Dev Patel wins Black Reel Award... say WHAT?!

This evening, the 9th annual Black Reel Awards — as determined by 75 film critics from across the country  — were announced by the Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF).

The evening's big winner was "Cadillac Records," which was awarded best film, best supporting actor (Jeffrey Wright) and best ensemble. Other honorees included Gina Prince-Bythewood ("The Secret Life of Bees") for best director and best screenplay (original or adapted), Queen Latifah ("The Secret Life of Bees") for best actress and Viola Davis ("Doubt") for best supporting actress. All strike me as fine choices.

But — and this is a big but — can someone please explain to me how in the world Dev Patel ("Slumdog Millionaire") was named best actor and best breakthrough performance? He's great and all, but he's about as African-American as Robert Downey Jr.  Hell, he's not even Indian — he's British!

Comments

[BLKBIRD]

First off Mr. Feinberg... the 'Say What?' is a tad racist. Get a little self awareness and sensitivity why don't ya. Secondly, just because the critics are black doesn't mean they have to "vote black." The definitive black critics org, AAFCA (I think they announce right before Xmas), has lauded Helen Mirren and Felicity Huffman in the past. So why don't you get out of the stone ages, represent your paper like a contemporary human being with a wider world view, and watch what you vomit up next time, sir.

[Robert Hamer]

That's weird...maybe they should rename it the Dark Skinned Reel Awards from now on! (Bam!)

[Scott Feinberg]

I'd like to respectfully respond to the first commenter, who did not leave his name. Your comment, Sir or Ma'am, implies that I am in some way racist for writing this post, and I reject that--in fact, I think that's the last thing I deserve to be called. Like my grandfather (a civil rights attorney who died defending a black man in a case against the Apartheid government in South Africa) and my mother (who is also a civil rights attorney), I don't have a racist bone in my body. All that I'm saying is that I do not understand how the Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film would possibly conclude that Dev Patel advances African-Americans in film... he is not African-American, and his film does not address issues of concern to African-Americans. That's it.

[Shelley]

Well, awards shows are always a big mystery. Explain how any mediocre film that mentions the Holocaust manages to win every best picture/best foreign film award every year...oh and Dev Patel is Indian, and British. They're not mutually exclusive.

[Carlos Balbás-Espín]

Ouch. The nationality/race/heritage path is always a thorny one, isn't it?

@ BLKBIRD: The African American Film Critics Association is just that, a critics group like any other, and as such, they're supposed to recognize the best achievements in the medium, period. That's the difference between the awards they give and the Black Reel Awards, whose sole purpose of is to recognize people of African American heritage, just like the ALMA Awards recognize Hispanics in media.

@ Feinberg: I don't think your post is racist, but I can definetely see why some people may think it is; you probably can see it too, but would never admit that in public.

What it is though, is a little ignorant, because Dev Patel is indeed both British AND Indian. That's not a contradiction because they're not mutually exclusive things, like Shelley says. Parminder Nagra also comes to mind.

It's also true that Patel is not African American, but a simple Google search on him, like the one I just did, would have let you know that his parents were both born in Kenya! Just like the father of a certain high-profile politician... Maybe that makes him eligible.

The thing is that most Americans have come to associate African with black skin and that's not always the case. Chalize Theron is more African than Viola Davis, for instance, or absolutely any other person of black skin born in America.

[Tim Gordon]

Mr. Feinberg,

As the founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF), we created the Black Reel Awards in 2000 to spotlight the achievements of African-Americans AND people of color in front of and behind the scenes. The inclusion this year of Indian actor, Dev Patel and the talented cast of Slumdog Millionaire falls right in line with the vision of the awards that we have followed from day one.

Every year, there is one "controversial" selection that catches people off guard. If it helps any, I thought your original story was very humorous and am happy that we can assist in expanding the view of worthy award performances and film.

[Scott Feinberg]

Mr. Gordon,
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and write in to clarify the situation. I now better understand your mission and will take this into account in future years. And thanks, also, for recognizing the spirit in which the post was intended.

[MissMe]

aafca's announced today, scott. why havent you posted that one?

[lilkunta]

carlos
U r crazy if u think Charlize is more Afrikan than Viola Davis or any AfrAm in the US. Charlize was born in Afr yes, but she doesnt have Afrikan blood. She speaks a mix of Dutch not any native afr language! She hasnt had the Afr nor AfrAm experience of struggle & racism. So dont u DARE say that sh*t.
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. . . The thing is that most Americans have come to associate African with black skin and that's not always the case. Chalize Theron is more African than Viola Davis, for instance, or absolutely any other person of black skin born in America.

Posted by: Carlos Balbás-Espín | December 16, 2008 at 04:01 AM

[Carter]

What a retard. Do you not realize your being by the book. What if the actor wasn't american. Then would he be considered African-American. This award is to seperate white people from coloured people. And he is more coloured. India/Africa same struggles you white people wont know about that so don't judge who should win an award. You dont see coloured people complaining when white people dominated the grammys, oscars, bla bla. That's not the point. Its come to an age when colour doesn't matter. Why are people like you still jugding by colour. Not saying your racist. Just saying we should'nt care about skin colour and care more about performance, attitude, and personality.

[christoph]

If the awards are named after the Foundation for the advancement of African Americans in Film, then thats what it should be about. Or they should change the name of the awards. The term Afro American is a stupid one as well, as it excludes any people of color who are not Americans.