Idris Elba Doesn't Want To Be Called A "Black Actor" Anymore, And Here's Why

From Beast to The Suicide Squad to The Wire, Idris Elba has starred in a wide variety of shows and movies. He even starred in a few episodes of The Office. Born and raised in the UK with dual citizenship in Sierra Leone, Idris has been nominated for multiple awards and is known for his wide range of acting. He's one of those actors that you might expect to fall in line with the mainstream narrative about racism being prevalent in Hollywood and Western society, but in 2020 he shocked many people when he said that he doesn't believe in censorship—even when it comes to movies and shows that have "racist themes." His latest interview indicates that he has shed the label of "black actor" because he feels like it's not doing anything positive for his career.

Idris Elba Doesn't Want to Be Called a "Black Actor" Anymore, and Here's Why

In an interview with Esquire UK, Idris talked about his childhood and the "tough neighborhood" he grew up in. He struggled with chronic asthma as a child and his mother was often worried about his health. "I was in and out of hospitals," he recalled. His mother became very protective of him because she was always concerned for his wellbeing. She was born in Ghana and is from Accra, the Ga tribe.

"She moved when she was 12 to Sierra Leone, but she was quite attached to her Ghanaian roots," Idris said. "Again, I’ve been to Ghana many times, worked there, understood how my tribe offers me perspective on who I am. I think the Ga are quite sensitive people, sensitive to possible slights. Cautious. I can be like that."

The first culture he ever experienced was Sierra Leonean. "All my experiences were West African first, then UK culture. I love being English, I love the culture here, I grew up here, I became a man in England, I’m very attached to it," he said. "But at the same time, I’ve also got another culture, which is African, Sierra Leonean specifically. I’m really thankful for it."

Idris also talked about the racism that still exists today in our world. "Racism is very real," he said, but from his perspective, "it's only as powerful as you allow it to be."

"If we spent half the time not talking about the differences but the similarities between us, the entire planet would have a shift in the way we deal with each other," he continued. "As humans, we are obsessed with race. And that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth."

He believes that racism should be talked about and shouldn't simply be ignored, because it does in fact exist, but Idris believes that if we stop talking about it all the time, it would be better for everyone.

"I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realised it put me in a box," he said. "We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it’s just skin. Rant over." He adds that he absolutely considers himself to be a member of the black community, but when he arrives in the US, he's automatically considered a member of the British community.

Idris also said that he didn't become an actor because he didn't see black people acting and wanted to change that; he did it because he loved acting and thought he could be very good at it. "As you get up the ladder, you get asked what it’s like to be the first Black to do this or that. Well, it’s the same as it would be if I were white. It’s the first time for me. I don’t want to be the first Black. I’m the first Idris," he said.

This has been a shocking revelation for many fans and activists, as we live in a world that relates everything to race and skin color. It reminds people of that famous Morgan Freeman interview from years ago when he said that the way to end racism is to stop talking about it. While some find Idris' take to be insulting and perhaps even offensive, many others find it to be a refreshing take.