Sharpton Takes On Hollywood

So how did Rev. Al Sharpton celebrate the Martin Luther King holiday?

Fresh from starring appearances in Ferguson, Mo., and New York, N.Y., President Obama’s favorite race ambassador took his “racial baiting ” road show to Hollywood.

Did white police in Hollywood shoot another unarmed black man? Did a Hollywood grand jury vote not to indict another white cop who killed a black man under curious circumstances?

No.

So what is Sharpton’s cause?

Of all of the crucial issues impacting black America, crime, unemployment, education, he’s upset because there were no blacks in the list of Oscar nominees and because the movie Selma was only nominated for Best -Picture and Best Song.

He called the lack of diversity in the Oscar process appalling, compared the movie industry to the Rocky Mountains saying that “the higher it gets, the whiter it gets” and, called for an “emergency meeting” to discuss the all-white nominee situation and possible action against the industry.

What perfect timing for Sharpton!

It was not that long ago that Sony Pictures co-chair Amy Paschal came crawling to him groveling in a 90 minute “please, please forgive me” session for her race tainted emails regarding Obama’s movie preferences.

At the time, Sharpton said the “jury is still out on where we go.” Combine Sony with the Oscar situation and it looks like the Sharpton jury is coming back! The industry had better get ready for his demands.

How about putting a million or two dollars into a “fund” to train and assist aspiring black actors, actresses, directors, screen writers and technicians for greater access and participation in the movie industry?

Of course, such funds would be overseen by Sharpton and his organization and its allies. And, just to make sure things are really fair, why not make Sharpton and a few of his cronies paid consultants to Sony and a few other big studios, or the Academy itself?

Oh yes, there is another option.

Or, how about a blockbuster movie — “The Al Sharpton Story.” He has a cable show, why not add a movie? It would be a blockbuster if it’s the real deal.

The story of a man with a checkered past who was nearly taken down in an FBI cocaine sting; almost sent cops to jail over a fabricated rape and assault story of a then teen Tawana Brawley; who has made an industry of race baiting for profit and political gain; who still reportedly owes millions in taxes; and, who rose to be a key adviser to the president of the United States and the mayor of New York.

Usually it is the Hollywood liberal elite accusing conservatives of being intolerant, bigoted, and insensitive. Now the shoe is on the other foot.

They might even ask, How could we be guilty of discrimination or racism”? Aren’t we and our friends in New York among the first black president’s largest fat cat donors?

Not many in Hollywood will have the courage to stand up to Sharpton and remind him that just last year “12 Years a Slave” hand nine nominations and won Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress and Best Screenplay. Or, that its director Steve McQueen was the first black director to direct a Best Picture winning film as well as the first black producer to win Best Picture.

While Sharpton runs around Hollywood protesting the lack of black nominations and awards, it is important to put things in perspective.

Writing in Breitbart, John Nolte did just that. Saying that Selma is 42-year-old director Ana DuVernay’s third feature film and actor David Oyelwo’s first major starring role at 38, he went on to point out that:

“Before he won an Oscar at age 64, Martin Scorsese directed 'Raging Bull,' 'Goodfellas' . . .  and The Age of Innocence. Before he won an Oscar at age 61 , Paul Newman starred in 'The Hustler,'  'Cool Hand Luke,' 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' 'Cat On Hot Tin Roof' . . . ”

He also pointed out that Richard Burton, Kirk Douglas, Alfred Hitchcock, James Earl Jones, Spike Lee and Mickey Rooney had never won a competitive Oscar, and movie classics as "Dirty Harry," "King Kong," and "Reservoir Dogs" were never even nominated for the prestigious award.

Get a life Al!