emasculation, especially since the overwhelming majority of male protagonists have heterosexual interests.