A Black James Bond has become a meme. But, like most memes, I hope it amounts to nothing more than a fleeting fancy.
A Black James Bond is unrealistic
Interestingly enough, Sony executives themselves raised the prospect of a Black James Bond. Last year, leaked e-mails revealed they were considering Idris Elba to replace Daniel Craig.
I registered my take in “A Black James Bond? No, Hell No!”
Roger Moore branded racist
Roger Moore is my least favorite James Bond. Yet, when twits began trolling him last month, I felt sympathy.
Moore dared to assert that no Black actor should ever play 007.
Although James may have been played by a Scot, a Welshman and an Irishman, I think he should be English-English. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting idea, but unrealistic.
(The Guardian, March 30, 2015)
That provoked those twits to hurl ageist insults and brand him a racist.
Ironically, Moore was too politically correct to say what he meant. Which is that Bond should be White. After all, that is the obvious connotation of “English-English.”
But don’t get me started on the jealous jibe Moore took at Scottish Sean Connery, the original Bond.
Yaphet Kotto says no to Black James Bond
Live and Let Die is my favorite of Moore’s Bond films. His derring-dos and snarky one-liners are entertaining enough. But the tantric appeal of the Bond girl it features does it for me. Jane Seymour plays the very titillating ingénue, Solitaire.
But this film also features the most interesting villain any Bond ever faced. Yaphet Kotto plays the menacing villain, Mr. Big.
More to the point, though, Kotto is Black. So it speaks volumes that he came to Moore’s defense.
Political correctness be damned, we have to stay with what is literally correct. [Bond] was established by Ian Fleming as a white character, played by White actors. … Play 003 or 006 but you cannot be 007.
(The Independent, April 9, 2015)
I agree. Moreover, Kotto’s take should end any prospect of a Black James Bond. Here’s to Sony executives taking heed.
Stay tuned…