The Oscars

1. 76

   Valeantposted 18 months ago

   This was a post I saw on Facebook:
   
   Angela Bassett and TEMS have both been accused, by a largely white audience, of being “rude” at the Oscars last night. Angela had the same face I did when her name was not called. She can be disappointed and it not be an international incident.
   
   Nigerian born TEMS wore a structurally elaborate couture gown and people are calling her “a cloud” and “a rude distraction”.  Let me tell you, if I were her and scored my first Oscar nomination, my dress would have been three times that size and in bright fire engine red.
   
   Black women are allowed to take up space in this world, even on Oscar night!
   
   
   
   My take was that disappointment is fine but a lack of graciousness in defeat was the issue when she chose to remain seated while the rest of the crowd gave Curtis a standing ovation.
   
   And there's a reason why people do not wear elaborate headwear at these kinds of events.  It obviously obstructs the views of the people seated behind.  The apparel choice, while elegant, showed a major lack of consideration for any others attending the event.
   
   Is using race to excuse poor behavior just as bad as trying to use race as a causation?

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   1. 80

      Credence2posted 18 months agoin reply to this

      Using race to excuse poor behavior is a form of "soft bigotry".
      
      While causation may or may not be true depending upon the circumstance.

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   2. 85

      Sharlee01posted 18 months agoin reply to this

      Call me crazy --- I loved how she stood out, and she looked beautiful.  I think the few that were inconvenienced will have a story to tell... But TEMS  gown will be one on the list to remember.

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      1. 76

         Valeantposted 18 months agoin reply to this

         It was a great gown, no doubt, but that headpiece needed to have an option to lower once she got to her seat, just for the consideration of others.

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   3. 82

      GA Andersonposted 18 months agoin reply to this

      I also saw those headlines and that image. Your response would be my own, I don't see anything racist about the 'rude' complaints.
      
      It doesn't matter that I haven't looked further than your OP, my perception doesn't see anything racist—within the context of the OP, that would change my mind. Of those that do, I'd say they were looking looking for it because they think too damn much of themselves. They're idiots.
      
      It would almost be worth the effort to find that post and check out its comments.
      
      However, I did see an image of the guy behind 'the cloud' practically leaning into the seat beside him to try to see the stage. For an event of this magnitude (to those in the industry), I wouldn't be as 'accommodating' as that guy. I would have raised a stink. The woman and gown were beautiful and their combination was striking, but inconsiderate rudeness isn't excused by that.
      
      As an afterthought, it seems very improbable that the woman, or the designer, never had thoughts or discussions about the design blocking folks behind her. That would make her rudeness even worse, it was premeditated.
      
      GA

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2. 96

   wildernessposted 18 months ago

   I'm with Valeant here; being black, or any other color, does not excuse rude behavior, does not excuse a total lack of concern about anyone but self.
   
   I daresay that if that dress had been on a white woman, and in front of her instead of on her, she would have something other than "black women can take up space" to say about it.

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