As Mia Love, the mayor of Saratogo Springs, Utah, said at this year’s Media Research Center gala, "A self-sufficient, independent woman is a Democrat's nightmare." This is true even more so when that independent woman is a black conservative like herself. Perhaps this fact can explain why Hollywood likes to mock the demographic on the big screen.
In director Tyler Perry’s new film “Baggage Claim,” the main character Montana Moore is looking for the right man to marry. Trying to help her get to the altar, her friends play matchmaker by setting her on the same plane as several of her ex-boyfriends in the hopes some sparks will be rekindled. One of those former flames, she discovers, is now a Republican politician running for Congress, played by Taye Diggs. It’s bad enough Diggs’ character is portrayed as power-hungry and merely uses Montana as arm-candy, but even more egregious is the line Montana uses to explain why he’s not the right guy for her.
“I don’t trust black Republicans. I’m sorry.”
So much for, “It’s not you, it’s me.”
The insults didn’t stop there. In an interview with The Urban Daily, a reporter asked “The Baggage Claim” cast if they would ever date someone with political views that were different than their own. That’s when actor Boris Kodjoe made it pretty clear what he thought of conservative women.
“It depends, you know, if she’s a member of the NRA or something, you know what I mean, I would have to say look, uh, maybe not…”
Of course, the rest of his castmates laughed as he made the offensive comment, as you can see in the clip below.
Maybe Perry will learn that a potshot at black conservatives can’t save an awful plot and an equally awful movie.