# Fact-check, please: is Denzel Washington a racist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2018, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036 "2018-08-22T10:33:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/1 "2018-08-22T10:33:54Z")
I was reading this [clickbait](https://screenrant.com/actors-who-refused-regretted-doing-love-romantic-scenes-with-co-stars) article (so sue me) when I came across this section: > [@](#): > > 6 DENZEL WASHINGTON (THE PELICAN BRIEF) > … > > In Grisham’s novel, Roberts and Washington’s characters end up romantically involved, and Roberts even angled for Washington to get the part. However, Denzel was adamant about not going through with a romantic arc. It wasn’t anything against Julia Roberts personally. > > According to Allison Samuel’s Book Off the Record,Denzel has consistently preferred to have on screen love scenes only with actresses of color to advance their visibility and validity in Hollywood. “Black women are not often seen as objects of desire on film. And they have always been my core audience.” Can you imagine a white actor refusing a romantic arc with a black actor because they were black? The outcry would be thunderous. My first thought is that this must be false, so can someone more familiar with his films confirm that he only does romance arcs with black women? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/2 "2018-08-22T10:48:25Z")
How would that be racist? It’s a political action intended to combat existing racism. This is some “intolerance of bigotry is also bigotry” doublespeak bullshit. And no, he has had romances with non-Black women - _Mississippi Masala_, for one. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/3 "2018-08-22T11:02:13Z")
His request seems reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/4 "2018-08-22T11:04:57Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I was reading this [clickbait](https://screenrant.com/actors-who-refused-regretted-doing-love-romantic-scenes-with-co-stars) article (so sue me) when I came across this section: > > Can you imagine a white actor refusing a romantic arc with a black actor because they were black? The outcry would be thunderous. > > My first thought is that this must be false, so can someone more familiar with his films confirm that he only does romance arcs with black women? Why would you question if something is racist when they’re is clearly a non-racist explanation? And that explanation is in your own freaking cite. What reason would the imaginary white actor give for only wanting white romantic, on-screen partners? To increase the presence of attractive white women in film, as they’ve been historically excluded? Now I’m picturing Celine Dion in _The Bodyguard_. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/5 "2018-08-22T11:17:06Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Why would you question if something is racist when they’re is clearly a non-racist explanation? And that explanation is in your own freaking cite. Sorry, but it seems firmly racist to me. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/6 "2018-08-22T11:21:02Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Can you imagine a white actor refusing a romantic arc with a black actor because they were black? The outcry would be thunderous. You’re right, baring some reasonable alternative reason for making such a demand that I can’t come up with at the moment, the outcry would be thunderous. And rightly so. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/7 "2018-08-22T11:47:50Z")
I’m reminded of the film “To Kill a Mockingbird”. A black man (Tom Robinson) falsely accused of raping a white woman is giving his account of the events. He vividly recalls the revulsion he felt when the white woman put her hands on him. Of course, his reaction was due to the knowledge of what would happen to him if anyone found out - white racists would kill him. But by the logic of the OP, it’s clear: _Tom Robinson, a black man who didn’t want to have sex with a white woman in the Jim Crow south, was the real racist._ Shocking that I never realized that before. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/8 "2018-08-22T11:53:18Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Can you imagine a white actor refusing a romantic arc with a black actor because they were black? The outcry would be thunderous. Happens _all the time_ - in certain sections of the film industry especially. Not a lot of outcry (spoilered for possibly NSFW) [5 Ways Porn Is Bizarrely Racist Behind The Scenes | Cracked.com](http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2208-going-black-hurts-your-career-5-examples-racism-in-porn.html) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/9 "2018-08-22T12:12:52Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Happens _all the time_ - in certain sections of the film industry especially. Yes, that’s definitely racist, and I’m surprised there’s no outcry - or maybe there is but since I’m not into forums about porn I don’t see it? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/10 "2018-08-22T12:17:12Z")
If it’s only confined to porn forums, then it’s not really an _outcry_, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/11 "2018-08-22T13:44:23Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Sorry, but it seems firmly racist to me. Sure, taken out of context. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/12 "2018-08-22T14:24:12Z")
Rather than your OP - which is its own form of clickbait implying that you’re revealing some shocking fact about Washington in particular - you might as well start a thread asking whether all affirmative action is racism. Which is not a particularly original claim. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/13 "2018-08-22T14:35:28Z")
