Ghanaian hollywood actor, Idris Elba, claims he no longer refers to himself as a “black actor” since it confines him.
Idris Elba has spoken out this week on how racism in hollywood has impacted his acting career, and how he sees himself as just an actor as a result.
In an effort to counteract racism, the 50-year-old actor said that basing his career on his skin color “placed me in a box.”
Racism is definitely real, Idris said in a recent interview with Esquire. But in my opinion, its power is only as strong as you make it.
‘I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box. We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it’s just skin. Rant over.’
Idris Elba did stress that he is still a part of the Black community, but he does not promote this in terms of his professional endeavors.
‘As you get up the ladder, you get asked what it’s like to be the first Black to do this or that,’ He continued.
‘Well, it’s the same as it would be if I were white. It’s the first time for me. I don’t want to be the first Black. I’m the first Idris’.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Joseph Asare
