the top two movies have African Americans in the major roles - has that ever happened before?

[Liberal_in_LA]

war room and Straight out of Compton

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Christian moviemakers opt for black cast after glut of whitewashed faith films

Last year, a flood of faith films starring white actors led many to charge that Hollywood was standing in the way of racial progress. But religious audiences can witness a stark departure from this troubling trend when “War Room” hits theaters on Aug. 28.
The fifth feature film produced by successful Christian moviemakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick tells a story about the power of prayer. It does so with an almost entirely African-American cast, including New York Times best-selling Christian author Priscilla Shirer, in her movie debut.
“There is an element to the way we tell this story that has power and desperation that would be different if we tried to tell it any other way,” Alex Kendrick said of his decision to opt for a black cast. He says when executives from their distributor (Sony’s Affirm Films) viewed it for the first time, they responded, “If this had been told with a different race, it would be a different movie.”
“War Room” arrives at a time when racial tensions in America have intensified as a result of police brutality cases and the racially motivated slaying of black worshippers by a white shooter in Charleston, S.C. Those involved with the film say they don’t believe the timing of its release is a coincidence, and they think that the message of “War Room” might have the power to usher in reconciliation in America.

Read more at http://national.deseretnews.com/article/5540/Christian-moviemakers-opt-for-black-cast-after-glut-of-whitewashed-faith-films.html#CRDGM8HgmRPDicrG.99


By the way, rightwing radio was upset about Straight out of compton doing so well at the box office


'War Room' unseats 'Straight Outta Compton' as North America's top movie

http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2015/09/06/War-Room-unseats-Straight-Outta-Compton-as-North-Americas-top-movie/5861441543442/

[Bluenorthwest]

2. Straight Outta Showbiz.....on major difference between these two films is that while both have

largely African American leading casts only one of these films, 'Straight Outta Compton' has African Americans in key roles on the flip side of the camera. Who's in it is one thing, who made it is another thing. Who made it is the actual thing.