Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania

More about race, less about truth

.

By Ray Hanania

It was bad enough when white racists would lie about the physical attributes of African Americans to justify maintaining the dual system of segregation.

Just as bad is the reverse racism that grew from the suffering many African Americans faced as a consequence of racism, even as the civil rights movement tried to right the nation’s human relations keel.

Yet, despite years of challenging demonizing stereotypes, there are still people who exploit racism–stirring the pot for personal gain and self-aggrandizement.

That is exactly what is happening at Netflix, the behemoth streaming entertainment network that not only is a source of entertainment but often a source of supposed education.

RayHanania 1

Ray Hanania

Netflix recently announced the return of a docudrama series produced by Jada Pinkett-Smith, who is best known these days for her judgmental silence last year at the Oscars when her uncontrollable husband, Will Smith, rushed to the stage and punched comedian and emcee Chris Rock in the face on national TV. I guess anyone with fame and money can be a Muhammad Ali, or a historian on ancient truths.

Pinkett-Smith returns to a second season on her series African Queens and this season will feature the life of Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen who reigned over Egypt for 20 years. The Hollywood role of Cleopatra was best performed in the 1963 Twentieth Century Fox movie blockbuster Cleopatra.

But Pinkett-Smith, reflecting the growing atmosphere of racial confrontation in America, cast her Cleopatra character as being black, rather than as European white.

There is only one real authority on Cleopatra and Egyptian history: the famed Egyptologist and scholar Zahi Hawass, whom Pinkett-Smith apparently did not consult. Hawass wrote in in Arab News newspaper on April 20 Cleopatra was white European. Most offensive, Hawass writes, is the Netflix docudrama asserts to be an “accurate account” of the life of the ruler of the Ptolemic Kingdom of Egypt, when it is not.

Ignorant of historical fact, Pinkett Smith, who has no training in ancient history, falsely claims Cleopatra’s race is “highly debated.”

I think this was done more to slap white Americans in the face than it was to correct an alleged historical error on race.

Hawass writes with academic precession for Arab News, “Cleopatra was not black. As well documented history attests, she was the descendant of a Macedonian Greek general who was a contemporary of Alexander the Great. Her first language was Greek, and in contemporary busts and portraits she is depicted clearly as being white.”

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2290456

Rather than hold herself accountable for this historical error, Pinkett-Smith, like her husband, slaps the public in the face. The actress chosen to represent Cleopatra, Adelle James, said, “If you don’t like the casting, don’t watch the show.”

https://egyptindependent.com/if-you-dont-like-the-casting-dont-watch-the-show-cleopatra-star-responds-to-race-controversy/

Wow! It sure sounds like the same kind of racist rebuke that civil rights activists faced when they fought to assert African American rights and accuracy during the American civil rights movement.

Netflix is an “entertainment” platform where the world streams entertainment, fiction and non-fiction historical truths and untruths. But there should be some limits on what wealthy people like Pinkett-Smith can do and say on their platform. To claim the casting is accurate is a brazen insult to the intelligence of the public and especially to the Arab World.

Netflix is allowing Pinkett-Smith to rewrite history and truth in order to satisfy the racially driven woke movement in which fiction is more important than truth or accuracy.

There are so many other real African queens Pinkett-Smith could portray. Pinkett-Smith is basically saying Cleopatra’s “real Black race” was historically marginalized in an act of anti-black racism. That is as offensive as when her husband, Will Smith, trivialized the great performance talents of the hundreds of Hollywood Oscar nominees when he walked up to the microphone and violently attacked Chris Rock, all for personal gain and selfish want.

The Cleopatra controversy doesn’t help empower Netflix as a platform for reliable entertainment or documentaries. All it does is weaken advances many in the civil rights movement achieved by bringing understanding and truth to the shattered relations between blacks and whites in America.

Maybe Netflix might consider doing a docudrama on the American civil rights movement, and cast Brad Pitt, who is white, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was black.

That is exactly what Netflix is doing by allowing Pinkett-Smith to cast Cleopatra with a black actress who ignorantly asserts history is uncertain on Cleopatra’s race. History is absolutely clear on that point.

To be ignorant on a Hollywood movie screen is no different than being ignorant in life.

(Ray Hanania is a former Chicago City Hall reporter and award-winning columnist. Visit hanania.com for more commentary.)

