Wesley Snipes recently sparked controversy with his candid remarks about Hollywood, expressing frustration over the industry’s typecasting of dark-skinned actors in roles that perpetuate harmful stereotypes of violence within the Black community. Snipes criticized Hollywood’s longstanding practice of casting Black men as criminals and drug dealers, which he feels undermines authentic representation.

He notably turned down the lead role in the planned sequel of *New Jack City*, a film that helped launch his career but was criticized for reinforcing negative racial stereotypes. Despite the financial success of the original film, Snipes openly distanced himself from any involvement in a potential reboot, emphasizing that he didn’t want to contribute further to harmful portrayals of Black men.

Snipes’ refusal to participate in roles that pigeonhole him due to his race has been met with resistance from Hollywood elites. He even pointed out issues with some of his past roles, such as in *Rising Sun*, where he felt the character he portrayed was made to seem too submissive or “wimpish,” contradicting the authoritative persona that the role demanded.

This isn’t the first time Hollywood has been called out for its biases. Chris Rock recently reignited the debate by suggesting that Tyler Perry’s films often portray darker-skinned male characters as antagonists, while lighter-skinned men are depicted as heroes. Rock’s comments stirred up controversy, drawing attention to potential colorism in Perry’s work. This critique was echoed by others in the Black community who believe Perry’s films may inadvertently reinforce stereotypes and hinder more diverse representation.

As Snipes and others continue to voice concerns, it highlights the ongoing struggle for systemic change in Hollywood’s portrayal of Black characters, pushing for more inclusive and respectful representation in media.