The Jerk – 1979
In the comedy classic, The Jerk, Steve Martin, a Caucasian actor, famously begins with the line, “I was born a poor black child,” as his character Navin R. Johnson, who was adopted by an African American family. While the film aimed to derive subversive humor from this scenario, it is arguably for the best that such a concept is not revisited in today’s context. Given the heightened awareness around racial sensitivity and cultural appropriation, it is important to approach such topics with caution and respect.