I See No Color; Racial Discrimination in the Film Industry

Hibo Haybe

Professor Tyrone Nagia

English 205

15 May 2016

I See no Color; Racial Discrimination in the Film industry

        “When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its 2016 Oscar nominees, only white actors and actresses were among the chosen few in the top four categories -- for the second year in a row -- resulting in the resurgence of the social media hashtag #OscarsSoWhite and a bevy of concerns about diversity in Hollywood” (Los Angeles Times). In today's society we often enjoy going to see new movies, but when watching the film’s how many actors are colored? Many top star actors are not colored, especially for the female star. The film industry is every large industry that is globally market, which is why it is upsetting to see that many people of ethnics are not represented. Especially considering that 30% of Americans are African American and Latinos (U.S Census).  Since there is a large variety of roles in the film industry, there should be a enough roles for those who are colored.

        Over the course of history many film industries would cast white Americans to play the roles of African American and Asians in the movies, commonly known as Black or Yellow face. From the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s the actor Mickey Rooney portrays a Japanese citizen who lives above Tiffany apartment complex, she is the main character in the film. “Mickey Rooney’s cringe-worthy portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi, the Japanese photographer who lives in Holly Golightly’s building, mars an otherwise stellar Hollywood classic. More than 40 years after the film, Rooney revealed that the criticism about his allegedly racist depiction “breaks my heart … Never in all the more than 40 years after we made it — not one complaint” (Lee).  People in the past thought that their choices of casting people to act a certain race of which they are not and paint on their skin color was not wrong, since it was only seen as acting. The actor himself that his acting and message was also harmless until recent articles have stated that him portraying a Japanese man was racist.  Another form of Blackface was in the film Tropic Thunder. Where Robert Downey Jr. played the role of an actor playing an African American army officer.

“Was initially wary of what the media reaction to his character — a white method actor who undergoes pigmentation alteration surgery in order to play a black army officer — would be in the Ben Stiller-written film. On playing a black sergeant (or really, a white actor playing a black sergeant), ... My way into the movie is I’ve got to be tarred and featured for three months and maybe have my reputation destroyed. That was my fear” (Lee).  

Since this film was released in the year 2008, Downey was skeptical of the role and it also ending his career because many people are against black face or any other form of racism in a film. If the producer just casted an African American actor to play the role instead of Downey than he would worry of how the public would see him. People today are against seeing any form of racism in films, and television shows as well. This goes to show that actors are now uncomfortable playing a different race, when they know how society is now against it compared to the past.

        In American film Africa Americans have been discriminate in movies and depicted using racial stereotypes. An example is the use of Blackface has been used in films back during the 1900; s, because it was appropriate at the time. In the article "Cinematographic Calamity’ or ‘Soul-Stirring Appeal to Every Briton’: Birth of a Nation in England and South Africa, 1915–1931" by Brain William shows how in the movie Birth of a Nation, African Americans were being discriminated in the film industry, due to white actors playing the roles of African Americans. “D.W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation (1915) remains one of the most controversial films ever made, widely condemned for its offensive and racist representations of African Americans in its fictional recreation of the American Civil War and its aftermath” (William). This quote shows how historical African Americans were reflected during America, after the WWII. The film was even controversial during its own time, because of how offensive it was towards African Americans and the Civil War aftermaths. The movie shows the unfair treatment towards Blacks getting roles in movie as well. African American are not the only ones who are discriminate in films.

        Asian Americans are constantly being stereotyped and being discriminated against in America, but also in film. Many Asian characters are only shown as foreigners who are either helping the good guy a Caucasian man or is as the enemy. In the article “Hollywood Asian Stereotypes” written by Zak Keith. States how since Asians are discriminated against in American and are faced with racism just like African American and Latinos, it’s not shocking when one see’s an Asian stereotype on the big screen. In Hollywood negative stereotype of Asians are constantly made, and are still being made.

 “They are usually cast as foreigners and not as acculturated Americans; as strange and unfathomable beings bound by old tradition and beset with bizarre superstitions and habits. They are portrayed as sidekicks and extras, and either occupy supporting roles to Caucasian protagonists, or play the antagonist to a Caucasian protagonist. Asian characters often serve as cannon fodder or comic relief and have overplayed accents” (Keith).

It's quite shameful that Asians are seen as a comic relief in the film industry; they have ridiculous accents or are constantly portrayed as sidekicks, material artists or villains. But it shows how the film industry discriminates against Asians in Hollywood. Majored when we see an Asian actor on the big screen either playing the role as the side kick, Kung Fu warrior, or immigrant with an accents. The main reason as to why certain ethnic groups have stereotype roles is too due to film industry race profile. For many years the film industry has been what's called White-Washing Asian characters in movies, and are constantly doing so. In the article “Hollywood Accused of “White-Washing” Roles Meant for Asians”, written by David Robb states how Hollywood choices white actors to play Asian roles. Upcoming movies or movies in the past have been getting backlash for choosing white actors to play Asian characters’ role. “Hollywood again is being accused of “white-washing” roles originally written as Asian characters. The latest incident is on Ridley Scott’s The Martian, in which white actress Mackenzie Davis stars as Mindy Park, who’s identified as a Korean-American scientist in the book the film was based on” (Robb).  This quotes proves how racist Hollywood is that instead of finding an actor to play the role, they rather just cast a white actor. This has been on for many years, but people are now starting to notice it and have it wrong. The film industry has been discriminated against African American and Asian for a while now, but they are equally discriminating against Latinos as well.