Didn't we call it? There are plenty of headlines about Halle Berry playing a white woman in "Class Act" and the climate seems to think that's just fine. And now that Angelina Jolie is playing a black woman in "Mighty Heart," protests are yelling that it isn't fair, that they should have found a black woman, like Halle Berry, to play the role.
Both films are based on true stories.
An inside source on "Class Act" reported that the filmmakers felt it was important to find the right actress to play the role, rather than the right white actress.
The public is fine with that but rumblings are brewing about Angelina's playing a black woman. Is "equality" is a word slung around for convenience and personal picks? It seems so as whites, who, let's face it, are a minority on the planet, would have the right, too.
On one hand, with Hollywood casting being notoriously choosy about even a person's hair color, the new trend should prove interesting. As lines get blurred, maybe Hollywood will take the lead and hopefully the stories will focus on character and not the pose. We can dream can't we?
Related:
- Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart
- Halle Berry Breaks Race Barrier in Class Act
Wow. I didn't even notice that Jolie was supposed to be black or colored or anything, and I don't care if Halle Berry plays a white woman. Maybe this will help people see that the things we all go through are so similar because we're all HUMAN. I'm with you on this. hey from seal beach.
Very good article indeed. Actually there isno black "group" that voiced problem with Angelina's casting.
It was just a common black website message board, blacklooks.org, which -funny enough-had so many non-racist messages right under their racist introduction, that yesterday they closed the thread, with the administrator writing "enough is enough!".
With people scrambling for "juicy news" about the hottest topic, Angelina, everyone kept quoting each other-all starting from the above message board.
Miz Monica is talking about it, too. http://mizmonicamonroemoviereviews.blogspot.com/2006/10/blackjolie-not-ok-but-whiteberry-fine.html
Halle Berry should be in that movie and even Thandie Newton not that horrible Mangelina.
The difference is Halle is NOT in white face. Angelina IS. If race doesn't matter why not let her play the character as is, the same way Halle is?
The difference is their is not a history of "white face" imagry used to deaman white people. There IS a history (and present day use) of black face that is still derogatory.
The difference is Hollywood has a practice and history of having black actors dressed up black face to eliminate the use of black actors.
The difference is movie studios still do not create or consider black actresses and other actors of color for meaningful roles and place them in stereotypical parts. This role could have presented that oppourtunity but it was still given to a white actress.
The difference is Halle EARNED her role. Angelina got hers because her producer is the “baby daddy”.