Local News

Father Bill Killeen

Retired St. Patricia pastor cleared of sexual abuse allegation

The Archdiocese of Chicago has cleared retired Father William Killeen of allegations of sexual abuse following an investigation. Father Killeen, who served as an associate pastor at St. Patricia Parish in Hickory Hills from 1982 to 1989, had been accused of abusing a minor over 40 years ago during his time at the parish. The…

dvn 11-8-24 la grange park district

LaGrange park district improvements advance with voter support

Voters approved a $13.86 million referendum for the Park District of La Grange on Tuesday, with 74 percent voting in favor. With 10 of 12 precincts reporting, 5,340 yes votes were recorded, compared to 1,898 no votes, according to the Cook County Clerk’s website. “We’re very excited,” said Jenny Bechtold, executive director of the Park…

A blue ribbon flutters lightly on a tree outside West Lawn’s Hubbard HS in honor of slain police officer Enrique Martinez, a neighborhood graduate. The ribbon, a symbol of fallen police officers who died serving their community can sometimes be seen with a black background representing mourning. The color blue represents the “thin blue line” officers are sworn to defend, according to memorialribbon.org.

Slain West Lawn CPD Officer Martinez shooting suspect charged

A 23-year-old man has been charged with the shooting death of Officer Enrique Martinez, a Hubbard High School graduate and West Lawn resident, who was killed in the line of duty on Chicago’s South Side. The fatal encounter has reignited citywide concerns over rising gun violence and its toll on both residents and law enforcement.…

Oak Lawn Park District hosted its annual Howl-O-Ween on Oct. 19 at the Wolfe Wildlife Refuge, located at 109th Street and Laramie Avenue in Oak Lawn. (Supplied photos)

Oak Lawn’s Howl-O-Ween Brings Thrills, Chills, and Family Fun

On a crisp October evening, the Wolfe Wildlife Refuge transformed into a magical, spooky wonderland as families gathered for Oak Lawn’s annual Howl-O-Ween celebration. Laughter mingled with the rustle of leaves, while costumed children raced from one activity station to the next, collecting treats and creating memories under the twilight sky. The Oak Lawn Park…

Jill Stein’s suburban campaign stop in Orland Park. (Photos by Julius Allen)

Presidential candidate Jill Stein advocates for People Power at Green Party Forum in Orland Park

Nonprofit organizations Al Hub and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) co-hosted a Q&A forum on Wednesday, Oct. 16, featuring Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein. Held at an office building in Orland Park, located at 16101 S. 108th Avenue, the event showcased the Green Party’s focus on community-driven activism, branding itself as a…

The Oak Lawn girls volleyball team won the SSC Red title for the second year in a row. (Photo courtesy of Oak Lawn Community High School)

Oak Lawn girls volleyball repeats at SSC Red champs

The Oak Lawn Community High School girls volleyball team opened the season steamrolling the competition. In fact, they repeated as champions at the Fenton Bison Blast-off Tournament, and didn’t even lose a single set before heading into their own Spartan Classic in late September. They finished fourth there, but they learned how to react when…

Wolniak Funeral Home has erected a huge Day of the Dead altar. (Photo by Kathy Headley)

Wolniak Funeral Home celebrates Day of the Dead

The 102-year-old Wolniak Funeral Home has served generations of families throughout the years. Sitting on the southwest corner of 57th and Pulaski, the Polish Funeral Home is reaching out with what they are calling a “legacy of love to the community.” Respecting the traditions and heritage of the Hispanic members of the community, the folks…

Burbank Police Chief Jack Garcia discusses most recent arrest and ticket numbers and the support for the 12-hour schedule change at the Oct. 23 meeting. (Photo by Sean Kirchman)

Burbank police adopt a 12-hour work schedule

Burbank police will make permanent a trial program that moved them from working eight-hour tours to now working 12-hour shifts. The city approved the work schedule at its Oct. 23 city council meeting. The city confirmed the 12-hour work schedule memorandum of understanding with the Illinois Council of Police. This means that Burbank police officers,…

Karen Wasko

Drunken driver sentenced to 11 years in Summit trustee’s fatal crash

The driver responsible for the St. Patrick’s Day 2023 crash that killed former Summit village trustee Karen Wasko has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Judge John “Terry” Gallagher handed down the sentence to Joel Velazco Jr., 23, during a hearing Thursday in Room 110 of the Bridgeview Courthouse. Wasko’s daughters, Nicole and Kelly,…

Damian Macias

Bridgeview man faces felony charges in carjacking, armed robbery spree

Two men were charged Thursday with multiple felonies after a series of armed robberies and a carjacking in Chicago, authorities said. James Robinson, 21, of the 100 block of East 119th Street in Chicago, and Damian Macias, 21, of the 8800 block of South Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, were arrested by the Citywide Vehicular Hijacking…

