the mount rushmore of black television and movie mates

Posted on 20 November, 2009 by The Champ

marcee tidwell (regina king), ‘jerry maguire’

jerry_maguire_xl_04--film-A

while most of us seem to hold claire huxtable as the fictional black wife benchmark, no one better exemplified what it means to be a true ride or die wife than marcee tidwell. from her invention of “the quan” to her willingness to whoop aries spears militant ass for talking too much negative sh*t, king’s awe-inspiring performance almost even makes cuba gooding’s cooning bearable

claire huxtable (phylicia rashad), ‘the cosby show’

claire-huxtable1

the tupac of tv and movie mates (so unconditionally revered and lauded that their legacy is more memorable and transcendent than they actually were themselves), claire huxtable exemplified class, grace, and beauty while showing the world that its possible for black women to have five children who look absolutely nothing alike

zee (nona gaye), ‘the matrix reloaded’

i know her placement on mt rushmore seems puzzling, but consider these three factors:

1. she was staunchly committed to her man despite the fact that each of her two brothers (dozer and tank) were killed messing around with the same crazy ass boss (morpheus) he’s volunteering to work for.

2. she didn’t hesitate to battle the machine army, which helped to get her man back home and, you know, continue the human race. some janky broads won’t even kill a spider for you and zee was out there running around in a tweed sports bra shooting sentinels and sh*t

3. she looked like this

nona gaye

and stayed devoted to a man who looked like he’s in a perpetual state of the swine flu¹

mrs. jackson (bebe drake), ‘boomerang’

she brought a five gallon bucket chitlins for thanksgiving and let mr. jackson “whip dat p*ssy” in the bathroom next to the kitchen. nuff said

although i know my mt rushmore is thorough, i’m curious: who’d be on your mt rushmore of black television and movie mates? remember, you can only pick four.

also, even though my list is all women, feel free to make a mt rushmore of black male mates if you’re compelled and sh*t.

¹seriously, if you had to rank “sickly looking ass n*ggas in film”, harold perrineau (link from ‘the matrix’) would be number one, closely followed by andre royo (bubbles from ‘the wire’) and macy gray from ‘training day’

—the champ

Brown iii s

1. James Evans from Good Times. Regardless of where they lived he was always trying to take care of his family. Love a man that puts family first.
2. Martin Lawrence from Martin. He loved him some Giiiina & would keep me laughing. -Plus I have a thing for big earred slightly buck teef men.
3. Samuel L. Jackson as Shaft. He is not fine or even cute but he was sexy as he[[ as Shaft… His walk.. whoo I need a minute… Okay I am gud . I watch the movie just to see his walk.
4. Denzel (no need of a last name) in Mo Betta Blues… okay I just like watching him blow the horn. My mind starts to wander on how long he can go before he needs to come up for air…
- Me fail english?
  
  @Brown iii s,
  
  lol. Girl them last two would make TERRIBLE mates!
  - http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
    
    @Me fail english?,
    
    lol, yeah. i think she just started naming cats who’d get the panties rain-foresty
    - http://verysmartbrothas.com Panama Jackson
      
      @The Champ, which is kind of scary since Samuel Jackson looks…kind of scary…
- Peysonic Temple
  
  @Brown iii s,
  
  “Plus I have a thing for big earred slightly buck teef men.”
  
  Is this what women go for nowadays? ::kanyeshrug:: lol
  - miss t-lee
    
    @Peysonic Temple,
    “Is this what women go for nowadays”
    
    Negative.
    - http://blkbond.blogspot.com BlkBond
      
      @miss t-lee,
      
      LOL! I can always count on you…Thanks for the clarity.
      
      Bond
      - miss t-lee
        
        @BlkBond,
        No problem. Aye!!!
  - http://nianaturally.blogspot.com N.I.A. naturally
    
    @Peysonic Temple,
    
    Absolutely not! Wait… where did he go to school, where does he work, and what kind of car does he drive? LOL!! j/k!
talking silently

1. larenze tate in love jones. that brotha to the nite poem gets me everybtime!
2. michael ealy in their eyes were watching God. Any dude that can make me LIKE living in dirt/sqaulor must have that “good”.
3. Idris elba…he just LOOKs yummy. (except for his role in obsessed)
4.the dad from crooklyn…IONO why (hangs head sheepishly)
- Me fail english?
  
  @talking silently,
  
  I think the Dad from Crooklyn would make a good mate too.
  
