I think there is a difference, albeit subtle, between the two eras. In the 70s, roles were written as stereotypes and without well rounded consideration. Quentin Tarantino identified with his character Ordell. He connected with him so much that he had difficulty with someone else playing it. He gave the character a lot of thought, and envisioned it as himself--a white man. The fact that Samuel L. Jackson, a black actor, played Ordell suggests the character's race is irrelevant. In the blaxpoitation era, the character's race was everything. It was integral to the plot. Most white filmmakers of that time would never and could never identify with a black character.
In a way, that's progress.
Nicole, good points. I like that you deal specifically with Tarantino and also the issue of actors and the roles they take on. There is an interesting moment in the Boondocks where a character quotes Tarantino film dialogue. What is interesting is it is the Sam Jackson character he is quoting, and Jackson plays a "white" role in the Boondocks quoting a "black role" in the Tarantino film (though your point is well taken that the character's race could have been a side point). NIce work.
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