Neighbors

Father Bill Killeen

Retired St. Patricia pastor cleared of sexual abuse allegation

The Archdiocese of Chicago has cleared retired Father William Killeen of allegations of sexual abuse following an investigation. Father Killeen, who served as an associate pastor at St. Patricia Parish in Hickory Hills from 1982 to 1989, had been accused of abusing a minor over 40 years ago during his time at the parish. The…

dvn 11-8-24 la grange park district

LaGrange park district improvements advance with voter support

Voters approved a $13.86 million referendum for the Park District of La Grange on Tuesday, with 74 percent voting in favor. With 10 of 12 precincts reporting, 5,340 yes votes were recorded, compared to 1,898 no votes, according to the Cook County Clerk’s website. “We’re very excited,” said Jenny Bechtold, executive director of the Park…

A blue ribbon flutters lightly on a tree outside West Lawn’s Hubbard HS in honor of slain police officer Enrique Martinez, a neighborhood graduate. The ribbon, a symbol of fallen police officers who died serving their community can sometimes be seen with a black background representing mourning. The color blue represents the “thin blue line” officers are sworn to defend, according to memorialribbon.org.

Slain West Lawn CPD Officer Martinez shooting suspect charged

A 23-year-old man has been charged with the shooting death of Officer Enrique Martinez, a Hubbard High School graduate and West Lawn resident, who was killed in the line of duty on Chicago’s South Side. The fatal encounter has reignited citywide concerns over rising gun violence and its toll on both residents and law enforcement.…

Oak Lawn Park District hosted its annual Howl-O-Ween on Oct. 19 at the Wolfe Wildlife Refuge, located at 109th Street and Laramie Avenue in Oak Lawn. (Supplied photos)

Oak Lawn’s Howl-O-Ween Brings Thrills, Chills, and Family Fun

On a crisp October evening, the Wolfe Wildlife Refuge transformed into a magical, spooky wonderland as families gathered for Oak Lawn’s annual Howl-O-Ween celebration. Laughter mingled with the rustle of leaves, while costumed children raced from one activity station to the next, collecting treats and creating memories under the twilight sky. The Oak Lawn Park…

Jill Stein’s suburban campaign stop in Orland Park. (Photos by Julius Allen)

Presidential candidate Jill Stein advocates for People Power at Green Party Forum in Orland Park

Nonprofit organizations Al Hub and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) co-hosted a Q&A forum on Wednesday, Oct. 16, featuring Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein. Held at an office building in Orland Park, located at 16101 S. 108th Avenue, the event showcased the Green Party’s focus on community-driven activism, branding itself as a…

The Oak Lawn girls volleyball team won the SSC Red title for the second year in a row. (Photo courtesy of Oak Lawn Community High School)

Oak Lawn girls volleyball repeats at SSC Red champs

The Oak Lawn Community High School girls volleyball team opened the season steamrolling the competition. In fact, they repeated as champions at the Fenton Bison Blast-off Tournament, and didn’t even lose a single set before heading into their own Spartan Classic in late September. They finished fourth there, but they learned how to react when…

Wolniak Funeral Home has erected a huge Day of the Dead altar. (Photo by Kathy Headley)

Wolniak Funeral Home celebrates Day of the Dead

The 102-year-old Wolniak Funeral Home has served generations of families throughout the years. Sitting on the southwest corner of 57th and Pulaski, the Polish Funeral Home is reaching out with what they are calling a “legacy of love to the community.” Respecting the traditions and heritage of the Hispanic members of the community, the folks…

Burbank Police Chief Jack Garcia discusses most recent arrest and ticket numbers and the support for the 12-hour schedule change at the Oct. 23 meeting. (Photo by Sean Kirchman)

Burbank police adopt a 12-hour work schedule

Burbank police will make permanent a trial program that moved them from working eight-hour tours to now working 12-hour shifts. The city approved the work schedule at its Oct. 23 city council meeting. The city confirmed the 12-hour work schedule memorandum of understanding with the Illinois Council of Police. This means that Burbank police officers,…

Karen Wasko

Drunken driver sentenced to 11 years in Summit trustee’s fatal crash

The driver responsible for the St. Patrick’s Day 2023 crash that killed former Summit village trustee Karen Wasko has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Judge John “Terry” Gallagher handed down the sentence to Joel Velazco Jr., 23, during a hearing Thursday in Room 110 of the Bridgeview Courthouse. Wasko’s daughters, Nicole and Kelly,…

Damian Macias

Bridgeview man faces felony charges in carjacking, armed robbery spree

Two men were charged Thursday with multiple felonies after a series of armed robberies and a carjacking in Chicago, authorities said. James Robinson, 21, of the 100 block of East 119th Street in Chicago, and Damian Macias, 21, of the 8800 block of South Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, were arrested by the Citywide Vehicular Hijacking…