  Up until the lights got cut off… Then his ass would have to go.
  - The One & True GEM… of the Ocean
    
    @Me fail english?,
    
    LOL
- http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
  
  @talking silently,
  
  Any dude that can make me LIKE living in dirt/sqaulor must have that “good”.
  
  ***forwarding talking silently’s email address to my man in the projects who says he cant find a good woman***
- legitimate_soul
  
  @talking silently,
  
  I totally co-sign on Michael Ealy. He brought that woman happiness no amount of money and status in society could bring her. Plus, he’s Michale Ealy and looks like he does. Dayum, Dayum, Dayum, to that dog that bit him and gave him rabies!
http://www.twitter.com/jalexanderh Dante_Alexander

Gina from All About the Benjamins
Look, she ain’t black… but that don’t mean sheet. The saying goes “she just a black chick wit a taco”. Racist jokes aside, she was most certainly a ride or die chick for our guy Reggie. Ain’t no WAY a non down-like-4-flat-tires chick is stickin around a lowlife like that… ESPECIALLY after the ninja goes to jail AFTER they find the winning lottery ticket… C’mon, b. You KNOW…

Shalika from Boyz N Tha Hood
I was gonna put a few different names up here, but then I realized Regina King is ALWAYS the down arse chick in films, and THIS was where it all started. She drank a 40 like a champ, cursed like a sailor, and went to Crenshaw at night with jheri curled gangster types. If that ain’t “down” I dunno what is…

Peaches from Low Down Dirty Shame
I despise Keenan and his widget-esque cranium. But in this movie, Jada rides for him like no other. Wit her pump waves havin arse. I love her. And all the girls she likes to get it on with. Smooches, Jada. Call me. Or my girlfriend. Either way…

Marcy from Jerry Maguire
When I saw the pic up top, I REALLY didn’t wanna put this one, but I mean… this was the FIRST one that popped in my head, actually. Nothing can deny the impact of “Marcy… You’re the sheet!” as spoken by a resoundinlgy less gay Cuba Gooding, Jr. playing Rod Tidwell after she called him a “beautiful splendid black man”… Dude. Just… I love you, too, Regina.

There are more, but I had to go with 4. And I’m actually only pleased with the Regina King joints. Can she count as all four? Cuz she was dope in “Enemy of the State” too.. Dang. Dah well…
- http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
  
  @Dante_Alexander,
  
  regina king does seem to have the movie wife role down in her sleep. she even seems like the type who’d teach a pole dancing or head-whopping class on the side
- http://verysmartbrothas.com Panama Jackson
  
  @Dante_Alexander, all the Regina King greatness as a movie mate begs the question…
  
  is she hot? this has been a years-long debate amongst my friends. like…i can’t decide if she looks good for real. sometimes she’s good lookin’, other times she’s ungood lookin.
  
  what say you?
  - http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
    
    @Panama Jackson,
    
    i dont know if she’s hot, but she has sex appeal. basically, she’s the exact opposite of gabrielle union
    - Yonnie3k
      
      @The Champ, Oh please explain the Gabrielle Union comment. She’s hot, but with no sex appeal? How can this be?
      - http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
        
        @Yonnie3k,
        
        easy. there are physically attractive people everywhere who aren’t necessarily all that sexy. to me, she’s one of them
      - ComicBookGuy
        
        @The Champ,
        
        You know what? I thought that I was the only one that thought like that. She is very beautiful but does not have the sex appeal that others have that would draw you to her.
  - http://www.twitter.com/jalexanderh Dante_Alexander
    
    @Panama Jackson,
    
    I’d shag Regina King. Twice. But she is not that attractive to me. I just love her. And I’m pretty sure those are her real eyes. So that’s a plus. “I boned the one with the eyes” is always a positive vote-getter amongst peers.
http://stuffghettopeoplelike.wordpress.com Stuff Ghetto People Like

1. Whoever Taral Hicks’ character was named in Bronx Tale
2. Whoever Thandie Newton’s character was named in Mission: Impossible 2
3. Freddie on Different World
4. Whoever Karyn Parsons’ character was in Major Payne

I honestly have nothing of substance, I usually don’t give love interests and wives much thought, so the black ones don’t get an opportunity to stick out like that.
- http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
  
  @Stuff Ghetto People Like,
  
  I honestly have nothing of substance
  
  lol, i see.
  
  well, at least you picked some pretty banging ass chicks
  - http://stuffghettopeoplelike.wordpress.com Stuff Ghetto People Like
    
    @The Champ, even when considered a second time for actual substance, only Thandie Newton doesn’t really belong in this picture. Taral would open the door for ya (well, she’d unlock it anyway), Karyn wanted…some real sh*t with a brother, and Freddie is Freddie: she’s always down for something.
    
