In the entertainment field, casting directors are known for “race-bending,” a term used to describe situations or issues in which the race or ethnicity of a character has been changed to fit a specific actor in a film, play or other production.
The term was originally used in Hollywood to discriminate against people of color. Unfortunately, these casting issues still affect them today.
In the past, terms such as “blackface” and “yellowface” were some of the many strategies Hollywood directors used to undermine minority actors. Roles meant for characters of color were constantly given to white actors instead, making it harder for minorities to succeed in the entertainment industry.
Society keeps telling us racism is not an issue anymore, but racism is alive and breathing in Hollywood, waiting to undermine people of color. It is dressed and made up with heavy, dark makeup and costumes to put on a facade to consumers.
In the 2013 film “Lone Ranger,” actor Johnny Depp was cast to play Tonto, a Native American character. Were there no talented Native actors qualified to play the part? Why did it have to be Depp?
Dressing white actors to “fit” a specific racial role does not bring more diversity to films but gives an impression that the only roles people of color are deemed good enough for are the famous “hood” films, slave movies, works about famous activists and, of course, the stereotypical roles of the Middle Eastern terrorist or smart Asian. These present misleading information and cruel jokes to society. With the media portrayal of ethnic minorities, it’s no wonder why a vast majority of students are racially illiterate.
“Most Asian characters are portrayed as nerds and strong-accent English speakers, which is not the reality,” sophomore communication studies major Su Fu said. “Obviously, it is the directors and producers who pick out their cast. … The hero is always a white male.”
Occasionally, mainstream films do boast a diverse cast. While the 1965 version of the film “Cinderella” had one that was mostly white, the 1997 version starred African-American actress Brandy Norwood as Cinderella alongside an ethnically diverse cast.
“The 1997 ‘Cinderella’ was the only one I knew existed. I liked it because Cinderella and the fairy Godmother looked like me,” said black student Alicia Hughes, a sophomore chemistry major. “Later, I appreciated it because it had the most diversity I had seen in its characters.”
Racially diverse films like that remake are a great example of how our world looks today. Schools, businesses and neighborhoods are filled with people of all colors and races.
As Christians, we are all children of the same God, regardless of our gender or ethnicity. Why not try to work on cutting out racism in Hollywood now? Let the race-bending end so culturally conscious consumers can feel comfortable going to the movies again.