Jar Jar Binks Unmasked - The Source
Funny how a single phone call can change someone’s entire life. Back in 1996, percussionist, Ahmed Best, was on tour with the Broadway hit, Stomp, when he received one of those calls. “We want to make you an offer,” said the woman on the line. “An offer for what?” “Episode 1,” she replied. His response, “Cool.”
A year after that brief conversation, the Bronx, NY native began working on what would become the biggest blockbuster of 1999, Star Wars: Episode 1—The Phantom Menace. Having an extensive martial arts background, Best captured the physically demanding role of Jar Jar Binks. Although he spent the next two years providing both the voice and movements for the controversial character, few moviegoers actually know who Best is. “There’s a certain amount of frustration that comes with that,” he admits. “Not because of my own ego, but I want to be known for doing good work.”
Yet the public’s overall response to Best’s performance in the film has been mixed. Some viewers enjoyed Jar Jar’s goofy demeanor and awkward way of speaking, while others felt the affable alien embodied too many racial stereotypes. There were even Web sites dedicated to the character’s assassination, not to mention allegations that he was homosexual. “I think it’s really kind of silly,” Best responds. “I didn’t realize that people were so myopic that they would fabricate things so far beyond what the intention of the character was.”
As one of the few African-American actors in the Star Wars universe, the 26-year old bard acknowledges his contribution to film history. Very few Black thespians would agree to take on a role that keeps their face, and to a certain extent, voice hidden. The only other actors of color that have taken such a risk are Lou Gossett Jr., who played a reptilian alien in Enemy Mine, and James Earl Jones, who provided the voice of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. “It’s definitely something that I’m proud of,” says Best, who has already signed on for Episode 2, which starts filming in September. “This is something that’s going to last for a while, something I can tell my children and grandchildren.” —Anslem Samuel Rocque
