A History of Violence

And the Oscar goes to!...........With the Academy Awards just months away, the general public and movie critics alike have predicted Denzel Washington will receive his 6th Academy Award nomination for his role in American Gangster. The film was arguably this years' most anticipated release and raked in over 40 million dollars at the box office opening weekend.

In American Gangster, Denzel Washington portrays Frank Lucas who was one of the biggest drug dealers this country has ever seen. The film follows Lucas's ascent to the top of New York City's crime hierarchy to his ultimate decline and destruction. Washington's fiery portrayal of Lucas immediately drew comparisons to his electrifying performance as Alonzo Harris in 2001's Training Day. Denzel collected his first Best Actor Oscar for this film and became only the second African-American actor to attain the academy's ultimate prize.

Many in the black community were not pleased when Washington received his first Best Actor Oscar for portraying the corrupt and menacing Detective Alonzo Harris in Training Day. Meanwhile, fans and critics instantly pointed to Washington's star turns in 1992 as Malcolm X and in 1999 as wrongly imprisoned boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter as being performances Denzel should have won his first Best Actor Oscar for. The masses cried foul when it took playing a villain for only the second African-American actor to capture the golden statue for a leading role.

While Washington did have a previous body of work that warranted a Best Actor award, his turn in Training Day falls right in line with some of the most heralded performances and characters in film history. Many of these performances have led to numerous awards, nominations and Best Actor awards.

In 1973, Marlon Brando, who is thought of as the greatest actor of all time, received his second Best Actor Oscar for portraying Don Vito Corleone in 1972's The Godfather. His portrayal of an aging crime boss is thought of by many as one of the greatest characterizations in film history. Two years later, Robert DeNiro won his first Oscar for portraying the younger version of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II. Both Godfathers won Best Picture Oscars, cementing them in history as two of cinema's greatest films.

Who can forget Al Pacino's unforgettable performance as Tony Montana in 1983's Scarface. Pacino was electric as an unstable, arrogant and abrasive cocaine-dealing drug lord. Although the film did not net any Academy Award nominations, Pacino's performance did lead to a Best Actor Golden Globe award nomination. Goodfellas, released in 1990, won Joe Pesci his first Oscar for his over-the-top performance as Tommy DeVito.

Funny enough, the portrayal of one of cinema's ultimate villains lead to a Best Actor Oscar. Anthony Hopkins turn as serial killer Hannibal Lecter in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs led to his first ever Oscar. Not only was Lecter a serial killer but he was also a cannibal who enjoyed eating his victims. This film went on to capture Best Actress, Director, Screenplay and Picture Oscars at the 1992 Academy Awards.

Not only may Denzel Washington earn his 6th nomination at the upcoming Academy Awards, he may win his second Best Actor Oscar for American Gangster. Yes, it is another villainous role, but not one that is anything out of the ordinary for American cinema.

When Denzel decides to retire from acting, his career will not be defined by his (possibly)two Best Actor Oscars for playing the bad guy. It will be defined by his talent and passion for the craft of acting. If Denzel wins the golden statue come 2008, it won't be the first time the award is won for portraying an American Gangster.

Majority Mind Questions
What are your thoughts about actors of any racial background being typecast into certain roles?
Do you recall any other movie stars that only seem to be recognized or awarded when they play particular types of characters? And more importantly, does this take anything away from the actor or does it add a stigma to their acting persona?
What movies do you think would have been better or worse if different actors or actresses were featured in them and why?

The Beantown Embrace

Throughout history nobody has mistaken Beantown as a black town. Boston has long since had a lily white persona. And it shows. In recent years, Harvard held a panel entitled 'Has Boston shed its racist reputation?' However, the panelists couldn't even answer this daunting question. They merely acknowledged the city's lack of progress in becoming more racially inclusive.

The bus riots of 1974 have left unresolved racial tensions that seem to plague the city today. Boston just has never been the best place in the U.S. for blacks to live, work or play.

Speaking of play, does the Bostonian pigment prerequisite extend to sports arenas? Boston has had its share of great white superstar athletes. For years, Kevin McHale and Larry Bird were the face of the Celtics and more recently Tom Brady has become the city's poster boy.

With the NBA season underway, Beantown has a big three in basketball to match their reigning big two in baseball. Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz will have to share Boston's athletic spotlight with Celtic-old-head Paul Pierce and the newest additions of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.

In some record books, Manny and Ortiz have surpassed Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig as the best one-two punch in baseball history. Could the three-headed monster offense of Pierce, Allen and Garnett re-write sports history too?

Even if they don't, the three have brought the Celtics back into big-time b-ball conversations. And Bostonians love it. While the city has instantly embraced their black superstar athletes, many black residents still find themselves on the outside looking in.

With Boston's current crop of black superstar athletes, it takes us back to the question 'Has Boston shed its racist reputation?' This question can only truly be answered once more progress is made outside of sports arenas.

Majority Mind Solutions
*Boston's black superstars like Manny, Ortiz, Pierce, Allen and Garnett should make their presence know in Boston's black communities and all of the city's few diverse districts in order to cultivate tolerance and acceptance of all races.
*Sports owners and their vice presidents of community relations should reach out to Boston's local black youth and give them a helping hand through athletic, social and educational programs.

Majority Mind Questions
Do YOU have any potential solutions to add to the list or do you think there is no problem in the first place? Feel free to respond!