Avery Brooks Blacklisted?

[Nerys Myk]

How many times have actors (or celebrities in general, including athletes) who were praised for their civic-minded actions been outed as disreputable? Again, I'm not pinning anything to this man; I'm just not committed to defending anyone or automatically believing someone to be moral simply because their fame magnifies their image.

Why even bring it up then?

 

[Michael]

How many times have actors (or celebrities in general, including athletes) who were praised for their civic-minded actions been outed as disreputable?

I don't know. And who cares? Let's just not throw around wild out-of-the-blue accusations of racism, okay?

Again, I'm not pinning anything to this man; I'm just not committed to defending anyone or automatically believing someone to be moral simply because their fame magnifies their image.

So a lifetime of advocating for racial equality isn't enough for you as proof? It's just his “fame magnifying his image”? You are either the most obvious troll in a long time or simply have no clue how to spot an actual racist.

 

[JeffOakland]

How many times have actors (or celebrities in general, including athletes) who were praised for their civic-minded actions been outed as disreputable? Again, I'm not pinning anything to this man; I'm just not committed to defending anyone or automatically believing someone to be moral simply because their fame magnifies their image.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. Racism is an extremely serious accusation.

 

[fireproof78]

I recall an interview with Michael Dorn where he was asked about how different it was being on DS9 than TNG (I'm sorry, I can't recall where or when this interview is from), and his response was that DS9 was a much more serious set than TNG, and he attributed that to the "leading man setting the tone" on set, and said Avery Brooks simply wasn't as "playful" and lighthearted as Patrick Stewart was. I didn't interpret that in a negative way, just that it sounds like Avery Brooks was much more of a "let's get down to business" type personality.

So, he was there to work? I can completely understand that.

If Avery Brooks were racist (and racism takes many forms and can express itself at various intensities), that wouldn't exactly be the most shocking revelation in the entertainment industry. I say this not because I know of any prejudice demonstrated by Avery Brooks, but because there have been far worse truths uncovered in relation to more prolific/respected actors.

Unless there is prove of such accusations then this is wild speculation, at best, potential libel at worst.

 

[ichab]

If Avery Brooks were racist (and racism takes many forms and can express itself at various intensities), that wouldn't exactly be the most shocking revelation in the entertainment industry. I say this not because I know of any prejudice demonstrated by Avery Brooks, but because there have been far worse truths uncovered in relation to more prolific/respected actors.

What in the world are you talking about? Did the word "blacklisted" throw you off?

 

[Laughing Dragon]

I thought that I hate white people thing had more to do with the ep Beyond The Stars. I am pretty sure it has blown over since then from what I recall. He was on the series Spencer For Hire for years as Spencer's occasional partner. I used to watch it in its original run with my mom so... I don't remember anything. So, he obviously had no trouble working with white people already.

ETA: I think it has more to do with how he has been "acting" to people in these Convention Panels, he sounded bizarre to them not racist. maybe he feels he is being singled out because of his skin color. Doesn't he have a controversial stand on weed? From the vids I couldn't see why he was sounding strange. Maybe I didn't see the right ones. But in a place called Hollyweird you would think he would fit right in.

 

[JeffOakland]

W

I thought that I hate white people thing had more to do with the ep Beyond The Stars. I am pretty sure it has blown over since then from what I recall. He was on the series Spencer For Hire for years as Spencer's occasional partner. I used to watch it in its original run with my mom so... I don't remember anything. So, he obviously had no trouble working with white people already.

ETA: I think it has more to do with how he has been "acting" to people in these Convention Panels, he sounded bizarre to them not racist. maybe he feels he is being singled out because of his skin color. Doesn't he have a controversial stand on weed? From the vids I couldn't see why he was sounding strange. Maybe I didn't see the right ones. But in a place called Hollyweird you would think he would fit right in.

What controversial stand on weed?

 

[Michael]

I thought that I hate white people thing had more to do with the ep Beyond The Stars. I am pretty sure it has blown over since then from what I recall. He was on the series Spencer For Hire for years as Spencer's occasional partner. I used to watch it in its original run with my mom so... I don't remember anything. So, he obviously had no trouble working with white people already.

