‘Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya Defends His Blackness In Response to Samuel Jackson

[KingDanz]

Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya is speaking out after Samuel L. Jackson questioned his casting in Jordan Peele’s satirical horror film Get Out. Jackson had wondered why the British actor was cast in the pic that tackles race in the U.S., instead of the role being given to an African-American who could better resonate with the theme. Jackson later clarified his remarks, saying that he was criticizing the Hollywood system in general, not the actor.

“Here’s the thing about that critique, though. I’m dark-skinned, bro,” Kaluuya told GQ, explaining that he has also experienced similar situations that many African-Americans have. “When I’m around black people, I’m made to feel ‘other’ because I’m dark-skinned. I’ve had to wrestle with that, with people going, ‘You’re too black.’ Then I come to America, and they say, ‘You’re not black enough.’ I go to Uganda, I can’t speak the language. In India, I’m black. In the black community, I’m dark-skinned. In America, I’m British. Bro!”

[Black people in the UK], the people who are the reason I'm even about to have a career, had to live in a time where they went looking for housing and signs would say, "NO IRISH. NO DOGS. NO BLACKS." That's reality. Police would round up all these black people, get them in the back of a van, and wrap them in blankets so their bruises wouldn't show when they beat them. That's the history that London has gone through. The Brixton riots, the Tottenham riots, the 2011 riots, because black people were being killed by police. That's what's happening in London. But it's not in the mainstream media. Those stories aren't out there like that.

Adding that black people in the UK have also dealt with racism and segregation, Kaluuya explained how there aren’t many stories out there that tell their experiences. “So people get an idea of what they might think the experience is,” he expressed, touching on how Jackson stated, “some things are universal, but everything ain’t.”

“You’re getting singled out for the color of your skin, but not the content of your spirit, and that’s everywhere,” the actor continued. “That’s my whole life, being seen as ‘other.’ Not fitting in in Uganda, not Britain, not America. They just highlight whatever feature they want.”

Let me say, I'm not trying to culture-vulture the thing. I empathize. That script spoke to me. I've been to Ugandan weddings, and funerals, and seen that cousin bring a white girl. That's a thing in all communities. I really respect African-American people. I just want to tell black stories,” Kaluuya expressed. “This is the frustrating thing, bro — in order to prove that I can play this role, I have to open up about the trauma that I’ve experienced as a black person. I have to show off my struggle so that people accept that I’m black. No matter that every single room I go to I’m usually the darkest person there. You know what I’m saying? I kind of resent that mentality. I’m just an individual. Just because you’re black, you taken and used to represent something. It mirrors what happens in the film. I resent that I have to prove that I’m black. I don’t know what that is. I’m still processing it.”

As for director Peele, he previously told The Observer that, once he wrapped his head around how universal the movie’s themes were, it was easy for him to cast Kaluuya “because at the end of the day, he was the best person for the role.”

Kaluuya recently was cast in Steve McQueen’s Widows, starring Viola Davis.

Meanwhile, Get Out has been a box office hit, becoming Blumhouse’s fastest title to cross the $100 million mark. The Universal release, which cost only an estimated $4.5M before P&A, crossed the mark this weekend, earning a total of $111.05M.

Also..

 

[TEH]

I understand completely that he has had a simillar experience. What Sam Jackson overlooked is that white supremacy is universal. I wish the brother the best.

 

[badtguy]

Samuel l Jackson is dumb for that comment

Secondly It was an AA who approves of this british nikka

 

[Treblemaka]

I cant say i disagree with where he's coming from or where Sam is coming from.

But in public and with the media isnt always the best place to discuss these disagreements.

 

[Bruce LeRoy]

SMH...I don't even know why he had to say anything. He said something similar about rappers taking black actors jobs in the 90's as if they were taking up oscar worthy roles. When Cube snapped back at him he backed away from his point just like he did here... So why bother? I get where HE is coming from because he was a struggling actor at one point who literally started from the bottom before gettng that Jewels role in Pulp Fiction. But he needs to pick better criticisms...

I don't care if they are british, french, or whatever if they can pull it off they are doing their job.

