Arts & Entertainment
undefeated
continued from page 8
said, we never shy away from
the race and class dynamics that are very prevalent in the
film. I would hope that after being emotionally drawn into
the human aspect of the story, the film can inspire a greater
dialogue about the serious divide between the haves and
have-nots in this country, as well as looking at the ties
between race and class and how they affect each other.
KW: How do you feel about the possibility of becoming
the first black director to win an Academy Award?
TJM: First and foremost I’m extremely honored for such
recognition. At the same time, I would have a hard time
claiming such an achievement since I’m half black. My
experience navigating the world is night and day different
than that of someone whose parents are both Black. I per-
sonally, identify much more with being mixed race. It
would be hard for me to accept such an achievement with-
out also acknowledging my Native American,
Scandinavian, Chinese and Jewish roots as well! I definite-
ly think it warrants a greater conversation. I wonder if
there’s some kind of designation for being the first mixed
race director to win for best documentary? Probably not.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you
wish someone would?
TJM: Do you identify as being Black?
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever
afraid?
TJM: Yes, all of the time. Every time I reach a new stage
in my career or in my life,
I’m completely terrified!
On TV: Black History
Sharon Malone will star in the
upcoming
90-minute
PBS
documentary “Slavery by Another
Name.” The wife of u.S. Attorney
General Eric Holder, dr. Malone tells
the heartbreaking story of her uncle
Henry, one of thousands of Black
men pulled back into a forced
labor system in which they were
arrested – largely on trumped up
charges – and compelled to work
without pay as prisoners.
With Laurence Fishburne narrating
and Sam Pollard directing, “Slavery
by Another Name,” premieres
Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 at 9 p.m. ET
on PBS.
The film is based on the eye-
opening book by douglas A.
Blackmon, which exposes a part of
American history that most folks
either had no clue existed, or didn’t know existed to the extent that it did. Prisoners were virtually sold
to private parties – like plantation owners or corporations – and the practice was tolerated by both
the North and South, but largely ignored by the u.S. Justice department.
“I want people to understand that this is not something that’s divorced and separate, and this
doesn’t have anything to do with them,” dr. Malone told Eurweb at the Television Critics Association
press tour last week. “If you were a black person who grew up in the South, some way or the other –
whether or not you were directly involved in the system as my uncle was – you knew somebody who
was, or your daily lives were circumscribed by those circumstances.”
KW: The Columbus Short
question: Are you happy?
TJM: Good question. I’m
not sure I can quantify hap-
piness.
KW: The Teri Emerson
question: When was the last
time you had a good laugh?
TJM: When I saw that I
was nominated for an Acad-
emy Award.
KW: What is your guilti-
est pleasure?
TJM: Not sure I can put it
in print.
KW: The bookworm Troy
Johnson question: What was
the last book you read?
TJM: Norwegian Wood
by Haruki Murakami.
KW: The music maven
Heather Covington ques-
tion: What was the last song
you listened to?
TJM: Can’t answer it. I
have music playing all of
the time. It’s continuous.
KW: What is your
favorite dish to cook?
TJM: A little stir fry that I
like to call “World’s
Famous.” No one else
thinks it’s famous, let alone
good.
KW: Dante Lee, author of
“Black Business Secrets,”
asks: What was the best
business decision you ever
made, and what was the
worst?
TJM: The one thing I’m
really bad at is making
money. I think my best busi-
ness decision is still to come
and I’m sure my worse will
follow
shortly
after.
[Chuckles]
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February 8, 2012 The Portland Skanner Page 9