Lack of representation = systemic racism: Footloose is Exhibit A

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go watch the last scene where they dance at the prom and imagine what the director and choreographer must have been thinking when the white guys were trying to breakdance. It’s a featured scene. This was the height of the breakdancing craze. Only racism could have prompted an all-white cast for the big dance scene featuring breakdancing.

This is a really pathetic attempt at trying to get people inflamed about a non issue.

[Anonymous]

Here you go OP, diverse enough for you?

[Anonymous]

You are so so right, in a tad bit late on this but I literally just noticed mid movie there’s no black people. If movies from the 50s can incorporate diversity in their films, media 20 years after the civil rights movement should as well. The people who are dismissing you are 100% white folks who never have to worry about watching a film and thinking, “why are none of my people there.” White priceless

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What percentage of rural Kansas was Black in 1984?

6%

But does it matter?

Movies are made for a national and ultimately global audience.

America was 12% black in 1984.

And they opted to only have white kids in the big dance scene. Probably 100 kids, and all are white. They feature dancers, including a blue eyed blonde hair guy doing MJ-esque breakdancing moves, and it didn’t occur to anyone on the set to add any diversity?

I grew up in rural New England. Out of a high school of about 1,000 there were about 10 black kids (that includes kids that were mixed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are so so right, in a tad bit late on this but I literally just noticed mid movie there’s no black people. If movies from the 50s can incorporate diversity in their films, media 20 years after the civil rights movement should as well. The people who are dismissing you are 100% white folks who never have to worry about watching a film and thinking, “why are none of my people there.” White priceless

It takes place in Utah.. in the early 1980s. Of course there are no people of color, you dufus.

[Anonymous]

Well those Black actors were too busy being in other breakdown moves that came out in the 80s so they didn’t have time to bother with some token role in a dance scene.

I watched more prime time major network tv shows featuring Black families in the 70s/80s than my kid who grew up in the 2000’s ever did.

Even old shows like Seinfeld which was an all white cast did a better job of including the occasional minority character better than is done today were they throw in a character to achieve a diversity quota and it’s forced.

Movies of the 80s - yeah they were chock full of stereotypes but the good news is we have moved on from that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait! Are you trying to cancel the 80's?

[Anonymous]

Who cares? If you don’t like the movie, don’t watch it.

[Anonymous]

OP reminds me of the people upset because the Little Women movie didn’t have black people in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished rewatching Footloose.

Filmed in 1984 when 12% of the American population was Black, yet there are zero Black kids in a movie about dancing.

Remember the big dance scene at the end? They had white guys breakdancing. This was at the height of the breakdancing craze btw. All white cast, and they didn’t even bother to add any Black or brown dancers in the big school dance. Zero.

Pretty shocking.

There is a lot of racism and other issues from the 80s. Everyone has to acknowledge that b/c it is patently obvious. That doesn't mean I don't love the movies or still watch them.

One of my all time faves is 16 Candles. I know just about every line. But, damn, some of that is SUPER cringe. Like, how did we not all see it or acknowledge it for what it was. THe whole Long Duck Dong thing. And Samantha being mortified that her friend may have suggested she "do it on a cloud" with a black guy. . . . Plus the lack of representation that OP notes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? If you don’t like the movie, don’t watch it.

I care to at least have the balls to acknowledge it instead of being willfully obtuse. Of course it's important. I still LOVE these movies but that doesn't mean that they were not without problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? If you don’t like the movie, don’t watch it.

I care to at least have the balls to acknowledge it instead of being willfully obtuse. Of course it's important. I still LOVE these movies but that doesn't mean that they were not without problems.

I grew up in a very small rural town without any minorities. Those places exist now, and did then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? If you don’t like the movie, don’t watch it.

I care to at least have the balls to acknowledge it instead of being willfully obtuse. Of course it's important. I still LOVE these movies but that doesn't mean that they were not without problems.

What are you acknowledging?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone alive in the 1980s people of different races and religions and income levels really only interacted at work.

And even white people the Jews, Italians, Catholics, Wasps, Rich or Poor all lived in different neighborhoods.

My 1,000 person HS had 8-9 black kids. Meanwhile a HS around 7 miles away had only 8-9 white kids.

Bars I went to were often 100 percent white. There were black bars, gay bars, heck Greek bars. Divorcée bars, college bars. We did not interact

Where did you grow up? I was in HS in the 1980/ as a white Irish Catholic kid. My best friends were a jew, two Asians and a Mexican. We mixed! And it wasn’t like this was NYC—this was a small city that is not near either coast. I would say there was more segregation of various types in the 80s—god forbid the athletes mixed with the nerds. (Well, it did happen but it was more like a funny story when it did. Look—he’s on the basketball team but he also takes calculus! Isn’t that hilarious?)
I’m not saying it was some racial shangrila but the idea that people didn’t mix at all is really weird.

I know this is an old comment, but the bolded is exactly the plot of The Breakfast Club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are so so right, in a tad bit late on this but I literally just noticed mid movie there’s no black people. If movies from the 50s can incorporate diversity in their films, media 20 years after the civil rights movement should as well. The people who are dismissing you are 100% white folks who never have to worry about watching a film and thinking, “why are none of my people there.” White priceless

It takes place in Utah.. in the early 1980s. Of course there are no people of color, you dufus.

+1000

So many idiots. I just can’t.