 

[Bay Area]

Im African American but have the exact same complexion as Daniel Kaluuya. I can 100% relate to what hes saying.

 

[No1]

His comment had nothing to do with what Samuel Jackson said. Sam even gave him props. Sam just spoke to African-American actors being overlooked for British Actors. He's not the first one to speak on this idea that it's being falsely promoted that there are not any talented black actors. They're simply not getting the opportunities and the black brits who get no opportunities in the UK are coming to the US and getting those roles because they are cheaper among other things. Samuel spoke to an actual frustration within the profession.

 

[dappadonna]

shouts to my bredda :tinchsalute:

Samuel talking out his jaw

 

[JayGatsby]

that "too black" comment is real, heard it so much,many people say that shyt behind others back when im at parties....

hell I just heard it o the star in the morning youtube video

 

[JayGatsby]

His comment had nothing to do with what Samuel Jackson said. Sam even gave him props. Sam just spoke to African-American actors being overlooked for British Actors. He's not the first one to speak on this idea that it's being falsely promoted that there are not any talented black actors. They're simply not getting the opportunities and the black brits who get no opportunities in the UK are coming to the US and getting those roles because they are cheaper among other things. Samuel spoke to an actual frustration within the profession.

name me 7 of these so called brit actors that are taking your jobs....

and dont include idris, he is an elite actor

il help you

ashley thomas

john boyega

daniel kaluuya

finish it off for me

 

[No1]

name me 7 of these so called brit actors that are taking your jobs....

and dont include idris, he is an elite actor

il help you

ashley thomas

john boyega

daniel kaluuya

finish it off for me

That's not my job. All I said was judge what he said in context. And it doesn't need to be "big" jobs for it to happen. Moreover, I think Daniel has talent so there's nothing against him. He went on some bullshyt about his skin that had nothing to do with what Samuel L. Jackson was talking about to gain sympathy after consulting with his agent. If anything he's the one taking this to an awkward place that it doesn't need to go. This is after Boyega was on Twitter telling Jackson to lose the "slave mentality." These guys look like idiots. We all know that this discussion has been festering for years and Jackson's just the old dude who doesn't give a fukk.

 

[Matt504]

I think he missed Sam's entire point. This has nothing to do with him being dark skinned, it's about him being a non African American being cast over actual African Americans to tell an African American story.

Racism/White supremacy is global but it's completely dishonest to suggest that it operates the same way in the UK as it does here, that's actually the genius of white supremacy. The reason he's made to feel "othered" no matter where he goes is the genius of white supremacy because it means a Black person from the UK and a Black person from America will have a more difficult time relating to one another although both are Black and might share the exact same skin color.

The flavor of white supremacy we experience here in America is slightly different, different enough to make Samuel Jackson's critique valid.

 

[JayGatsby]

That's not my job. All I said was judge what he said in context. And it doesn't need to be "big" jobs for it to happen. Moreover, I think Daniel has talent so there's nothing against him. He went on some bullshyt about his skin that had nothing to do with what Samuel L. Jackson was talking about to gain sympathy after consulting with his agent. If anything he's the one taking this to an awkward place that it doesn't need to go. This is after Boyega was on Twitter telling Jackson to lose the "slave mentality." These guys look like idiots. We all know that this discussion has been festering for years and Jackson's just the old dude who doesn't give a fukk.

but it is, it seems like you believe in what samuel had to say

so I asked you to expland on such statement,and include names and roles you deemed "stolen"

why does it matter if hes from the uk,africa,Portugal etc, if the role was executed to perfection ?

this whole situation is petty, EVEN though samuel himself said he hasn't even seen the movie yet

effectively jacksons comments were about interracial relationships ..

you guys gotta cut the bullshyt

 

[thernbroom]

I swear "African Americans" are some of the most enslaved ppl of African descent out of Trans Atlantic Slavery so many are so quick to have that plantation mentality as if what we go through here in America is some isolated phenomenon. Negros need to get out this country and really see the world outside of America.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

Samuel l Jackson is dumb for that comment

Secondly It was an AA who approves of this british nikka

except Sam had a point.

Most of Hollywood has been infiltrated by tons of British actors stealing roles. And it is because they're cheaper.

Its not just black actors.