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Here are just a few excerpts from the article (my italiics and bold):
[Wayne] believed that “there should be the same percentage of the colored race in films as in society,” he also realized that “it can’t always be that way,” because “more than likely, ten percent haven’t trained themselves for that type of work.” “It’s just as hard for a white man to get a card in the Hollywood craft unions,” he said, which meant that it would take a long time until blacks would be integrated into the film industry.
Wayne believed in gradual integration, “we can’t all of a sudden get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of blacks.” At the same time, he considered their “resentment along with their dissent,” to be “rightfully so.”
What irritated the blacks most was his belief 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.” Challenged, if he were equipped to judge “which blacks are irresponsible and which of their leaders inexperienced,” he replied: “It’s not my judgment.
The academic community has developed certain tests that determine whether the blacks are sufficiently equipped scholastically.” Thus, he did not approve of blacks who tried “to force the issue and enter college when they haven’t passed the tests and don’t have the requisite background,” fearing that by doing so, “the academic society is brought down to the lowest common denominator.”
Though there are few black actors in Wayne’s films, those who worked with claim that they had never heard a racist remark from him.
END EXCERPTS
Now, unfortunately, the author did not cite sources, so I certainly cannot vouch for the accuracy of the above, although it does "ring true" for me, as far as what Wayne would say and believe.
America nearly 50 years ago was a very different place, and Waynes views were not that controversial at the time.
There has to be some hostoric perspective applied when considering peoples views.
What he said was VERY controversial at the time and Wayne knew it. I don’t know what you mean by “historic perspective,” but for him to still hold those views by the 1970’s is a real problem. Laura Ingraham can easily cut him some slack because she’s white and nothing he said was an insult to her. Why wouldn’t she be magnanimous? I’m not extending the same magnanimity though. Eff that.
Anyway, I was a huge John Wayne fan until my father gave me the interview to read when I was around 17 or 18. I was pretty...well, I guess you can say crestfallen when you consider what John Wayne meant to this country. I was young, naive, and I believed in American heroes and all that crap. It wasn’t the height of my cynicism yet, but this was one of the first holes punched in the facade.
I’m still a fan of his movies, but I’m certainly not a fan of his anymore. I won’t run him down here, but when it comes to John Wayne, I take the Public Enemy view as expressed in “Fight the Power.”
This is what socialists do.They criticize anyone who has influenced Americans or that Americans consider an Icon. John Wayne was always a staunch conservative and he said what he meant and meant what he said. In regards to this statement, he was talking about the fact that blacks were uneducated at that time NOT that blacks could NOT succeed. Was there some racism there, maybe. But you cannot judge what someone says in the past when views were different by the standards of today!
Here are just a few excerpts from the article (my italiics and bold):
[Wayne] believed that “there should be the same percentage of the colored race in films as in society,” he also realized that “it can’t always be that way,” because “more than likely, ten percent haven’t trained themselves for that type of work.” “It’s just as hard for a white man to get a card in the Hollywood craft unions,” he said, which meant that it would take a long time until blacks would be integrated into the film industry.
Wayne believed in gradual integration, “we can’t all of a sudden get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of blacks.” At the same time, he considered their “resentment along with their dissent,” to be “rightfully so.”
What irritated the blacks most was his belief 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.” Challenged, if he were equipped to judge “which blacks are irresponsible and which of their leaders inexperienced,” he replied: “It’s not my judgment.
The academic community has developed certain tests that determine whether the blacks are sufficiently equipped scholastically.” Thus, he did not approve of blacks who tried “to force the issue and enter college when they haven’t passed the tests and don’t have the requisite background,” fearing that by doing so, “the academic society is brought down to the lowest common denominator.”
Though there are few black actors in Wayne’s films, those who worked with claim that they had never heard a racist remark from him.
END EXCERPTS
Now, unfortunately, the author did not cite sources, so I certainly cannot vouch for the accuracy of the above, although it does "ring true" for me, as far as what Wayne would say and believe.
Of course he didn’t say anything racist to THEM just like all the people on this forum that say anti black crap won’t say it to any black person off the internet.
He was in The Green Berets with Ray St Jacques...Wayne wasn’t gonna say anything outta line to a guy like that or any of his other black co-stars. He wasn’t crazy.
Still, I’m pretty damn sure that they had an idea of his views. That kinda racism can’t be totally hidden for long even if it’s not exposed in the form of a blatant racist comment.
Of course he didn’t say anything racist to THEM just like all the people on this forum that say anti black crap won’t say it to any black person off the internet.
He was in The Green Berets with Ray St Jacques...Wayne wasn’t gonna say anything outta line to a guy like that or any of his other black co-stars. He wasn’t crazy.
Still, I’m pretty damn sure that they had an idea of his views. That kinda racism can’t be totally hidden for long even if it’s not exposed in the form of a blatant racist comment.
Only because whitey said it.
"I don’t believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people.”
That's what you don't like, the truthful statement, as it it hits close to home. Being raised on handouts and not earning your way or at a minimum you don't think blacks are responsible enough to make it without handouts. What matters to you most, is the color of ones skin.
Last edited by Loveshiscountry; 02-22-2019 at 10:37 AM..
Well Mr Wayne’s remarks were fairly typical of how people talked and felt about race relations at that time. He was at the bottom line a man of his times. It isn’t entirely reasonable to judge him by today’s attitudes. As far as military service he did have a deferment to avoid service. He could have volunteered but did not.
Why is multi culturalism or forced diversity important? Blacks are typically self segregating in the U.S. Do you want to force them to live with Whites against their will?
"I don’t believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people.”
That's what you don't like, the truthful statement, as it it hits close to home. Being raised on handouts and not earning your way or at a minimum you don't think blacks are responsible enough to make it without handouts. What matters to you most, is the color of ones skin.
Das Racist
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