A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away…where gargling Sasquatch-like creatures live among even more bizarre tiny green warriors, a black storm trooper was brutally criticized for apparently creating a plot-hole in the series. British actor, John Boyega, is slated to play one of the iconic storm troopers in the upcoming film, Star Wars Episode VII, as revealed in the debut trailer. This role of a lifetime came with racist backlash. The notion of a black storm trooper had Twitter and Reddit users in a racist frenzy.
Similarly, another British actor, Idris Elba received the same kind of backlash for simply being the subject of a rumor that he will take on the role of the new James Bond. Elba, himself expressed his dissent on the idea of “Black Bond,” I can’t say that I blame him for being opposed to taking the role, simply to avoid being the subject of the stigma that will undoubtedly come with being the first, “Black Bond.”
Yet it’s still unfortunate, because it shouldn’t matter. And as charming, suave, gallant, and quintessentially British as Elba is–he’s still referred to as too black “street” to play the dashing James Bond, says Anthony Horowitz, an author of the franchise.
On the contrary.
An argument that I usually hear to oppose this–blacks playing traditionally white roles– is that these roles were created for white men. So to cast any other race than white is just as blasphemous as black Jesus.
The treatment for this casting issue would be the creation of more black action hero roles like Bond or any other major role. To that I say, “that it’s easier said than done.”
Because alternate versions of our favorite heroes in the comic book realm, like Spider Man’s black-Hispanic successor, Miles Morales, already exist. Yet they are still overlooked on the silver screen to be main protagonists.
This makes it tough because even the popular Spider Man will probably be white in movies for years to come, despite what the comics say. We’ve still come a long way in the film industry compared to America’s segregated heyday, i.e. black face actors and black actors only playing the part of the buffoon. But nevertheless, “whitewashing” is still a common practice for Hollywood. For an example, Katniss Everdeen (Hunger Games) was described as a woman of color. She didn’t even necessarily have to be black. I’m not discrediting Jennifer Lawrence (a very talented actress) or any other actor for simply doing their job. I only wish to challenge Hollywood’s casting standards.
Unlike movies, the comic book and publishing world doesn’t seem to have as much of a problem with race or even gender reversals and alternatives, because there you’ll find a Lady Thor, She-Hulk and a black Green Lantern. But for some reason, when it comes to the silver screen, Hollywood just can’t seem to grasp the idea of casting in a way that better represents everyone. As diversity grows in America–millennials being among the most diverse–it is becoming more apparent that Hollywood wishes to be out of touch with our diverse demographic.
If this doesn’t change going forward, then future black comic book heroes, and other intriguing black characters, won’t be cast as such on the silver screen because, according to Hollywood, they are either not well accepted, despite their talent, or too black to be black in film.