Denzel to Daughter: ‘You’re Dark-Skinned’ So You’ll Have to Work Harder

[mangobob79]

All four of Denzel Washington’s children have gone in to the entertainment industry. He says he has extra advice for his daughter Olivia who is currently studying acting at New York Universary.

In ‘The Actors’ roundtable interview with The Hollywood Reporter Washington shared the advice he gives to his daughter. “I say, ‘You’re black, you’re a woman, and you’re dark-skinned at that, so you have to be a triple/quadruple threat.’

Below is Washington’s full answer to the Hollywood Reporter:

I tell my daughter — she’s at NYU — I say: “You’re black, you’re a woman, and you’re dark-skinned at that. So you have to be a triple/quadruple threat.” I said: “You gotta learn how to act. You gotta learn how to dance, sing, move onstage.” That’s the only place, in my humble opinion, you really learn how to act. I said: “Look at Viola Davis. That’s who you want to be. Forget about the little pretty girls; if you’re relying on that, when you hit 40, you’re out the door. You better have some chops.”

 

[alexw]

real shit

but sad shit nevertheless

 

[actinanass]

That's some real shit.

On the real, no matter your skin tone, YOU should work as if your life depends on it.

 

[darth frosty]

real shit

but sad shit nevertheless

Well put

 

[ljinsane]

He kept it 1 Trillion

 

[WhenTheGoingGetsTtuff]

Double Real Shit. Truth is as pure as it gets. My husband has said the same thing. And i say the same thing as well, in all walks of life.

 

[ShortyCumStain]

Ain't no need for him to lie about da shit tryin' to soften it up or be PC. He kept that shit one hunnud.

 

[mangobob79]

ain't no need for him to lie about da shit tryin' to soften it up or be pc. He kept that shit one hunnud.

y'know ? Considerin his status he couldve easily said that "hollywood isnt racist , its all good , colorblind peace & love"

 

[Non-StopJFK2TAB]

That's some real shit.

On the real, no matter your skin tone, YOU should work as if your life depends on it.

Do whites have that same criteria?

Ive been told that a white criminal has a better chance of getting hired than a black non criminal.

 

[keone]

he kept it $10

 

[BenQ]

Where's the full video of that meeting

 

[RoomService]

Truth

 

[kwazdog]

Good shit..

 

[smiffnwessun]

I've feared sharing this reality with my children but I guess this is what we have to tell our children in this racist society.

 

[jwilliam85]

Where's the full video of that meeting

 

[WhenTheGoingGetsTtuff]

I've feared sharing this reality with my children but I guess this is what we have to tell our children in this racist society.

You're doing a disservice to them by doing so. Explain the world to them. Early and often.

 

[LSN]

He could've made as good a point imo w/o telling his daughter something about her complexion...depending on how she handles/receives that advice...she could develop a complex about herself/beauty...

Forget about the little pretty girls; if you’re relying on that, when you hit 40, you’re out the door. You better have some chops.”

Coulda simply stressed that she needs to be more than just a pretty face is she wants to make it in H'wood period...fuck it tho...it's his family and he knows the profession

 

[samh32]

I had this talk with my daughter when she was about six years old after being terrorized over the summer by her own light skinned cousins. She fully understands this and now laugh at most of them because three are single mothers under twenty, and the other one likes women. I tell her I don't have to worry about seeing her in a rap video!

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

y'know ? Considerin his status he couldve easily said that "hollywood isnt racist , its all good , colorblind peace & love"

yup, if he didn't want her to make it then he would have


gotta respect it.

 

[ugk]

damn, I'd love to see the whole interview

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

He could've made as good a point imo w/o telling his daughter something about her complexion...depending on how she handles/receives that advice...she could develop a complex about herself/beauty...



Coulda simply stressed that she needs to be more than just a pretty face is she wants to make it in H'wood period...fuck it tho...it's his family and he knows the profession

no he couldn't have
he's living in the real world not the make believe shit

being dark is another strike against you after already being black and being a woman.

 

[moblack]

Do whites have that same criteria?

Ive been told that a white criminal has a better chance of getting hired than a black non criminal.

No white don't have the same criteria. Does a white criminal have an easier chance? Depends on what kind of job. A lot of jobs run background checks and I don't care if you're as pale as ghost you aren't getting a job.

 

[soja]

Pops told me growing up that I'd probably have to work twice as hard to get half as much as my white counterparts...

 

[Teknique310]

real shit

but sad shit nevertheless

I can think of only 1 movie where Denzels leading lady was his complexion or darker - John Q & what else. And in recent years its been more non black leads opposite him.

It is sad indeed.

 

[LSN]

no he couldn't have
he's living in the real world not the make believe shit

being dark is another strike against you after already being black and being a woman.

