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Samuel L. Jackson: Why Were There No Black Male Presenters at the Oscars?

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Mar. 7 2011, Published 9:56 a.m. ET

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Samuel L. Jackson noticed there was something missing from this year's Oscars — black male presenters.

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"It's obvious there's not ONE Black male actor in Hollywood that's able to read a teleprompter, or that's 'hip enuf,' for the new academy demographic!" Samuel wrote in an email to a Los Angeles Times reporting. "In the Hollywood I saw tonite, I don't exist nor does Denzel, Eddie, Will, Jamie, or even a young comer like Anthony Mackie!"

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And the Times thinks Samuel has made a good point, especially when it comes to the "young comers."

According to the Times, Derek Luke (36), Chiwetel Eijofor (33), Idris Elba (39) and Anthony (31) are not as as popular in their 30s as Will Smith and Denzel Washington were.

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The reason? They haven't been given the chance.

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"It's frustrating that the movies I want to make I haven't been able to make," Anthony, currently starring in The Adjustment Bureau told the Times' 24 Frames. "Orlando Bloom was given 15 opportunities after Lord of the Rings. Black men are given no opportunities."

"In the early 1990's, every black actor you know now was starting out and making movies," he added. "They were making more movies under Daddy Bush than we are under Obama, which is ridiculous."

The reason for fewer black roles is partially due to fewer movies being made, the Times reports, and fewer serious-minded movies at the studios.

But Anthony disagrees.

"They say there's not an audience for black stars, but that's because you're not feeding audiences them," he explained.

And if the younger black actors can't get roles now, who will replace the older ones?

What do you think of the Times' new  article?

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