With His New Movie, Kevin Costner Talks Race-Says People Can’t Be Colorblind

Kevin Costner has a new film coming out called “Black or White.” The film brings up racial issues that many in Hollywood may be?afraid to tackle.

photo courtesy of http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/modal_800/2014/04/kevin_costner.jpg
Photo courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter

Costner?was required?to finance this movie himself because studios turned it down. The film centers around a custody battle between Costner’s character and his granddaughter’s black family on the paternal side. Costner is starring in this movie alongside fellow Oscar winner Octavia Spencer.

The racial tensions that can exist between mixed race families is a huge theme in “Black or White”.? Costner is not new to making movies that push boundaries. His love story film “The Bodyguard” with the legendary Whitney Houston, was about an interracial couple and the dangers of fame. Costner seems pretty open to discussing race.

Costner says that he is surrounded by a lot of people who claim to be colorblind. Kevin believes that this means people just do not WANT to think about race. He claims:

“we don’t want to have all of this junk.”

The actor goes on to say that he does not believe that people are colorblind.

I agree with him. We all see color whether we want to admit it or not. The problem is when’someone claims to not see color, they erase the immense problems that are faced by people of color daily due to institutionalized and structural racism.

Costner has?also stated:

?It [the movie]?looks at where we are at with race today and how race gets used sometimes as a tool. That’s not to say that it’s not there — the problems with race are real — but sometimes it can be used when it’s not appropriate. And it holds us back.?

I am happy that he knows that there are many problems with race that face this nation and the world. But is it appropriate for him to speak out about race being used as a tool? I happen to agree. I have seen many circumstances where race was brought up and used when I feel that it shouldn’t have been. However, is it wrong because Costner is white? Should he not speak out about things like this? So often we want to try and think that racism is so horrible that minorities can never inappropriately use the “race card.”

As a minority, I can say that racism IS horrible and widespread. But not every individual circumstance can be ascribed to racism. Sometimes people definitely try?to take advantage. However, this has no bearing on the incredible amount of racism we still face. The killings of unarmed blacks, the drug war, massive poverty, the cycle of poverty,?and so much more?all points to huge issues of racial bias. We should discuss these things and try and dismantle racism but look at certain situations from an individualistic standpoint as well.

This movie seems to unveil many of the aforementioned issues. As a woman who is a product of an interracial couple, I can’t wait to see how this movie portrays race and problems facing mixed race families.

“Black or White” comes out in theaters January 30th.

 

I was born on January 13, 1990. I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. I moved up north and attended the University of CT from 2008 to 2012. I currently also work at a law firm in Uptown Charlotte and have been helping with this organization entitled the National Independent Voter Coalition. My interests include: Politics (obviously), Basketball (playing and watching) and watching almost any sport, movies, reading, the law, human rights, entertainment, mostly Angelina Jolie and Beyonce. I am fun, caring, passionate, intelligent, and unique!