When we spoke with The Best Man Holiday director Malcolm D. Lee about the film’s decision to include an interracial relationship, he revealed that the idea actually came from Nia Long herself. Naturally, when we had the opportunity to sit down with Nia, alongside her co-stars Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs, we had to ask what inspired her to push for that storyline.
Addressing the topic head-on, Nia made it clear that she didn’t believe the storyline sent any negative messages about the availability or worth of Black men. Instead, she saw it as a reflection of the reality of modern relationships.
“[Jordan and Brian] meet because of the social worlds that they’re in and it works; and when something works you don’t judge it based on what package it comes in. You judge it on how it makes you feel and if it works for your life…
For Nia, the focus was on telling an authentic love story, one that felt natural rather than forced. She emphasized that her character, Jordan, was ambitious and career-driven, which naturally placed her in environments where she interacted with people from different backgrounds. Given that, it made sense for her love interest to reflect the world she navigates daily.
We’re living in a modern world where it happens and it’s OK and it’s no disrespect to any black man. I love black men, but the reality is the sistahs are marrying white men and the brothas are marrying white women and that’s the world that we live in and it’s not to be judged, and if it works for you then embrace it.”
Unsurprisingly, Taye Diggs fully agreed with Nia’s sentiments, showing his support for the film’s realistic portrayal of relationships. However, as we’ve already seen in the growing comment thread on our YouTube feed, not everyone is as understanding.
Check out the full interview in the video below, and let us know what you think about Nia’s comments on The Best Man Holiday film. Are interracial relationships still a controversial topic, or have we finally moved past the debate?
