While promoting the latest installment of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Zoe Saldana didn’t hold back during her most recent interview on Sway’s Universe.
When Sway Calloway’s co-host asked Zoe about her thoughts on colorism in the Latino community, she says:
“Actually, my sisters are my closest friends that I talk super intimately with. We don’t have conversations about black and white like that. If we’re not referring to the color of clothing or the color of a tree or whatever, it makes us feel very uncomfortable when referring to skin because it shouldn’t be the priority. But we were raised like that by a mother who purposely protected us from that.
“It does exist in Latino America. I lived partially in the Dominican Republic, where colorism is equated to your social status. So there’s a European-esque quality to it and it’s also shame but it’s also this embrace because you shame those that are darker and you make jokes like, ‘oh I’m just playing. This is the way we joke, so get over it,’ but you’re dancing the African music and the food that you eat is a mix of Europe and Africa…
“We understand what that is. We carry ourselves, in our minds, properly. I feel like you don’t have to talk about your color, you’re lighter than or darker than, everyday in order for you to get acceptance. The big conversation that we’re not having is why do you think about this constantly? What is it that you want others to say for you? You should just say it for yourself…”
Zoe then expressed her annoyance with being questioned about her identity by those on social media and admitted that she feels like most people complain too much when it comes to racism and colorism:
“Because even on my social feed, all I read is…that’s why I stopped reading my feed because for one the trolls are insane people but you have my black people and my Latino people and all that they’re doing is trying to figure out what I am. So just appreciate the fact that I’m working and as a woman in America, I am breaking down as many barriers as I possibly can without being hateful or complain about it or lose people’s attention. I’m focused on the progress and not focused on the complaints.
“I feel like I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt by not addressing it because it’s not something I wake up in the morning and I’m troubled by. I’m not troubled by the way that I look. I’m not troubled by the skin…I never looked at my blonde friend or my darker friend and said that, ‘oh, I wished that I looked like her.’ I was like, ‘I’m good. I’m good.’ For some reason, that bothers people that are struggling with their own identity. And I feel like we need to address that and kind of cure that internally. I think it’s more of an internal problem that we’re having versus an external situation that we have to address. That will come afterwards.
“If every time I auditioned and went somewhere, and I got something, it’s because I’m Latina. If I didn’t get something, it’s because I’m Black and Latina. It’s like come on people. Maybe I didn’t get it because I didn’t deserve it. Maybe I didn’t get it because I didn’t know this character and I didn’t deliver my lines properly. There are other factors besides people always coming after you. People have lives…”
And here’s the advice she has for Afro-Latinos:
“So the thing with Afro Latinos, I think that it’s going to change the more and more Afro Latinos just brush it off their shoulders. And focus on your education, your uprising…and when you’re in that position, when you’re the president of that newspaper column or whatever, then you can basically lead by example by the way succeed and not the way that you denounce what happened to you because…just don’t put energy there.”
Check out the full interview below:
This is what white people say about racism. Soon enough she’ll be comfortable enough to blame black people for white supremacy. Just give her some time.
“I feel like I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt by not addressing it because it’s not something I wake up in the morning and I’m troubled by. I’m not troubled by the way that I look. I’m not troubled by the skin…I never looked at my blonde friend or my darker friend and said that, ‘oh, I wished that I looked like her.’ I was like, ‘I’m good. I’m good.’ For some reason, that bothers people that are struggling with their own identity. And I feel like we need to address that and kind of cure that internally. I think it’s more of an internal problem that we’re having versus an external situation that we have to address. That will come afterwards.”
This tells me everything I need to know about Zoe. Her lack of empathy for people of darker skin and their obstacles lets me know she’s not a good person. She’s a very vain, selfish, and ignorant person.
This is why this dumb a-s c–n had no business being Nina Simone. She thought black people were bullying her dumb a-s but nah, we saw her for the c–n she was a long time ago and felt she needed to stay the f-ck away from Nina’s legacy. I’m glad that sh-t flopped. She better forever be grateful that most of her films are carried by actual likable actors, something her a-s never will be.
Well damn! LMBO!
Lol…co-sign
She really has issues. Her mother did her and her sisters absolutely no favors. Her version of protection actually turned them into self absorbed brats who don’t seem to care about anyone but themselves. You don’t have to be dark skinned or even black to know something is very wrong with how people with darker complexions are treated.
Sigh…this woman is a piece of work.
The only reason the white latinos claims her is because she’s successful. If she wasn’t, they’d be ignoring her like they do all the other afro latinas. She better hope and pray she doesn’t ever become forgotten in hollywood because she’ll be eating all of these words. I can’t stand it when black people let success fool them into thinking they ain’t black and racism ain’t a thing.
So she got all this from her mother…makes sense. I’m sure she’ll turn around and raise her children the same way. And the cycle continues.
She is proof that colorism is oftentimes kept alive by other black people (she’s an Afro Latina even though she wants to pretend otherwise). Since she isn’t dark skinned and hasn’t had to deal with the obstacles that come with it, she tells those that do to be quiet and it’s all internal. People like her keep it going. But one thing about tables…
I used to really like her but then she started talking. Anyway, she’s really gotten the big head. Got her thinking Hollywood would never play her. She’ll see one day. They all do.
If it’s not a issue for her then why not say no comment. My bf is Dominican and his family loves to talk about how they Spanish. He told one of his cousins to read about the black Jacobans. They did a number on Dominicans and they definitely suffer from colorism/colonialism. You can tell they internalized their issues because they are whitewashing their color. All her sisters date non black men
Wasn’t her first role in a black movie? Didn’t she play a pro black singer a couple of years ago? Seems like to me she thinks about race when it suits her. But if this is how she feels, maybe she should understand why so many people feel she should leave the roles for black women for actual black women. You know, those that actually acknowledge their blackness and not just when it’s convenient.
So in a nutshell, she doesn’t care about colorism because she’s light skinned so it’s not her problem. That’s interesting since the woman who called Rickey Smiley out in that video wasn’t dark skinned, but she has enough love for dark skinned women that she stuck up for them.
She is in denial. For one thing she is “dark” so why is she acting like she cant relate. Dark in a sense that she is a afro latina. She cant pass for any other kind. No matter how many main stream roles or white men she marries.
Her complexion isn’t light. I had to scroll up again to be sure. H*ll, I’m lighter than her,but I’m not foolish to think I better than anyone. She is simple.
Chile…
Idiot.
Her ignorance never ceases to amaze me.
Never liked this chick. So my spidey senses were right.
I like her until she opens her mouth and speak. But Dominicans are very racist and the thing is they don’t know it.
She is so delusional! She is completely in denial and becomes more unlikable every time she speaks.