The beginning of a New Year can mean many things to many people, but in Hollywood, it ushers in the start of awards season, culminating with the annual Academy Awards ceremony. In recent years, this fictitious fifth season has been both rewarding and dumbfounding to many in the African-American community. 

From Samuel L. Jackson’s grotesquely unrecognized incarnation of Jules Winnfield in "Pulp Fiction" in 1994 and Cuba Gooding Jr.’s portrayal of receiver Rod Tidwell in 1996's "Jerry McGuire" to Angela Bassett’s slight as Tina Turner in "What’s Love Got To Do With It" in 1993 and Halle Berry’s historic win for her portrayal of Latisha Musgrove 2001's "Monster’s Ball," every win and loss has not been without some level of debate and criticism.

This year is no different.

With Mo’Nique’s back-to-back wins at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards for her gritty performance as Mary Lee Johnson in "Precious," the grumblings in the Black community have already began. Though no one will dispute the validity of Mo’Nique’s win for her masterful and gripping performance, there are those who feel a sense of “here we go again” - referring to Berry’s Oscar win. Berry’s performance as a single mother of a special needs child was both praised and despised within the black community, as some felt the role portrayed African-American women in a negative light.

Both the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards have generally been viewed as credible predictors of the Oscar winners, and surely, as the ceremony approaches, Mo’Nique’s role will come under more scrutiny and debate. Many believe that African-American women (and men for that matter) only receive awards for negative roles, believing a larger conspiracy of sorts exists within the studio system of Hollywood.

But is this really true? Are negative roles the only way black actresses achieve the awards and recognition of the Academy and their peers?

“I disagree,” writer-producer Karin Gist told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “Mo’Nique and Halle earned those awards for bringing to life complex characters that touched [a chord] on some relatable level of the human experience.” 
Gist, who has managed to build a successful career in Hollywood both as a screenwriter and television writer, understands complex characters for women.  She also served as a producer for the popular show, "Girlfriends."

Negative characters and characterizations allow actors to flex their creative muscles and utilize their entire repertoire of skills in order to execute the roles, she says, thus often leading to memorable and astonishing performances.

Is that “negative?”

KJ Middlebrooks, a writer and producer with E! Network, has his own perspective. 

“It’s easy to say that these are negative roles, but what it all boils down to is the honesty in the portrayal by the actors," he said. "Mo’Nique was incredible. That scene in the welfare office was powerful. That was a great portrayal.” 

Middlebrooks, like many others, has a bigger vision for black actresses as well. “I’d love to see a black woman play a hero. Zoe [Saldana] was great in 'Avatar,' but she’s not getting much recognition for her performance.”

To Middlebrooks’ assertion, roles for African-American women have evolved tremendously since Hattie McDaniel’s historic portrayal of Mammy in 1939’s "Gone With The Wind," though many more opportunities must be created.

Hollywood makeup artist Nalo Jones cites the real problem. “We need more black writers [and] screenwriters writing more positive roles for black actors. We shouldn’t complain about the wins, but rather salute them and look to empower more of our community.” Middlebrooks adds, “I’m glad to see that we’re being recognized, but the fact still remains as a minority actor, you have to be off the charts to win."

Still, everyone is not completely comfortable with .....

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If you notice, most of the females awarded best actresses, have received the awards based on negative roles. For instance, Charlize Theron won for Monster. Nicole Kidman won her role as a negative author. Halle Berry won for a forgettable role. I am not a fan of Monique, but I have to give her credit for the role she played. I was in awe of her performance. I wish her the best for the Oscars.

by   
Lastlady
January 27, 2010, 9:04 pm
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'Negative characters and characterizations allow actors to flex their creative muscles and utilize their entire repertoire of skills' That was my first thought when Halle won and then again when Denzel won. I never once through Halle or Monique saw myself nor are the roles they played representative of me. I watch movies for sheer entertainment. We need to quit pissin' and moanin' about everything and we need to find examples of greatness and role models closer to home and let these people go about the job of simply entertaining usI

by   
Debianne
January 27, 2010, 8:00 am
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frist of all lets give MO NIque her props because people of color do not get a chance to even be nomanated for awards like this the panels who vote for the awards are bias . 2 i have add that MOnique and the girl who played precious will not be winning an academy award.3 halle berry has to be the hardest working black female actress alive because she has earned that award it belong to her way before monster ball.4 saying that colored actors and actresses only earn awards for negitive roles throws salt on them.white actors and actresses have won awards for deep and or negitive roles

by   
Rucarx
January 26, 2010, 6:22 pm
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Go see Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli.

