Was John Wayne a racist?

[Anonymous]

I wonder what the reaction would have been today to these remarks he made in a Playboy interview in 1971.

When asked about discrimination he said the following:

"With a lot of blacks, there's quite a bit of resentment along with their dissent, and possibly rightfully so. But we can't all of a sudden get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the blacks. I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don't believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people."

And here's what he had to say about promoting diversity in Hollywood:

"I've directed two pictures and I gave the blacks their proper position. I had a black slave in The Alamo, and I had a correct number of blacks in The Green Berets. If it's supposed to be a black character, naturally I use a black actor. But I don't go so far as hunting for positions for them. I think the Hollywood studios are carrying their tokenism a little too far. There's no doubt that 10 percent of the population is black, or colored, or whatever they want to call themselves; they certainly aren't Caucasian. Anyway, I suppose there should be the same percentage of the colored race in films as in society. But it can't always be that way. There isn't necessarily going to be 10 percent of the grips or sound men who are black, because more than likely, 10 percent haven't trained themselves for that type of work."

[Anonymous]

Idk ...but Elvis was a hero to most

[Anonymous]

What's the point of your post, OP? Ignite the racists on DCUM, yet again.

[Anonymous]

Thought that was known but not talked about. Wasn't he also against gays?

[Anonymous]

It was a different time.

But I suppose the PC crowd will demand that the name of the Santa Ana airport be changed. Unfortunately for them, it is in the middle of GOP dominated Orange County.

The Duke was still a good actor, though.

[Anonymous]

Why would it surprise you if he was a racist?

Was Thomas Jefferson a great man?

Was he also a slave owner who had sex with and fathered children on one of his slaves?

Were there nazis who were kind to some children and fed others to gas chambers?

Yes, yes, and yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Idk ...but Elvis was a hero to most

That was the first thing I thought about when I read the subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Idk ...but Elvis was a hero to most

But he never meant shit to me....

[Anonymous]

He was born in 1907. The first quote actually sounds progressive for his generation.

[Anonymous]

I did not know that John Wayne held these views. It does make one wonder about others of his generation. Were most of them also racists?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did not know that John Wayne held these views. It does make one wonder about others of his generation. Were most of them also racists?

This was 43 years ago, so they're all dead at this point or nearly.

Everybody is racist to some degree.

[Anonymous]

I don't know the scope of his views but to give him a fair hearing I think his quote needs to be considered in the light of the social turmoil at the time such as the black panthers etc and I believe it seemed like the entire country was being ripped apart. Had he lived longer to weather the change it's hard to say how his views may have developed. Or not. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idk ...but Elvis was a hero to most

That was the first thing I thought about when I read the subject.

Me too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know the scope of his views but to give him a fair hearing I think his quote needs to be considered in the light of the social turmoil at the time such as the black panthers etc and I believe it seemed like the entire country was being ripped apart. Had he lived longer to weather the change it's hard to say how his views may have developed. Or not. Just a thought.

Keep in mind that these views were expressed in 1971. Yes, it was a period a turmoil what with the civil rights movement, the Vietnam war, etc. But quite honestly, some of the things he said were akin to what one would expect from a segregationist. He clearly thought at the time of the interview that whites were a superior race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know the scope of his views but to give him a fair hearing I think his quote needs to be considered in the light of the social turmoil at the time such as the black panthers etc and I believe it seemed like the entire country was being ripped apart. Had he lived longer to weather the change it's hard to say how his views may have developed. Or not. Just a thought.

Da Fug???