The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1939-04-08
Oscar Polk Defends The Film
Version Of'Gone With Wind
by OSCAR POLK

tCas In the role or Pork" but
: Ter At Tara Plantation. in David o.
Selrnick's technicolor production.
Gone With The wind" starring
CLARK Gable, vlvien Leigh. Leslie
Howard and Olivia de Hayllland,
directed by Victor Fleming)
There Is absolutely no need for
agitation and criticism by Negroes
against David D. Selznlck's produc.
ton OF Gone With The wind"
When was approached in New
York by agents OF the studio. and
offered The role OF Pork in the
picture. the hrst thought that came
10 me was that had not read the
book.
SO before negotiating further. l.
read those parts OF Margaret Nit
ohell's novel in which appeared the
character was asked 10 play.
Not offensive
In her hook there are few things
said and done that were offensive /
10 me as race man. and In dis
cussing the possibility OF my doing
the role OF PORK" these scenes
were mentioned. was definitely
assured that the rewritten script
for the picture would contain moth
ing offensive nor detrimental 10
the Negro race.
There has been great deal Of
discussion, some Of Il brought d.
recily 10 me. concerning the use
% the word niger" in the book.
and other insulting terms describ-
Ing my race. have now read the
complete script and find that such
derogatory expressions do not at
any time appear In the script OF
Selznicks production OF Gone
With the Wind"
Deletes offensive Word
All OF us should be aware OF the
fact that In the days before and
after slavery In the United States.
the words niger and "darkey"
were used freely by whites and
blacks alike in the South. but Pro-
ducer selznick, In order not 10 Of
lend anyone, has ordered the word
Niger not be used in the pic
ure.
am from. the South. and am as
with Southern traditions
rs any member OF my race. The
Negro characters that appear In
he picture-P Pork. Nanny. Prissy, (
I'ncle Peter. Big Sam and Jeems. :
ara all true 10 life--all OF them !
.ond have. and In fact. actually
nave lived. As q race, We should be I
proud that we have risen 40 far
above the status of our enslayed
ancestors, and be glad 10 portray I
as We once were. because I
In no other way can We so strik !
Inely demonstrate how far We have !
come in 40 few years.
Not DlsparsgIng
This is not a picture like The
1lIiU OF .NhllOHt Hui No'h ~ i'hu
10 besnirch the bright future OF
ns Afro-Americans. There Is moth
ing in ii that will make any Of
the Negro public regard our history
with intolerance or shame.
like every Negro character In
H. wish It were possible for me
10 play more than one part. viii
stake my professional reputation
on my assurance that the colored
people will like this picture better
than any other OF It's kind.
There are several white parts In
the picture that portray very un-
pleasant characters indeed. yet the
white actors are not kicking about
MS colored actors calling them no.
count good for nothin' white
trash etc. in the picture.
All things considered. l feel safe
In saying the Negro public will
conclude that we colored actors
have better and cleaner parts than
many OF the white actors In The
picture and that our Interpretation
will show the best aide and most
traits ~ our race.