Lee Daniels, director and producer of the new film "The Butler," lashed out on Monday's Piers Morgan Live at Americans who are "angry that [Obama] is president" and who are "showing their true colors."
Host Piers Morgan teed him up, asking if "America is a more or less
racist country since Barack Obama became president?" Daniels responded
that "sadly I think so." Actor Lenny Kravitz had a more positive
analysis but supported Daniels' assertion about many Americans.
[Video below. Audio here [1].]
"Wow, that's a powerful question," Daniels reacted to Morgan's inquiry.
"I think that people are angry that he [Obama] is president, and I
think that they're showing their true colors." He expounded on the
shooting of Trayvon Martin as an example of growing racism.
"I think that, you know, when Danny Strong wrote those words, 'Any
black man can be killed by any white man and get away with it,' Trayvon
Martin had not happened."
Actor Lenny Kravitz said "Has the world gotten better? In general,
yes." He added that "it's still there, there are people – when you move
forward, there are always going to be people that don't want to go that
way, they don't want to buy into that. They want to hold onto their
traditions and their beliefs and the way they were raised. And therefore
you have a lot of people that are fighting back and showing their true
colors, as Lee said."
Below is a transcript of a segment that aired on Piers Morgan Live on August 19 at 9:43 p.m. EDT:
PIERS MORGAN: Lee, do you think that America is a more or less racist country since Barack Obama became president?
LEE DANIELS, director, producer, "The Butler": Wow, that's a powerful
question. I think that people are angry that he's president, and I think
that they're showing their true colors. And I think that – I think
that, you know, when Danny Strong wrote those words, "Any black man can
be killed by any white man and get away with it," Trayvon Martin had not
happened. I end the movie with hope, you know. He's walking down and
Obama's giving that famous speech, you know? And then I come out of my
edit room and Trayvon Martin has happened. So yeah, I think so – sadly I
think so.
MORGAN: Let me turn to you Lenny, on this. You've – I think I've talked
to you about this before, but this film has brought into sharp focus,
as has Oprah's revelations about the racism she suffered. Have you
yourself suffered that kind of racism?
LENNY KRAVITZ, actor, "Lee Daniels' The Butler": Yes. I mean, as a
child, in growing up, going to school, you always bump into that kind of
thing by certain individuals. Has the world gotten better? In general,
yes. The young generation, they don't even go for this, this business
when people just don't even understand it in the new generation. But
it's still there, there are people – when you move forward, there are
always going to be people that don't want to go that way, they don't
want to buy into that. They want to hold onto their traditions and their
beliefs and the way they were raised. And therefore you have a lot of
people that are fighting back and showing their true colors, as Lee
said. But in general, things are getting better with each generation.