Footloose Producers Craig Zadan & Neil Meron Set to Remake 80s Classic "Steel Magnolias" with All-Black Cast

Lifetime set to remake 1980s classic "Steel Magnolias" with all-black cast, but didn't we have "Beauty Shop?"

Do we really need to watch a remake of 80s classic "Steel Magnolias" featuring an all-black cast? Didn't we have "Beauty Shop?" Lifetime is remaking the tear-jerker that starred Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Julia Roberts and Darryl Hannah. The new film will be produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the duo responsible for the new "Footloose" movie set to open on Friday.

No cast is in place yet, but they are reportedly reaching out to some black heavy-hitters in Hollywood. Well, I hope they reach out to Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson and Dawn Lewis. These women are among the best black Hollywood has to offer.

When all is said and done, the movie will spark debate. It begs the question of why are we seeing so many remakes? Jaws, Footloose and now Steel Magnolias? How many ways can you possibly tell the same story? I will concede one point, it will be a welcome change from Tyler Perry's ghetto-fabulous Madea.

Robert Redding Jr. Takes Offense to Blacks Coming Up Empty-Handed at the 81st Oscar Awards

Photo: Viola Davis, Oscar Nominee

I am all for equality and justice for all, but it seems that a sense of entitlement among my fellow African Americans is rearing its head again, especially since President Barack Obama became the first African American president of the United States. Now Robert "Rob" Redding Jr, President of Redding News Review and Redding Communications Inc., has a big problem with blacks coming up empty-handed at the recent Oscar Awards. Yep, entitlement rearing its head once again.

Blacks were snubbed in major categories at last night's 81st Academy Awards. Although two blacks were nominated to win on Hollywood's big night in the Best Supporting Actress category - Viola Davis of "Doubt" and Taraji P. Henson of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - neither won an Oscar. Penelope Cruz beat both Henson and Davis to become the first Spanish-born actress to win an Oscar for her role in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Blacks were not nominated for best actor, actress, director, or movie.

What's more, "Trouble the Water," a film made and produced by blacks during the Hurricane Katrina, also failed to win in the Best Documentary Feature category "Man on Wire," a movie about tightrope walking won. Source: Redding News Review.

Come on people, there are more important things for us to worry about than to bicker about blacks coming up empty-handed at the Oscar Awards. There are real racist attacks being made against blacks everyday in this country, including the low blow the New York Post and Sean Delonas took against President Obama, for us to get in the muck over the Oscar Awards. Mr. Redding, you provide a valuable service, one that I have used to find news stories for my blog, but I am really disappointed that you engage in this spirit of entitlement that has dogged so many blacks in this country. Didn't Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr., Morgan Freeman, among others win big at the Oscars? This is much ado about nothing.

Robert Redding Jr. Takes Offense to Blacks Coming Up Empty-Handed at the 81st Oscar Awards

Photo: Viola Davis, Oscar Nominee

I am all for equality and justice for all, but it seems that a sense of entitlement among my fellow African Americans is rearing its head again, especially since President Barack Obama became the first African American president of the United States. Now Robert "Rob" Redding Jr, President of Redding News Review and Redding Communications Inc., has a big problem with blacks coming up empty-handed at the recent Oscar Awards. Yep, entitlement rearing its head once again.

Blacks were snubbed in major categories at last night's 81st Academy Awards. Although two blacks were nominated to win on Hollywood's big night in the Best Supporting Actress category - Viola Davis of "Doubt" and Taraji P. Henson of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - neither won an Oscar. Penelope Cruz beat both Henson and Davis to become the first Spanish-born actress to win an Oscar for her role in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Blacks were not nominated for best actor, actress, director, or movie.

What's more, "Trouble the Water," a film made and produced by blacks during the Hurricane Katrina, also failed to win in the Best Documentary Feature category "Man on Wire," a movie about tightrope walking won. Source: Redding News Review.

Come on people, there are more important things for us to worry about than to bicker about blacks coming up empty-handed at the Oscar Awards. There are real racist attacks being made against blacks everyday in this country, including the low blow the New York Post and Sean Delonas took against President Obama, for us to get in the muck over the Oscar Awards. Mr. Redding, you provide a valuable service, one that I have used to find news stories for my blog, but I am really disappointed that you engage in this spirit of entitlement that has dogged so many blacks in this country. Didn't Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr., Morgan Freeman, among others win big at the Oscars? This is much ado about nothing.