WTF?

This article ran yesterday in the Houston Chronicle. Mr. Harrison explores an interesting trend in Hollywood where white actors are used to portray black characters. Leave it to Brangelina to spark this recent discussion. In an upcoming film, A Mighty Heart, Angelina Jolie portrays slain journalist Daniel Pearl's widow, Mariane. Minor detail: Mariane is black. We all Jolie is an avid adopter of ethnic children but that in no way makes her African-American. I suppose when your partner is producing the film, color is no issue. In that respect, I agree with Mr. Harrison. It's a little weird. For those of you who know me, it would be like creating my life story and starring...Jessica Simpson. Even writing that creeps me out.


But on to the article. First, he attacks Honey, which holds a soft spot in my heart. Terrible movie, but still, it is special to me. He says the casting of Jessica Alba is a perfect example of "blind" casting...is the audience to supposed to believe that a girl of Mexican/Danish/French descent is black?? He goes on further to say, "Alba's parents are played by black actors, but since race isn't mentioned, we aren't sure whether we're supposed to assume the light-skinned Lonette McKee, who plays the mother, is white." Here's the thing. Alba is clearly predominatly Mexican. I'd argue she looks more Hispanic than white. Her father is clearly African American in the film, but the mother appears to be a mix of Hispanic and African descent. Therefore, it makes sense for the daughter to look the way she does. She has a Hispanic coloring but she has obviously grown up in the "hood" so she adapts to the lifestyle with her dress and speech. I feel the filmmakers took extra pains to re-create this mixed race family to further emphasize the internal struggle of the main character. It is never even remotely hinted that you are supposed to believe that Jessica Alba is African-American. That would be insulting the viewers intelligence although this writer was obviously fooled. The kicker lies in the last sentence: "Now if only Phifer's character had been given a Korean name the movie could be hailed for really breaking new ground." All that from a lame dance movie...