Celebs Accused Of Not Being Black Enough

Barack Obama

Barack Obama made history as the first Black president of the United States. But it certainly wasn’t an easy road to the White House and in addition to having Republicans question him, Obama also felt it from his own people. A lot of people grumbled that Obama wasn’t Black enough, especially when he was first stumping for the job in 2007. Trying to have sympathy for cash-stricken Americans, then senator Obama lamented that the cost of food was skyrocketing. Unfortunately he used the vegetable arugula to make his point and he was immediately dubbed an elitist out of touch with everyday Americans. He’s also been accused of not doing enough for the Black community since entering office.

Zendaya Coleman

R&B songstress Aaliyah tragically died in a plane crash back in 2001 and her life and career are  finally being turned into a biopic. Actress Zendaya Coleman was all set to play the “Rock the Boat” singer but as soon as it was announced, a lot of people were outraged. While some questioned whether or not Coleman had the acting chops to pull the role off, others bashed the former Disney star for not being Black enough. Coleman, whose father is Black and mother is white, dropped out of the movie citing not having the approval of Aaliyah’s family as the reason.

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Stacey Dash

Countless people marched and boycotted for Black people to have the right to vote. But in 2012, Stacey Dash was bashed in her choice for U.S. president. The “Clueless” star took to her twitter page to publicly endorse Republican candidate Mitt Romney and was immediately dragged through the mud. However, Dash stood by her choice and now is a contributing correspondent on Fox News channel.

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Logic

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding rapper Logic as of late, especially after his turn at this year’s BET Hip Hop Awards cypher aired. The Maryland native is a talented lyricist but he’s had to deal with being labeled a white rapper, which technically is only half right. “I look white, but I’m biracial,” he said in an interview recently, acknowledging the difficulty he’s had in being taken seriously because of his appearance. “I know how I look and how I might be perceived.”

Bill Cosby

A lot of people grew up with Bill Cosby as their favorite television dad. His groundbreaking sitcom “The Cosby Show” was the first television show that depicted everyday life of a middle class Black family. However, a lot of people felt the comedian has been chastising the poor Black community instead of offering a helping hand. Cosby has been very vocal in pointing the blame at the poverty-stricken by saying that poor Blacks can’t speak proper English and they’re too concerned with looking good to be bothered with improving their situation.

Wayne Brady

Wayne Brady made a name for himself making audiences laugh by putting his own spin on show tunes. Some have said Brady got rich shucking and jiving for the man. But he put all of that to rest when he appeared on a skit on Dave Chappelle’s popular yet controversial comedy show. Brady showed Chappelle what a night out with him really entailed and it included him checking on the hookers he had working for him on the strip.

Terrence Howard

Sure, Terrence Howard has starred in numerous Black movies but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been accused of not being Black enough. It could have something to do with the fact anytime he’s had a woman on his arm, she was either white or Asian. However, after numerous reports about his alleged domestic abuse have surfaced, not too many Black women are too upset or brokenhearted that the “Hustle & Flow” actor doesn’t date women in his same race.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods was once ranked the number one golfer in the world. While many were happy for his success, the Black community was ecstatic to have someone who looked like them dominate the sport. But Woods caught a lot of flack when he appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” back in 1997 and said that he considered himself to be “Cablanasian,” a mix between Caucasian, Asian and Black. Plus the fact that he’s dated a bevy of blonde beauties doesn’t help his case either.

Russell Wilson

Football is definitely a team sport and although the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl earlier this year, there seems to be some tension within the team this season. Last week reports surfaced that several teammates have accused quarterback Russell Wilson of not being Black enough. “About me not being Black enough, I don’t even know what that means,” Wilson said in response to the reports. “People were trying to find ways to knock us down and distract us, but there’s no doubt we’re more together than ever before.”

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Robert Griffin III

Robert Griffin III was dubbed the savior of the Washington Redskins as soon as he was drafted into the NFL. But he’s had to deal with a lot of criticism and some of it had nothing to do with football. RGIII has been called out by some for not being Black enough. ESPN Rob Parker was infamously suspended for 30 days after calling the injured quarterback a corny brother. He also questioned RGIII for marrying a white woman and voting Republican.

Condoleezza Rice

Condoleezza Rice is an extremely intelligent woman but she served under the George Bush administration and because of that, a lot of people didn’t care what her background education was; she was considered a sell-out just because of who her boss was. It didn’t help that the former Secretary of State was publicly taking in a tennis match at the U.S. Open or shoe shopping in New York City while New Orleans was drowning during Hurricane Katrina.

Colin Powell

Colin Powell received a lot of the same backlash Condoleeza Rice did just because they were a part of the George Bush administration. Powell’s first career was a distinguished serviceman in the U.S. Army before retiring as a four-star general. He served as the Secretary of State under the George Bush administration and like most Black Republicans, he has been ridiculed for his political affiliation. However, Powell has voted for Barack Obama for both terms.

Herman Cain

Every few years, the Republicans get their hands on a Black or Latino member in their party and they trot him or her around to show that they’re an all-inclusive party. In 2011, that person was Herman Cain. The one-time businessman threw his hat in the ring as a candidate for presidency. He drew a lot of criticism for his thoughts on racism in America today. “I don’t believe racism in this country today holds anybody back in a big way,” Cain said. He dropped out of the race after he was accused of sexual harassment.