So you are a Black Thespian? You've got big dreams, right? Maybe one day win an Oscar? Well, you better get to work and learn how to play certain roles! Like a Slave! A Con Artist! Crooked Cop, Unfit Mother, Vain Athlete, Washed Up Boxer, or the all time champion: The Maid!

It's funny to think that the first African American to win the Academy Award was Hattie McDaniels in 1940, playing a maid in "Gone With The Wind." Now in 2012 we are about to see two more Black actresses win for "The Help." Mark my words, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer will get nominated and win Oscars for their amazing work in this film and it will be well deserved.

These women are two of our finest talents, national treasures really. Sadly their talents are only lauded when they play roles as “subservients.” Now don't get me wrong: I was raised by women like the ones they portrayed. Yes, it is a part of our history but it is not the only part of our history.

African Americans and the rest of the African diaspora are descended from one of the greatest peoples on Earth! Where are the movies about Hannibal of Carthage? The Sudanese Queens of Egypt? Timbuktu?

Recently George Lucas said that he had to spend $100 million of his own money to shoot and distribute the film "Red Tails," a movie about the Tuskegee Airmen.

He had to do this because none of the major studios saw the value in a film about Black WW II Heroes, without a white character in a major role. Obviously "The Help" met this criteria since all of the black women in it served white women. And they even gave their stories to the main white female character, enabling her dreams of becoming a writer, while they remained stuck in a system where their hopes would never be considered.

We see this formula repeated over and over again. "The Magic Negro" is always ready to help the white lead characters realize their dreams and come to grips with their humanity while having no power to better their own situation. They exist to serve. This is what Hollywood is comfortable with. This is why we get the movies we do and this is why our finest Black acting talent have to try and make greatness out of these subjugated roles.

If George Lucas can't get a Black Film financed, who can? This article is meant as a wake up call for us as a people. If we want to see dignified, truthful tellings of our stories, we must take our affiliated wealth and enable those talented among us to create movies that will stand for generations.

I do what I can. I mentor African American filmmakers of all ages. A national TV show (Fat Chef) that I recently produced and directed had two young Black Cincinnati natives get their first network experience because I insisted that they be given an opportunity.

These are the kinds of things we must do to change the media landscape. So remember this article as you watch two splendid Black Actresses win best leading and supporting Oscars. Remember that while this will mark the first time this has ever happened, it makes the cinematic score: Maids 3, Queens 0. Ultimately it's up to us whether we continue to be considered just "The Help." Fade to black. Alphonzo "Zo" Wesson is a filmmaker, writer and mentor. He hosts the monthly PBS/CET program "Viewfinder." He is the only African American to win 20 Emmys in the Cincinnati/ Ohio Valley Television Market.