by   
MacBen
January 25, 2010, 9:24 pm
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precious with Mo Nique in it was just good acting,
nothing personal toward any one slg

by   
C3sonja gandy
January 25, 2010, 8:25 pm
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Look!! I acted in B movies, was in the soap opera "Loving" back in the day. You do what you have to do to eat. I ate out of garbage cans. I had great weeks doing acting jobs, the next week I starved. Give it a rest.......peace

by   
Jazflutesmith
January 25, 2010, 7:38 pm
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It's not about whita america anymore, we have a black man incharge and his name is PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. (RECONIZE)

by   
Ann38
January 25, 2010, 5:21 pm
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That’s the simple choice SEZ U & Your klan brothers. You don’t decide what are OUR choices. As this is the “Land of the Free…where “All men are created equal….” The simple choice is to demand to be treated fairly & keep the complaints on when we are not treated fairly! “Give me Liberty or give me death” is a COMPLAINT, as are all those other “memorable quotes” from the lips of white men who are heroes to you. Just as they wanted theirs, we want & WILL HAVE ours. IDIOT!

by   
Sevennotrump
January 25, 2010, 4:01 pm
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Then the simple choice is to NOT accept the role! No one is forcing them to do anything they dont want to. Idiot.

by   
MacBen
January 25, 2010, 3:53 pm
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DeNiro does not mind being cast as criminal in SOME movies, because he has ALSO been cast as a noble family man and war hero in the deer hunter; a boxer in Raging Bull; a noble navy officer –in Men of Honor-who goes out of his way to face down racists in the aid of a Black man, etc, etc. When Blacks start getting numerous roles where we are the noble heroes, saving helpless white people, we’ll stop complaining, UNTIL THEN, SCREW U & the rest of the klan!

by   
Sevennotrump
January 25, 2010, 2:10 pm
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MacBen: aka, uncletom, aka, NateTwo, aka, FJ1200, aka, all those other STUPID usernames, with which U attempt to portray a Black person. Black people don’t refer to ourselves as "negro”. That was some crap created for us by you klansmen & we REJECT IT! You are a DUMB-white-BOY who WISHES he was Black, but since you aren’t, you hate Blacks & U really do think Blacks should be glad for any job they get & not have any complaints about what kinds of crumbs fall from the table.

by   
Sevennotrump
January 25, 2010, 2:07 pm
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If this was an entire cast of white actors...you would have NOTHING to say. It is not about it being a "negative" role. Jump outside of your small minds, and realize that this is about Monique's phenomenal acting ability. Now, Monster's Ball...that was something entirely different.

by   
SansNicole
January 25, 2010, 2:04 pm
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Don't be foolish! We negroes should be happy we even have a damn job let alone being nominated for some award for acting! We complain and put a spin on anything. 95% of the roles DeNiro plays are of a mobster, something negative. Do you think he really gives a damn that he is constantly cast as a criminal?

by   
MacBen
January 25, 2010, 12:06 pm
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Let us not take away from Mo'Nique's hard work with this debate!

by   
Monabwright
January 25, 2010, 11:07 am
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CDJ, it is NEVER possible to "overthink"!! especially when one considers that in the very next sentence you use that worn out comparison to what whites do. AA's need to forget whites. because it's the attempt to be on their level and behave like them that is why AA's are F----D up now!! they don't know enough to save themselves let alone lead someone else. look around at them they're as bad off in their communities as AA's. IT'S JUST NOT ON THE NEWS every night to perpetuate their stereotypes.

by   
Msstarr82
January 25, 2010, 10:54 am
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i'm not going to use the words positive vs negative. instead in my POV, the roles recognized by the people with the power in movies, reward the roles of AA's that soothe their visions of what AA's are in the world. i was never more disgusted by a movie than monster's ball and it was not based on halle's performance but the movie's story!! i believe fear of the man and his strength prevented denzel's portrayal of malcom x from being rewarded. it's a form of keeping AA's "in their place"!!! subtle--not to me.

by   
Msstarr82
January 25, 2010, 10:45 am
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CDJ, you said it all.

by   
Reno112303
January 25, 2010, 10:14 am
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Ayinde, more of the "victimhood" mantra? Hell no! Look around, blacks are more recognized today for their accomplishments than ever. How old are you?

by   
Fj1200
January 25, 2010, 9:38 am
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Once again, people are "over-thinking" this concern. For example, most white actresses win for being prostitutes or killers. It is not a stretch to be the "saint", complexity comes from conflict which is one of the first things you learn as a writer. We need to create more of our own roles, but be aware that even we do not agree (i.e., Spike Lee & Tyler Perry) and do not like all the images we create for ourselves. It is entertainent and can be the basis of stereotypes, but I find videos with disrespectful images of Black women and men more harmful worldwide than movies.

by   
CDJ
January 25, 2010, 8:19 am
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i am happy that monique won awards but why do african-americans within acting business always get awards for doing bad roles but when got good serious roles comes, no nomination? halle barry won a oscar for monster's ball but afterward her movie career went sour. something isn't right within hollywood business but i think that all african-americans who act seriously should be nominated regardless if the role is bad or good.

by   
Quita32
January 25, 2010, 7:24 am
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