Tuesday 3 February 2015

In defense of Benedict Cumberbatch

So there is some backlash over Benedict using the word 'coloured' to describe actors of African descent in the UK.

Time to give it my two cents...and you're probably not going to like it. Well, suck it up. Someone has to defend this wonderful man and I am more than willing to bat for him. He deserves no less from me.

When you hear the name Benedict Cumberbatch, you probably associate him with Sherlock. Not his other roles. Not his work with various. charities. Not his social activism.

So what gives you the right to damn one of the most generous men in the world for an innocent slip of the tongue? He wasn't trying to be offensive! He was trying to tell the host of Tavis Smiley how hard it is for those UK actors of African descent to find decent roles.

Benedict has been known to champion equal rights, not just for those of African descent or women, but also members of the LGBT community as well. He was horrified when he found out he is a descendent of slave owners and apologized profusely. What more does the man have to do to make people stop criticizing him?

Here's a suggestion...how about instead of being offended, maybe come up with a proper title for those of African descent so that people can describe them in a manner that is politically correct?