Entertainment
I Don’t Want To Just Be The First Black Actor – Idris Elba
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British actor, Idris Elba has come out to criticise the tag ‘Black Actor’ that has been placed on him by the media.
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According to Elba, he would rather be identified as himself in public as he considers his journey the same as even a white actor in the business.
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Speaking on Esquire, Elba states racism is only an issue because people make it powerful.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that actor Idris Elba has revealed that he no longer refers to himself as a “Black actor” as he opens up about racism in Hollywood.
In an interview with Esquire ahead of the release of his highly-anticipated film “Luther: The Fallen Sun,” the 50-year-old movie star shared his thoughts on the issue of racism in the industry.
Elba stated that racism is a real issue but only as powerful as one allows it to be. He explained that he stopped describing himself as a Black actor when he realized that it put him in a box and took away the power from racism.
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Instead, Elba focuses on just being an actor, regardless of his skin color.
The star continued to say that while he is a member of the Black community, he doesn’t put emphasis on this aspect when it comes to his career.
He shared that as he progressed in his career, he was often asked about being the first Black actor to do something. However, Elba stated that being the first Idris is more important to him than being the first Black actor.
In 2020, Elba shared that he experiences racism as often as he breathes, and his success has not negated this reality for him. He emphasised that asking him about racism is like asking him about breathing, which is a constant in his life.
Idris Elba’s comments come after the release of the official trailer for “Luther: The Fallen Sun,” in which he stars.
The actor’s statement highlights the ongoing struggle for racial equality in Hollywood and the importance of taking power away from racism to create a more inclusive industry.
FURTHER READING
“I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box. We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it’s just skin. Rant over.”
“As you get up the ladder, you get asked what it’s like to be the first Black to do this or that,” He continued.
“Well, it’s the same as it would be if I were white. It’s the first time for me. I don’t want to be the first Black. I’m the first Idris.” He was quoted saying.
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