    OK, I still really didn’t have much, but E for effort…
  - http://stuffghettopeoplelike.wordpress.com Stuff Ghetto People Like
    
    @The Champ, now that I reconsider, I take Lyric from Jason’s Lyric over Thandie Newton.
    - miss t-lee
      
      @Stuff Ghetto People Like,
      I think I’m still mad at Jada for that so-called Texas accent she had…lol
cam1ll3

1. dwayne wayne (kadeem hardison), a different world–he loved whitley, flaws and all. somethin’ about that boy…he was sexy!!!!

2. jake tyler brigance (matthew mutha—kin’ maconaughey), a time to kill–southern gentleman, intelligent, sexy…all he needs to do is talk and i just–oh, my bad.

3. quincy (omar epps), love and basketball–i had a relationship like that once (minus the basketball). falling in love with a friend is cool sometimes.

that’s all i got right now…may i add later if i find something?
- http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
  
  @cam1ll3,
  
  may i add later if i find something?
  
  no
  - http://www.sistersoundoff.blogspot.com Cheekie
    
    @The Champ,
    
    *cracking up* @ the list being a one-comment deal.
  - cam1ll3
    
    @The Champ,
    
    damn champ! it ain’t my fault i couldn’t think of something else…and i still can’t now, but that’s not the point!!!
The One & True GEM… of the Ocean

my mt rushmore, in no particular order…

overton wakefield jones (living single). he was so in love with sinclair and went out of his way to put a smile on her face and make sure she was always happy. his naivete was kinda cute and his corny handyman anecdotes were endearing.

martin payne (martin). he was funny/crazy as hell and didnt let anyone else talk bad about gina’s big head and bubble butt — that was reserved for him only lol. and his lady was a working professional and the breadwinner of the rel’ship.

roc emerson (from roc). he took care of his wife, brother, AND father. he worked hard and earned every right to be cheap lol. he also took a real concern with what went on in his neighborhood. he adored his wife but also kept his place as head of the household. he just encompassed most qualities i appreciate and look for in a black husband (and father), brother, and son.

lucky (from poetic justice). real. unapologetic. black-male-macho. vulnerable. down. tupac. *swoon*
- http://lizburr.com Liz
  
  @The One & True GEM… of the Ocean, AWEsome picks!!!
- http://nianaturally.blogspot.com N.I.A. naturally
  
  @The One & True GEM… of the Ocean,
  
  Roc is a great pick!!
- http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
  
  @The One & True GEM… of the Ocean,
  
  roc was one of my favorite shows, at least until the 3rd season when heavy d came and every show became a “very special episode”
  - http://stuffghettopeoplelike.wordpress.com Stuff Ghetto People Like
    
    @The Champ, which reminds me, RIP jumptheshark.com. A great site on which you could find any show you want, but got neutered when the creator sold out to TV Guide.
    - Yonnie3k
      
      @Stuff Ghetto People Like,
      
      Crazy – I was just looking for that site a while back and couldn’t find it. I was trying to see if they said that The Wire ever jumped the shark. I doubt it.
  - legitimate_soul
    
    @The Champ,
    So true! LOL! So sad the inclusion of Heavy D pissed in everybody’s cereal, lol!
- Miss Patterson
  
  @The One & True GEM… of the Ocean,
  
  Good job, Gemmie. I see you understood the overall aim of this post. GOOD mates. lol I was starting to get concerned about my vss crew.
shay-d-lady

cole from martin- he kept a job, respected his momma and always repped his girl regardless of how the others jonned him.
idris elba in daddy’s little girl- reformed thug taking care of his kids enuff said
bruce leroy- deliciously cute and corny, treats women with respect and he can guard my body anytime
uncle phil being portly is a bit of a detractor but intelligent, good job, good father
- http://naturallyalise.blogspot.com Naturally Alise
  
  @shay-d-lady,
  
  Cole… you stupid… good point he was the only character on Martin that KEPT a job… nice observation!
- Me fail english?
  
