*Even in the worlds of make-believe and fantasy role-playing, white folks tremble at the sight of colored faces. Specifically black faces.
This writer is currently engaged in a binge session of the Sci-Fi fantasy series “Farscape” on Netflix, and it’s remarkable to witness the white cast travel into the depths of the universe; encountering all sorts of fantastical creatures (many of them with various European accents) but none bearing the mark of the original man and woman: black skin.
Funny how even in their supernatural fantasy, skin color is disturbing and concerning for far too many non-colored viewers.
Just recently, many-a-white-folks were incensed over the all black cast of “The Wiz,” and remarking how racist it would be if there was an all white version. Ya see, when one is blinded by racism and a sense of entitlement, one tends to overlook the obvious: such as the all white version of “The Wiz” titled “The Wizard of Oz.”
In our exclusive chat with “Star Wars” actor John Boyega, he told us that he was not at all shocked by the wave of criticism the film received because of his casting. John plays black stormtrooper Finn in the upcoming “The Force Awakens,” and in a recent interview with the New York Times (via Clutch), he further explained his feelings about the racists trying to overshadow the film and its legacy.
“It made me feel fine. I’m grounded in who I am, and I am a confident black man. A confident, Nigerian, black, chocolate man,” he said, adding: “I’m proud of my heritage, and no man can take that away from me. I wasn’t raised to fear people with a difference of opinion. They are merely victims of a disease in their mind. To get into a serious dialogue with people who judge a person based on the melanin in their skin? They’re stupid, and I’m not going to lose sleep over people. The presale tickets have gone through the roof — their agenda has failed. Miserably.”
The London-born, chocolate thunder continued by saying:
“I just don’t get it. You guys got every single alien in this movie imaginable to man. With tentacles, five eyes. Aliens that, if they existed, we’d definitely have an issue. We’d have to get them to the government and be, like, “What are you?” Yet what you want to do is fixate on another human being’s color. You need to go back to school and unlearn what you have learned. I think Yoda said that, or Obi-Wan.”
John also told the publication that he would have found it suspect if he was the only black person auditioning for a spot in the franchise. “I would have thought, ‘Oh, maybe there’s an active agenda there,’” he said.
As it turns out, folks from various backgrounds/ethnicities were given the opportunity to audition for all the roles.
“I don’t know whether I’m proud or anything. I’m happy that we’re able to mesh together in this ensemble cast and create a wonderful story. It’s Hollywood’s fault, for letting this get so far, that when a black person or a female, or someone from a different cultural group is cast in a movie, we have to have debates as to whether they’re placed there just to meet a [quota]. I also understand, on the flip side, where these other mentalities will arise. ‘He’s just placed there for political correctness.’ I don’t hear you guys saying that when Brad Pitt is there. When Tom Cruise is there. Hell, when Shia LaBeouf is there, you guys ain’t saying that. That is just blatant racism.”
UPDATE! Fortunately the hating seems to have calmed down to the point where Boyega is now getting major love from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” devotees.
Check out the reception he got Friday night at an impromptu appearance at the opening of the film in Brooklyn:
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is in theaters now.
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