Only reason I'm not gonna argue is cuz it's his daughter and he's telling her about his craft...but I would not tell that to my daughter re: her complexion...I would want her to strive to be the best possible regardless of her complexion and keep that separate that from her knowledge of racism in this society...it's not a matter of right and wrong...just how I would prefer to handle it

 

[playahaitian]

Pops told me growing up that I'd probably have to work twice as hard to get half as much as my white counterparts...

remember that Chris Rock joke:

He moved next to Jay Z Mary J. Blige...on one block was the best in R&B, Rap and Comedy and right down the block was a white dentist..

not the BEST dentist even in the damn neighborhood...

A dentist

nuff said.

 

[LSN]

Pops told me growing up that I'd probably have to work twice as hard to get half as much as my white counterparts...

That's a statement my pops made to me in relation to being black in America but not bcuz I was darker than other black ppl

 

[three-fifths]

denz laid it on the line.

in the entertainment world: 'if you're black, stay back'.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Only reason I'm not gonna argue is cuz it's his daughter and he's telling her about his craft...but I would not tell that to my daughter re: her complexion...I would want her to strive to be the best possible regardless of her complexion and keep that separate that from her knowledge of racism in this society...it's not a matter of right and wrong...just how I would prefer to handle it

and i can't begin to even tell you how to raise your child because everyone parents different and there is no right or wrong so i respect what you say.

but when my mom and dad told me about it, i took it as an issue with them, not me. my complexion me being black me being a black man were all POSITIVE things, and it was so positive that people were threatened by it and thus trying to turn it into a negative so in order to overcome this i had to work thrice as hard to overcome their own insecurities, and its worked for me so far.

ive never felt like being dark or brown was bad, i was made to understand however that being this shade, would cause people who were not this (white) to treat me a certain way, to act a certain way to deny me opportunities based on this gift i was born with. and it was an issue with them, not me

just my thoughts
and how i will explain it

 

[Mr. Met]

One of the greatest black American actors in history has to tell his daughter this in 2012.

Meanwhile the Pauly Shore scrubs of the world need not worry about this type of discussion with their kids and they'd have a better shot with less talent.

This more tragic than inspiring.

Hard work is a given but blacks still have to be this 'twice as good' shit?

It's an elegant way of telling her 'remember, you're still seen as a nigga' and I'm willing to bet he wisely drummed that into her head behind closed doors.

Also an indictment on how much control of lack thereof we have in the era of the 'black president'.

 

[LSN]

As I said to another poster above I was taught that as a mentality that ALL black ppl should have...if I have a dark skin child and a lighter skin one I'm not gonna tell one she has to triple/quadruple her efforts and the other she only has to double hers

and i can't begin to even tell you how to raise your child because everyone parents different and there is no right or wrong so i respect what you say.

but when my mom and dad told me about it, i took it as an issue with them, not me. my complexion me being black me being a black man were all POSITIVE things, and it was so positive that people were threatened by it and thus trying to turn it into a negative so in order to overcome this i had to work thrice as hard to overcome their own insecurities, and its worked for me so far.

ive never felt like being dark or brown was bad, i was made to understand however that being this shade, would cause people who were not this (white) to treat me a certain way, to act a certain way to deny me opportunities based on this gift i was born with. and it was an issue with them, not me

just my thoughts
and how i will explain it

 

[kes1111]

I think that's b.s. whoopi goldberg, cicely tyson, pam grier, angela bassett, gabrielle union, nia long, regina king,etc. aren't light skinned and except for whoopi were considered beauties in their day. they have had longer and more successful careers than troy beyer, rae dawn chong, vanity, etc.

that's what black people seem to be obssessed with skin color.

if anything your weight is what they'll descriminate against in show business.

 

[LoneStar29]

He could've made as good a point imo w/o telling his daughter something about her complexion...depending on how she handles/receives that advice...she could develop a complex about herself/beauty...



Coulda simply stressed that she needs to be more than just a pretty face is she wants to make it in H'wood period...fuck it tho...it's his family and he knows the profession

Yeah as real as that was something about it still rubbed me the wrong way

"you're darkskinned, you have to work harder, dont worry about being one of the pretty girls" ... it just sounded weird

But at least she is prepared for the real world now ... I mean hearing that from your own father, means hearing it from anyone else wont make you feel as bad for sure

 

[Decon Frost]

Paging Zoe Saldana

 

[LSN]

Hopefully she's old/smart enough to not use that as an excuse or a crutch...but looking @ the pic she needs a shitload of talent to be on screen cuz her looks are not gonna do it for her...and that has nothing to do w/ her complexion...her father is probably the only reason she has a shot...I don't recall seeing her in any movies tho...so I don't know if she has the talent or not

One of the greatest black American actors in history has to tell his daughter this in 2012.

Meanwhile the Pauly Shore scrubs of the world need not worry about this type of discussion with their kids and they'd have a better shot with less talent.

This more tragic than inspiring.

Hard work is a given but blacks still have to be this 'twice as good' shit?

It's an elegant way of telling her 'remember, you're still seen as a nigga' and I'm willing to bet he wisely drummed that into her head behind closed doors.

Also an indictment on how much control of lack thereof we have in the era of the 'black president'.