  @shay-d-lady,
  
  LOL. I lOVE me some Bruce Leroy. That may have been my first crush.
  - miss t-lee
    
    @Me fail english?,
    Yours too?
- http://www.sistersoundoff.blogspot.com Cheekie
  
  @shay-d-lady,
  
  “uncle phil being portly is a bit of a detractor but intelligent, good job, good father”
  
  Good pick. Also, he has the “death stare” down pat. He’s like the male portly version of Claire Huxtable.
  - http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
    
    @Cheekie,
    
    Good pick. Also, he has the “death stare” down pat. He’s like the male portly version of Claire Huxtable.
    
    apparently they both have the same taste in men as well
    - http://www.sistersoundoff.blogspot.com Cheekie
      
      @The Champ,
      
      lol. Mmmhmm.
    - Big Man
      
      @The Champ,
      
      Yeah, my pops saw him on vacation in the Bahamas and said homeboy was more fruity than a box of Trix.
      
      Then I started looking at the show more closely, and you can see it in how he acts. That dude was a flamer, he just hid it behind yelling.
- The One & True GEM… of the Ocean
  
  @shay-d-lady,
  
  great list, shay!!!
shay-d-lady

david alan grier in boomerang the hallmark of the ‘that ninja to nice’ syndrome
ebay from that one episode of good times where he was going to make thelma a princess ..lol j/k
- http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
  
  @shay-d-lady,
  
  yeah, david alan grier in that movie was destined to be panty-less. i think having freaks for parents stunted his romantic growth and sh*t
shay-d-lady

oh and who can forget Lester from 227 he rocked the flat top was a good father and provider and loved him some mary even with sooondra trying to get at him
- http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ
  
  @shay-d-lady,
  
  was sandra trying to get at him? i dont remember that.
http://stickwithyocat.blogspot.com/ V.E.G.

Officer Troy – Why Did I Get Married. First of all, Mr. Rucker is just segzy. Just…tasty. And he came in when Sheila needed him the most. He didn’t judge, checked her in the way women sometimes need to be checked. Did I mention…segzy?

Darius Lovehall – Love Jones. He put it on Nina. Tried to be a player but, in the end, broke it down “This here, right now, at this very moment, is all that matters to me. I love you. That’s urgent like a motherSucker. ” Nuff said.

Rick Fox – The Game. When he checked Tasha, told her that all that foolywang was gonna stop…I was DONE. Her ‘yes, daddy’ response was classic.

Jason – Jason’s Lyric. Ghetto arse teen flick, BUT when he washed Jada’s feet…every girl side-eyed her poot butt man. Mmmhmmm.
- miss t-lee
  
  @V.E.G.,
  “Rick Fox – The Game. When he checked Tasha, told her that all that foolywang was gonna stop…I was DONE. Her ‘yes, daddy’ response was classic”
  
  Yep.
- http://www.sistersoundoff.blogspot.com Cheekie
  
  @V.E.G.,
  
  “Rick Fox – The Game. When he checked Tasha, told her that all that foolywang was gonna stop…I was DONE. Her ‘yes, daddy’ response was classic.”
  
  Most def. I was hella turned on by that and Rick Fox makes me dryer than a chapped lip.
- Sula
  
  @V.E.G.,
  
  I love ALL of those picks! Excellent! And I was actually surprised at Rick Fox, but I really liked the dynamic between him and Tasha Mack.
- charli skipper
  
  @V.E.G.,
  cosign the rick fox. i loved the whole, “im not those other men. i’m YOUR man.” yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssss. anybody willin to put tags on himself like that with just enough bass in the voice, and be fine too, and be JUST dumb enough so that he can still make good money but still know that he’s no match for me is A-OK.
- The One & True GEM… of the Ocean
  
  @V.E.G.,
  
  this list is sooooo you veggie! love it!!

Very Smart Brothas

the mount rushmore of black television and movie mates

¹seriously, if you had to rank “sickly looking ass nggas in film”,* harold perrineau (link from ‘the matrix’) would be number one, closely followed by andre royo (bubbles from ‘the wire’) and macy gray from ‘training day’

¹seriously, if you had to rank “sickly looking ass n*ggas in film”, harold perrineau (link from ‘the matrix’) would be number one, closely followed by andre royo (bubbles from ‘the wire’) and macy gray from ‘training day’

¹seriously, if you had to rank “sickly looking ass nggas in film”,* harold perrineau (link from ‘the matrix’) would be number one, closely followed by andre royo (bubbles from ‘the wire’) and macy gray from ‘training day’