I mean I think it's a bit disingenuous to be shocked by the discourse when the internet would be having a conniption if they cast a white woman in a traditionally African role.
The internet was mad enough at Odessa Ozarion for considering a role for a movie where she was literally the "correct" ethnicity but wasn't dark skinned enough that she turned the role down and publically apologised lol.
I personally dont think it should matter either way, but either commit to actors needing to be the accurate ethnicity or don't, don't pick and choose depending on if they're white or black
if they cast a white woman in a traditionally African role
OH my sweet summer child hold on to your fuckin' pearls. How soon we forget they blacked out Angelina Jolie to play a Cuban-Afro character.
The fact that they care about the melanin of a leading character and not the inaccuracy of the armor, weapons, ships, etc honestly to me is a total condemnation that it's never actually about accuracy.
To not be making a false equivalency you need to determine that the reasons why people would have a problem with the situation you're referring also apply to this other situation you're trying to draw an equivalency with.
Context matters. In a world in which everyone got an equal opportunity at roles, this conversation wouldn't be an issue. Unfortunately that's not the world we live in. In Hollywood(it's way better than it was say 20-30 years ago), the lionshare share of roles are written for white people. Because of this, non white actors dont have as many opportunities as their white counterparts. This is what drives the sensitivity over white actors being casted in traditionally non white roles. This same dynamic does not exist the other way around. That's why most people who complain about this shit are racist white people trying to find wedge issues to divide people.
There's one other issue with your statement. Helen of Troy has never been a traditionally Greek role in Hollywood. Do a quick google search for all the actresses who played Helen of Troy in American movies. Maybe 1 or 2 of them are Greek. The rest of them are pale, anglo-saxon, white women. The people complaining have never given a shit that Helen of Troy wasnt played by a Greek women. They are only mad because shes black.
My poor friend, being fair and logical in your views? You’re on Reddit, the same bloody biases exist on both sides of the political spectrum… They don’t realise that those defending a black Helen of Troy actually have exactly the same cognitive patterns as those defending John Wayne as Genghis Khan.
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u/rkiive 13d ago
I mean I think it's a bit disingenuous to be shocked by the discourse when the internet would be having a conniption if they cast a white woman in a traditionally African role.
The internet was mad enough at Odessa Ozarion for considering a role for a movie where she was literally the "correct" ethnicity but wasn't dark skinned enough that she turned the role down and publically apologised lol.
I personally dont think it should matter either way, but either commit to actors needing to be the accurate ethnicity or don't, don't pick and choose depending on if they're white or black