What? No Binders Full of Black Women?
As a black female comedian, I’ve been asked to comment on Kenan Thompson’s recent statement about why there are no black women in the cast of Saturday Night Live. Since no one is going to ask me about the government shut down, the debt ceiling, or why an entire season of the BBC show, Luther, is only four episodes long I will share my brief thoughts on Kenan.
To be honest I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say besides: welcome to my world. I don’t want to fall into the trap of attacking Kenan for his comments. That would be too easy and would get us no closer to solving the problem.
With the power, majesty, and magic that is the entertainment industry, if they wanted something, they would have it. So, I guess the real question is: can you find something you’re not really looking for?
It is beyond ludicrous and insulting to think that there are no black female comedic actresses that are qualified to be on Saturday Night Live or any other primetime network show. (During World War II they said there were no qualified black pilots to fly military aircraft. Sound familiar?)
But alas, maybe they’re right. Maybe black women aren’t funny because were too busy being angry about statements and conditions like this. Again, welcome to my world.
