Chris Rock Talks About Black Fame
Chris Rock’s new movie, “Top Five” opens Friday, December 12th. CBS This Morning host Charlie Rose talked to Chris about writing, directing and starring in the film and his fame as a comedic actor and stand up comedian. Chris Rock explained to Rose the difference between fame and “black fame”. According to Chris, “black fame” comes with a lot more responsibility. He says that an actor like Denzel Washington has to do “stuff for his people”. Something that Tom Hanks, Liam Neeson or Tom Cruise don’t have to deal with. Chris said, “They just make their art, and no one goes, ‘Hey, Tom Cruise … Stay white. Don’t forget your whiteness.’ It’s, ‘Come back and visit the white people.’ ‘How– what you doin’ for white people, Tom Cruise?’ Nobody says that to Tom Cruise”.
Chris also reflected on his stand up career, saying it’s, “still at the core of my life”. Rose mentioned how race enters into his act a lot and how Jerry Seinfeld said that no comedian can talk about race in America as well as Chris Rock. Chris says that comes from living it. As a kid he was a product of busing in the 70s and was called racial slurs on a regular basis. He also feels that’s part of what helps him connect with his audience. He feels it’s the highs and lows and really having lived that let’s an audience take that journey with you.
“Take Five” opens nationwide on Friday, December 12th.