ETA: I think it has more to do with how he has been "acting" to people in these Convention Panels, he sounded bizarre to them not racist. maybe he feels he is being singled out because of his skin color. Doesn't he have a controversial stand on weed? From the vids I couldn't see why he was sounding strange. Maybe I didn't see the right ones. But in a place called Hollyweird you would think he would fit right in.

Well, that's some word salad. What “I hate white people thing” are you talking about? And for the love of the prophets, can we please stop imputing Avery Brooks with somehow being racist? In my almost thirty years as a fan of the show I have never seen or heard any kind of evidence of this, and frankly, the whole premise is kinda offensive.

 

[Feltman_Langer]

Hear, hear!

 

[Laughing Dragon]

Well, that's some word salad. What “I hate white people thing” are you talking about? And for the love of the prophets, can we please stop imputing Avery Brooks with somehow being racist? In my almost thirty years as a fan of the show I have never seen or heard any kind of evidence of this, and frankly, the whole premise is kinda offensive.

Hear, hear!

Didn't you read my post? I pretty much said the opposite.

 

[Michael]

Didn't you read my post? I pretty much said the opposite.

Oh, I did read it. Thing is, there is really nothing to oppose, as never in the history of the show there was any credible hint or anything to suggest a “I hate white people thing” with Brooks. Hence my question: What “I hate white people thing” are you talking about? You say it “had more to do with the ep Beyond The Stars”, but what does that mean? Was there anyone ever who suggested anything in this episode makes Brooks racist?

 

[Hobbit]

When I met him at a convention years ago he seemed like a quiet, polite guy -- he shook my hand and asked for my name, and I panicked a bit because I thought I wasn't allowed to talk to him (I wasn't getting anything signed, I was just there with another person who was) so I kind of made a silly apology and backed off. He looked baffled and threw his hands up in the air, said something like 'okay then!', haha. He seemed like a good guy.

I also briefly saw Nana Visitor at the same event, and she seemed really cool and friendly.

 

[Finn]

I've heard that he could be intense to work with. He must have been at Rutgers for a long while now, right?

 

[Charles Phipps]

Avery Brooks seems quite happy and that's all you can wish for the man.

I came away from that interview honestly wondering if Brooks had early onset dementia or something.

My wife had the somewhat more endearing, "Is he completely baked?"

 

[Legate Duhmar]

Brooks was formal, but he gave it perhaps more than he asked for it. According to Nana Visitor, he went out of his way to learn the names of everyone in set, including crew, and would address them as Mr. Or Ms. She also says that he was the first person ever to ask her how she would like her first name pronounced. He could be reserved, and Siddig said that he would not socialize on set. On the other hand, both Visitor and Garrett Wang said he was endearing to children and charming to seniors. Wang said that although he never had a conversation with Brooks, he went out of his way to make Wang's parents feel welcome when they visited.

Avery Brooks always seemed like an old school kind of guy. History is complicated and people's relationship with history and their identity is something that can be difficult to navigate and full of a lot of nuance and complexity. Brooks likely just had a strong bias against whites but it doesn't mean he couldn't work with them or be respectful towards colleagues who were white or even befriend them. Some people are just more open and honest about their biases than others and to be honest its sometimes better when people are upfront rather than hiding behind pleasantries and facades as is popular in today's culture.

 

[Michael]

Brooks likely just had a strong bias against whites

Sigh, again with this shit. Where are people taking this from? What evidence is there to support this “theory”?

 

[fireproof78]

Brooks likely just had a strong bias against whites

Based upon what exactly?

 

[Legate Duhmar]

Sigh, again with this shit. Where are people taking this from? What evidence is there to support this “theory”?

Its based upon a lot heresay in the business, I guess I could have clarified a bit but people have their biases and points of view, not everyone marches to the beat of the same drummer. Avery always seemed like a guy who found his own beat, and is part of his appeal as Sisko in DS9

 

[Vale]

So "unsubstantiated rumour" then. This is borderline libel.

 

[fireproof78]

So "unsubstantiated rumour" then. This is borderline libel.

Indeed. And ridiculous garbage to boot.