Denzel + Angelina Jolie in The Bone Collector Sent from my LGMS631 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/14 "2018-08-22T14:57:47Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Sure, taken out of context. I disagree. I don’t think the context is relevant. > [@Riemann](#): > > Rather than your OP - which is its own form of clickbait implying that you’re revealing some shocking fact about Washington in particular That’s a stupid comment. I’m asking if the claim made in the article is true > [@needscoffee](#): > > Denzel + Angelina Jolie in The Bone Collector I’ve not seen that film but according to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bone_Collector) he’s only implied to have a relationship. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/15 "2018-08-22T14:58:54Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > That’s a stupid comment. I’m asking if the claim made in the article is true No, you’re asking more than that. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/16 "2018-08-22T15:10:05Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I disagree. I don’t think the context is relevant. So his stated reason of “to advance [black women’s] visibility and validity in Hollywood.” because “Black women are not often seen as objects of desire on film.” means nothing to your understanding? If he had just said “I don’t like white women”, it would not have made any difference to you? ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/17 "2018-08-22T15:16:47Z")
Disclaimer: I am a white, cis lady. If I get you properly, you aren’t asking us to judge whether or not it is racist. You have declared it so. You just want to know if he said it. The answer? Possibly. Googling gets you a result that includes an interview with an actor that says otherwise - that he feared the white, male, reaction of seeing a black man with a white woman. Link [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/in-flight-denzel-washington-white-women-and-turbulence/2012/11/04/74c50b12-26c6-11e2-9972-71bf64ea091c\_story.html?noredirect=on&utm\_term=.b28f1fc4c200](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/in-flight-denzel-washington-white-women-and-turbulence/2012/11/04/74c50b12-26c6-11e2-9972-71bf64ea091c_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b28f1fc4c200) Now is it actually racist? I think we, as white folks, need tougher skin. IMO, there is nothing wrong in Washington saying to an audience through film choices that a black man doesn’t aspire to a white woman. Why wouldn’t he use his clout to show his fan base that they are attractive, that they have as much right to being the pinnacle of desire and the hero’s reward? (NB, women are not things, but Hollywood is only just catching on there) And even with his supposed preference for a black on-screen partner, there are layers in that, too. I’d be curious to see which had lighter complexions- which you may or may not realise is still an insidious way in which we’ve internalised racism. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/18 "2018-08-22T15:17:10Z")
Kelly Reilly in _Flight_. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/19 "2018-08-22T15:17:29Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > That’s a stupid comment. I’m asking if the claim made in the article is true Ok, if you want me to spell out what you’re doing, it’s the fallacy of the loaded question. > **[Loaded question](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loaded_question)** > > A loaded question is a form of complex question that contains a controversial assumption (e.g., a presumption of guilt). > Such questions may be used as a rhetorical tool: the question attempts to limit direct replies to be those that serve the questioner's agenda. The traditional example is the question "Have you stopped beating your wife?" Whether the respondent answers yes or no, they will admit to having beaten their wife at some time in the past. Thus, these facts are presupposed by the ques... Washington’s personal choices (if true) are about as mild and uncontroversial a form of affirmative action as one could possibly imagine. You have loaded your OP with an unfounded assumption that affirmative action is racism. You want to frame your OP as a simple question about whether Washington is doing what the article claims he is doing, expecting us to grant your assumption that such choices _are_ racism. I’m challenging this unstated assumption with which you have loaded your OP. Of course you think that’s stupid, because it doesn’t suit your purposes. The more important question is whether your assumption is true, not what one particular actor may have done. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036/20 "2018-08-22T15:18:16Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Rather than your OP - which is its own form of clickbait implying that you’re revealing some shocking fact about Washington in particular - you might as well start a thread asking whether all affirmative action is racism. Which is not a particularly original claim. To be fair, the majority of threads started by the o.p. are essentially manufactured outrage, generally either over some kind of gender discrimination toward men or feigned concern for racial bias toward whites, only occasionally punctuated by complaints about service in a restaurant which is resolved not by addressing the issue to a manager but leaving an “insult tip”. So shame on me and you for clicking on the thread and validating the drama. > [@Quartz](#): > > I disagree. I don’t think the context is relevant. Do you believe that context is ever relevant? Or should we be outraged any time there is any kind of difference of opinion between a black person and a white person, and question whether the black person is a racist because of it? Stranger [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-please-is-denzel-washington-a-racist/820036.md?page=2)